July 2018

Palcouk

Apparently changes have been made to HJ web site and my add-block no longer functions on the site - a pain in the whatsit Read more

Engineer Andy

I think some web browsers, under pressure from advertisers/corporates (especially major software firms) are making life difficult for small independent software writers by continually changing their software so add-ons aren't compatible or work poorly.

I gave up on MS browsers more than 5 years ago and now mainly (95% of the time) use Firefox (not perfect, but still has the most add-ons available) and sometimes Chrome when Firefox doesn't work so well on some sites....

oldroverboy.

I had a similar problem with wickes, but I have several properties and the threat of spending my next refurbishment project money helped get my last ticket rescinded.

I had the temerity to return to the store on the same day, but outside of the no return within 4 hours. camera pcked up 1st entry and 2nd departure. Luckily I had also purchased something elsewhere using the car. Read more

HairyJones

On subject of sticking a label onto said windscreens, I personally use double sided tape. Must more convenient and much harder to remove. Never fails to stop the bad parking habits of luxury SUV owners.

daveyjp

Re potholes. Whilst I'm as frustrated as anyone with the hundreds of speed cushions that have appeared over years, if HJ has evidence of 'massive corruption' and 'officers receving kickbacks' from contractors (and also by stating 'usual' appearing to make it every local authority contract is ran by 'bent staff') he should make the evidence known and share it with the local Council Chief Executive and the Police.

If he has no evidence the response should be amended.

Read more

Captain-Cretin

Back in the mid 80's - I modelled the traffic light system in the small city I lived in; after all the timing had been changed for no obvious reason.

(A bit of fun with the college computer system).

I couldnt be 100% accurate, due to one set of lights that had a semi random change time (could be over-ridden by the fire station), but if you went by the average for that light, to get through town on any of the three main routes without encountering a red light, you needed to average 94mph!!

Wezzaa

Just wondering if anyone has successfully attempted to fit 1 adult (say slim, 5'10 for examples sake) plus 2 children in Isofix seats in the back of a Suzuki Vitara?

Considering buying a Vitara and would need to do this on occasion. ... Read more

Avant

Yes - looking at the car-by-car reviews on this site, the Vitara is one of the narrower cars on the market. Its width is 1775 mm, about the same as my wife's little Audi A1. My Q2 is 2009 mm wide, and a Ford S-Max, which is probably more like what you'd need, is 2137 mm.

Overall width is a useful guide, athough it doesn't take account of the thickness of the doors. As BBD says, you'll just have to go and take a look. Take a tape measure!

gordonbennet

If you were looking for a bog standard Fiesta we'd all suggest as local as possible for all the obvious reasons, but you arn't looking for a car that every dealer in the country will have on his plot.

My current Landcruiser came from a motorhome dealer (trade in for new motorhome) some 75 miles away, but i would have been prepared to travel anywhere in the southern half of the country (avoiding all Scottish cars due to excess salt baths) for the right example because in the right condition they are rare.... Read more

catsdad

You do need to consider the chance that something will go wrong.

If you had to leave the car with the supplying dealer for the day and go home and return to collect it later in the day then that 60 miles or whatever becomes 240 miles. I had a few snagging issues with the Civic and the dealer being just over 12 miles away was bad enough.

KCSRenault

Hello my grandmothers car has recently been overheating, although the symptoms are slightly strange. If the car is driven with the heater on hot and fan at full speed the car will not over heat, even if driving at 70 mph for around an hour. However if the car is driven at 70mph with the heater on cold. He car will overheat after around 30mins.

The car has just had a new water pump, thermostat and he radiator flushed in order to try and solve the problem.

The fan kicks in as it should, there’s no water and oil mixing.

The garage is confused. They have sniff tested and pressure tested but no signs of anything.

Any ideas or previous experiences, even the Nissan dealership are lost with it, and when it overheats it’s not like an inferno of coolant or anything, just hotter than it should be.

One as patrol said that the fan was only kicking in when the car was too hot, but it will kick in before the warning light comes on,

Any advice much appreciated Read more

Peter.N.

In the past this problem has always been for me that the radiator is flow is obstructed, doesn't usually happen now as the modern permanent antifreeze tends to stop corrosion, but the fact that the heater is pulling the temperature down indicates that the radiator isn't.

I would suggest that you disconnect the bottom hose and put a hose from the tap into the filler and see if the water is running out as fast as you are putting it in, if it overflows the radiator as partially blocked.

raysheppard

hi,my, citreon c3 1.4 8v 2007 started flashing up silly errors on the dash ,it then after a few weeks went into limp mode and flashed low oil ,i took it to a garage he said wiring loom and ecu is faulty.i sent the ecu away and was told thats there nothing wrong with it.so i got a auto elect guy to repair the loom in the engine bay. the car started and rev up but the oil light was flashing. i went to it yesterday and it wont crank over ,the auto guy said it the ecu.would stop the engine turn over if the ecu was faulty.the battery and starter are ok.any advise please.many thanks ray. Read more

hardway

Don't forget to post your results

David-Joe

Hi guys, first time posting but often come her for car related info...

Basically, I'm looking to upgrade my 2005 Kia Rio to something slightly bigger. With 2 toddlers and another on the way we will need the space, though with a slim baby seat we can still fit all 3 in the Rio (which surprised me massively!) ... Read more

SLO76

“Maybe an S-Max would fit the bill.”

For £2k?

Metropolis.

Evening all, i'm interested to hear, for those of us that do our own maintenance (or at least supply a mechanic with the oil we want to be used) what engine oil you are using. Anyone have preferences?

For me, I tend to stick with Castrol, although I'm not averse to changing, it's more familiarity than anything. I note Bearmach have just released their own oil, now trying to find out who they've rebadged it from. Read more

gordonbennet


Some engines, especially diesels, will continue running, apparently quite happily, with the most awful looking sludge in the sump. That cannot be optimal treatment, but it may not stop them running.

Often exacerbated by leaking injector seals but ths carbonised oil is not only building up all around the crankcase, it's responsible for blocking oil pick ups in the sump leading to complete engine destruction....

PDL

I have previously owned a 5 gear 1.7TD Escort Estate (up to 120,000 miles) and a Fiesta 1.4 16V Zetec Petrol driven up to 160,000 (first clutch change at 100,000, first exhaust at 130,000).

Just purchased a 20 month old 2016 Ford Focus 1,5 TDCi 6 Speed Manual with 37,000 on the clock. It is supposed to be a motorway car for work.... Read more

RobJP

The reason I ask is that I get a quick lack of power when I put my foot down sometimes. It's like the engine misses momentarily. If I lift of for a few seconds then floor it, it'll happen. Doesn't seem to be from gearbox or clutch, more the engine.

I've looked on forums and it seems quite common. No one seems to have an answer, and mine isn't that bad, so I haven't had it back to the garage. ...