December 2009
Got a Peugeot 306 HDi, engine light on and car wouldn't go over 3000revs.
Garage said to change fuel filter first, then fuel pressure sensor if that didn't work.Done both. Car will idle but cuts out at about 2,500 revs. Any ideas? Read more
preview.tinyurl.com/yc7omma
No signs saying that I can't turn right, but the lane markings only indicate left and straight on. Can I turn right?
I thought I knew my highway code, but the real world keep throwing me. Read more
From "The Daily Telegraph": bit.ly/5AHxox
"A double-decker bus full of school children had its roof ripped off when it collided with a bridge in Leicester."
This bridge has highly visible markings and signage. Read more
yeah bell boy they probably pull a gun nowdays! In my day it was just a flick knife. Glad I'm past all that now!
Here's an interesting article about the Lotus "omnivore" two-stroke engine, which is apparently 10% more efficient:
www.autoblog.com/2009/12/10/lotus-omnivore-engine-...e
This reminds me of something back in the late 80s or early 90s about two-stroke engines being the future, but nothing seemed to come of that. I think Ford were involved and even had a prototype car (not just an engine).
Read more
Two-stroke DIESELS still hang on by a thread, as in the class 59 and class 66 freight railway locomotives and in ships. They were once used in lorries and buses - Commer TS3, Detroit Diesels used in many US trucks, Foden's in-house engines (used in a minority of their vehicles) and last, but not least, the famous Deltic express locomotives.
Two-stoke diesels can be smaller and ligher than an equivalent power 4-stroke, but they tended to be less economical, more smoky and need a supercharger in order to work.
But I believe a small two-stroke diesel has been developed for light aircraft use.
www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/anythinggoes/archive/2009/...x
"Anyone who gets their fuel paid for by the company is going to see another big tax increase on the 'benefit in kind' - an extra £182 for a higher-rate earner - with the threat of worse to come in future years.
Then there's the decision to end the 10 per cent company car tax rate on cars that produce under 120g/km of CO2. From April 2012, cars will have to produce under 100g/km to get the same break. That means an unexpected tax rise for anybody who has just signed a three-year lease on the back of a car's sub-120g/km performance." Read more
I actually swore at the TV when I saw this.
I did when they interviewed that woman representing the countries that would benefit who said it wasn't enough... If the money we send them both through Gov and Charites was used correctly they wouldn't be in such a mess... and its not as we have the money to spare at the moment... charity begins at home, and all that.
To keep a motoring note, perhaps they should only be allowed to use small cars, and be banned from making or using large ones...
I won't post the url for obvious reasons but there is an unbelievable video in The Sun showing a drunk driving off in his car. Read more
Do you regularly get the car serviced or if cash is tight let it slip a month or a year?
Mate bought a merc c class 220cdi 04 plate serviced when he bought it did 1 year had a service then left it till a little problem happened turbo packed in bearing failure oil was like treacle new blower & full service done at a merc indie lots of cash!!
He had left it two years between he said it's a merc it should be ok! it had done 30k between those two years!!
Please be honest do you get the car maintained to good standards or run as it is? Read more
I overservice my cars if thats possible, been doing so for years and too set in the ways to consider changing despite being a waste of money.
My vehicles must be totally reliable and as capable as possible, so everything must work well.
S'funny but 10 years ago a Diesel engines turbo giving out was virtually unheard of, at the risk of being flamed (without fail i should have said) could it possibly have anything to do with these long service intervals.
Oh silly me it says 20K in the service bible so that must be gospel...kerching¬! that'll be £1500 sir.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8407142.stm
Now, whether you agree with banning the use of mobiles or not, the fact that a lot of people are ignoring the rules is pretty obvious, and the reasons are pretty obvious too.
When I am walking to the station I will often see at least a dozen people using phones within a half mile walk. For something that is so obvious and carries a 3 point penalty, I find their brashness amazing - until you realise that there is very little chance of being caught. The only risk is that they are so unobservant that they don't notice a police car approaching them.
Now it seems to me that the likelihood of a penalty changing behaviour is proportional to both the chance and the cost of being caught.
So, if they really do believe that using phones is a menace, they need to either start catching more people (if they parked an unmarked car near me, then could get literally dozens per hour) or make the penalty much harsher (likely in terms of increased points). Otherwise the whole thing seems pointless to me (is like having one ticket inspector for the whole rail network, who can fine you a maximum of a quid, and then expecting it to deter fare dodgers). Read more
There is of course an alternative answer.
Ban anything other than single seater cars, no heater system, no in car entertainment, lights that turn on and off automatically depending on the weather, and all aotomatic.
All two lane roads could be made into four lanes due to the reduced width needed and congestion would be a thing of the past. Parking wouldn't be a problem and the carbon footprint would be minimal.
The easier way would be to enforce the current law on hand held mobile phone usage, but that's too easy and until speed cameras can detect and define it, it will never happen.
Pat
Looking for 2 new tyres for the front (currently mix of GY Excellence Rear / Hydra grip Front)
Found out hydra grips discontinued ... was going to stick with them as quite like and do the rears when they need replacing (as keeps happening when I try to match up the fronts and rears, think they discontinue on purpose !)
Started researching and found out about 4 Season tyres..... particularly the Vredetein Quatrac 3
Most interesting but cant find much advice, their site says suitable for summer / winter use so sound ideal for the extra confidence in winter.
But retailers tells me have to replace all 4 ! rears still have 3mm ... 4 corners comes in at a shade under £300 ..... quite alot !
Usual tyre places telling me Prielli P6000 are an all season etc etc ...... not sure I believe them !
Any thoughts on mixing with rear normal UK tyres ? or experiences of the quadrac 3 ,wondering how they will wear considering not a full winter tyre.
or other suggestions
I sometimes I think the internet make choice more difficult, ahh the bliss of ignorance ...... Read more
I actually used the above combinations and permutations of tyres. I was never "all over the place". The Vredesteins are good all round tyres and not extreme snow tyres.
Just considering going for a test drive in the new Megane Coupe (2.0 TCE) & wondered if anyone has any experience of it?
thanks
Simon Read more
I think for a "fun" Renault, you have to go the RenaultSport route. It's been that way for some time now.
I have yet to drive any car with electric power steering which gives even half acceptable feedback, particularly in the context of a performance car. It's fine for shopping cars and family hacks, but there it should really stay. Renault's set up is particularly horrid. Feels like half a metre of the steering column is made from condensed rubber bands.
Browse
Nothing to say you can't turn right, so I would say yes, you can turn right. I think the straight ahead arrow is just to differentiate between the left-turn only lane.