January 2009
I read that both Ford and Vauxhall (at least) are planning to increase the price of their cars? If sales are as poor as they are reported to be, surely they should be looking at cutting prices in order to kick start traffic through showrooms, or is my logic haywire? Read more
My trailer is in need of some new tyres - it has mini hubs on which originally had 10" wheels - I have some 12" metro wheels and tyres on it now but I have spent this afternoon going through all the tyre suppliers and no one came up with any 165/65 x12 -- are they a discontinued size - if not does anyone know where I can get some from -- I dare say my local tyre depot would be able to source some but it would be handy to have an idea on price.
Thanks Read more
Many years ago, I had a bubble car with 4.00x8 scooter tyres. It used to wear them flat quite quickly (scooters lean and had tread up the sides). I was offered some very knobbly tyres one winter. They wore even quicker, I suspect they were wheelbarrow tyres!
A letter entitled "Road User Survey" from the National Centre for Social Research, acting on behalf of the Highways Agency, informs me that my household has been selected at random to take part in a nationwide survey to understand more about the travel behaviours and views of road users. An interviewer will visit soon to question face-to-face one member of my household, aged 17 or over and selected at random (so that will be either Mrs D or myself).
Fearful of a scam, I Googled and came upon the National Road Users' Satisfaction Survey 2007/8 Annual Report:-
tinyurl.com/dbddeo
Clearly it's legitimate but equally it's evident that the questioning will be detailed and intrusive: age, employment and health status, household income, ethnicity and that's before the serious stuff starts about usage and perceptions of the Highways Agency network (motorways, trunk roads).
Now I don't expect any Backroomers to read every one of the Report's 126 pages but I'd be grateful for any opinions as to the utility of this enterprise.
Has any Backroomer undergone this interrogation? Am I right in thinking it will take absolutely ages? Did you invite the interviewer in or will he demand entry?
I'm ordinarily a helpful and co-operative sort of chap but on this occasion.......well I'll await suggestions. Read more
"I assume you have no complaints whatsoever about our Highways Agency road network?"
"...now's your chance to take part and have your say."
I'm in my 70s and mostly use the network to go half a mile North to the local farm shop or two miles South to the dentist. I go on a motorway barely once a year and only ever on a fine summer Sunday. Most of my driving is on country lanes, secondary roads and the lesser A roads. As for Mrs D, should the random selection fall on her, she's a non-driver and wouldn't know a matrix sign or a Highways Agency Officer if she saw one. So any complaints we may have about the Highways Agency network ("Too much traffic on it", for instance) are utterly worthless.
There must be better ways of gathering information. Talking to commercial drivers in transport cafés and motorway service stations for example.
I rest my case. That interviewer will be sent packing.
Hi, a month or so ago I had an mot and it failed due to emissions. They ended up saying that they had to bypass the ERG Valve to put it through the mot.
They said that I really need to have a new ERG Valve and since then I have noticed that the engine management light comes on on the dashboard at different times.
It also seems as if I am using more diesel than before and also there is a lot of smoke on ocassions from the exhast.
I have seen that you can buy an ERG Value on the internet for around £80 but was wondering if it is a job that you can do yourself or if I take it to the garage to have them do the job how much do you think they would charge? Would it be more than say £150?
Thanks, hope someone with mechanical/garage knowledge might be able to help, its a 1999 vauxhall astra 1.7 diesel Read more
according to the manual its the 8 valve model and not the 16 if thats any good?
My father-in-law borrowed my brother-in-law's car when his own broke down. F-I-L has fully comp insurance and was definitely covered to drive the car (3rd party only) under his own insurance, and B-I-L had his own insurance (TPF&T) anyway.
Father-in-law was hit in rear at traffic island whilst stationary. Exchanged names etc with other driver as you do, damage was rear quarter on a 51 plate Suzuki Swift; bumper, light lens, boot lid.
He is now being passed from pillar to post by the two insurance companies, both saying that the other one should deal with it.
Could anyone offer some advice please? Read more
Your FIL's insurance co. may be able to help in getting the £ out of the person who bashed into him, which is where the £ should come from - your BIL's IC legitimately won't want to know.
