January 2009
Hi
Just read HJ's FAW on air con which suggests that you should keep it on all the time.
Is this recommended?
Read more
I generally have no problem with speed limits and feel that in most cases they correct for the roads concerned, In many cases I would actually like to be able to travel at the speed limit. However, there seems to be an increasing number of instances of 20mph limits on main roads, usually near schools or old peoples homes. Now I don't have a problem with slowing traffic down at these points but it is actually quite difficult dropping to 20mph and maintaining that speed on a main road. The worst thing though is that I can't get the council to put a 20mph limit on my estate even though it has two schools, lots of young children and a lot of old peoples housing, yet they will allow one on a main route into a city. Read more
20 limits
Stick your car in 2nd and let the car do an italian tune up while the engine is screaming at 3500rpm. You won't want to speed up. Relax and let the nut cases behind you do their thing and just focus on those school kids who will play chicken run in front of you.
In many of the 20's near me it is impossible to do more than that away as they are narrow roads with too much on coming traffic you have to give way for.
Is there a car (or even van) which does not come with a radio or similar as standard? Read more
my Triumph (mk1 2000) has:
- no place to put a radio (so years ago i put one inside the
glove box and hid the speakers under the dashboard)
They were known as a wireless in those days. Where did you put the lead-acid accumulator and grid bias battery?
;-)
Rear window wiper and washer are not working. Everything else is working as normal. Could this possibly be a fuse or the motor? Can anyone shed some light? Read more
when you lift the hatch up, at the top beside the hinges there are two small rubber tubes one either side of the hinges, one holds the tube for your washers the other the wiring for your wipers, pull the tube right back for the wiring one and see if there are any broken wires.
Hi, I have a 52 reg 1.8 Focus TDCI 100, had number of problems including new brakes new turbo etc in last few months, however recently the engine makes a constant squealing noise. This lasts the entire journey no matter of length and is very noticeable. I don't know whether it is tied in but it very poor starting in the morning the engine turns over for a period of time before kicking in.
Any ideas is much appreciated Read more
Hi,
With the bonnet up and the engine running, you should be able to rev the engine up. Whilst doing so, pour a cup of water over the belts whilst the squal is happening (you may get a bit sprayed). If it stops then you either need to tighten the alternator belt or change it. At this time of year cars are using more electrics which puts a load on the battery and chaging system.
Hope this helps
Hi
I came on forum a few weeks ago regarding possible new engine for a fiat punto - it turns out garage who said that didnt know anything. It ended up needed new head gasket, cam belt and temp gauge.
Got it all fixed at a cost of 600 quid including a few other bit (tail light, handbreak tightening and oil and filter change), got car on wednesday and it drove better than it ever had, really smooth and resposive - however, this morning on way to work (only a 3 mile trip) the temp gauge slowly crept up to High and it made 'gargling' sound, it was only for about a second but cannot be good, considering loads of work has just been done.
I am taking it back down to garage tmrw and they have guaranteed all their work. They suspect it is just the temp gauge and i hope it is.
Has anyone got any other ideas or advice (apart form dont buy a fiat!!!) or anything i should ask them about?
Cheers
Dan Read more
my money is on the head gasket, again.
apart from which, £600 sounds a lot.
hope the guarantee is good.
Discs rust after standing for a while. I notice that, when setting off in my Hyundai i30 after a day or two without use, and before braking, there is a rubbing noise. This intensifies on braking but then, after an application or two, disappears. This leads me to believe that the pads are in constant light contact with the discs. Is this normal? Read more
Maybe not as rare as you think, I use the garage to keep a car. I also run a dehumidifier in the garage 24/7 in the Autumn/Winter/Spring.
Have a 2003 (53) mondeo 2.0 tdci. On turning left at any speed there is an intermittent rumbling noise, hard to describe but its like a heavy drum ( music) missing i.e dunk dunk dunk. On slowing down the noise obviously slows but there at any speed. Not so pronounced when turning right but still there. Wheel bearings all okay, as is ( visible check) drive shafts.
HELP Read more
Thanks for the response, the vehicle is a taxi and the noize started at around 170,000 miles
ive got a corsa 1.3 cdti had it since march 07 garage i got it from put new alternator on it then about a week later took it back and had belt fitted under warrenty the in october 07 i took it back again rather chaffed off as car was my pride and joy they told me i needed a new belt tensioner looked every were and got one from vauxhalls to my suprise it was cheaper than any where else fitted it myself then about 3 weeks later the niose started again so took tensioner off took the roller off and soaked it in motor oil put it back on car and the horrible noise has gone that i was getting at 1500 - 2000 revs well chuffed im gonna get another new belt coz the old one has been on off on off a few times hope this wll help all u corsa owners out there
changed the year - I don't think they made them in 1953 ! Read more
But what if someone is actually writing to the best of their ability?
Can anyone give me some advice;
bought a mercedes second hand from our local vauxhall network q dealership january last year.
car looked fine under my inspection. although after first wash noticed heavy front bonnet chipping which wasn't eveident at the time but thats another story.
on completion of purchase full MOT and a minor service was undertaken by them and passed...
12 months later lo and behold failed MOT
reason wrong tyres on same rear axle
wrong width and height and speed
so went back to vauxhall and explained.. after some deliberation they came back to me and said they would replace the offending tyre..great but really need to replace both now as the one correct tyre is in need of replacing.
Dilema: should I push the envelope and insist they replace both tyres. on the basis that i have effectively been driving an illegal car for the past 12 months unbeknown to me, and as their MOT passing station effectively passed a car that is uninsureable in the event of a crash.
Now I am knowingly driving this car in this position...
should I push the envelope????
not much good at this kind of thing ...but sick and tired of coming off second best..cheers Read more
The tyre situation seems fair to me.
As for your daughters car find adverts for a similar car and send them to your insurer, you don't have to accept there first offer, if you have a loan car costing them money that will help quicken up the process.
Good luck on both though and give us an update.
:o)
Browse
Standard A/C (non-climate control) will increase fuel consumption by around 10%, climate control a bit less.
Running for 10-15mins per week is usually recommended by manufacturers as DD says.
If you do around 10k miles pa, expect to spend an extra £100pa in fuel leaving the A/C on all the time.