July 2009
Hi
I recently had my alternator replaced on my 3 series as was getting battery light flashing on and the engine shunting, with the car actually stalling when driving in a few instances.
I was told by the garage this was a common fault so they replaced this however, the problem still persists.
Any ideas what the issue could be? Read more
I saw a low mileage R36 Estate in shiny blue yesterday while car shopping for my gf.
It looked lovely.
I want one.
For the sake of my wallet, please tell me they are rubbish and completely unsuitable to my 20-25k miles a year.
Thank you. Read more
The feature on 5th gear last night about a GPS which sends you on the most economic route was done in a Passat R36.
It did low 20s on the economy run which was through Birmingham with lots of stop/start to Stratford on Avon and back. It used just shy of 10 litres to do about 42 miles.
The quickest route was on the motorway, IIRC it was 8 miles further each way on free running motorways, but fuel use was still high.
If it's available on line have a look and see if you can work out the maths, I wasn't watching close enough!
I appreciate that there were some concerns that this site had been hacked and fears that details of subscribers obtained.
You may be interested to learn that a website called:
www.lucidintelligence.com
has been launched. The site is run by 2 ex fraud squad guys (one of whom was my boss (Det Supt), and whom I can vouch for as a man of highest integrity)
Basically, you can input your name, address, email address and see if it is at risk. I was horrified when I put mine in to discover that certain of my personal data was sold to criminals in December 2008.
The data returned by lucidintelligence is based on over 100m compromised records supplied to them by informants from all over the world.
The other guy who runs the database is also known to me by reputation, and is a stand up guy by all accounts. He used to receive the same info when he was in force, now he is retired, people still send data to him.
The search process is quite involved as you have to verify your data and you receive email with passwords etc. But, rather than have me describe it to you, take a look. I think if banking data is at risk, you have to cough up a tenner to get the data. Well, an ex copper has to earn a crust to supplement the pension :o)
Some data is free, and gives you a heads up.
(Link made clickably by HJ.) Read more
Mike
if there were an explanation for every email scam... There is only one explanation really and it's the same one every time.
No doubt if she had followed the link she would have been asked for bank details at some point "to allow the refund to be made". Hah hah. and not by a change of tax code? Pull the other one.
I got it too. Windows Live Mail put it straight into Junk. Being nosey I right clicked it, looked at Properties, Details and saw the dodgy links.
Oh - and Googling the subject line is a good test too. Remarkable how many people are due the same amount of refund! :-)
JH
After 18 months of owning my Hyundai Coupe I've decided to swap it for a Skoda Octavia hatchback.
The lack of space for adult passengers did not go down well with other family members and the poor steering made it a less than pleasant experience. I'll miss that full leather interior and lovely shape though.
The Skoda was showroom available and is a 2l diesel in Elegance spec with sports suspension. I did not want the latter and preferred the new 1.6l diesel but the sums worked out and a final test drive convinced me the ride was OK.
A Golf Plus was the most impressive for interior space with a lot more rear legroom behind me. The ride in the rear was car sick inducing though. A Hyundai I30 was impossible to drive with the rear seats folded - my knees were hitting things.
Read more
We looked at the new Octavia but the only model in budget via scrappage would have been the 1.4 poverty spec (and it really is) so we bought the Hyundai i30 - with the scrappage it was just under £8k and a bargain, considering the equipment, the warranty etc.
But I wouldnt say that the i30 and the Octavia are in the same class, the Octavia is half a class up really.
Can't wait, get the i30 on Mon 27th. Enjoy your new Skoda :)
Are these any good? I'm thinking of getting one even though I have a 6 cd changer in my car. I've heard good and bad about them regarding sound quality. Read more
I've tried a number of different FM transmitters (iTrip, Car Dock FM) with my iPod in a number of different cars that the family has owned over recent years (Focus, MX-5 and Mazda 6) and the sound quality in all cases has varied from appalling to poor, at best !
I came to the conclusion that the friends who I'd borrowed them from were more interested in convenience than sound quality, so the FM transmitters were an acceptable solution for them and they're usually the cheapest option too.
I ended up importing an AudioLink iPod adaptor for my Mazda 6 from the USA for around £70 - connects to the back of the sat-nav socket on the OEM CD player and sound quality is indestinguishable from CD quality (provided the MP3s are of a suitably high bitrate of course !) You can also control the iPod using the steering wheel controls, which you obviously can't do with an FM adaptor.
I've been so impressed with it that I'm currently trying to source a similar adaptor for my wife's Honda Civic - I'm not even going to bother trying any FM adaptors, based on my previously poor experiences with them.
been looking at some boxsters , seems you can get a nice for well under 10k with history and sensible milage etc
ive read the cbc breakdown and see they suffer bore problems..is that on all engine sizes ?
cant seem to find many buyers guides that free online
im guessing the engine isnt too diy friendly sinse its hidden away lol Read more
I should really add that you need to allow for £1500 to £2000 PA to keep it in good condition.
hi all
my 306 meridian has a problem.
The head lights work.
The green "dipped beam" warning light on the dash doesn't work.
The "light on" buzzer doesn't sound when you open the door with the lights on
The radio and clock lights don't dim when the lights are on
Dash lights (AFAIK) and the lights which illuminate the speedo + rev counter don't light up when the lights are on.
I've got the 30 fuse fuse box and I've checked fuses:
F2, F7, F9, F28
but they're all fine.
Any ideas? Read more
Fuse 19 is blowing.... just spotted it.
Hi all
My 306 has the 30 fuse, fuse box.
If my memory serves me correctly, when I turn the ignition on and the blower starts up it blows fuse 21 (30amp) and stops.
A friend of mine disconnected the motor and tried a lower amp fuse in and, as that didn't blow, concluded that the motor is fine..... there was however smoke coming out of the vents! Does that prove anything?!
Anyone here into Peugeot wiring?
The 306 is the Meridian which has air con.
Thanks in advance
Read more
I would concur.
My daughter has a Canadian boyfriend who works in foreign parts for 2 months then has one month off. He's got UK parents and has applied for a UK passport.
He's decided that from now on, he'd prefer to spend his off-duty weeks here in the UK rather than Canada.
My daughter tried to add him to her insurance as a temp or full time driver (with SwiftCover) but they would only insure him after he'd been a resident for 3 years which doesn't really help.
Numerous phone calls to all the usual suspects have produced similar results.
Can anyone point me in the direction of an insurance company who might want the business please?
The car is an 04 Focus 1.8 Diesel.
Thanks in advance!
Brian Read more
Good suggestions. I do use a broker for my Westfield XI - don't know why I didn't think of phoning them for this!
Thanks!
Brian
hi, i was driving laguna 1999 dti yesterday and went to change gear and my foot went to the floor.
i took it to my local garage and they told me that it needs a new clutch cable. however, this was replaced 2 months ago. the garage then told me that oem cables dont last and i need a genuine one from renault.
is this correct or could it be other problems.
also if a pull the clutch lever back in to place the pedal returns to its normal position and i can use the clutch a few times before it hits the floor again. Read more
Any outcome yet after_burners?
Browse
This sounds like the exact same problem im having. I can go days or a week with no problems then i get the battery light flash a lunge forward then minutes later the car will cut out and an array of warning lights will come up. I have had the crank and cam sensors changed but no joy, what exactly was changed on yours to sort the problem?
Thanks