I've managed to obtain pdf copies of some official Jaguar electrical workshop manuals, as supplied to Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.
XJS 4.0L - 1995
XJS V12 - 1995/96
XJ8 - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
XK8 - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
S-Type - 1999.25MY, 2001, 2002.5MY,
X-Type - 2.5L & 3.0L 2001.5MY, 2.0L 2002.25MY
They are non-copyright so I've put them up on:
sites.google.com/site/superfruitbat/
I'll leave them there for a couple of weeks. Feel free to grab what you want.
Kevin... Read more
Gone.
If you want copies, contact me thru' the mods.
Kevin...
Hi
Pretty much as the subject title really. Astra 1.7 DTI Y17DT
When in traffic and using the clutch and a little throttle, if I dip the clutch the revs will sometimes shoot to 1500rpm.
Likewise, if I dip the clutch to change gear, the revs will 'hover' for about half a second or so before coming down, but only if they're between 1500rpm and 2000rpm.
Any ideas? Read more
bump!
I've also noticed that it runs a bit lumpy/missing when started after being stood for a while. It will start fine, and the fault will clear after about 15 seconds or so.
The auxilliary belt squeals under load if that's any help.
Apart from obviously slow vehicles, what is your slowest driver experience?
I came up to a roundabout in Telford last year, I was on the FJS600. I stopped on the line to let a car from my right enter the roundabout. It was an old, ordinary small saloon of some sort driven by yer archtypical little old lady who was looking ahead through the steering wheel. She came round the island and set off in the direction I was going, a single carriageway, 60mph, main road. There was a line of HGVs coming towards us so I stayed behind her. I followed her for a good half mile, during which she hugged the kerb at about 12mph. I could have passed after a bit but I was interested to see if she went any quicker, which she didn't.
I whipped past, leaving, I imagine, a long frustrated line of vehicles behind her.
Ted Read more
G-Whizzes are often slow but not always. Guess it depends on how much juice there is left.
More than half the cars I see tend to be driven too slowly. Of course your average St John's Wood Lexus/Mercedes/Volvo can put anyone in a towering rage in just a few hundred yards. But am I the only person who constantly meets mimsing (and meandering) BMWs? There are lots in this town. And the people carriers, Ford and VW for the most part with a good sprinkling of Toyotas, that these days pass for minicabs are infuriatingly slow and hesitant. A blot on the escutcheon of what used to be a noble profession.
I have a problem with water coming into the pasenger side foot well and soaking the carpets. The car is only 9 months old but I want to avoid taking it back to the dealer as it is such a faff and there may be a simple solution. After reading the post on the Vauxhall it set me thinking. The car has no sunroof and as it is relatively new I would doubt if any seals or drains were perished,the water is rain water as it is nice and clean. Any ideas appreciated. Read more
Got the car back yesterday after it was booked into the dealer they said it was a bulk head seal that was faulty, it seems that they have had to remove the windscreen at some point and maybe some of the dash but hopefully that will be it sorted only glad it was done under warranty.
I have been stung twice in my last two car rentals for 'damage' which I am disputing.
The second rental was made using a well known broker who have washed their hands of the matter saying they have no knowledge and want copy documents which needless to say I have not kept. The extra charge has simply appeared on my credit card statement. I will be complaining to my credit card company as well, when they open on Monday morning.
I have heard about insurance for renters, which covers all the excesses and other charges that one may incur. Has anyone bought this cover and more importantly, have they claimed successfully on it?
Read more
Amex Plat card insurance is useful but only applies if the car rental is associated
with a flight or hotel booking.
Please make your own checks but I don't believe that's correct.
You simply have to be on a trip. From the rules:
?Trip? means a journey outside Your Country of Residence; or a journey within Your
Country of Residence which must include a flight, or at least one night pre-booked
accommodation away from home. Trips can be up to 120 consecutive days or up to
240 days during each 12-month period, but must commence and end in Your Country
of Residence.
Browse
And you've found quality TV's for that amount, have you? Show me where you can find Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba et.al. for that amount.