November 2008
My son has a Corsa C, 1.2, 16 valve, 52k miles with full service history.
He recently had to take it to a main dealer for some minor work and was advised thet the timing chain needs changing as it is noisy, he said thanks but I will consult dad first.
How likely are these chains likely to fail?
Could they stretch or wear?
I imagine the results of one failing are catastrophic leading to major work & expense.
I thought the advantages of timing chains over belts was no maintenance. Read more
The rules have changed a little at this beginning of this month, although I'm not sure if it's had any effect on the market.
I've bought a car that has plates on that are best described as show plates. They're in a legal font, although the 3D effect looks odd, but have a space between the first two letters and numbers and a manufacturer logo on them. They're not quite my cup of tea and I don't want to get stopped (or fined) by the police.
I'm after just a pair of legal plates, with the blue Euro GB bit at the side and preferably in decent 3D (legal) font. The supplier name should be on there, but preferably as discreet as possible.
I did need to get some plates two years ago and used an eBay supplier, which was handy because of not having the documents to hand because it was a new purchase with a plate change going through. They have all the features of being legal, and were from a DVLA-registered supplier, but are technically show plates because of the lack of documents needed (I don't have this issue this time).
The plates weren't bad. The 3D font was fine. They were of the Signam type, which involves the numbers being added to the adhesive side of a reflective sheet, then stuck onto a piece of clear acrylic. The trimming wasn't perfect, though partly remedied with a stanley knife, but one of the cars I was replacing the plates for had this style, made by Jepson, and had delaminated badly.
One of the other plates that was replaced (and is still knocking about in the garage) had a manufacturer name of HHSP. The construction of this plate was different, with the acrylic coloured white or yellow and the reflective part stuck on top instead of underneath. This type had a darker blue background behind the GB section that went to the edge of the plate. It seemed a better made plate than all the others.
What are people's recommendations on where to get plates from? I'm not after the very cheapest, as a trawl of eBay still shows a number of inexpensive plates. I would like some that are of reasonable quality. Read more
Main dealer - had thought of that and not a bad idea for the OE look.
Pressed alu - not personally keen, it reminds me of the raised letter plates that died out around the early 80s.
Errr... what's this thread all about? What's wrong exactly with paying the man in the motor factors his £8.50 and being done with it?
Is that really all it costs for a good pair of plates that will last more than a year? The internet sellers asking £20+ per pair must be making a killing, even though much cheaper than Halfords.
I wish I knew a decent motor factors. As with many similar places, they're generally shut when I'm not at work. What ole cruiser had was ideally what I'm after.
I've no issues with a tiny line of text on the bottom of a number plate, provided it is discreet. Bigger writing for a dealer isn't too bad. I'm happy with the dealer tax disc in the windscreen. What I wouldn't want is the name of the supplier in big writing on the plate when legally it doesn't need to be that size. With mail order/internet, you don't always know what that writing will be.
Something made a light noise in the gear lever as I was manoeuvering my focus the other day and now the gear change feels sloppy. It looks like a tension spring has broken or come off. The car can still be driven ok but second to third gear changes require a good aim; also fourth to third etc. Is this a big job or what. Your advice please - thank you. Read more
They probably broke something whilst doing the job - bits of plastic with small lugs and clips on them don't last long in mechanics' hands.
i have an intermitent fault on my 406 HDI 2.2. engine light comes on and go's off. have had system read and these codes came up.P0235, P0100, P2045, P0380. these are all to to with turbo pressure. the guuy in the garage said its probably loss of pressuer from a bad hose connection or leaking pipe. any surgestions wher to start looking. there's a maze of pipes there. thanks for any advice given. Read more
Hi i have a 2.0 turbo hdi 406, 52reg. if the turbo sensor is gone would the oil pressure rise on the guage.
My car only seems to have problems when i exceed 75mph. The dashboard would beep and the engine symbol appears and all drive power would be lost....
