May 2009
Hi,
I have been having fuel consumption problems in my 115K SR20 2l Primera. 6 + months fuel consumption has been up from 38mpg to 32mpg. Just this week it has thrown code P0420 (catalytic converter efficiency below tolerance).
I am thinking I will just replace the cat, and both lambda sensors. I can get a cat from a well known online auction site for around £50-60. The front lambda sensor can be replaced with a Universal sensor from the same place for around £15. The only post cat sensors I can find on there are Bosch ones for £50+.
Please can anyone answer the following questions?:
1) Anyone know where to get the best priced rear lambda sensor from? What's the difference between the front and rear lambda sensors?
2) Is using a 'cheap' catalytic converter and universal front lambda sensor even going to work? Or is it total false economy? In which case where is it best to buy a catalytic converter from (barring main dealer) and how much can I expect to pay? The Bosch lambda sensors seem to be around £70-£80 each so they are a lot more expensive than the 'Universal' kind.
I don't care if 'cheap' or Universal parts only last a quarter as long as the best quality parts and need replacing sooner, but if they won't fix my issue then I will pay extra for better parts, so if anyone could advise me that would be greatly appreciated...buying suspension parts, braking parts etc it easy but I haven't a clue about cats and lambda sensors..
Thanks. Read more
When did a tyre on a stick become the standard sign for lambing time?
Anyway, driving through Westmorland at the weekend we came across a pair of lambs which had got out of their field. They hadn't strayed far but we couldn't tell which field they'd come out of (gate on each side of the road). So we stopped the car and waited. The lambs then ran to one of the gates and, after a struggle, got back in and were reunited with their mother, and trotted off happily (anyone got a lump in his throat?).
This happened twice. Each time, the lambs remembered where they'd come from and with a bit of encouragement went back there. I hadn't realised they'd do it.
Of course, they might have been out again five minutes later.
We also saw a surprising number of dead lambs at the side of the road, but these were generally small ones.
[Public Information voice off] Read more
Went to my local Hyundai dealer this morning to place an order for the I10 (1.2 Style). To cut a long story short on the order form i am being charged £200 as an admin fee. The dealer says its common practice and is nothing to do with Hyundai, its just their own policy.
Should i really be paying this?
I was told in certain circumstances if a customer takes out finace with them that fee can be withdrawn.
I do not want finace so i was wondering where exactly i stand as i do not want to be paying a admin fee
many thanks. Read more
Same story - I couldn't get any extra discount either - not that I'm the greatest haggler.
I took my car in to have clucth fixed and asked them to check the idle speed. They never got time to check it and said it is a screw that you loosen I don't have a clue any ideas pleas Read more
You can't change the idle speed its controlled by the ECM. If you have a problem with the idle speed it will need investigating, normal faults caused by vacum pipes leaking or a faulty stepper motor
Commissioned by the vicar to find him a cheap Mazda 2, my first port-of-call was Drivethedeal, through whom I bought a Focus last year.
No Mazdas at all.
So then I look at your man's list of Highly Approved Traders, and no luck there either.
In fact the only place I got any joy was Broker4Cars.
Anyone know if Mazda 2s are in short supply, or suggest any broker?
Cheers. Read more
This old thread on brokers might help - tinyurl.com/pucuw7
Hello All,
Want to fit a towbar to my 1999 Audi A6 Quattro Avant and would like a bit of advice on the electrics. I am considering buying a "car specific" 12N kit made by Westfalia and would like to know if they are really plug in and go (no splicing etc). I have read some where that there maybe a wire/s that have to be run from the rear to the front of the car ???
All the best
Benno Read more
Westfalia is part of the VAG group.The tow kits are very much plug and play ,although sometimes wires have to be moved in some connectors.They are top quality products and come with very comprehensive fitting instrutions.hth
Hi all Both the fuel and temp gauages read when the car is switched off. Also the wipers now won't park .This all happend at once so presumably a common component failure. Can anyone point me in the right direction?? Read more
I have a friend who used to get into town in a car. Now he`s in an electric wheelchair and still gets into town, along the pavements.
Standing between the chair and the car is the mobility scooter. I knew someone who came up a steep Pennine hill and five miles into town on one.
There must surely be a market for the simplest possible electric car - ten miles at 20mph. That would get many people out and about locally. A sort of sub French micro- car. More like a Peel 50.
A simple lead acid battery array - nothing fancy. A new deal. Able to park in the City centre at no charge - except a `re-charge` parking meter style plug in re-chargers.
I think there`s a gap. Something similar in size to a Peel50/mobility scooter - but simple. If a mobility scooter can provide personal transport for twenty miles - why not? using cycle lanes.
You never see a cycle around here due to the hills and the cycle lanes are under used.
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I think that the 20mph limit is too slow - I remember being on a moped and felt really vulnerable at 30 - a vehicle which is bigger than a moped/motorbike but is limited to 20 would come under a lot of "pressure" from other bigger raod users... sensibly the limit would be better set at 40, but it should be restricted to urban use only...
Having said that, didn't some tests of the GWhiz mention that they felt vulnerable, and thats not that slow?!
As it says really
be safe when working on your car this weekend,as they are heavy things
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/8055802.s...m Read more
No point speculating is there - no doubt evidence has been gathered and will be presented to the Coroner's Court. Nonetheless good and timely advice. Locking it now.
tinyurl.com/p4hzqe
Horrifying standards in car design in the 60's. I am sure we have come a long way since then. I have never seen a whole bench seat with passengers (dummies, of course) come out of the drivers door before.
Link made non-clickable because the link has content on the right hand side that some may find inappropriate and also may get some members into trouble if viewed from work computers. Rob (Moderator)
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I think it must have been Ralph Nader, whilst recommending large side mirrors and full harness belts, said that the greatest safety contribution would be to reduce the maximum speed of vehicles by 30 mph.
What is the current trend? Even some of the smallest cars do over 100 and many eaisly double the maximum uk speed limit!
Dont try to tell me that drivers don't try it!
My ex boss was also a farmer. This had nothing to do with the business I worked for but he would quite often be seen with a sheep or some lambs in his car behind the dog guard. Sometimes he would arrive at work with a sheep in the car and come in to do something, forget about the sheep and leave it there all day. Car stank. Golf GTi as I recall.
I used to be able to get to my local more easily by cutting across a couple of fields. One night on the way back a particularly malevolent ram butted me in the crown jewels. Never really been able to have warm feelings about sheep since then unless the thought includes, mint or korma sauce.