April 2009
Hoping someone can help - I'm terrible with cars :(
I've recently bought a Focus (2000) and I found this odd looking bit rattling around inside the ashtray. Anyone know what it is, and if I need it??! (apologies for the blurry image):
i42.tinypic.com/edpuv.jpg
i44.tinypic.com/10oqykj.jpg Read more
Someone in the family has a P Reg Honda Civic 1.6 , I think, three door car - the cockroach - but it has done about 600 miles in the last three years. Otherwise, it has been in the garage. The car has no problems and has been serviced regularly. However, I am wondering , if offered this car, should I go for it, or could the fact that it has been so little used over the last three years make it an unwise choice. Any help please? Read more
Don't know yet? What's its value?
Would welcome any comments on which is the better car - ignoring that they are different in so many ways. I would just like to know in your own opinions which is the better vehicle. I would be looking to buy one year old. Read more
>>Stu. sorry. Yes, I remember you saying this. I think you ought to write your own guide to cars. I am sure you see things that others might miss. <<
Not at all, I think you will find HJ has a fairly comprehensive guide to cars already!
I do try to champion lateral thinking and exploring more unusual options as just because just because journos say one car is best in the class, thats only judged by their personal views. Sometimes owning is different to just test driving.
Is it ok or do they blow up?
I used to run a 1.8 TD 1996 Ford Mondeo and a 1996 Volvo 850 TDi estate on 30-70% (depending on how warm it was) and they both got along ok with the only problem being on 100% vege oil they didn't boost, but as soon as added diesel they where ok again.
thanks Read more
"such modifications indicate to me the engine was never designed to use vegiie oil "
Perfectly true - DI engines do not like cold veg oil in a cold engine, hence the modification of the tanks and heating the oil.
However, Elsbett veg oil conversions are TUV approved, which says something, in my opinion. www.elsbett.com
I think this is two seperate problems.
My dads car has been nothing but trouble this week and I have suggested it is time for the scrap yard but there is no way my parents can afford a new car and I cannot afford to buy them one as I have just bought a new car for myself.
When my dad starts his car there is a huge huge cloud of blacky/blue smoke its so bad that you cannot see the rear of the car. After that it settles down but it is still quite smoky. His engine sounds a bit of a racket too. I would have thought it was the stem seals but the smoke is really reallty black so it seems a bit more serious. The car runs fine but it is very vety noisy at idle. It does use a bit of oil but nothing too bad, probably about 5 litres per 10k. The engine is now making a bit of a racket but I have mentioned this on the technical bit before and the noise is more likely to be the water pump bairings.
My dad was gving me and a freind a lift tonight to Didsbury as we were going there drinking and on the way the car started making a horrible knocking noise. It was dark and I could not inspect it but one of the front wheels looked lower than the other. The suspension had been making a racket for a while as all the bushes need doing.
On the last MOT it was a big debate if it was fit for the scrap yard or not but it we manabed to scrape it through but since then the suspension sound has got worse and so has the smoke.
My blind diagnosises is the stem seals and a coil or arm that has snapped does this sound realistic? I will jack it up tomorrow and have a good look at the suspension.
Would steam seal faulure cause a cloud of black smoke?
The noise from the front passanger wheel is a rumbeling sort of sound so I assume this has to be either bearings or a failed coil?
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Knocking noise is from the front passanger wheel so possibly suspension or bearings not sure yet.
There was no smoke today so it is displaying the symtpons of the stem seals but why so much black smoke? I've not checked the breathers yet.
It is running on all four cylinders.
I am considering buying a 2001 Mercedes C-class that has a non metallic red paint finish - the paint is badly faded in many places and I was wondering if it is possible to restore the paint to a presentable standard by polishing the car.
Am I right in thinking that taking the car into a professional polisher for a "mop" is likely to restore the paint to a presentable standard? I'd be interested to know what sort of polish is best to use.
It wouldn't be cost effective to respray the car so unless I am fairly confident I can restore the paint through polishing I wouldn't buy the car.
Thanks in advance. Read more
In the early 1990s I had a zinnerberot BMW which had been partly repainted while with a previous owner. The repainted areas started to fade after a few years, I tried everything, even wet sanding in the end but the paint had faded right through, not just a thin top layer. When I sanded it, it would only return to good paint colour when I got through to the original factory paint.
In the end, I spent a few hundred pounds (can't remember) having it resprayed by a trusted small bodyshop (two man band) and it looked amazing afterwards. To keep the costs down, I removed some trim, lights and bumpers sround the parts to be reoainted.
Those who followed my recent VRS turbo saga will know that the Skoda factory paid for my turbo (one year out of warranty and 35000 miles) which was pretty impressive. I couldn't believe it when the service manager at the dealer who did the repair said that Volkswagen would have been much tougher (same company).
Sadly some manufacturers are not quite as impressive so I thought it would be interesting to ask, in backroomers experience, which manufacturers have been supportive and which have not.
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I had my bushes done gratis as well Bill(with a bit of pushing, think I have got a Friday afternoon car). Interesing to see the differences in the VAG group and perplexing. Suspension bushes a known problem on this platfom, especially the "sporty" vehicles with the TDI.
My local Skoda main dealer is pretty half assed to be honest (something of a rarity) and I have been recommended a good specialist by the guys and girls on Briskoda for my cambelt change. They use genuine parts and also change the waterpump on the 130PD engine which the maid dealers don't do. The only concern I have is whether specialist rather than main dealer servicing may have an effect on the value when selling the car on. Instead of full service history (I always keep all my bills anyway) you increasingly hear full dealer history even though in many cases the Indys do a better job. Read more
The longer you keep the car, the less important any history becomes.
If it's cambelt time, you may already be approaching that territory.
Hello all,
I am pondering trying to get a few more BHP, handling and breaks from my '94 Golf. Sadly not the GTI version - 1.8 8v 90bhp variety.
So i've been considering a few options - and would like some feedback...
1) K&N induction kit (supposed 4-5bhp), performance brakes etc. Easy & Cheap ish - but not dramatic even if I get 5bhp. Do they work?
2) Can you put a 16v head & MP injection on an 8v? How would you find out if you could? What else would you need asside from the ECU & intake manifold.... More expensive, more complicated - particularly for insurance & problem troubleshooting
3) Kent "sports" CAM? Problematic? Insurance issues? Do they work? Am I flogging a dead horse?
4) Buy a late model GTI? Even more expensive but easy. Autotrader has a decent '98 2l gti for about £1500. Dunno what I might get for mine (VGC) - £500?
Thanks all,
James Read more
I had a 94 golf.
It was OK until it turned 8/9 years old when terrible body corrosion, engine unreliability (cooling/ignition/electrics) and massive repair bills broke out. I was stupid and spent a fortune trying to fix it.
Have a look at the inside of the rear hatch - if its like a lot I've seen it'll be pure rust.
I suggest you scrap it now and buy a decent car.
Is it a problem my end, or is the forum not working/working properly?
I havent seen any new posts, but I keep getting 'new' appearing against the old posts...
edit.... ok... this has posted, but under 'old' posts.....ie date/timed before 'this moment in time'
2nd edit... just rechecked....in fact the 'old' post are dated today, but 'timed' in the future!
ie.... 04 Apr 09 23:15 Read more
It is you not reading
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=73...3 :-(
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Saw something similar on a minibus the other day. The ends of the wheel nuts had a chrome dome. Maybe its that.