November 2008
I was just wondering if there were any cars made in Japan that were unreliable?
I know several Jap makers have had issues in recent times but were any of these from cars actually made there? Read more
Can anybody remind me how to zero my Xantia's service indicator?
Haynes manual helpfully says that this is achieved using the trip meter reset buttons but does not actually explain how.
TIA
Read more
" Haynes manual helpfully says that this is achieved using the trip meter reset buttons but
does not actually explain how.
TIA"
typical Haynes, just like their B&W pics that are often too dark and too small.
With the number of radar-sensitive traffic lights it's getting more and more difficult to cross a busy road without waiting for several minutes. Case in point is a junction in Kidlington with a pedestrian crossing only on one side.
If there's no traffic, pushing the button turns the lights red instantly. If there's heavy traffic, nothing happens for nearly 4 minutes as the lights run through an entire cycle until they finally let you cross. Usually by this point you've legged it through a gap in the traffic along with everyone else.
If there's moderate traffic, it waits until there's a huge gap in both directions and then turns the light red - again, at which point everyone has crossed anyway. It's driving me nuts. Is it me?! Read more
Are all your actions governed by what is the quicker and the easier? Don't forget
about the "more haste less speed" idiom.
Erm... in this case, probably yes.
It has been one of them days I have spent 45 minutes trying to get the door card off to fix my lock. Anyway seperate issue sometimes when i am driving the engine makes a buzzing sound and when I turn the engine off it you can still hear it for a seconds till it fades to silent. I can't hear where it is coming from but it round the injection area. Could this be a dodgy fuel pump?
Is it something I can forget about till it gets worse? Engine is running fine. Read more
It didn't seem to do this today had a 10 mile run it, it seems to do it more when I am doing things like 7 point turns (3 point turn is hardly possible in this old shed).
My Peugeot 806 (diesel) has recently seemed to lack power necessary to accelerate much when in fourth or fifth gear. It's a struggle getting up to 70+ and uphill it's a no-no. There are no warning lights and the lower gears don't seem to be affected. Anyone any ideas what might be causing it? Read more
Cheers! None of it sounds too serious.
Whydo some cars have 4 bolts holding the round bits on and some have 5?
Is it connected to the design of a wheel or the possible loading forces when cornering?
Walking into town at lunch time I happened to spot a Polo on an 08 plate that had steel wheels with 5 bolts. Surely a small car like a Polo doesn't need 5?
Curious to know what decides it. Read more
Various Saxos and 106's could still be had with 3 wheel bolts per wheel throughout
their livespans.
What always bothers me about cars with only 3 wheel bolts is what if you lose one changing a flat in the middle of nowhere? 3 bolts on a 4 stud wheel, not ideal but get you home/to the garage, but a wheel only held on by 2 bolts that are over on one side of the wheel sounds very dangerous IMO.
Was in the pub the other night and a friend was saying that traffic signals are quite intelligent, controlled by detectors and computers, and can monitor traffic flows to decide when to change etc. Is this true or was it just the drink speaking!
While on the subject does flashing at lights (as taxi drivers do a lot!) actually cause make them change quicker?! Read more
Intelligent??
Yes they must be. How else could the ones on the roundabout at the intersection of A46/A6 just North of Leicester invariably stop me twice on the way round the roundabout into the services to fill up and again on the way out - at 3 or 4 or 5am when there is not another vehicle in sight?
Why don't they switch them off at night?
Grumpy Phil
My CDTI Vectra looks unlikely to last past 90k without some wopping bills. My old tddi Focus did much better.
So, as I still need a diesel to cope with the mileage etc, are there any cars (I'm looking at 3 years old or younger) that have a non common rail diesel?
I know the old TDDI focus engine was slagged by the motoring press, but it was less troublesome that the vectra common rail (or perhaps any common rail judging by some of the comments on here!) Read more
My Mazda6 with DPF definately has less visible emissions. When I first got the Mondeo TDCi EuroIV I was impressed (lets ignore the EGR problem it had) but after a while it could put out a lot of smoke. So DPFs are benefical but the judge is out on reliability and replacement cost.
Back to the original question, some VAG group cars do still use the Pumpe Düse engines. Apart from that I would think most are Common Rail. I doubt if there are any indirect injection turbo diesels anymore in cars for emission reasons. And Pumpe Düse complicated for other reasons - CR as a concept seems simpler and more controllable.
Hi all,
(strictly a car question ;-) - and not related to any particular model...)
When should you use grease / lubricant (inc wd40) when working on cars? Reason for asking is for example putting wheels back on, or brakes back on - if you grease the bolts/nuts then they'll go on and come off again better, and protect from rust. However you obviously don't want them to come off on they're own!!!
Any good guidelines?
Cheers,
James Read more
"when repling oil filters ,i put smear of grease around the seal. THIS MAKES IT NICE AND EASY TO REMOVE BY HAND NORMALLY "
It's good practice and, I believe, universally recommended to smear the seal and the sump washer with fresh oil. Whether it eases further removal I am not sure; oil filters, canister tops and sump bolts get overtightened all too often, such is the Spanner Controller's zeal to finish the job good'n'proper with no regard to the low recommended torque settings (20--25Nm being typical).
Hello. I bought a 53 reg Fiesta 1.4 Flame 2 weeks ago with 55k on the clock with A/C.
Ive started to notice a strange noise which can be heard through the dash board when the car idling at traffic lights. The engine sounds fine from the outside if maybe a little tappy.
The noise is like an air flow noise like there maybe an air leak and air circulating around in something. The noise also has slight tappy sound to is aswell. I had a look under the bonnet yesterday and put my ear down on the area where i think the noise is coming from (top right/passenger side of the engine). Im sure a can hear a slight hissing noise but cannot feel any air coming from anything.
Does anyone know what this could be or is it just a normal noise for Fiesta's.
Help much appreciated. Read more
it more likely to be sucking air so you wont feel it could be an air flap controled by the heater controls come adrift but needs checking
Browse
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>>have been through various incarnations (like the Toyota Corolla, which bears little resemblance to the original, <<
I get a little frustrated when I read and listen to statements similar to the above - mainly because it is so obvious and applies to just about every car on the road.
3 series, A4, Astra, Golf, Beetle, Mercedes C Class - they are all completely different cars form the original and from the model before.
It is usually used by us Brits to put a little bit of UK negativity on the good fortune of a particular car.
One of the best selling cars of all time is the Golf we say - oh yes but it is not really the same car you know so the fact that lots of people continue to keep buying it in what ever version, that does not really make it a big selling car - oh no.
Don't ya just love us.