October 2009
Hi Guys,
Car used several times yesterday, OK for 40 miles. Last trip of the day, 5 miles, the engine started and began to run very lumpily, no misfire. With a door open the interior light was flickering, very bright at times, buzzing heard from fuse panel in glove box (no door open chime with lights on). I checked the battery voltage, 14.85V, engine running. The alternator was hot, after only a 5 mile journey. This morning I've checked battery OC voltage 12.5V and SG, cells 1-5 12.70, 6 12.50 (still the orignal battery). Took plugs out seemed OK other than white centre insulator (running too hot?). Started engine, again running not quite right. Alternator output 20A falling to 15A after 5 minutes, voltage 14.5V. Switched Air con on, fan running, alternator output 43A. Noticed that the EML was now illuminated. I've booked car into dealer for Monday. Any advice on this problem and what I should be asking dealer to look for in the way of fault codes, would be appreciated. Car has done 53,000 miles. Regards, Mo Read more
Yes WP we use lorries in the fire brigade but I can assure you they
can't get up to 77 mph on a bend.
I notice the standard fire engine chassis specially designed by Dennis seems to be disappearing and the replacements are of a certain foreign make/model.
I'm given to understand that Dennis vehicles are exceptionally good for the role being purpose designed, is that no longer the case?
Sorry for the thread drift Mods, would you rather a new thread if there's any interest?
Created a separate thread before the replies in the original thread on jury verdict on crash policeman became too much of a problem. Rob Read more
I have to be careful here because 'Dennis' has been used in the title of several firms supplying equipment for the fire service.
Nearly all fire engines are built on ordinary truck chassis, modified by its manufacturer to give the performance (acceleration and braking), to meet home office specification. As the finished machine is always fully loaded through out its life the suspension can be finely tuned, also higher output electrical generation. The manufacturer can now offer a special fire engine chassis to the market.
Then comes the fire engine builder, who working to customer requirements, fits water and foam tanks, power takeoff and drive-line, pump, its plumbing and control gear.
The crew cab is is a major part of the construction, containing a safety cell, its often a much modified day cab.
The side lockers are panniers and sit either side of the chassis rail. Other things fitted are separate batteries for engine starting only, electric air compressor to keep brakes topped up, sump heater, and power supplies to onboard lamp and radio chargers.
The finished appliance is fully loaded tested to ensure it meets all the requirements, including a tilt test, and the builder awaits the fleet order from the brigade.
I believe the demise of 'Dennis' from fire station appliance rooms is down to resources, they could not compete with the large parts bin that Volvo,Renault,Man,Scania, and of course Merc have, and that made them expensive. They also seemed to have reliability problems.
Hi - Will need to replace the front tyres on the Rav 225/65/R17 101H currently Bridgestone. Rang around the usual companys and the prices fitted for the same make range from £150/158, Yoks £130/136 (have not yet attempted to negociate), however, a budget tyre was mentioned NANKANG at £95 fitted. I have found their WEB site. Does anybody out there have any experience of the make? Many thanks. Read more
Autoexpress tyre tests
Saving lives more important than saving ££££s
www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/21...l
{made link non clickable. We wouldn't want them to know their web traffic is coming from a competitor}
My Activa had two new rear spheres done by a garage who failed to top up the LHM before replacement.Could this oversight have introduced air into the hydraulics?
Since then my suspension doesn't rise & descend smoothly & my hydraulic clutch pedal no longer operates the clutch!Can I rectify this by a complete hydractive system flush or am I completely barking up the wrong tree? Read more
The suspension system is normally self bleeding as fluid leaks past the suspension pistons and returns to the tank but you could try 'Citrobics' as suggested. I would also confirm that the clutch is nothing to do with the hydraulic system so must be a seperate fault.
Hi, I'm new to the forum which I've been searching for the last 24 hours or so to try and get an answer to a problem that quite a few people have had with some great responses so here goes. I have a 52 plate 307 HDi 110 with 68K on the clock. 2 days ago I had to have the off-side lower engine mount replace after it failed casuing all sorts of banging noises etc. I paid the £240 repair bill and headed home in the rush hour traffic only to notice that there was no power and the turbo wasn't kicking in at around 1800 revs. I couldn't really confirm this (due to traffic) until the next morning when I drove along a dual carriageway and was able to put my foot down. No turbo, no power, revs wouldn't go much above 3000 and then the engine diagnostic light and the ESP/ASR light came on the dash with the Antipollution Fault dispayed on the console and the audible alarm. Phoned the repair garage (who did the engine mount) who said they could have disturbed a sensor when taking the wheel and drive shaft out etc and the wheel sensor links into the same system. When I got back in the car several hours later the ESP/ASr had recovered leaving just the Antipollution Fault and the engine diagnostic light on and still no power. So my question is, could something have been disturbed that could be a quick fix or is this going to cost me a small fortune for a new FAP as seen on other posts? Any help in this matter would be much appreciated, thank you in advance Read more
Anti-pollution fault appeared on our car, put it into our local independent garage, they eventually came back saying that whoever had worked on the engine before had routed the engine electrical harness in such a way that it was too tight, then when the engine rocked in normal use it was causing connections to be broken.
They rerouted the harness and all has been well since.
So, if they did disturb the harness, it could give this fault. It's one possible reason, anyway.
Hi
Could anyone possibly advise what I am likely to fork out for the following repairs please?
