December 2009
Where are Back Roomers off to for the festive season and what journeys will be involved?
I started a similar thread last year which produced some interesting replies, so let's hear what your are up to for Christmas, 2009.
I'll be finishing work around normal time on Christmas Eve and driving the 40-odd miles down the A1(M) to my caravan in leafy North Yorkshire.
Christmas Day it's across to Southport - about 100 miles from the 'van - to meet family in a hotel for an evening meal.
Looks like my Christmas lunch will be a cheese sandwich and a bag of crisps in a layby somewhere on the way.
Stopping at the hotel for two nights, then it's back to Ifithelps Towers in time to return to work the next day.
So Christmas for me will be a long weekend including a 300-mile round trip.
What will you be up to?
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Could someone help, both dip headlights have stopped working on my KA, all other lights working fine, Main and sides, is this a fuse problem, if so which fuse is it, as there is no ID panel for the fuse box.
Thanks, Skyblue Read more
You will probably find that the dip filaments in both bulbs have blown. One possibly went a few days/weeks ago and not been noticed. replacing these is not an easy job on a Ka.
Forgive me if this has been discussed before but I can't remember where but I thought it might have been here. However, my question is, what is the minimum outside temperature below which a car's aircon system won't engage or operate as it would be useful for it to be 'on' when the outside temp. is, say, 0 celsius in order to remove interior condensation. However I'm sure that it won't work under these conditions. Read more
I tried to get the same point across in the other thread IC, but your way of putting it is much more concise :-)
Does it remind anyone else of the Allegro Vanden Plas? Read more
Further my post above...
I wonder if Aston Martin will throw in a discounted, or even a free Cygnet when you buy your DB9 or whatever. ...
Now I probably know the answer to this, but I thought I would throw it open to you guys.
Friends girlfriend has a 97 Fiesta, and it is blowing cold air when the fan is switched on, however the temp gauge goes up at the same time.
Ideas? Read more
Problem now sorted. It was the control valve, and my mates girlfriend is now all toasty.
Took him all of half an hour to fix, and got the valve new from the local motor factors for £25. Guy says he keeps them in stock, as he gets lots of sales from them.
Cushty.
The clutch on my 2003 Mondeo TDCi (130) 6-spd estate failed over the weekend and I have just got it back after having the clutch, DMF and slave cylinder replaced along with a major service.
The garage, when handing the car back said "Do you know that your 3rd gear syncro is weak?" and went on to explain to me what the symptoms were.....when engaging 3rd gear during normal driving it "crunches" - the other 5 forward gears are fine as is reverse (though I believe it doesn't have syncromesh).
Now, I only got the car back early evening today and haven't had a chance to drive more than 2-3 miles but the problem is very obvious and wasn't present before the clutch failure......
An ideas what might be the cause?
The garage (perhaps honestly though rather conveniently) put it down to an existing problem.......though now having driven it home, I know it wasn't.
I'll have a chat with them tomorrow but would like to know a bit more about what I'm talking about....
A quick 'tinternet serach provides links to mis-aligned gear linkages, dragging clutches and top-up of clutch hydraulic/gearbox fluid.
TIA. Read more
Thanks to everyone that responded.
I'll get in touch with the garage and get them to change the oil and also have a look at the gear change cable and reverse light switch etc.
Cheers,
With reference to HJ's thread above.
Might it please be possible for Stephen to tweak the site so that each post is automatically numbered for easy quoting and finding by readers as can be seen here:
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=596...5
Posters could then simply refer to 'Post No.xx above'. Read more
Do what we do on DigitalSpy and that is quote the whole ruddy lot. No one makes a fuss there!
Hello!
I'm buying a new timing belt kit. I have a 98 ford fiesta mk4 - 1.25
Anyway, when I purchase this timing belt kit what should I expect to receive in the box contents?
On ebay there is a listing which is a reputable make but it only comes with the belt and a tensioner. Do I need anything else?
Thank you
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As a reputable make ,I would go for Gates or Continental.You will need a new crankshaft pulley/sprocket bolt,as the original should not be used once removed.This will need to be bought from Ford,but be careful,there are 2 types of differing length.If you are doing the job yourself,then i would suggest an engine locking/timing tool as there are no marks on this engine and no keyway on the crank pulley.hth
This is something which I have not done before but I am thinking of purchasing a 'Pela 6000' to suck out the old oil.
However, I am doubtful as to whether I can remove the filter due to possible difficult access and being unlikely to be able to unscrew it without the tool with 'strap' which garages use.
Question...Is there any point in changing the oil if I do not change the filter at the same time? Filter would be changed in six months time when garage carries out the annual service.
TIA Read more
After 20 odd years of undoing sump plugs I've switched to the Screwfix badge engineered version of the Pela. Primary reason is that it always felt like the thread was about to strip when tightening up the drain plug on aluminium sumps. Like others say make sure the oil is good and hot.
I only use a car about three days a week and my 1990 Honda Prelude has a leaking steering rack and the mot place wanted their pound of flesh to get it through the MOT. So I thought "times up" and eventually went to a Honda main dealer who know me well and am buying a 2002 SE Sport 1.6 vtec Civic 3 door hatchback. Obviously they were keen to sell it to clear space and had it around for at least a month. They knocked 500 quid of the price and gave me £100 for the prelude which has had some rear arch welding done, and with the mot to run out in Jan, I didn't refuse. They want £4395 plus £150 to tax it. The car has a main dealer service history and drives well and is in good condition. I checked in Parkers (Nov 09 edition) and this price seems about right.
It was serviced by the last owner just over a year ago. Should I insist on it being serviced? Also the MOT has eight months to go. Should I be asking for one year MOT? The car has done 42K mileage with two owners. They are offering me the usual 12 month warranty. The clutch was changed by main dealer recently. Honda will do the equivalent of an AA inspection. Main dealers seem to be reluctant to show you bills and receipts but will show the service book to you, which you hope hasn't been stamped up during a tea break!! This dealer has been very good to me in the past, delivering spare parts direct to my address (at least 20 miles away).The car hasn't any mats and it just seems a bit naff not having any. I suppose that's why you always hear about dealers, "throwing in some mats" to seal the seal.
Be grateful for any sensible advice on what I should be asking for realistically. BTW When is the cambelt due for a change on this engine? Sorry about the odd accented capital A's before the pound signs in my post but I cant get rid of them!
Cheers,
Mikey. Read more
This post shows to me how much some used cars have gone up.
I'm sure the OP is paying around the right price, but a 2002 hatchback, even a desirable one like a Civic, would have fetched nothing like £4,500 a year ago.
I know, I sold one - a desirable 2002 hatchback, that is.
Browse
Of course you can Pu.
We need help with our baggage...KLM confirmed our hold allowance (because we booked in July) is 46kg each, so approx 20kg in CDM, Whole Nut, F & Nut, Orkney oatcakes, Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts and lots and lots of hide chews for mine hosts dogs. Far better than paying for our accommodation! The colonials, I mean friends, have strange tastes.