July 2009
See:tinyurl.com/mhspzb
At this rate we'll have no local pubs and be FORCED to drive (but not drink!).
[R O] = Read Only (not enough room to fit it all in) Read more
hi i need to change my front passenger side door on my 51 reg Picasso. Is it a big job? will i have to remove the front wing? Read more
hi, can anyone help me. just recently had brake discs and pads changed, after a couple of weeks started experiencing the vibration and squeaking, garage i had this work done by has put down to faulty materials? not sure what to believe? Read more
You will find out when they change them for free.
hello everyone, i have a problem with my vw golf 1.6, '99. it wont go into reverse gear, all other gears work fine but just the reverse gear. thank you for your help. Read more
As I say, I am not familiar with that particular gearbox but if you get someone to operate the gear lever while you follow the linkage back from the gearbox, you may be able to see something broken/detached/bent.
Our Megane is a late 2007 model. After 18 months of being trouble free we have a problem with our Megane II. When the front screen wiper is turned on in any position the rear wiper wipes at the same time. The rear wash/wipe works okay on its own. The front screen wash/wipe only wipes, no wash. The rear screen wipes at the same time. It fixed itself for a few minutes but the problem has returned. Any ideas if this is a known problem before doing battle with the Renault dealer?
All other electrical functions seem to work okay.
Any ideas or tips we should know about?
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You have a 3 yr warranty on a new Renault. I would just take it down to the dealer and have them sort it out. Don't worry too much about it. This will probably be a switch fault, or something to do with the multiplex wiring module that controls the interior electrics. Knowing Renault electrics, it could even be the wind blowing in the wrong direction. You could come out to the car tomorrow and it will work perfectly.
In my experience of our old Scenic II, the odd daft, random electrical gremlin was part of the ownership experience. We didn't have the same fault as you, as such, but weirdness with the heater blower and stereo which would more often than not fix itself as quickly as it appeared. I think they call it 'character' ;-)
Cheers
DP
Can anyone provide a scientific, or quasi-scientific, or even pseudo-scientific answer to a question that 'bugs' me at this time of year?
If I go out in the old Prelude in summer, no matter what the weather, except perhaps pouring rain, the front of the bonnet, bumper, chin spoiler, etc, get covered in kamikaze insects.
But if I do the same with the XJS, it doesn't.
We put 100 miles on the beast today purely to see how it would cope with 48degC ambient air temperature, 34C in the shade. Which it did fine, I'm delighted to say.
But although there were loads of insects around, including dragonflies practically the size of hang gliders, they didn't end up all over the car.
Answer, anyone? Read more
TWhile we're on the subject... My first three company cars were Opels and on a routine trip to the dealer, I noticed in the display area at reception an insect remover spray and a yellow plastic sponge-like block, which promised to be non-abrasive. Intrigued and somewhat cynical I bought the set and found to my surprise that it works brilliantly, especially by giving the affected areas (most of the front of the car!) a good squirt and rubbing over about ten minutes before a standard car wash.
I read once on this thread that Porsche's own brand windscreen wash is the best in the trade, which I've yet to try. ...
Experiencing strange behavior with my 320D. Was running fine until Sunday when I stopped the car. When I came back and tried to start it again no joy. It was turning over but just not starting. My initial reaction was that it must be the battery. I got a set of jump leads and the car started. It was then parked for a few hours and when it came to starting same thing again. I attempted to start it again yesterday evening with the same result,I was bringing the car to my mechanic to have a look. When I got there with the car running he tested the battery with the meter and it read 14.5V, even after turning on air-con and headlights. Turned off the car to show him the problem but it started first time! All of a sudden the problem seemed to have gone. I have left the car with him to see if the same thing happens this morning.
I don't want to get the car back thinking that everything is alright when in fact there might be an underlying problem. He mentioned the fuel pump or the immobiliser could be at fault. How can you tell if either of these are at fault?
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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hi m8 i'm suffering the same problem as you. I have a 53 320d tourer and if you turn the key and hear a wuring noise in the driver footwell the car will start, no noise no start . i have replaced the inline fuel pump at a cost of £220 ( from bmw dealer) also the fuel pump relay £7 fault is still there. after checking wiring found no live feed getting to the inline pump (note this is intermittant fault) so now the conclusions are either a broken wire between fuel pump relay and pump or break in feed to the relay or loose connection ( still trying to trace wires atm ) or it could be a fault in the ignition barrel not sending live to the relay. BUT if you know of anyone who does auto electricals you could do as i have (temporary ) fit a switch between a permant live and the live feed to the pump ( located just under car next to end of gearbox accessd by removing small oblong panel about 6 8mm nuts ) mine is a small push button switch from cigarette lighter live ,switch in ashtray then fed through gear gater down to fuel pump then spliced into live wire just in front of connector . you just need to remember to press switch if car wont start off the key and to depress swith when getting out of car or pump will run continous. ( note normal wire plug is left intacked so the car may still fire off the key as it shuold the switch is just in case the pump doesn't sound when key is turned...... hope this helps
Hi
I have a problem where on my scooter the head bolts should be torqued to 5nm. I cannot find a torque wrench that allows you to torque to such a low torque value. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Also can anyone give advice on valve adjustments, and whether this should be done as per the guidance in the manual. Many mechanics say no, but only a handful say yes. It has not been completed on my scooter for 24000 km, and being a small engine i.e. only 125cc, I would like to do this task without destroying the engine or valves, and take into account that I have never completed this task myself. The biggest job I have attempted is a coolant change, which is a very easy job if you do not get air locks!!!
Thanks for your advice
Gregory
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That particular torque multiplier has a rated output capacity of 3,000 ft lbs......
On cold start my Mazda 6 1.8TS petrol revs to 1500 and stays there for about two minutes, making driving difficult in that period. Mazda says this is a normal part of "cold start enrichment" and they have checked it a couple of times. But it doesn't feel right and seems dangerous at the high revs because it drives on the clutch during that period.
The problem does not happen in the diesel version of that a friend has. Any idea how I get this independently checked or do you know what they are talking about. Read more
No worries. I thought the same when I bought a new Toyota Avenis petrol (2007) which I exchanged for a Mazda 323 Turbo Diesel (2002). The Mazda always ticked over at a constant level, even when cold. Petrol engines have always had automatic chokes which means that revs are higher when cold, not least to cope with air con, ABS, power steering, etc.
I only found out today that Alec Issigonis had designed a gear less mini.
I was wondering if this was a forerunner to CVT automatics ?
Anyone know how it works ?
Must have been economical. I could be wrong though
Google has plenty of pictures of the car but no details at all.
I believe the Heritage Motor Centre has one on display (bit far for me to drive to).
So why didn't the idea take off (possibly with some other manufacturer copying the idea) ? Read more
It was not an automatic because it worked on completely different principles from a geared car. It had no clutch, no gearbox and no variable ratio drive mechanism. It operated through a torque converter. Issigonis called it a 'city car' and adopted a prototype as his personal around town transport. Unfortunately, it was very sluggish at low speed, which rapidly became apparent during testing.
Browse
It's all in the way our society chooses to see things. Sometimes rightly and sometimes not.
Drink driving and most other motoring laws such as those relating to speeding etc are fairly unique I think in being enforced on offenders who are doing something which only might harm others or increases the chances of that.
It is more likely that a drink driver or speeder or dangerous driver will have an accident of course but it doesn't follow that they always will without fail. Most of the time I imagine they don't actually.
Not defending anything here by the way. Just musing really. Beats working.....