- flexi hoses on all wheels
- front & rear brake pipes
- offside sill replacement (and paint to colour code)
- patching of nearside sill
Just wondering is it worth my while getting it fixed
Thanks
Read more
obviously Dependant on where you live and whether greasy jack is going to rattle the new sill with a can or its going to a body shop for a professional cut and chop of the old sill and blend in and paint the cost all in guv is between £400 and a £1000
basically it needs two sills fitting and blacking and a lot of brake bits so realistically you want to be looking at a bill of under £400
really need some help here guys, my 99 fiesta has started to smoke and its looking like i am going to have to get rid soon, been looking around and quite liked the reliability i have been reading about of the mazda 626 , i am needing a bigger car as the family is growing up ,i do about 8k a year mostly daily 6-10 mile journeys plus the odd family day out , i need to know which engines are reliable 1.8/2.0 also reading hjs review he states in the bad points ( High 8 point death rate from accidents in this model.) i have looked on the ncap site but its only the newer 6 thats listed does this 8 point death rate mean the car is unsafe hence me not wanting to put my family in it ,i have only £1500 to spend , dont want another ford any ideas
thanks for your help Read more
,, ,I own a 626 so my tuppence worth...
Bought 2 years ago after 3 successive Subarus. I fancied a change and was trying to source a nice 530 Touring or similar, and bought it from the Classifieds on this site as a 3 month stop gap!The fact that I have kept it speaks volumes. In 2 years it has cost me £300 for 2 annual services, one of which included a precautionary belt change. A further £100 upgrading the stereo to a 6 disc CD, and £300 on a recent full set of Michelin Energy's which have improved the average (brim to brim) mpg to 38mpg. I consider this excellent considering it is a 2.0 petrol 5dr with 134bhp.
I paid £995 for the car, SE spec includes leather, cruise, digital climate control, panoramic glass sunroof etc etc. It has proved to be 100% reliable.
After almost 40 years motoring, and owning in excess of 45 cars, it is, apart from my 2 Legacy estates, the best 'all round' car I have owned. These have included all manner of cars...it does not handle as well as my Elise, does not go as well as previous Saab Carlssons, is not as solid or grippy as my UrQuattro 20V (which will always remain the best driving car I shall ever own) but for sheer day to day practicality, cheapness to run and value, it is excellent. However, I am very pedantic and bought the car because, as the third owner, I had the cars full service history, including lease company print out, from day 1.
If you have not sourced your replacement by Xmas, keep a watch on HJ Classifieds, when I intend to replace it with a folding hardtop MX5 or 350Z, or, the joker in the pack, a Spec B Tourer, once prices ease !
Good luck with your search.
I had a little difference of opinion today with another driver. Well, a private cab driver, so you know.....
Three lane dual carriageway, becomes two lanes about 150m after some lights. I was in lane two and set off briskly. He was slightly slower away and then suddenly decided to make something of it, so much so that it in the space of a couple of seconds it was a real 50/50 so I let him in. Presumably he was pleased with this outcome.
If I had decided to maintain my speed and rebuff him and we had collided, who would have been deemed to have been most at fault ie is the lane closing that has the greater responsibility to the lane he is joining or is it a free for all? Read more
... 99% of these drivers are local and know that the right hand lane peters out...
Same near me, I can forgive someone new to the area getting into a pickle over lanes - we've all done it.
But why a driver who knows the area deliberately sparks a confrontation is beyond me.
firstly i would like to say hello to all in cyberspace.
I have hit a large car shaped iceberg and come to a complete stop, i have owned 134 cars upto now but my present car has totally bamboosled me and ruined my faith in vw, it is my 6th passat and it will be my last it has been in the garage for 8 days out off 6 weeks ownership so much for the buitifully crafted passat.
Anyway i have totally lost my car buying mojo and dont know what to go for next,
here is the cars i am considering,
skoda octavia,
seat ibiza, ( probably to small though)
Kia ceed,
mitsubishi lancer,
audi A4,
is there anything else i should be thinking about. Read more
How old is the Passat? If you have lost faith in VW then their group
cars like Seat and Skoda would surely come under the same umbrella.
it has just turned 3 year old and as i have had vag group cars for a good few years now this is the only one that has given any trouble, i have mainly lost faith in the suposedly beautifully built passat.
the build quality just isnt as good as the b5.5 passat.
this new car creeks and groans inside the cabin with a funny rattleing noise from someware behind the dash like loose wires shoogling about, and as for the flimsy plastic lower dash well it speeks for itself or should i say creeks for its self.
but the most annoying thing is the stoopid keyfob ignition and the electric handbrake which fails to release 3 out off five times oh and has decided to release itself dureing the night, well i supose thats progress isnt it,
Hi does anyone know which terminal is positive and negative on the back of a car speaker. theres a broad terminal and a narrow one, I know its sometimes stamped plus and minus on the terminals but not on these. thanks Read more
It makes a big difference, if I wire my HIFI up wrong (e.g swap the terminals) the bass suddenly becomes overblown mid range, the vocals dissapear behind thick curtains and the treble is awful.
That said the standard speakers in the Corsa B are so damn awful I doubt it would make much difference. Like all small cars of the time a horrible tinny sound but then I can't really compare to my HIFI seperates system which is what I am doing.
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On the other hand, by locating these issues they may have saved you a couple of breakdowns or worse. Leaks can be suttle at times, just a trace of fluid with no obvious evidence.