November 2009
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 39 *****
As the title suggests, this thread is for all things Formula One and other general motorsport related stuff.
This is Volume 38.
Usual rules apply. When we get to around 100 posts, the thread will be locked and the next volume will start.
PLEASE NOTE
As with the IHAQ & the Computer threads, When posting a NEW topic, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each topic in it's own separate segment and stops each new topic from getting mixed up in amongst existing topics. Also please remember to change the subject header.
Read more
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
Read more
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.
i167.photobucket.com/albums/u141/amazingtrade/engi...g
This is my first car, 'Rattle' it had an electrical fault and bits were missing so I got out my old GCSE electronics kit and did a bodge repair. Repair lasted longer than the engine.
Read more
Another useful cable was Hillman Imp choke cable.
I sat in a CL500 today. It was awesome.
My wifes son has gone and got himself a CL500. 1 yr old, 9k on the clock, jet black with cream leather, double glazed windows (for heaven sake).
There are buttons for everything. If it moves? press a button, if it don't move? press a button til it does.
For all its length, there ain't a huge amount of leg room in the back. snip - inappropriate comment
The best mpg he has had is 22 (at 70 on the motorway)
Still, nice car though. Read more
Some drives might be no go areas - how about Moss Side :-)
Or maybe that'd be one of the safest places to take it.
If you park a car like that on Moss Side people might think that you're not someone to mess with!
Hi, I have a 2003 mk4 golf yesterday I found that the speedo wasnt working and the fuel gauge will drop as I accelerate, however the rev counter and the temperature gauge seem to be working fine. I have tried the fuses and now i'm out of ideas! anybody had a similar experience? thanks Read more
Brilliant, this makes sense as i have recently replaced the gearbox and it would have been disturbed, I'll check it out. Thanks!
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.