February 2009
Car dealers and their service departments get a lot of criticism in this forum, which is contrary to my own experience. I'd like to pose a probing question. "Do you think that you're any more skilled, conscientious and trustworthy in your job than the employees of car dealers, and if so what are your reasons for thinking that?" Read more
A car with a rear nearside flat tyre passed me this morning.
It was an otherwise tidy looking 03 Corsa, keeping up with the traffic at about 30/40mph on an urban dual carriageway.
The driver seemed unaware of the puncture.
Is that possible?
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I believe with some modern FWD hatchbacks it's very possible to miss a rear tyre flat for a short amount of time, as under normal straight driving it won't make much difference to the drive.
Not sure what the reason for this section of cars being singled out is though. Doubtless a combination of things.
Weight bias?
Brake bias?
Low profile tyres?
Stiffer suspension?
The person I saw a few months back driving along blissfully unaware as sparks flew up from her front right wheel was really taking inattention to whole new levels though.
Has anyone else noticed how braking distances have miraculously shortened in this icy weather we're having?
You sit well back from the vehicle in front giving yourself plenty of room to brake if needs be and you are taking it easy as its really slippy and then the guy behind then sits 10ft off your back end... Read more
Not only does it shorten braking distances makes overtaking possible in places where only a total pfd would pass on a dry sunny day.
Seen outside a Swiss railway station last week, amongst all the brand new Mercs and Beemers, An absolutely immaculate 740 estate, complete with uniformed driver.
Dark metallic grey - showroom condition.
This car was replaced by the 940 in 1991 or 2 .
I feel like going back an asking him has he really had the same taxi for 17+ years! Read more
IIRC when the 900 replaced the 7 series, apart from some minor facelifts and tinkering with the electrics/lights, the main improvements were SIPS and similar stuff.
I'm not at all surprised that one should still be in use as a taxi, my sister still has our '93 940 td estate, and despite many scrapes and scratches the body simply refuses to rust.
I keep my eye out for another td version, as simple a car as you'll find, except for trying to replace glowpug 5..;).
Today I had the orange coolant replaced on my ford focus (petrol). When the technician at the Ford garage was doing the job I heard him reving the engine and holding it there for about 1-2 minutes. Is it usual to do this when changing out the coolant and would it do any damage to the engine ?
Also for some time I have noticed on the inside surface of the top of the coolant reservoir (above the level of the coolant), bubbles or condensation on the plastic surface. After having the coolant changed today it appears that they are still there.
Do you have any ideas about this ?
Thanks for any help. Read more
Any oiliness (however slight) on the inside surface of the reservoir will tend to make globules of coolant stick to the surface and not run down. I wouldn't worry about it.
I am desperately in need of some advice, I ha a new battery tray welded into the back of my 1972 vw camper last friday, I have just discovered the rear lights on that side no longer work! Is this something I should expect the welder to sort as they were working before or am I stuck with trying to trace what he has done.
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probably burned through a wire, can be a problem with old campers, happened on mine when I had some welding done a few years back. I seem to remember you have a lot of fuses in your camper, might be worth checking.
Had 3 more calls thsi week on the same subject!
"You looked at my brakes recently, and a couple of times the pedal has gone funny and had lots of noises when I'm braking a bit hard and in this snow. Can you have a look please?"
No proble, course I will look.
But its the abs kicking in thats the problem. Now thats easy enough to explain how it works and what id does , and causes, to peole when they want to know, but......
How many times in an emergency have people let go of the brake pedal because of the abs unsettlling them?
I know abs is poor in snow/ice/gravel but what happens in other circumstances? Is it actually of benefit if people don't know what it does?
Does everybody, before they respond, actually know what the abs feels like on theircar when it cuts in?
A lot of motorists think its just gives beter braking at all times! Read more
My local garage guy once told me most people only activate their ABS once a year or so. I found this hard to believe, but having read this thread I'm not sure anymore.
hmm ...
perhaps it's just the way I drive but mine must activate about once a week. LOL
i recently bought a c4 that didnt have a radio in it and when trying to wire up another standard one i bought its caused all saughts of problems. the car wipers come on for no reason , it wont start sometimes wont even turn over , the lights came on for no reason then did'nt work at all and the display screen on the dash lights up for a second then goes out and sometimes doe'nt come on at all what have i done !!
i do notice when i turn the key theres a relay in the fuse box that clicks on and off , i am stuck ,
hopefully someone may be able to shine some light on to this problem please !!
cheers carl Read more
just to add , before today and the obove fault occured i have noticed when turning the key it would take a little time for the screen to light up and the car to turn over, i have read a few threads on here and some were pointing to a loose connection from battery to main fuse box in engine bay !!
Hi everyone,
my GOlf MK3 left side mirror was broken last night and I'm planning on replacing it myself. I already ordered a replacement on eBay, but looking at my car, I can't really tell how to remove the old one.
Does anyone know how to do it?
Thanks a lot! Read more
My friend's daughter is out taking her first driving lesson. He has just come off the phone to his insurance company after being quoted £2500 (really !) to add her as a named driver for their "P" reg Fiesta 1.25. The car's main driver is her mum, with her dad named, both in their 50's with good records, obviously that company doesn't want to insure youngsters. Can anybody suggest somewhere else to try ?
Thanks. Read more
I think that is wise. Driving tests are £100 a pop now and I know two people who have had at least four tests. Lessons are £25 each so thats £100 a month on lessons, £100 for each test, if he is also paying £150 on insurance on top of that it gets silly.
I've spent £1000's on lessons, my test (luckily passed first time some how),at least £1k on insurance, over £1k on cars, over £300 on repairs.
The lesson I have learnt is don't rush into getting a car :) although it does feel very exciting which is why I once bought one before I passed but at the time my dad was phyicaly unable to drive and we needed access to a car so that was the main reason for it (I drove it on L plates).
Browse
I have to reply similar to madf.
I provide my own income.
Fail I starve and lose everything. get it right and life is ok.
To answer the OP directly, its impossible to compare. To dealers in general, maybe, to a specific dealer, maybe not !
Oh and life is ok !