November 2009
Next week I've got to do a journey I endured 2 months ago, taking my daughter to an interview at Reading Uni. Last time I went A12 ( I live near Framlingham), then M25 northbound and M4. This would seem a fast and simple journey but about 50% of the northbound M25 consists of roadworks and the journey was a slow frustrating crawl.
I've got to be at Reading for 10.30am, are there any sensible alternatives? I'd considered the North Circular then onto the M4, or even M25 southbound, then M4. Any thoughts or do I just resign myself to the nightmare of the northbound M25? What makes it worse is I've got to wait up to 5 hours in Reading whilst her interview takes place then endure the driving misery in reverse in the dark. Read more
This Vauxhall has been used as a driving school car it has covered 33.000 miles on a 1.3 eco flex engine , this last week it is noticeable that the clutch slips in high gears when asked to make progress , I know its use is heavy and varied but would it be considered normal to be slipping at such low mileage , I had a citreon saxo from new that did 125,000 before it did anything and that was a school car to, Any views
{58 changed to 08, as the question asked for year of manufacture, not vehicle reg prefix}
{Which Vauxhall btw? You didn't chose a make from the drop down menu} Read more
I left my MkII Cav at a backstreet clutch specialist one lunchtime come 5pm he
hadn't touched it. He jacked it up as I stood there his mate sat in
the car pressing the pedal when he was told and they had it done and
back on the floor in 10 minutes flat. He told me his record was 6
minutes on his mum's Nova.
Cavs / Astras / Novas of that era were cars with properly designed clutches that didn't need the gearbox removing first. Brilliant idea!
my a4 tdi showed 2 faults maf and boost preassure sensor ,ive replaced both , still no boost ,do i need to get the faults reset to allow new parts to work ? Read more
is the preassure sensor the 1 on the black boost pipe ? top of engine
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As the title suggests, this thread is for all things Formula One and other general motorsport related stuff.
This is Volume 38.
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I remember the Calibra had the lowest drag coefficient for a road car at the time. Due to tyre widths, the 8v was better than the 16v.
I'm not sure some of the methods of creating downforce (Venturi effect I think - also referred to as ground effect) make F1 cars poor in terms of aerodynamics. The big wings do and they vary these according to track - some they go for less downforce from the wing for higher top speeds on the straights.
What is the expected life of a 1995cc diesel engine??? Currently looking at one that is a 2.0L Dti Elegance model with high miles....Pls Help... Read more
Thanks Lygonos we'll be sure to look out for those things.
On Saturday I moved my Micra about 3ft so my neighbour could park his car.
Tonight (Sunday) it stalled and wont restart.
Am I correct in thinking the engine has flooded and its just a case of waiting for the engine to dry out? Read more
I certainly got my Corsa working by flooring it. It just would not start but could hear it turning over so I floored it and after a few seconds came into life. Been perfect since not a single miss fire or anything.
If you do the floor method make sure the car is in neutral/handbrake etc as normal put press the throttle down and start turning it over, if it hasn't kicked into life after 10 or so seconds leave it. If you keep it turned over you risk burning out the starter motor and flattening the battery.
monday 23 nov 2009 (tomorrow) bbc3 at 22.30
young mechanic of the year
might be worth as look? Read more
I made the error of watching this yesterday, and even now I'm not sure if I imagined it or not.
Absolutely mindnumbing in its puerility, in terms of the concept, the contestants and the tasks set.
The total budget could not have been more than a few thousand pounds.
Some of those lads looked as if they had never seen the engine of a car before and yet were trained mechanics.
The first 'fault' was a coil plug unplugged and the other electrical faults were taped wires to cause dual working of lights/ horn etc. Almost to a man they struggled, yet these faults were mainly visual and obvious.
As for fitting an immobiliser switch, they behaved as if they had never used a pair of pliers - perhaps that's true..
The programme must have set the image of the trade back a few years.
There must be thousands out there who could better represent a trade which already has a poor public image.
Almost every car manufacturer has produced a lemon at some stage, with the possible exception of BMW and Porsche.
Here's my A-Z
AMC Pacer & Gremlin
Austin Allegro especially with the idiotic quartic steering wheel
Cadillac Seville Diesel, Cimmaron
Chrysler/Talbot Horizon, Solara
Dacia Denem
Ford Edsel, Pinto, Taunus
FSO Polonez
Pontiac Aztec
Rolls Royce Camargue (even Pininfarina can have an off day)
Volkswagen K70
I'm sure there are many more I can think of, but my post would probably time out
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bell boy
Yes the Metro had 4 pot calipers in two independent circuits sounds good but over
time the damn things corroded solid and cost circa £500 to replace.
>>right..
but i have a saying
use it or lose it :-)
can you not recondition yourself? i did a punto by accident the other month when i popped a piston out as i was pad fitting :-(
Hi,
a few problems with the focus, not sure whether related. Have had to top up coolant twice within last month, with no visible signs of loss - then car started to 'miss' when accelerating, first under low revs but now throughout rev range.
Wondered whether missing was due to spark plugs, as had not been changed for a while, but when I removed the leads I noticed the first plug (to far left) was swimming in oil.
Could this cause the misfire? Wondered whether rocker cover gasket leak could be the cause (but have changed this 3 times within last 2 years...!)
Bit concerned whether coolant loss and misfire hint at head gasket failure, but there have been no signs of overheating to date.
Any advice welcomed.
Cheers. Read more
deffo HGF in my opinion
We run a kangoo which we have owned from new. It has travelled 49000 miles on mainly short trips. I remember a previous car had a sudden and total battery failure at a filling station at about the same age and milage. Is there any easy test I can do to check the state of the battery? I know that modern types often give no notice of failure. Should I change it at a particular age or milage or will it last for many more years? Read more
Cheers. I'll try a local independent auto electrical place on the way home tomorrow.
Browse
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A couple of Travelodges as well. I believe the one in the town centre doesn't have parking, the Travelodge a little way out of town does have parking - I understand.