January 2009
The rotor arm follower on my Merc 260E, (metal cylinder connecting rotor arm to end of Cam Shaft, inside distributor), sheared recently after about 108k miles. I replaced this and now again I have the same problem (@ 111k miles), and am disabled. Before I buy another follower/connector and suffer the same fate again, has anyone any experience of this issue ? Also, since its happened twice, can anyone suggest what is likely to be causing this ?? Cost of the item is not an issue, but my confidence in the reliability of my car has dived ...... I have had it 13+ years with no problems until now.
Thanks "bdsteve" Read more
hello, i need a bit of advice on the best car data check service for car traders (new to it).
i recently used AutoCheck who is provided by Experian , i chose the multiple service which says upto 5 searches for £25.00 which i thought wasnt a bad price, then after just 2 check it saying i have no more checks available and have to pay again !! .
has anyone used or does anyone no of a good company to use.
any info would be good, thanks carl
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says up to 5 searches .........
Up to 5 searches. Read the terms and conditions covering the actual number of searches you get. It might depend on the comprehensiveness of the checks.
Hi All,
A bit of help if possible. The rear heater on my recently aquired Galaxy Tdi has heater plug open circuit according to a recent scan, which I have ordered. Out of curiosity I scanned the rest of the heater and came up with 00926 terminal 30, 01189 position motor for air distribution front, and 01271 motor for temperature flap-v68. The air con doesnt work and hasnt for a couple of years, which i was going to have regassed this week, but every thing else appears to, air distribution dial sends air to correct places, temperature control changes from hot to cold as expected, and front and rear fans work at correct speeds. I cleared the codes but they came back immediately. Can any one tell me what they mean please? The terminal 30 one threw me!. Car is 2002 51 Reg 1.9 TDI 115 PD.
Regards
Matt
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I thought terminal 30 is Bosch code for permanently live power supply.
I am thinking of changing the wheels on my trailer. At present, it has 8 inch wheels - which means that I am always very careful to keep my speed low when towing.
I think that from a point of view of safety and ease, it would be good to move up to 13 inch wheels. This gives me more scope in tyre purchasing, and less trouble if I travel at a higher speed.
What would I need to do other than buying new wheels and mudguards?
Is there any advice that would be useful to me?
slt Read more
I think the idea is good, but I reckon your problem could be finding 13" car wheels with the correct stud pattern to fit the current suspension units. As suggested you'll probably need new suspension units designed to take car hubs and wheels. When I built my trailer I sourced wheels and hubs, then bought matching suspension units. Indespension used to sell hubs with various stud PCD sizes, so a word with them is the best starting point.
JS
I mean not by choice, not planned short ownerships.
Mine is three months, sold my car this morning for £250 spares or repair. I kind of regret it but at the end of the day I just did not have faith in the intrigrity of it.
My previous car was 9 months but that was slighltly unusual circumstances.
I have a feeling I am going to be one of these people who have owned 40 cars within the next 20 years!
So what is the shortest ownership people have had here? Did you buy a car for £400 only to find the cambelt snapped the next day? Read more
4 years, 11 months. (Ford Fiesta Mk III)
Hi,
My Son's 55 reg Mazda 6 decided it would not select 1st, 3rd & 5th on Friday. About 9 months ago he had a gear change cable failure where the outer casing plastic bracket broke. This was replaced by the place he bought it from and he's had no problems. The AA man took the battery & tray out to see the cables and they 'seem' to be moving. However I wonder if anyone out there has any advice or guidance. The lever is very stiff and no matter how you try it will not go into any gear by pushing the gear lever forward. I've not heard any horror stories about Mazda 6 gearbox's so i suspect its not that.
Anyone out there have any ideas?
Thanks
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the heat shield (at least that is what i think it is!) on my focus has come loose in 1 place. It makes a rattling sound when I am in a low gear. Does this need to be fixed ASAP - how much damage is it doing to my car ? and is it a big job?
Thanks Read more
Tin foil (available from most kitchens) can be an acceptable alternative.
Hi All,
Just bought a replacement rear door off ebay which was advertised as off a 1998 model.
However after reading the Haynes maanual I'm pretty sure the fixings for the door card are pre 1996. Also mine is central locking and the doot I've bought is manual also the window mechanism doesn't work on the door I've purchased. Firstly, I wondered if anyone knows will the door fit my model and secondly can I swap the window and lock mechanism from my damaged door? Read more
We have two touring by car (well - austerity van ;-) trips this spring to still sort out. The previously mentioned run down past Azincourt - route Napoleon and into the top of Italy. Plus possibly a trip into the north west highlands of Scotland in a rented cottage north of Applecross.
Unsure of the latter - but need to start planning the March trip shortly
Any advice on missing school holidays in March and May in France and on the best chance of finding hotel vacancies (on the day) abroad?
Previously we have only headed south from Calais in late May or September.
It`s around 500 miles to get up to north of Applecross from here - only a little less than Reims.. another day from there would be passing through the Alps..
Which would you prefer and why? ;)
I`m having trouble deciding - or to put it another way - I have to present viable plans to the boss shortly ;-)
Cheers Read more
I have been over the Bealach Na Ba in low cloud. Not much fun but amazing even if it is overcast.
The Applecross Inn has excellent seafood and beer.
Day trips out from Applecross might be a bit of a pain. Which ever way you leave you have narrow winding roads for 45-60 mins.
We normally rent a cottage. 1000 mile round trip from Manchester and around the same on 3 or 4 long day trips.
Lochcarron has been a good base with reasonable access.
The North Western corner above Ullapool and around to Tongue through the Geo Park is spectacular.
It is single track with passing places but there is little traffic and good visibility of the road.
With the Highlands, the gales mean the rain doesn't last too long. In my experience.
.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/141549/TRAFFIC-WARDENS-FAKE-PHOTO-EVIDENCE.
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Parking restrictions have less and less to do with safety of other road users and more about making easy money.
made non-clickable Read more
You don't see the headlines because not enough people have the time or inclination to actually investigate the validity of a parking ticket. I understand that the success rate of those who appeal against parking tickets approaches 50%. For some people £60 is an easier option than taking time out to see the extortionists in court or at an Appeal Hearing.
Browse
If this is an M103 engine, then, it isn't a distributor as such - the rotor arm extension shaft bolts directly onto the camshaft timing chainwheel. All there is on the shaft is the rotor arm - there is no advance mechanism or any bearings on the shaft.
Without seeing how the shaft has been fractured, it's difficult to say what happened. I would check;
- that the camshaft is well located fore/aft, i.e. its thrust bearing is correctly retaining the shaft. IIRC, once the timing chainwheel is loose, the camshaft can move about a bit.
- that the timing chain is not loose. A quick check is to rotate the engine until the camshaft is aligned, and then check to see how far beyond the timing mark the crankshaft sits. If it's more than 2 or 3 degrees, it's time for a new chain. Is the timing chain tensioner working properly?
- that the engine is not misfiring
- that the extension shaft, when bolted onto the camshaft is rotating true, i.e., that the assembly is balanced.
The 2nd and 3rd points are to make sure that the shaft is not subject to extreme angular accelerations - if this is the case, be thankful that the cam hasn't snapped!