Hi
I have a Citroen C5 Exclusive with Xenon headlamps. After the lights have been on for a few minutes the nearside lamp will go out for a few seconds then relight. Once this starts it just keeps on going out and coming back on. Has anybody encountered this I don't know if it is a bulb problem or a different problem? Apparently these lighting systems have a ballast which acts like a starter unit in a florescent light not sure what the problem is, a niggling thought is if the bulb lights it must be ok.
Any help gratefully received
Many Thanks in Advance
Mark
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Yes; I can see your point - not a joy to change though.
My lovely Daughter is as forgetful as can be, unlike her dad of course..;) and is extremely likely to lose the one and only programmed plipper key for her 106.
Apart from going to the Pug dealer and risking an attack of some sort over the probable price, have the BR crew got any other suggestions where to obtain a spare programmed key.
Also what details will we need to provide to obtain said key please, or is there anywhere that can read the key code and duplicate it.
I'd like to get this sharpish as i can already hear the upset call from the airport when she returns from her weekly European work wanderings, and apart from getting a trailer and recovering the car, i will be just as flumoxed.
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Thanks Screwloose, she's over the way at the moment, so i'll ask her about the key at the weekend, the plipper doesn't work anyway (lights up though) but i understand thats probably the receiver and the central locks work OK anyway so she's not bothered about remote.
I should have got a figure from the dealer first, but was hoping the good people here would know of a handy company that can do what i'm after, and i can do without the heart seizure at the parts desk..;)
My 04 1.5 65bhp dci renault Clio engine maintenance light has come on. The local Indy has identified the fault as being the EGR. He was cleaned it - ok for a few days, replaced it, no improvement light still on after resetting on the computer. He says Renaults are notorious for electrical faults and thinks there is a wiring problem.
Where should he look for this wiring fault.
Also the left side air bag light has come on could this be associated?
Moved from Discussion and subject line altered to reflect year/engine details Read more
Hello, i have a clio d6d dci van. i also have the same sort of problem.
it smoked alot when i first got it and being a little bit mechanical minded i took the EGR of and cleaned soot out, but when put back together, it would fire, but no start.
Could anyone help on this matter?
Thanks Jordan
Firstly, thank you to the eleckie/ac dr for his advice on changing the pollen filter. Nearly broke my neck, but am flushed with success. HOWEVER the fan/heating is not working still. I have had the climate control mended and it is fine now, but still no air blowing. Any thoughts anyone? Thanks Sally Read more
Here is some info on the problem
forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100...4
Here is a link to replacing the blower motor
www.sqbimmer.com/dump/e36_blower_motor/
Heres a link to replacing the Resistor final stage unit (Digital fan speed control on 1996 and newer cars)
www.bmwe36blog.com/2008/01/17/fixing-bmw-e36-blowe.../
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>>I've never had a problem.
Sounds like you?ve got several to me.
Clk Sec
Hi,
I just bought a 2000 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 S TDI 90. The only problem, I think, is that the seatbelt/airbag light on the dash stays on. Now from the manual I know this light should flash for a few seconds when the key is inserted but it stays on all the time. Now the guy i bought it from says there is no chance the airbag was ever deployed although the airbag 'panel' on the passenger side is not just flush with the dash as I assume it should be. It could also just be a fault in the system but is this likely.
The car has only had one owner so far. It was a trade-in to a garage from which he bought it.
Could it just be a matter of a dealer, or someone with the right software, resetting the system or something. Obviously from this message I dont know too much about cars.
{make / model removed from subject line as the drop down menu choice includes this information in the subject line, so there is no need to repeat it} Read more
Final update:
so got the car back last night and the airbag light is doing exactly as it should. Apart from telling you it was something in the passenger footwell that was the problem I dont have the exact solution because the fella who was sorting the problem wasnt there when I picked up the car.
Browse
what don't help is that they only fit a single chain not a duplex one but agree the chains are very long if left they either work there way through the case or they snap the cam exhaust one