November 2010
When visiting the Royal Albert Hall by car, you can pre-book parking at the Imperial College carpark for around £8. It's handy and it's close to the hall
Be warned though, Westminster Council under-cover parking officers will be waiting for you. Everyone who has booked Imp College carpark has to queue to wait for the gates to be opened at 6pm (Prince Consort Road entrance), even if only for a few minutes. We did just this two weeks ago and wondered why a white van pulled in front of us, onto the pedestrian crossing and then parked, shortly to pull away again. The van turned around and sat behind other cars. Very curious. A week later we found out what the van was doing when the photo of us queuing was sent with a £60 parking fine.... Read more
I have a problem with the handbrake on my Astra. When I apply the handbrake it only goes on at one side and wont release until I reach behind the rear wheel and pull on the cable. I suspect that there is a problem with the linkage somewhere below the hand brake lever i.e. one side disconnected or broken.
To get at the cable linkage I believe I have to remove the heat shield, on the underside between the exhaust and the floor. I know the nuts that hold this on will snap off as soon as I try to remove them.... Read more
Thanks for your reply. Any suggestions on how to replace the fixings on the heat shield which I am pretty sure will snap off when I try to undo them?
OK, so it may not be far off. I know this because the thought of owning a sports car is playing on my mind. The last time this happened was when I was at school. The big 40 is not so far off now and I am spending time thinking about just what I should buy.
It all started with a childhood "love" for the Triumph GT6. Nice little classic British sports car with a straight 6 engine (different to the bread and butter 4cyl engines that have powered every car that I have owned to date). Problems with this idea are plentiful (and far too plentiful to list here). Concern from the wife that she would never see me again have led me to rethink. Next stop Lotus Elan 1990s model. Loved this too at the time, but its a lotus, and that too presents a number of problems (but maybe not as many as the GT6). Moved on quickly to the MR2. Mk1: too old. Mk2: no way!! Mk3: Lovely... Read more
if you really want to add some fun & sound to the car then fit a supercharger.
I have supercharged an MX5 , the kit complete was from the states and my word it transforms the car to serious fun fun fun and mighty quick but you can't take it out in the rain as you normally end up going back the way you have just come!!
If I press the accelerator pedal hard down whether from standstill or at any road speed there is a disconcerting delay before the car responds. The car is still under warranty but Mercedes workshop can't find anything wrong.
Any ideas as to the reason for this would be much appreciated.... Read more
Yes-but only to your pocket!
HI All,
1st ever post so please be kind. I was wondering what your views are regarding my possible intentions re: swapping my 1.8 20v Turbo petrol Skoda (love the car to bits but cost of fuel now becoming a problem) for a very late model diesel MG ZT-T 135+cdti?... Read more
Thanks guys. Also had a reply from the team at HJ which basically said the same thing. In the real world it won't actually make much advantage mpg wise, and therefore isn't worth the risk of the big costs should something go bump.
As for the VAG 1.9 tdi idea - totally agree. I had (2 cars ago) Skoda's Fabia VRS 1.9tdi - brilliant car and really spoiled me with it's superb mpg despite bags of torque meaning at was ridiculously quick from 30-80. Problem was the car was just too small for the family....
i have oil in the water in the edder tank on my diesel astra. there doesnt seem to be water in the oil. is it the head gasket or could it be the oil cooler??? Read more
This is my first post because I never had problem with my car before. I have 1995 Citroën xantia, before today it always started in couple of clicks by rotating key to ignition, but today it took 30 min, I don’t know what happened. While starting I have to press accelerator after failing to start and then it get started. Another problem it raised today is, the rpm at standalone position ( not in gear, in standing mode) has increased, before it was around 10,000 not it suddenly increased to 20,000 and then drop slowly to 10,000 and again rouse to 20,000 like I’m pressing and releasing accelerator again and again. So whats the problem, is it with starter or ignition or battery (but it seemed fine). Please help me out Read more
Is this petrol or diesel?
It is very difficult to clean the car in winter season so if we clean it before winter by good products of car cares then we will be relaxed for next four months. Read more
where on earth is this unit placed within the car as I need to change it Read more
I think you will find there is no specific indicator relay on these.The indicator and hazard warning light functions(along with loads of other circuits)are controlled by the Bsi unit.This is the central electronic fuse/relay board situated to the right of the steering column.hth
There is a single carriageway road near me which has national speed restriction signage at the start of it. However, a few miles down the road it changes to a regulatory red-ringed 60 sign. Does this mean that once I've passed the 60 sign I can drive at 60 in my transit van where I'd normally be restricted to 50 where the 'nationals' applied?? Read more
Peter, it's a standard transit van which has a MGW of around 3.5T which means the NSL on a single carriageway is 50 as with all vans over 2T. Only car-derived vans under 2T can do 60 in the NSL like cars.
Regards Dave
Browse
Very true!! In my home town on the south coast, there are the usual areas which are blighted by idiots blatantly causing traffic issues with their stupid parking, yet day after day there they are, in 'their' spot, regardless. Funny how a top-end German sports car parked illegally (or whatever it is or isn't these days) outside the owner's estate agents, day-in, day-out, gets left well alone, yet your or me overstaying by a few minutes in a legitimate bay is game on. I drove for a living and we once made enquiries about a particular area and were told, without a hint of irony, that wardens were not sent there because it was a 'high conflict' area - why the hell do they pay these people their wages?!! Empty cars in quiet backstreets are far more profitable than genuine dangerous parkers, clearly.