April 2009

former farmer

When I found the air con not operating, I found the drive belt from the crankshaft to the compressor had come off. Is there an adjustment for the compressor to alter the tension of the drive belt?

I cannot figure out how the belt came off the pulleys, as it was too 'tight' to slip over them and operate the key to crank it back in to place.

Space is at a premium under the covers which makes access difficult. Read more

daveyjp

There are a lot of comments about GPS sending drivers on strange routes. I tend to consider a route before asking the GPS.

I have to go somewhere unknown to me tonight which is in the sticks so I checked the above websites for a route.

AA got me within about a mile then advised to turn left - a quick look on the aerial photo reveals the last mile or so is down a lane which looking at Google Earth is little more than a track between fields and it didn't look car friendly - you can see foliage down the middle of the lane and two worn tracks either side. I won't be going that way and it's a long way round to get to the other end of the lane where I need to be.

I then tried the RAC which for some reason chose a 20 mile route which took almost an hour - allowing for traffic it could be over 90 minutes. Whilst the route was almost a straight line I don't fly a helicopter - apart from one short section the route completely avoided the motorway netweork which isn't that far from where I'm going.

I've devised my own route using motorway as much as possible which gets me within striking distance and the the GPS can take over from there.

It shows there's no substitute for the old fashioned way.
Read more

daveyjp

No problem if there is some tarmac. I went to look at where the AA route advised - I would have needed a tractor, the ruts were over a foot deep.

stevied

Has anyone seen the Doves' video for the song "Kingdom of Rust"? It's great. It's a brooding young indie type feller-me-lad driving his blue 1980s Granada through some cracking North-West/North scenery. Unashamed angst-ridden Northern schmaltz. I keep changing my mind on where he drives to/from, you can clearly see the sign for M61 Wigan/Preston on one bit, and in another part it looks like the Congleton to Buxton Road, but it could be Saddleworth, or Huddersfield, or Glossop.... anyone got any ideas, or better anyone actually know? Read more

bell boy

the video shows home moss
also the farm in the middle of the m62
that big bridge near the yorkshire/lancashire border,anyone else stood on this and looked down? there is a walk down the side of the bridge down to the resevoir,ive slid down there on me bum one cold fosty morning,it was quite scary
mk2 grandad,best car ford ever built, especially with the 2.8 injection,only thing is you couldnt keep up with its fuel consumption when you were booting it everywhere

oh and the song was ok

Dave H

Hi guys

For the last few weeks, the ABS light comes on seemingly randomly.

It can happen after 100 yards or 100 miles of starting the ignition.

There is no pattern or obvious reason. e.g. it does not happen while braking.

The brakes and ABS system appear to work fine.

Switching off the ignition cures the problem, but it happens again sooner or later.

I'm selling the car soon, so wouold like to avaoid any great expense.

Any ideas? Read more

Woodspeed

If the ABS light comes on there is a fault (may not be too serious). However, it will stay on until you switch off and on the ignition again. Get the fault codes read and good luck in hoping it is only something simple. If the light is on, ABS is not available, but you still have normal braking.
If it comes back as hydraulic valves in the actuator, worth flushing through with new brake fluid. Can be a bit of crud stuck.

smileybabe

My mondeo zetec drives in 1st, 2nd & reverse, but thats it. My regular garage have given me a fault code of P0732. Ive rung 4 different places to get an idea of the repair cost and have been given 4 variations of the problem and prices ranging from £200 to £1000!!

I admit that beyond the basic maintenance I am probably a typical girl, I do pretty not technical. I am very wary of being "misinformed" and any advice or others experiences would be most appreciated

Thank Read more

Paul G1pdc

Good afternoon.
my mother (65 next month) had a coil spring break (rear) on her 03 plate KA last month the cars covered 15k from new, she had the spring replace and also a wheel bearing...and tyre after the spring took chunks out of it.
since the spring break shes had the handbrake light on the dash flashing on and off.
.
does anyone have any ideas to what could have been damaged....

.
thanks for any replies.
Paul.
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Paul G1pdc

thanks DD. will get her to check this when I give her a call tonight.
thats something she can do herself...
(after I tell her where the bonnet release handle is!!)
.
with her old metro..I used to top that up with oil when ever i went round, and pump up the tyres as per reply was its getting serviced in +months and they can do it...
(bumps head again wall!!!!)
.
paul.
(as you can imagine I have never bought a car from my parents hahaha)

brum

I'm on the verge of buying a Skoda Octavia with 1.4Tsi/DSG combination. However seataltea through me a wobbly when he posted elsewhere that his DSG had been a disaster.

Any real life observations of DSG reliabilty?

I know its too early to build a clear picture of the new 7 speed dry clutch version.

Does anyone know if there is any scheduled servicing required - e.g. fluid change for the 7 speed box? And looking at a diagram of the box - it looks as if the clutch pack is replaceable - anyone know for sure?

I'm looking to run it for 150,000 miles without doing anything to it. Is that reasonable? Read more

Altea Ego

£1 000 for the part which according to a

phone call I overheard is about the same as a clutch and DMF for an
A4 2.0TDi manual.


the point being tho that as the the 1.4 tsi does not have a dmf, you could probably make its clutch and manual gearbox last 100k miles with some mechanical sympathy. 150k with only a clutch change,

Dont think the DSG has proved itself that far. As you say tho, keep it for three years and punt it - someone else problem.
choobacker63

hi does any one know if you can replace valve stem oil seals without removing the cylinder head , its a fiesta mk4 1.3 endura petrol engine , thanks Read more

choobacker63

ok thanks for that , thats been a real help

kayks

I have a 12 year-old Nissan Primera, which is quite temperamental about getting into 1st. Clearning out my attic over the weekend, found an old AA Book of the Car dating back to early 80s. Learnt the art of double de-clutching, tried it, and 1st gear reluctance now cured! Just wondering, does anyone else try double-declutching nowadays? Is it a lost (dark) art? Read more

madf

My first car was a 1929 Riley Monaco with no syncromesh - by design. I had to double declutch to change gear.

Never did it again : it's a pia.

martinctb

Yesterday my 2002 Diesel PT Cruiser with only 28000 miles on the clock gave up and died, the car was sitting on the drive ticking over when there was a knock and the engine stopped now the engine wont turn over the starter will engage and tension is put on the engine to turnover (you can see the timing chain jerk) but it is stuck solid Question here is what has happened or what has broke, where do i start, any ideas Read more

Number_Cruncher

>>there was a knock

>>I would remove the starter

DMF?