November 2008
Remember metal tanks? That pressed steel contraption with a long metal `turkey neck` typically desperately rusty and sometimes with holes on top, caused by road salt sitting there.
Are any new cars still made with metal tanks? and why was plastic not used earlier?
(post triggered by a slide under the motor to check the grease on the subframes)
;)
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***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 5 *****
To continue the debate on the effects of the so called Credit Crunch.
Vol: 3 can be found by clicking:- here
All CC related stuff will be decanted in here.
Keep it relevant, motoring is linked to the crisis, any "Yah Booh Poltics" will be chopped.
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A lot of people Alter ego have been complaining about unsustainable government spending and borrowing the extra million public servants the public service pension deficit of £1 trillion for quite some time
The IMF in fact have been warning Brown about it for a number of years
Labour have been spending money we dont have, hundreds of billions of pounds worth and a lot of it not included as debt on the balance sheet (PFI etc)
My wife went through a flooded road today in her 406 2ltr petrol, the car cut out and wouldnt restart, the AA came out, removed the spark plugs the engine was then turned over and water forced out the plug holes. The plugs were replaced, but the car wouldnt start, AA then towed the car home. Appears water has been sucked into the engine. What should i do first? i was going to drain and replace the oil, take plugs out pour some oil into the plug holes and spin the engine over, the battery appears to be flat as the engine wont turn over by the key. If the engine is damaged could we claim from insurance?
Duggie Read more
If the AA removed the plugs and it turned over without making funny noises, then it's probably mechanically OK. Check the air filter isn't sodden as this will stop air getting through it, especially if it was already very dirty and dusty.
I popped into my local indie this morning to book my car in for some work. The owner is a full fledged petrolhead, always working on something unusual...this time a softop TR8. We had a chat about reliable, everyday softops, and our considered opinion was that the MX5 and Honda S2000 were the best. In third place (on looks alone) was the Nissan 350Z which he had no experience of.
Has anyone in the BR ever owned, or know of anyone who has first hand experience?
Just an idle thought because my fiance and I hanker after a softop...we have both owned Spitfire's in past lives, and I had an Elise as everyday transport for 3 years.The latter would not really be practical for touring holidays. Read more
A friend of mine has a rag top 350 and has just been hit with
£400 for road tax renewal.
How? I thought that NO grouping currently cost this much?
Yesterday i hit some flood water quite hard... my own fault, it didnt look too bad until i was close, then it was too late. I got to the other side no problems without the engine stalling, but when i got out of the flood water and drove off the engine was spluttering at higher revs...immediately i thought water in the air filter so took it steady. I got home (1 mile away) and dried the filter out (soaking wet) and replaced it.
I travelled 200 miles this morning and the car sounded the same as it always does and drove smooth, however it had a distict lack of power and it takes a while to reach the new top speed (80 MPH). No engine management light on and i suspect the head gasket is ok. I'm thinking TURBO but i'm hoping it isnt....! The filter is now bone dry (tried it without and still the same) so i suspect water has entered some part of the air/turbo system and is now causing issues with the lack of power. I know a bit about cars, however i'd like some advice from someone who knows these engines better than i for some answers on the possible fault/s and remedies. I'm hoping it's not damaged the turbo just has some water stuck somewher in the system...(i'm hoping, but i doubt it!) please advise.
{edit to suject line - no need to repeat in the subject line what you've already selected from the drop down menus and compulsory fill in boxes} Read more
Hello everyone, i've been unlucky and had someone reverse into my xjr and smash the drivers side outer headlight. i'm just wondering if anyone has replaced one of these before and if so would you mind giving give me a few pointers?
someone else posted on a thread earlier in the year that said it's held in place by Three push-fit ball and socket fasteners, i've popped the bonet and had a little look around but i really dont know where to start!
any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
lee. Read more
Just had an MoT failure on a 1993 Mk3 Astra (worn rear bush on front lower suspension arm/wishbone). Got a replacement wishbone off ebay, miraculously, for £9.99 complete with both front and rear bushes, and lower ball-joint already fitted!! Unfortunately I can't get the front pivot bolt out. I began to feel the 16mm socket 'slip' on the bolt-head so abandoned the attempt lest I completely knacker the bolt! You can't get at it with a wrench or anything similar cos the bolt is recessed into the chassis member. Can anyone suggest how I can get this bolt out? (I have a replacement bolt ready, ex-Vauxhall's). Any ideas/suggestions gratefully received! (This car deserves to be saved, even with 125,000 miles on it). Read more
Eureka! many thanks to all. The '6-point socket' advice, 'Number-Cruncher', did the trick (a No 24 seems to equate to a 16mm). I would never have thought of that. Flushed with success I've now done both sides! (one side was an MoT failure; the other side an 'advisory'). I didn't have to try welding a nut on, as suggested by Victorbox (probably just as well: the last time I tried my hand at welding, some years ago, I set fire to the Missus' Mini Traveller and had to get the fire brigade out!!! Many thanks to all for taking the trouble to respond. This site is worth its weight in gold! Kind regards, Clive H.
(Andy P and others. Please avoid stupid headlines like "I wondered how long it would be.." that give no hint of what your post is about. HJ.)
..before aftermarket kits like those on the Audi R8 became available. This morning I was followed by a Citroen C4 which had short LED strips along the bottom of the front bumper like those under the headlights of the R8. Looked completely naff. Read more
Daytime running lights...
The sort of idea you would expect a social worker to come up with.
Hi there.i am just about to retire (52),and i am looking for something to put a smile on my face,be reliable ,possibly carry my golf clubs,and reasonable running costs.i have had classic cars in the past,and i like the idea of no road tax and cheap insurance,but i am still not sure.Any commnts would be greatly received. Read more
The MX5 did revive the market, that is correct, and shortly after, cars like the Boxster, SLK, Z3, MGF, Elise came along - it's actually hard to think of many popular 2 seater roadsters before these in the mid-late 90s. The hairdresser's thing realy does seem to have gone away now too gladly for some reason.
Hi
Where abouts can I find the drain tube for the A/C , I think mine is blocked as there is no pool of water under car when A/C is on and the front passenger carpet is wet
thanks Read more
Have you checked if it is just water & not antifreeze ie engine coolant that would mean heater matrix failure.
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I think the original ban on non-metallic tanks on bikes was aimed at GRP (glass reinforced plastic) and not the modern blown/moulded type.
I was at a moto cross/scrambles meeting in the mid '60's. A bike heavily nose dived off a jump and the tank cracked like an egg in the impact with ground /rider. The fireball was impressive and showed the dangers. The rider survived IIRC.