April 2009
I've got mixed feelings about having leather seats in my next car. The leather in my S80 has been very easy to clean the dog hairs off, but despite being a light colour and heated seats, it's still cold in winter and hot in summer. Is Mercedes ARTICO man-made leather any better?
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Crusing at 80mph on a motorway for the majority of the journey - is there going to be a vast difference in mpg between diesel and petrol? I can't seem to find any info. Read more
Over the past couple of days I have experienced problems blowing hot air out of my heater.
On full whack, the air is thicker but is just as cold as the opposite setting. Wasn't sure if it was to do with the unpredictable weather we have had recently or one of those things that just breaks out of the blue!
Coincidently, my car has been overheating to the extent that the needle was off the chart and I had to pull over. Usually it would overheat in traffic and I would pump hot air out into the cabin but this is no longer possible, hence meaning my car is limited to a couple of miles at a time at present.
I am very much convinced that these two problems are related. Through a number of educated guesses/internet research I believe it could be:
-Heater matrix
-Radiator leak
-Electric cabin switch problem (which, also coincidently, stopped closing the vent fully some time ago).
A professional/mechanical opinion would be very much appreciated. Thanks. Read more
the coolant system needs bleeding,so that the coolant flows around the whole system(including the heater)for it work correctly.
it then needs to be checked to see if your loosing coolant anywhere,then that has to be fixed.
let us whereabouts you are maybe we know someone who is highly recomended.
My recently acquired Mazda has got a low rev misfire. If I give the pedal a stab from idle it misses and then revs. On the move between 1000-2000 rpm it splutters a bit then picks up OK. After 2000 rpm is is sweet and picks up very well.
I tried new plugs (Lucas) and hasn't seemed to change anything. I plan to get the codes read maybe this weekend. I have started to think it may be an gummed or faulty injector injector so was think also trying some injector cleaner (forte??)
There is also a light ticking noise when revved. I have read about the leaky inlet manifold problem with this engine. Could that be the cause?
Apart from that a fine vehicle, I await your suggestions?
Edit - Mileage is 81000 Read more
Update - new plug leads resolved this problem
Thanks to all who replied
Hi
I am thinking of replacing my rear discs on my w-reg scenic megane can any one tell me the torque settings for the four bolts on the calipers and the hub nut,also when fitting the new disc should any grease be aplied to the spindle and if so what type.Any other information for this job would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Egg. Read more
Hi,
i am wondering if anybody has experience or knowledge of my car.
i have a reoccuring problem of the car going into limp mode.
This started 8/52 when she wouldnt start garage diagnoistic said faulty throttle body which was sent away for reconditioning and put back everything fine for 3 days and then limp mode again garage done full mitshu reset of engine management and even sent back throttle body for checking but every few miles the car goes into limp mode.
Has anybody any ideas or suggestions they would be much appreciated.
cheers,
patrick Read more
My son has a P100 pick up with a 1.8 diesel engine (I've listed it as an escort as there's no P100 listing) but its the same engine, in fact it came from an escort (not an easy conversion) It starts and drives well, but on tickover when hot starts running unevenly and smoking unburnt fuel although its perfectly OK given a few revs. My impression is that the compression is low on one cylinder, as it only happens when its hot I would suspect valve clearances but have read that these engines rarely need adjustment. Has anyone else had this problem?
Thanks
Peter.N. Read more
'Put a Chrysler Sunbeam In Your Life' by Pet Clarke was brought up in another thread. Thanks, can't get it out of my head now! Anyway, it was quite a good tune for a frankly awful car, based ISTR on a cut-down Avenger.
Have there been many other good tunes used for bad cars? For starters I nominate 'Driven by You' by Bryan May of Queen fame. It even made the charts, but was originally written to accompany a generic Ford advert that centred on the Mk IV Escort.
Over to you. Read more
I'm sticking with you - velvet undergound. For something Korean I think. Daewoo?
Hi all,
Just bought (literally - paid for it on Sunday) a Golf Mk IV, 2.3l 170bhp and, on picking it up this evening from a (Ford) dealer came across some problems. I was driving it off the forecourt and a pinging (eventually) alerted me to a warning light on the dash. I pulled over to check the manual as I know next to nothing about cars and it translated to something along the lines of a backfire damaging the catalytic converter and advised I take it to the nearest dealer. I took it back to the dealership who said they will look at it this evening/tomorrow.
The thing is I took it for a test drive on Sunday and it drove fine - no warning light and no juddering at low revs (which I also noticed happening today). Since the test drive, the dealer has done an MOT and put in half a tank of fuel but I don't think they have done much else to it..
I guess my questions are: Can anyone give me an idea of what might be wrong and might it be something that would mean I should try and walk away (if I can!!)
Any help would be welcome.
Cheers,
James Read more
take it back pronto and get them to look at it. Might be as simple as a bad-spark related misfire - might also be much more!
James
Hi,
during the 90s i built up a enormous driving record, ranging from no insurance to driving whilst disqualified (no drink driving though), i just drove cars with no regard for the law. In 1998 i ended up with a driving ban of 15 years disqualification. I am now near 40 years old, settled down with wife and kids.
Last December 10 years of my ban was up and i have had no driving offences within that period, so i went to a solicitor and asked him could he ask the courts to have my ban reduced, as i am law obiding and i think i have learned my lesson, as 15 years was a very long time. My solicitor says theres a good possibility i should get my disqualification reduced.
Anyway, a week or two in february i couldnt get a hold of my solicitor, so i went ahead and phoned the DVLA and asked has my driving disqualification been reduced. They said that i could apply for my provissional license now as my driving ban has ended.
I thought brilliant, i applied for it, and got it, i bought a car, insured it, and i have put in for my theory test and due to sit it on 7th May.
Today i was pulled over by the police and they told me that their records show that i am a disqualified driver, i said that they were mistaking and that i got my license reduced, and that i am right for the road, as i has all the right documents and experienced driver beside me, they took the driving license number of my license and told me they will get back to me.
I phoned my solicitor and told him what happened, he said that there are barristers dealing with my case and that i havent got dates yet for my courts appearances and that i am still disqualified.
I have to go in to see the solicitor tomorrow, and see what mess i am in, he said that legelly i was driving whilst disqualified, and i could get convicted of it. And to stop driving straight away (which i did).
Now i'm worried if i do get convicted i could ruin any chances of getting my license back and also getting a further ban.
I'm planing on giving my solicitor my driving license and insurance tomorrow to prove to the court (if needs be) that i wont drive until everything is sorted.
Has anyone got themselves into a mess like this before, and if so what was the outcome? Read more
Watchdog this week reported serious issues with DVLA.
Off topic - but it may help.
People are sending licences in to get details changed & receiving them back with groups and entitlements changed and in some cases totally removed.
Browse
I suspect emissions played a part too. The PD's are the only semi-modern diesels you see on the road nowdays that puff visible smoke in general driving. Sit behind one at the lights and you'll see (and smell) it leave a haze behind it even under fairly gentle acceleration.
I've always thought this characteristic to be slightly at odds with some of the hugely expensive "prestige" cars the engine has been installed in over the years.
Great engine though.