December 2008
What did you get this year?
Mine was a bit less 'technical' this time - a Top Gear book and calendar. Read more
Poole Borough Council insists on parking permits being displayed throughout the festive season. As Poole has demonstrated that it has an efficient spy service, watch out if you park here....
...but my own greetings to all posters on this site. Read more
Unlike nearish-by Christchurch Dorset who have suspended parking charges to help traders - Santa-type hessian
sacks over meters - a nice seasonal touch.
Still had to pay 60p for an hour's parking down the road at mudeford quay on xmas day though .. Bah humbug !
I have just bought a cheap and cheerful Astra F which drives superbly apart from clocks from the o/s front end. I have jacked up the car and nothing is loose and I suspect the fault is with the suspension bushes. Are these similar to the escort orion lower suspension arm where you just replace the whole item and are these known to be troublesome on the cars?
Thanks and Merry Christmas!! Read more
As a DIY task, when you aren't paying labour costs, it's not too difficult to press in a new rear bush.
If you cut out the inner with a strong knife, or just pull it our if it has already seperated, and then carefully hacksaw down the inner side of the metal cage, taking care to keep the blade straight and avoid cutting into the arm itself, after a while the cage weakens, and grabs the hacksaw blade. At this point, the cage can be tapped out of the arm with little effort.
Using the old cage as a drift, making sure to line the cut-out on the bush with the pip on the lower arm the new bush can be easily pulled in using a vice.
Of course, if there's anything else wrong on the lower arm, say the front bush, or the ball joint, then, it's better just to fit an arm as described above. I would spend the extra to get a good quality arm from a reputable source.
I have been changing the glow plugs on my civic ctdi, and the last one will not go in far enough for the thread to screw in ??
any ideas on what this could be, or how it could be sorted ??
thanks in advance !
ahmed Read more
Our W-reg Zafira MkI Auto has had a problem disengaging from Drive. As a temporary fix a local garage disconnected the interlock solenoid but I found out today that now the brake lights don't work! This is a major problem as we need to use the car over the Christmas holiday and we want to be legal. Any help how to get the brake lights working again gratefully received. I am a professional engineer so should be able to rig something up if someone can tell me what I need to do.
Also if anyone can point me to a wiring diagram (e.g. pdf) that would be fab. Read more
would appear that the switch is u/s try the above trick see if the lights are on if so its the switch if not its wireing/fuse issue there are/should be four wires black should be live from fuse,black and yellow go's eventually to the bulb via the autobox ecu,cruise control etc
Walking to the local shops this afternoon (walking a good move). Two lanes of solid traffic on one side of road. Hold up at two sets of traffic lights close together (phased to cause maximum delay). Police transit in queue, on blue lights, wig wags, siren, off down wrong side of road.
Initial thought, late for doughnuts, shift change, or something insignificant. No our BiB wouldnt do that I thought, must be an emergency. 50 yards past hold up lights and sirens off! A few minutes later an amulance heading for the nearby A&E went down the wrong side in the same direction with lights and sirens, Noticable difference in traffic getting out of way, it had a mutch clearer run. Read more
I am a grumpy old sod, I only give people the benefit of doubt at christmas, (sometimes).
When I was in a previous job my troops used to call me the "Wookie" as in big hairy grumpy gorrilla (swear filter). And yes I do have a beard.
Need to dispose of a
W/2000 1.8 petrol manual 5 door Meridian saloon 45K, A/C, FSH, SS exhaust. 11month MoT.
Owner is going to be working abroad so no longer needs the vehicle.
Can anyone let me know how much a dealer will pay ( book value?)
The owner does not want to advertise to the general public.
If I take on the task of disposing of it, obviously I need to be added to the insurance but what other problems arise ? I am not the name on the V5 so what do I need to smooth the process.
To date I have a friendly indie interested but they are not back in business til early January. In the meanwhile I only have Autotrader as a guide to prices. Read more
yes when ringing round cars advertised, when I asked "is it your name on the V5" and they said "no" I just ignored the tale they told and said "I'll get back to you..."
After a while i felt like the customer in the Monty Python cheese shop.
Have got flat battery.Immobiliser has engaged and I have never had remote key fob for it.What can I do to start car ? Read more
amazing car,to continue from previous story,i subsequently found the car had been standing for 4 years,i put a fully charged battery on it,changed a flat tyre,tentavily switched on ignition,all lights came on,amazing,turned ign,wow,started first time,noise from engine quick look,steering fluid,switched off,topped up,smooth,no noise,put it in gear slowly,little throttle,bit of a jerk brakes unstick,drove it back and forward,good,drove it up and down,worked brakes little bit of working,lovely,phoned mot,drove it 12miles to mot,failed,two broken rear springs,rusty brake pipes,emmission fault i traced to concertina heat xchanger,spent 3 days cleaning it,its an absolutely lovely car,112,000 lexus dealer service history,cant wait to put it on road,had 4 new tyres from a heap of crap cit c5 for it,only fault i guess is it will be a bit thirsty.see how i get on.driving gently.anyone changed rear springs and shocks,looks straitforward..
A long running saga takes a new twist. Dispute with violent and drunk neighbour ended up with him getting banned for 2 years, as he pitched up at home 3 times over the limit and the police nabbed him even tho he legged it into the house.
He has kept the carinsured and taxed, parked on road, all this time. Now the ban is up and he is driving around.
QUESTION - would the insurance co know about his ban, in the same way that when you tell them your reg, they know exactly what sort of car you've got?
Or could he just bare-faced lie about it and pretend to be squeaky clean.
OR - is the insurance not that pricey when you come off a ban?
FURTHER TWIST - he was an HGV driver. Suspicions are that he is doing the same thing again.
The plot thickens.
Read more
If I thought he was really still breathing fumes that would strip paint from the night before then I would "have a word". Imagine the sentence if you get caught again after a 2 year ban - oof!
note to moderator - if this threatens to get "sub judice" at any time I'll hold off until the judge bangs his gavel.
My speedo has started to work intermittently, I have been told that it could possibly be the speed sensor which is located on the gearbox, the problem being I can't see the sensor on the gearbox, could someone please give me an idea where its located.
Any help is much appreciated Read more
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DVDs of series one and two of Saxondale,he drives a Mustang.