October 2009
Stepson just got back from 2 week holiday abroad to find a London Congestion Charge NIP waiting for him, and the 2 week £60 payment option expired 2 days ago ie. he now has to pay £120.
Does the fact that he was away when it was delivered mean he can still pay £60? Read more
They found a lot wrong with it but its all silly things and stuff I have suspected anyway here is the jist of it
1) Brake noise caused by new pads being too big for the old discs which is rusted on the outside, they said no need to change yet as they are working fine but they should really be fixed but brakes are working fine so this can be left as the original discsare still within the correct thickness and the new pads have plenty of friction on the.
2) They found one of the rear shocks to be leaking. This dosn't surprised me as the ride can be very bouncy made a thread on this before.
3) Four x main seals leaking (what are these?) and sump seal. As the oil leak is very very slight (about 50ml a year) I don't know if this is anything to worry about or even an MOT failure?
4) Antifreeze too weak even though I had this changed just two months ago
5) Recomend rear Sca? what the hell is this? Was in brakes section
6) Cable ties holding air meter on - hahaha its my wonderful handy work but does the job perfectly. Should change them though really
7) Rear washers not working - pipe split in tailgate - not an MOT issue so will leave it for now.
8) One tyre down to 3.3mm (advisory) and spare flat. I had always intended replacing this tyre soon as its a cheap make anyway.
9) On the way to dealer I noticed a slight clonk in the steering. I didn't mention this but they have listed a CV boot which is perished and split so I am assuming its just that.
The only part of my car which they gave a green light to is the gearbox engine and clutch which they said all sounded healthy and worked perfectly.
It is a big list but I don't think it will cost that much. My plan is to use the bus for the rest of the day and then tomorrow get a quote for two new rear shocks and CV boot. Then I will get the oil leak looked at followed by a new tyre so the 3.33mm one can replace my spare.
I will then go to the exhaust place and insert a large garden gnome in them, I am still fuming about this.
I reckon it should all cost well under £200 and it should mean my car will fly through the MOT in Feb .
I was impressed for two reasons 1) it was free 2) they just gave me a price list for the parts needed and said give us a ring if you wanted to do any work. They were not in the slightest bit pushy. Also the things they found wrong were all the stuff I suspected the only new bit being the CV boot. Read more
Ita a Dennis Alaxandra Enviro 400 :).
0-60 in about two years and around 6mph :).
So far my bus journeys have been quite easy but now got to get to two places with no direct connection so I guess its a lot of walking tonight :(. Furthest walk will be four miles :(.
Got a quote for two new shock absorbers, a new CV kit which includes the joint and boot for £200. I have decided even though I might not need a new CV joint I may as well just get it done as it will be cheaper than having it fail on me in two months time like my dads has done.
We have two cars out there, both off the road due to CV joint problems :(.
I am not sure I will get the £200 much cheaper so I will probably just go with it and swollow the £120+ labour bill. Checked at my local colleges for maintance courses but they only do proper full time courses :(.
After I get shocks and CV done I need to sort out my tyres :(. I may flip and announce I have just bought a 1978 Rover SD1 one tomorrow :p:
Citroen claim you can get a second SIM card from the mobile phone supplier and fit it in the on board card holder but Vodaphone state that they do not supply a second SIM card. What does one do to use the installed phone ? Read more
Humph (and apologies for a late reply - just back from holiday).
Your system in the Cashcow is probably a simple Bluetooth connection to the phone. Most are. The C5 Navpack is a phone in the car requiring a SIM of its own.
Apologies if you had to get a duplicate SIM for the new Nissan.
Hi
I just want to get your views
I have a Seat Toledo, 55 plate, out of warrantee, with the DSG automatic box. I have just been told I need a new box, or at least it will need to be reconditioned, with a price of anything up to £3.5k.
In doing some research I found out the Gearbox should have been services at 40000 miles. I check my service history and I found I jumped a service, I went from 35k to 53k, (car is now on 82k). The servicing was all done at the same Seat franchised dealership. Should they have told me the gearbox needs servicing? Have I got any come back? As you can imagine finding £3500 is quote a lot.
Thanks
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To get a service done within 500 - 1000 miles can be very hard when you are out visiting customers ...
Probably. But when all is said and done, you are the only person who knows (a) when services are due (b) the miles on your car (c) when you will be visiting customers. I don't see how your garage can be expected to work all that out. The gearbox is due for its second service, never mind the first.
The second meeting is planned for the next two weeks
( well Ian and myself plan to have a beer and a chat)
If by any chance anyone else is in town then speak up.
Venue yet to be decided. Read more
Who is "Ian"?
A long time member of the forum who resides in Capetown.
I'm interested in the new model Superb to replace an existing estate. However, the back seats do not seem to fold flat (or even nearly flat!), severely reducing the height available.
I've seen a pic somewhere on the internet which showed this 'problem' and I also saw one at a local dealers.
Was it just the model I saw?
If not, why do manufacturers do this, why not design them flat? Read more
But the seats don't fold properly.
I have a Mk1 Superb and it's just the same - stupid. On occasions I have had to unbolt the seat backs to carry big items. The damned thing needs a wiper too.
I'll reserve judgement on the Mk2 estate when I see it.
659.
I take delivery of new car this week. VW dealer in Bushey is offering me this at extra cost. Says it gives stain/water repellent coating to all interior including upholstery as well as extra protection e.g. from colour fading, plus extra gloss to paintwork. They say it is advisable with newer eco-friendly water-based paints. "You will never have to wax your car." The process takes the garage an extra couple of hours during final valeting before I collect it.
I always had Rovers before and never had to wax them, yet the paint stayed in good condition and my 9 year old car is still glossy. I always handwash - never use brushes.
Obvious questions: is it advisable, is it worth it and could I get the same thing cheaper elsewhere?
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Many thanks for that. They were quoting £495.
I will not be taking up the offer and will look out for a stain reppellant upholstery spray I can do myself or just use a car rug on the back seat!
Interesting video here ... a Monaro owner took his car to his VX dealer to fix a coolant leak.
The mechanics took it for a test drive to see if the leak was fixed.
What the garage didn't realise was the owner has a Roadhawk video & GPS recording device fitted, which when examined later, showed the 'test drive' included some highly illegal driving, with speeds of over 125mph.
Anyone remember the parking attendants in the Ferrari, in Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E66BDZ0PShM
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Your employers insurance provider may insist on it before long
We as a company have been very lucky so far....not tempting the fates by saying any more.;)
I occasionally see trucks that have side mounted camera's presumably for use in side swipe accidents, whether they are camera'd all around i don't know but i agree it's only a matter of time...thanks again to scam artists and assorted story changers.
What does the coil pack look like and how easy is it to replace ? Read more
It's the squarish box back of the engine just above oil pump/filter.Four ignition leads go into it and a connection to loom-easy to change.
Gordon Broons latest scheme is to sell assets to the private sector. These are to include the Dartford crossing - you remember this, its the one where once it was paid for it was going to be made free (it was paid for years ago). Prepare to be fleeced by the new private sector tolls.
Why doesn't he just go the whole hog and sell our motorways, hospitals, etc.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8301927.stm Read more
Already under discussion elsewhere.
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