April 2009
I'm not altogether convinced that "think bike" signs are a good idea. I'm sure they're liable to send the wrong signals to some motorcyclists. Some will see the signs as putting motorcyclists on a pedestal, conferring special privileges on them, putting the onus on all other drivers to get out of their way regardless, and giving them immunity from accidents whatever their standard of driving. Having frequently seen the crazy antics of motorcyclists on the A631, A157 and A153 crossing the Lincolnshire Wolds (where motorcyclists go purely for the fun of driving at high speeds on twisty roads) I wonder whether the signs should be replaced by "think all types of vehicles" signs. Read more
A lot of effort goes into polishing - trying to put more than one coat of polish on - hours spent gasping and rubbing with cloths, mitts, buffers - you name it.
Meanwhile rock and table salt remain encrusted on the brake lines, subframes, behind trim, in the engine bay corroding alloy parts, bolt and screw heads. More salt - now formed into a hard mineral - sits on the exhaust system, in particular on top of the rear box, eating into the seams.
Steel sumps, blasted with grit and salt look like the surface of an old oil drum after 10 years dumped at a tip.
We are at the maximum corrosion time - warmer days - damp mornings, salt still embedded in road surfaces after little or no rain.
How is it that everyone knows brake pipes corrode, but it`s almost unheard of for someone to coat them with grease?
Instead there seems to be a fatalistic waiting for the MOT failure.
Polishing the bodywork is a lot harder than wiping grease on the brakelines - that`s the puzzle.
Why not grease the pipes at home and book it into (speaking generally and not just thinking of Rattle`s Corsa ;-) ;-) `my mechanic` for a triple wax polish -instead of giving him the brake pipe renewal job?
Is it a form of voodoo that grease can`t be touched - but polish can?
No excuse that you need ramps, I can do ours without and I`m an old codger.
;-)
Read more
The shorter the time the car is wet the less it will rust.
Car will usually dry quicker left outside rather that put away wet than in a garage whether dehumidified or not. A dehumidifier will also use a considerable amount of energy to run especially if the garage is not effectively sealed. A car port is probably the best method to keep a car dry for its non working life
Having said that for most people corrosion isn't a problem worth worrying about for modern cars.
Knowing there's so many fans of them on here, thought I'd let y'all know... ;-) Read more
Did anybody spot the 3 secs of video footage at about 44m30s into the program showing (presumably)European motoring but with cars driving on the LEFT. My guess is that was probably Sweden and the oncoming car was an old Volvo. Before they started driving on the Right in 1967.
Any other views on where it was?
Interesting reading - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagen_H on the changeover.
p
I had a new clutch fitted yesterday to my Y-plate mondeo mk 2. They actually took the car on Tuesday but had trouble with a faulty clutch kit, and had to keep it overnight, returning it to me last thing yesterday. Driving it home and then to work and back today, I've noticed that it's behaving strangely compared to my previous admittedly knackered clutch.
There's a lot more knocks and rattles than I used to hear, including an intermittent single knock every ten seconds or so when just driving at a constant speed on the flat.
It's far more snatchy and to some extent I expected that, but it snatches in sort of two stages - once as it first engages then again as you lift the pedal further.
Potentially most worryingly, I took a fairly tight (by motorway standards) bend at 60 on the sliproad between the M6 southbound and the M62 westbound at warrington, and the whole engine note deepened a tone or two.
Does any of this ring any specific alarm bells for anyone? It leaves me wondering if something is ever so slightly off alignment and the intermittent knock is something like a shaft working it's way slightly out of place and then dropping back in. Of course, I know almost nothing about clutches, but I think on the MkII mondeo it's a full on engine and gearbox out job, so there's a lot to be potentially got wrong on the refit...?
Cheers all. I will endeavour to answer any further questions as best I can.
-- Kev Read more
Feeling of being down in power is probably due to the clutch not slipping under
hard acceleration.
I can feel that now it's fixed. :o). Feels slower while almost certainly being just as quick if not quicker to get going. Before it went back it felt like there was actual resistance against it spinning up, like something was too tight.
-- Kev
hi i have a grand secnic diesel 56. had warning check injection took it to renault and they tried to force regenaration but failed they said to much soot in filter it now needs to be changed and they say its not covered by the warranty got 6 months left on it. anybody know how much its going to cost. thanks x Read more
I have a Xantia and recently the rear end started feeling like no suspension, it was feeling every bump in the road and there is a knocking coming from the rear. Having read through the forum, I tried going from min to max height, the front end went up but the rear stayed down. I tried lubricating the height adjuster in front of spare wheel and have managed to get it going up and down now, but the harsh ride is still there as well as the knocking does this mean new spheres are required at the back? Read more
The parcel shelf puts a small load on the top of the back seats. I've noticed, when it has been removed for the same reason as you, that the top of the seats knock a bit against their resting place.
Are the rear radius arm bearings ok? Look for the rear wheels leaning in at the top, or uneven tyre wear.
Read this for the third time recently and wondered if anyone has a comment to make.
Working on the assembly line sounded horrific - was it really this bad?
screwtape Read more
I worked on the fridge door line in a factory as a holiday job many years ago, probably about the time Wheels was published.
I loaded the outer metal skin and inner plastic skin into one of a series of jigs and fastened it up. Someone opposite did the same. The next blokes pumped the insulating foam into the space between the liners. The jigs then went through an oven and when they came out again I unfastened them, unloaded the doors and so on.
I worked next to the oven and on the advice of the older blokes drank salt water throughout the day because the temperature was really high. We started at 7.00 am and finished at 6.00 pm, except on Fridays when it was 5.00pm. I can't remember the details of the breaks. When the line stopped for a break or because there was a fault, a small cheer went up.
It paid well but it was a tough job.
hi there,
over the last couple of months i have been getting this quite loud knocking noise from the n/s front suspension, it seems 2 happen on uneven ground and uneven road camber but nothing on a flat tarmac road.
when i 1st got the noise i was told it was the top suspension mount i changed this 2 no affect, then told wishbone, new 1 fitted and i still have the noise....
i am now thinking is it the shock absorber?? or the link arm from the shock to the anti roll bar??
anyone had this before?? can anyone help please as im buying things i dont need at the mo and its not helping...
thankyou Read more
thanks for the replys....what is the best way to check the springs?? would the shock absorber make a knocking noise if it was gone?? i have been told it could be that??
this is quite aloud knocking noise though
(Well, it did need half a new exhaust, but I knew that.)
It needed 2 new lightbulbs last year (With daytime running lights you don't realise if the sidelights are not working) but apart from that it has sailed through 6 MOT's since I have had it.
Not bad for a 1995 banger.
Are all 940s like it or am I just lucky? Read more
I remember with my Vectra in 1998 being told it needed a rear light bulb. I reversed into a space each night so used that check or bulbs each day. Turned out the Vectra had two bulbs for that function and one had gone.
Now park on the road and wife's car in the garage. Used to put a Passat in each night when I had it until my wife's car was newer and not the very old Polo ;-) Her sunroof leaks at times so lucky it's in there.
If I got a supermini we could have both in there.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7977277.stm
It's done 80mph on a test track, and they're trying to beat the record of 127mph - I must admit I thought it would be higher than this.
More info on car in report under 'SEE ALSO'.
EDIT: record set in 1906! Read more
Nice looking car but I wonder if there's enough room for the fireman to swing his shovel....
Ted
Browse
.jpg)
Not half as much a lifesaver as better observation by the car driver!
This makes more sense than fitting airbags to bikes;
tinyurl.com/c7ddu6