January 2010
A few yeas ago, the VW brochures for the old shape Passat used to talk about track correcting front wheel bearings.
I would assume that this would be true of the Audi and Skoda range also as they share most of the underpinnings.
What are these and does anyone know if they are still used on the more recent VAG cars ? Read more
Two examples that convinced me of the benefits of using fully synthetic oil.
1) A Flymo two stroke lawnmower that seized - using the correct proportion of Castrol `lawnmower` oil. I then increased the oil mix and the engine ran smoky and hot - on the verge of seizing again.
I then switched to the best Castrol fully synthetic two stroke oil. The engine ran freely at the correct mix and was fine for the next 9 yrs until the rest of the machine fell apart.
2) Punto 1.9D. running on Shell Rimula 15w40 - at -6c recently was at it`s limit for cranking the engine over fast enough to start.
Performed an emergency oil change to Mobil 1 0w40 the next day. Cold cranking at -6c was much faster - as fast as with a warm engine on the previous oil.
Of course - I appreciate you can speculate forever on whether full synth is `worth it` - but those examples have me convinced it is. Read more
The Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30 has the 507.00 spec for VW/Audis.
The stuff from the Volvo forum is years out of date.
Yes, there's more than one grade of Mobil 1 available these days. My Audi dealer claims to use Mobil 1 5W30 in TDIs needing VAG 507 spec long-life oil.
Replaced both front suspensions struts/shocks approx 10 weeks ago. Handling not great now I notice outside wear on both front tyres.
Marked the old suspension struts/swivel hub positions before I removed them, but the replacements were not the same manufacturer.
I assume it's a camber issue: is there anything I can do apart from trial & error to see if there is slack between the strut and swivel hub when I tighten the strut-swivel hub mounting bolts? Read more
Are you sure the front toe is correct? Also have you checked the bushes for deterioration, failry common on these.
Hi all
My daughter has a 98 306 hatch and her rear light clusters fill with water (o/s worse than n/s) then the water seems to drip from the back of the unit into the boot well (wet carpets etc)
There are no obvious signs of cracks and i have reasealed the unit seal to the body but the water still gets in badly.
I have noticed that the water under the light unit seems to hold up at the botton of the unit (between that and the body) and when i release the two turn screws, that releases the unit, the water rushes out.
I am stumped... any ideas please Read more
Only looked at it again this last weekend.
(Her boot and carpet were well wet again and the lens partly filled with water.
She had not even looked at it since i took it of and dried everything last month!!!!)
Anyway....i have taken your advice and sealed it as described, so hopefully it will be ok.
Thanks for the reply
cheers morrelli>> hello morrelli how did you get on with the water leak.
Nothing could be better for blending into the mist and fog. Except perhaps green cars in green lanes - in Summer.
You would think we would all be driving cars that stand out from their environment. Striped cars or red cars with yellow bands and spots, perhaps.
I wonder how many lives would have been saved if there had been a different approach to visibility - since the dawn of motoring.
Just looking out of the window, this misty morning in Yorkshire. Sure enough - silver cars disappearing into silver mist - no lights.
There was the time I drove an orange coloured Doblo through Germany - and peoples mouths just fell open, in shock, in traffic..
I wounder how a striped and spotted wilderbeest would get along?
Read more
My crystal ball thinks that LED's will eventually replace most incandescent lights.
I`ve had a couple of incidents with the van recently along the lines of `If you can`t see me - I can`t see you`
I was pulling off a petrol station forecourt yesterday when a car attempted to cut across from my left - as I turned right to leave. Sort of trying to blast past, across my front, from my left - in the vans blind spot.
On another occasion I was reversing out in a car park (from a corner spot) moving slowly back on the mirrors - and there was a `flash` of movement as a car blasted past through the diminishing gap.
The thing is - I`m not totally convinced that that incidents like this are always a result of impatience and risk taking. I have a sneaking suspicion that some drivers really do believe that you can somehow `see` them - even through the vans solid side panels.
Read more
I'm in the middle of searching out a new car - and quite fancy especially the new CRV or perhaps (less enthusiastic) the X-Trail. But on any model other than the base, you get these "privacy" windows - i.e. black-outs.
OK, I'm of the older generation (about to retire) but I absolutely hate these black windows - they make the vehicle look like a chav or drug dealers paradise. And the inside gets just so gloomy.
There's not even an option to have standard windows fitted. So it looks like I'm stuck with a base model, no chance of leather seats or any other standard features like better stereos or alarm systems that the next model up gets.
Frustrated? Yes! Read more
It shouldn't keep drivers from making eye contact Waino - not if they're driving forwards anyway. >>
I'm talking about e.g. the eye contact via the mirror between a considerate driver like myself and a following observant motorcyclist - unless, maybe, the rear screen isn't tinted.
I have a 1997 2.0 s16v Saab 900
This car has been totally reliable over the last 2.5 years, its comig up to 50k. I had thought being chain cam driven this would be something that would last the life of the engine. Its had a load of oil changes in that time.
Last Sunday, I started the car and they was a distinct clatter from the engine, I opened the hood and you could here a metalic clanking, it had to be the cam chain, nothing else could make that sound, I drove to work and engine it responded as normal, I had the window down in case it got really bad. Before I drove home, I checked the oil level. The next day I took out the cam chain tensioner and the rod was quite away out over the 11mm mark which would indicate the chain is up for replacment. I took off the rocker cover and everything is ok the chain has no new scrathes on it and all the cam lobes are tidy (suspecting blocked oil feed)
I can't drive the car at the moment because the top rear idler which carries the serpentine belt disintegrated yesterday, probably an isolated problem from the cam chain. I hope I can get a bit more out this car, as the cost to fit a new chain is out of the question, the car WAS only worth a few hundred, now its worthless, why has this happend? Read more
I have heard a lot about fitting a split chain, the chain may have already been stretched when bought the car two years ago, which would explain the metallic sounding top end (not tappet chatter) I will be driving around for a bit and have think, I may drop the sump in the spring and clean out any crud and then think about the chain. I have only kept the car because it is has been so reliable, its a bit soggy and slow, I do miss my 91 8v golf!
Best regards
This 307 was code read at main Peugeot Dealers, A few faults were found exhaust pressure sensor down stream gas tempature sensor these were fitted at the time, most recently started going into limp mode again exchangeed (MAF) sensor with a know'n good one but to no avail on doing some checking using pin data did find at (MAP) sensor plug 3 pin,
"Voltage at all 3 pins"
PIN 1- 4.96
PIN 2- 4.91
PIN 3- 5.90
Removed both multi plugs (ECU) and (MAP) plug, Done some checking from plug to plug also voltage and resistance and all checked out at this point any feedback to this would be greatly accepted
Best Regards
Mickeybo
{There is no need to repeat the year, engine size, and make / model in the subject header as the compulsory boxes you fill in automatically adds those details for you} Read more
The heating in my ford fiesta never use to work it use to always blow cold air however after changing the thermostrat the car blew hot air aswell as cool air now the care always blows hot air but does not blow cool air do you think the thermostat has broke again.
Also just wondering I need a new door mirror is it easy to fit yourself or should I take it to a garage and does anyone know where do get cheap replacements. Read more
I thought your heating problems had already been replied to?
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It was really just a smokescreen.
VAG were clearly very worried that the Japanese had introduced 4 wheel steer - and they hadn't. So, it was down to "marketing" to come up with something which sounded a bit like it. I think PSA did a similar trick.
All modern cars have some lateral compliance in the suspension - rubber bushes are a cheap, silent and durable(ish) pivot which provides noise insulation, that's why everybody uses them. All died down now.
659.