March 2010
I am a happy SAAB Sportwagon owner, petrol not diesel and so have no diesel reliability issues but I have a car buying problem.
SAAB have an offer (which expires at the end of the month) and will get me a factory order 9-3 1.8t Linear SE in a colour of my choice with a hood colour of my choice, heated seats, half leather (black or cream), carbon interior trim, upgraded alloys and Aero bodykit for a little over £20,000.... Read more
I'm 21 and although I'm a girl, i have some mechanical knowledge and want to do this myself instead of paying at a garage! If anyone can offer me some advice, I'd be very grateful! It is an M reg Micra.
My brakes sound "wierd" so i figured they needed new brake pads, I've taken off the front tyre and turned the wheel so i can see what I'm doing but when i look at it i have no idea where to go from there, It's all very rusty but i can see there are bolts that need to be removed but i cant seem to get the callipers away and dont want to force something thats not meant to move!... Read more
Mole grips wont do it, there are, however, a few other options. 1 is, if there is any shape left on the nut at all, try and force a hexagonal socket on there by whacking it on with a hammer, obviously for this to work it will need to be ultra tight, so use one that is one size too small if it will go anywhere near to fitting...This is the the most successful method in my opinion.
2nd is to cut a deep slit in the nut and use a screwdriver or blunt chisel and a hammer and tap it loose, in an anticlockwise direction.
3rd Is to use one of the special tools designed for especially this purpose, one I know of is a socket with serrated teeth which run opposite to the thread of the bolt and bite strongly into it as you turn, thus never slipping and allowing you to remove the bolt.
One you've got one bolt free the other one can be made to come loose easily, so work out which one is less rounded and concentrate on that one...once that one is free give the calliper a good whack with a hammer so that the side you have loosened moves away from the disc, this will loosen the remaining bolt and it will come off easy. (Put a piece of wood in between to prevent damage to the calliper)
I Got my new car 1st March 2010
I have found out that my new car was actually built December 2008 so its 14 months old... Read more
I can now update you all,
14 weeks ago we rejected the car under the sales of goods act and also for misrepresentation,( more faults were found than i previously have mentioned ) ...
I had to replace the heater resistor on my astra F, I did get this replaced fine, but could not get the panel under the windscreen to lie flat, can any one advise how I can get this to lie flat.
many thanks... Read more
Can't see how the remote fob comes apart to change the battery. The fob is the oblong type with a black and red button, with a three pin socket in the side. There is a slot all the way round and it appears this levers off the two halves, but I don't want to use too much force in case something snaps.
At one end is a protruding plastic piece which has the strap attaching it to the keyring, and possibly under this is a catch - I've tried levering this but to no avail.... Read more
Sorted this out now, there is a tab locking the cover on where the strap goes. It just needs levering out so the tab pops up.
Having just returned from visiting rellies abroad. During our stay we were lent a Merc C200 Avangarde Kompressor (age unknown, mileage 140k) which was very kind of our hosts, only required to fill with petrol.
Unused to such large posh cars I will give you my feelings regarding this car.....should you wish to know!... Read more
here i have an Audi A4 1.9 TDI 90bhp, i bought this car as a (non runner) and thier is no chip in the key which stops the car from starting! is it possible to code in a second hand chip or would i have to buy a new one? or can i get a way through this by takeing the immobilizer out of the ECU? and how do i take it out?
Best Reguards,... Read more
Hi there,
I think disabling the immobiliser is a much costly and longer process. Second hand chips can be available but the coding will probably have to be done at the dealers!
I'm looking to be insured on my family members SXI+ Corsa until my test in 3 weeks, I found a quote from Collingwood Learners insurance and they quoted me £96 for 28 days insurance on the car.
... Read more
I'll give you the website and you take a look at the form? Because i'm not entirely sure. I did email them and they replied with that they are insuring me, and not the car, therefore as long as I display L plates, am accompanied by someone driving more than 3 years and over 21, then I am legitimate to drive the vehicle under their insurance without first consulting the current insurer because it doesn't qualify as a dual insurance policy on the car because they are insuring me. If that makes sense? Anyway the website is > www.collingwoodlearners.co.uk/LEARNERDRIVERS_WEB/U...m
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Hi there
I put my car in to a garage for a service & an MoT. Whenever I've done this at other garages, they've always done the service first and then the MoT, with the result of an MoT pass.... Read more
In 20 years I have never experienced an MoT (or iTV in Spain) failure. My guess is that seeing a stack of MoT passes would fill me with confidence about a car, whereas a stack of MoT failures still attached would make me wary that the PO (or the garage!) has been less than dilligent.
My last UK car was a C class, and I found that they did the MoT 'whenever they could fit it in' - which 50% of the time meant before the service....
Loads of manufacturers are now starting swappage schemes - Skoda, Vauxhall, Volvo.
Is there any likelihood, do we reckon, of Volkswagen starting it too? I don't want to make a purchase now only to find in a few weeks that I could've got it cheaper! Read more
Loskie says it all.
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I think you've convinced yourself. :>)
If you want it, do it. Life's too short....