October 2008
"Robotic car which avoids collisions unveiled" - from "The Daily Telegraph:
tinyurl.com/4hzvro
OK, so it's not yet a car.
"(snip) Mr Ando added: "Electric vehicles have wheels that can move at various angles and so with this technology installed, the possibility of quickly escaping a crash or avoiding an obstacle increases."
It seems to me that there may be significant issues with this technique! Read more
Pipe on the power steering seems to be leaking. VW want £100 + Vat for the new part.
Can anyone suggest a cheaper option from elsewhere?
I've not yet had a good look under the car yet but there is significant evidence of leaking fluid dripping off the main pipe.
Part number is 6N2 422 893H. GSF don't seem to carry these items.
Thank you kindly in advance if you can help me. Read more
Thanks for all your help with my brake disc query, now I have another query! My friend also owns a Ford Focus and everytime time he uses the indicator the main beam comes on which dazzles other drivers. He then has problems switching the main beam off having to click it repeatedly or indicate again to switch it off
Any ideas what is causing this and the cost of a potential fix?
Many thanks
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Sounds like a faulty indicator stalk to me.
I have read the threads relating to heating problems. It appears that cold air only is attributed to a faulty control valve under the bulkhead. This was a problem 8 months ago and a new control valve rectified the problem. However, I now have hot air only. I have checked the voltage at the control valve and get +12 V irrespective of the positioning of the heater control dial. Am I right in assuming that the valve is fully open when +12V and fully off when 0 V. If this is the case, is a new dial the answer. Many thanks in anticipation of a response. Read more
I've owned a number of KA and driven more-never had any problems but if I adjust the heater valve I always go to either fully open or fully closed as I change the setting-don't know if this is why I don't get problems.
Hi all,
MOT due soon and door handles don't work properly. The doors do close securely but the springs have gone on three of the door handles so you have to physically push the handle back into position before closing the door or esle it will not close. As long as you push the handles back down before you get in the car it's fine.
Is this an MOT fail?? Should I point it out to the tester?
Thanks Read more
I have had two out of the four door handles on my Espace go stiff and not return. In each case the spring was fine. I took the handle out of the door (I've become quite practised at removing and replacing door trim to get at the lock and latch mechanisms), scrubbed it clean, lubricated and replaced it. Those two doors have latched fine ever since.
Central locking motors sticking, a plastic inner handle snapping, a wire breaking where the wiring loom flexes as a door opens and closes, and most recently a faulty electric window switch -- the door fittings seem to need attention about twice a year.
Remember the floods 'oop north 'in and around the Newcastle area a few weeks back around 6th September ?
Long story - hit the water - engine blown - write off.
So a warning to all - Even if it does not look deep - be wary.
It was an expensive mistake but not half as bad as it could have been - my insurance company were very fair with their offer, I was dreading the usual argument but they came up trumps.
So now I have up to £ 10 K to play with for a SH replacement. I want the same EX spec as my Accord, ie leather , satnav, cruise control but something less fuel gulping than the 2.4 engine and without the possible £ 400 tax in the future.
Although I don't mind one way or the other I think a diesel is the best option , I want at least a 2 litre and I prefer Japanese reliability.
I was thinking along the lines of a CR-V or similar but it may not save me that much in running costs.My local Honda agent is good but tends to put £1000 on the top of car supermarket price for similar vehicles.
I do not have to buy at the moment as I can use the company car so I throw it open to you for suggestions. What would you do?
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Keep the company car and buy yourself something nice like a Mazda Bongo camper for fun and happiness. Otherwise, put the money into a high interest earning account.
I was in and around Sunderland/Hartlepool over the weekend. I would like to say how good the roads where that I travelled on where. I travelled on the A69/A1 and was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the road. Also on the A1086 (coast road) excellent condition and various other roads round about Blackhall Colliery area and never seen any pot holes.
Puts the roads in the West of Scotland to utter shame.
Can I also recommend the National Glass Center in Sunderland excellent place to visit and you get to see glass blowing in action. Restaurant food is also good. Another must is Tweddle Childrens Animal Farm just outside Blackhall Colliery excellent for the kids.
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Best thing about the roads around Sunderland,is the exit towards Newcastle.
What does it all mean? Is it a good idea to buy a new car that is Euro IV such as the New Mondeo or to wait for a new engine to arrive that needs to have next year when Euro V applies? Read more
Quite often the newer Euro Emmissions standards tend to cut the power/flexibility/mpg on engines, so I'd say if you need the car now get it, I can't see any point in waiting for the new emmissions engine... now if it was something I could use like free climate I'd be tempted to wait!
I was on a single carriageway A road behind a Tesco lorry last week in a small queue of cars and he pulled into a layby to let us past which was nice of him and also rather unexpected as the queue was not that big. As this has happened before with a Tesco lorry I wondered if it is a PR policy of tesco to get motorists on their side. Read more
they're given times
in their schedule but most of the time they don'tarrive at the store on time
due to traffic not that it matters all that much anyway unless it's 3 hours
late. >>
Try doing the same thing if you're delivering into a Tesco RDC! Five minutes past your slot time, and it's off to the back of the queue and wait till the rest have finished; if the staff can be bothered to speak to you at all!
This is the difference of course; your average general haulier is working to a far tighter schedule, where time is literally money. Tesco being the massively profitable organisation that it is, doesn't have to worry about that sort of thing.
Mind you, the home delivery vans don't seem to have the same regard for the national speed limits!
Local MP banned for 6 months under totting up procedure - 6 months walking for him.
Sitting on 9 points already, is this a complete disregard for safety of others and a bad example to teenagers?
How would you vote? Read more
>>fixed cameras are used in Fife>>
No fixed cameras in Fife, just lots of very mobile camera vans!
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Doesn't the recently released Volvo XC60 already have a low-speed collision avoidance system?
Although I believe it merely stops the car, it doesn't set off in the opposite direction.