March 2009
Am looking to buy a supermini and am considering a Fiat 500. I want a solid 'Volkswagen type' vehicle but am not overly enamored by the Polo. My budget is £8500. Any ideas? Am thinking about the Fiat 500. Read more
Following a call from daughter who was stuck in stationary traffic( M1 Southbound just N of the M25) I accessed the traffic info from the AA site. Ok it confirmed that the M1 southbound is closed due to an accident, but I decided to look at the traffic cameras in the surrounding area to get a visual. I am fairly aware of the area and the junctions, and the traffic pattern was the give away as to what was happening, and made a potential choice of alternative route possible. However, the images do not appear to give any information on which way the camera is pointing. Therefore how does somebody who does not know the area make use of the information? Am I missing something? The heading info only states that the camera is between Jx and Jy, does the the stated order of junctions indicate whether the camera is on a particular side of the carriageway? - because I think that it is wrong anyway!
tinyurl.com/c3y3ad
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I Have found this site very useful. www.frixo.com It gives the average speed of traffic past many motorway junctions. No cameras but fairly easy to work out where the problems are, and it is updated regularly.
Hello
Gort a 2001 Vectra heard its common that the area around the rear wiper rusts.
Its starting to go on mine. Also heard theres a rubber seal you can get. Anyone know anything about this? where to get one and if not any other remedies.?
Thanks
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Anyone know anything about this? where to get one
Not heard it mentioned before on any of the Vauxhall forums I look at.
where to get one
The logical place would be from the spares counter at a Vauxhall dealership.
I don't get it? I like alloy wheels and would rather have them than not but do they actually make the car any lighter like they are supposed to? I certainly would never pay money for alloys. Read more
Mapmaker if you look on the car by car HJ mentions that the alloys on the Fiesta Ghia have a habit of cracking.
My Pug isn't very well. Last night when I was driving home there was suddenly a smell of burning rubber that lasted a minute or two - still not sure if it was another car or not. The engine started feeling a bit odd though, juddering when idle and feeling like it was going to cut out. Today it's been the same, and I saw that there's black smoke that leaves an oily residue on the ground, and the engine management light comes on if it idles for too long. It's not running smoothly and I'm very concerned about it. My mum drove behind me for a while and said there's a bad smell coming from the car as well as the smoke. She thinks it might be something wrong with the cylinder head gasket. I'm asking for advice here because if it is something like that, it's not going to be worth taking the car to a garage at all. It's a great wee car, and it's in good condition for its age, but I've already spent a fair bit on it and I can't afford to spend much more. I'd like to be able to try fixing it myself, but I've no idea where to start. Read more
Points? POINTS? Thought they had gone by the start of the 90s! But if he said he cleaned them, he must have I suppose (AHEM)!
I have just replaced ChampiroBXT tyres on the front of 1998 Nissan Primera Estate. Tyres had a treadwear 520 I replaced them after 56000 miles - were not worn out but had tread of about 2-2.5mm. Using this treadwear suggestes Michelin with treadwear 400 should last over 40000 miles, Goodyere treadwear 240 should exceed 24000 miles. How does this tie in with other peoples experience on validity of treadwear number and tyre wear? Read more
The EU tyre rating was originally just for (environmental) energy efficiency and noise, it was the makers who rejected this and called for a wet grip rating too, as the two are compromises of one another.
Hi if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be most appreciated :-)
I have a 2002 Vectra and just recently the petrol gauge seems to go haywire. It seems to go up to a full tank then just keep goin up and down while drivin and sometimes it just doen't move at all it just seems very random :-(
So any help would be most gratefull :-) Read more
You need to trace the earthing point of the sender - it sounds like it's not earthing down and thus the dash pod is seeing full voltage and thus a full tank. There may be a connection on or near the sender/tank.
Be careful when messing with petrol fumes though - don't fiddle with the ignition on.
hi people
just noticed that when i change gears there is a slight sqeak (sounds like leather squeak type) tried moving the gaiter around and think it is coming from under the gaiter and to do with the slots where the gearstick moves into (1-5 and R), is this wear and tear? or a more serious problem? or is it i need to put some gearbox oil in? Read more
Probably but it wont last long.
Well it looked a nice day today, and not blowing a gale as it usually is when i decide to perform an interim oil change.
So oil change done, and at the same time i fitted the Fumoto quick drain valve which i bought last year.
Hopefully this will make future oil changes much easier, as the normal sump bung manages to drip half the oil onto the cross member resulting in oil drips all over the place and an even bigger mess on the concrete (which has really suffered this winter) than i usually make.
For safety's sake i'm going to get a new 5/8th" jubilee clip and nip it up just in case something gets tangled up and undo's the sprung safety clip.
The link is hopefully to my photobucket album, i'm bound to have messed something up, so if the link goes to Saucy Sarah's homepage don't blame me..;)
Took a few odd snaps of the underside of the old banger for anyone interested, note the state of the exhaust, will rub that down and repaint using much better paint this spring, very poor exhaust quality IMO.
Took the winter tyres off yesterday, and those keen eyed will notice that i've rotated the summer set including the new spare which is now on the front n/s against all the good advice..;)
Don't take the mickey too much...
tinyurl.com/dj8cd9
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Can't say I blame you it looks sooo 2008. What colour are you going for
this year? :-)
Everythings going black this year, i bought cheapo supposedly heatproof paint from the local carshop, and you can see the results plus i second coated too early/late and it crinkled..doh, must read the instructions this time.;) so got some decent 1400'F stuff to try and make it look a bit more cared for.
I wonder how many have had a nose under their cars yet now the worst is over, i should think there'll be some sharp intakes of breath the amount of salt that gone down this year.
Whereabouts was SS did you say, missed her meself, no change there then..;)
Am getting a loud crunching noise from the rear N/S of Fiat Punto when going over speed bumps or potholes or bouncing rear up and down. Nothing is broken or rubbing as far as can be seen. Sounds like a heavy spring catching on something. Possibly the shock has gone even though it stiil seem to function. Not had much experience with this Punto so any help with diagnosis welcome.
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I have owned a Mini One since new, having covered over 70,000 miles. I tested a 1.3 Fiat 500 multijet, and while it appears to have Mini build quality, in no way could it compare with the wonderful road driving characteristics of my mini,- assuming that you intend to use it on the 'open' road.
My advice would be to check out the PISTONHEADS web site where over 200 minis are advertised for sale[trade/private]
However, if you want something new [circa £6,000], which in many ways is the equal [and better, - bar safety] of the Mini, go for a Fiat Panda 1.3 Diesel, notwithstanding that it may not be as 'twee' as the 500.
Happy Driving!