September 2008
My girlfriend has a 2000 polo that has done around 48k and never had a problem with it. Due to the age of the car we were recommneded to have a cambelt change. This we did in about 2 months ago.
In the past week the engine management light has come on and stayed on. First the engine stalled when at a set of lights. The car was restarted and all was well until the light came on the following day. The place we got the belt replaced did a diagnostic check and is just came up with unusual engine timing. It was running fine so the warning light was reset.
All ok again for about a week until today when the engine warning light came on again but the car lost power in all gears and will not go about 60. I plan to take it back to the garage but I have been trying to google any idea's but not a lot of luck. Could it be linked ot the cam belt change and the timing being set wrong or does anyone have any suggestions ?? Read more
Bearing in mind the very valuable advice I received on here with regard to IFAs a few months ago, can this financially ignorant and recently retired old git ask for further advice?
I receive a pension but also took out a Freestanding Additional Contribution thing. This has a final value of about £14,000.
I have choices: Basically
I can get an annuity of £902 a year (but obviously have to ensure I live for a fair bit longer to "get my money back"!,
take £3500 and get £650 annuity or take the lot to use on the "open market to buy a different annuity.
Are these good deals in the current market?
If I "take the lot" how do they ensure that I take out an annuity with it? Why can't I just blow it on wine, women and new car? (Apart from the fact that SWMBO would soon put a stop to that idea)
Pardon my ignorance! And, yes, I should get out more - which is what I would like to do with the £14,000 before Gordon nicks it all. Thanks in advance.
Phil
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Gentle contact with the side (not edge) of a Carborundum disk in either a drill (even a cordless one) or a small angle-grinder will do the job admirably! - but dont foget to wear your goggles!.
Billy
Can anyone tell me the valve clearance of the 2006 Chevrolet Matiz 1000cc.I have got most of the information I need except these clearances.Thankyou for looking. Read more
The only thing I'll add to this, is to forget the -ve part of the tolerance range.
Most attempts at setting valve clearance always end up with the valves too tight. This leads to valve seat damage, and rough running. It's best to set towards the upper range of the tolerance band if you can.
Hi,
I own an Audi A4 1.9tdi (90), 2000my, which is on the audi long life servicing schedule.
Can anybody tell me of an alternative oil to CASTROL EDGE TURBO DIESEL 5W-40,which is the manufacturer recommended oil?
At the dealer prices, it would cost more for the oil than it would for the service kit that i need.
Alternatively, i could just take the car off the long life servicing plan and just use an oil suitable for the job?
Any suggestions please
Thanks Read more
Hi,
Thanks again for all the replies.. Only problem now is that i'm even more confused than i was before.. Ha-ha
I will put the car onto fixed service intervals and just use a suitable oil as required.
Thanks
Having got the correct roof bars and feet I am wondering how to put the bolts into the roof. I thought that the roof under the roof slots was supposed to "give in" to the bolts easily but am wondering if I need to drill pilot holes?
Any help, suggestions happily received.
Cheers
Chris Read more
Thanks I will get a screw out and go poking!
Evenin' all
My eldest daughter has been moaning about intermittant internet connection speeds, checked her PC and it seems it is sometimes connecting to someone else's network; speed is fine when it is connected to mine. The PC is running Win XP home SP2, the WiFi adaptor is a Belkin 802.11 b/g USB jobbie.
Poking around in the windows zero configuration options I can find no way of forcing the connection to only use the preferred access point. There does seem to be this option in the alternative Belkin SW, but that doesn't even recognise the adaptor.
I thought this would be an easy one to fix, but it seems not - any other suggestions to force the adaptor to use the right access point? Cheers. Read more
My advise was given in case others needed it ;-) It will be useful when someone does a forum search in the future too. Oh hang on too few search first ;-)
Cannot comment on how long the cartridges in the MP610 last (mother in law prints very little) but my iP5000 lasts forever on a set. Far better than the HP printer I had before. In fact I got rid of that because a high capacity tri-colour cartridge was way too expensive.
Hi, I was wondering whether anyone could help me. I seem to be having a problem trying to fit my new belt on to my petrol 1.3 endura E with power steering but no A.C. I don't know the routing of the belt as it snapped when I was driving, and every route I try ends up leaving a fair amount of slack. Plus I can't tell whether it has a automatic tensioner or you use the alternator.
any help with the routing would be much appreciated. Read more
thanks again for all your help screwloose I think it is the alternator as it seems to be hinged by two bolts either side of the bottom roller.
JUst a query on where the Rpo is on my 307? Thanks. Read more
Thanks Screwloose, as always, reliable!
Fabia 2001 1.4i cooling fans do not start, I changed the fans switch, and the coolant sensor is working fine, but the fans some times work property. Some times do not works for days.
I need help,
Thanks
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If the fan switch has been replaced and bridging the wires at the switch makes the fans run - then the system is working, but the switch can't be getting hot enough to switch the fans on.
Failed plastic water pump impellors are very common. The fans are only needed when stationary. Making them run all the time is easy - but it only masks the true fault.
The above message persistently displays on the dash computer.
I have checked under driver seat and all cables look okay. When you move the driver seat forward as far as it goes the message sometime goes away but can return at any time. However, sometimes the message will not go away.
Is this a common fault?
Is it worth getting it checked out properly?
I had a similar problem on a Peugeot in the past and the dealer had a terrible time trying to remove the error and I don't think they ever did successfully. Read more
Can't recall ever sticking my head under a Scenic II's seat; but, if it is pretensioners, then it's usually silicone from the seat foam getting on the plugs.
After taking suitable precautions; clean the seat plugs with electrical contact cleaner.
With the light on; the SRS system will be disabled and that has insurance implications.
Please verify this but at 41, 000 you may not need the cam belt changed. The following info found on Auto Data CD may be useful:
The belt on 1.2 8v & 12v engines should be checked at 60,000 miles or 72 months, whichever comes first, & replaced & then rechecked every 20,000 miles or 12 months. Autodata recommend changing at the first 60,000 miles, so yours should have a good deal of life left in it yet!
Take you point about being a gal being ripped off. Sorry to say this but its best go into a garage with a bloke who looks like he could get mean and knows his carburettor from his spark plugs- no messing about or advantage taking then.
Could anyone recommend a good vw garage in the north or east london areas. The one I am with at the moment is awful. Will tell you a bit more on this later.