Showing results in  Forum [Show all channels]

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• One small step... 18 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  Got home, incensed, phoned local newspaper, told them about it. I said if you can get there quick, you\'ll be able to get a photo. They said they may run it, and actually DID!! You can see it online at http://www.eveninggazette.co.uk CLick on the \"parked right in the line of fire\" http://tinyurl.com/vh38 I was that \"irate motorist\" I also got support of the editor!!
• MG Rover - Superlatives & Inquiry 15 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  just an expensive Byers folly By George Trefgarne (Filed: 14/11/2003) How Phoenix feathered its nest with Rover's prize assets By Christopher Hope, Business Correspondent (Filed: 14/11/2003) MPs plan Rover inquiry By Christopher Hope, Business Correspondent (Filed: 14/11/2003) An investigation into how MG Rover, the car maker, is being run is being planned by MPs after weeks of revelations in The Telegraph about the financial structure of the business. Firm with a history of strikes and huge losses By Paul Marston, Transport Correspondent (Filed: 14/11/2003)
• Golf IV service - idiot questions 14 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  But this is my first post and, as my mechanical knowledge is rubbish, apologies in advance for the idiot questions! My Golf Mk IV has been running really well since I bought it 3 years ago and there's only 28,000 miles on it. I have decided that I'm going to keep it for at least another 2 years - it would seem almost like a crime to give the car to someone else.
• 'Vehicle Amnesty' 18 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  This is a quick post without spending time to find the first, and merge the two. I understand that where I live, what is being called a 'vehicle amnesty' will be running later this year. Residents who report the first 100 vehicles can have old and unwanted cars, caravans and motorbikes collected and disposed of completely free of charge. At the moment, £62.50 is the normal fee to dispose of a vehicle that has come to the end of its life, but the article I just read said that new legislation being introduced over the next two years will increase disposal costs to £350.
• Morris Minor Traveller - advice please 6 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  Some rust on rear door hinges, and signs of touching up below windows. 1. Any ideas re value? (I won't say initially waht it's up at) 2. How realistic is it to run such a car these days, even over fairly low mileages? 3. What should he look out for on this 33 year-old car? 4. Any advice re inspections? Many thanks Pat
• Peugeot 406 Coupe - thoughts? 31 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  possibly better than the french build saloons and estates? I quite fancy the v6 model or the 2.2hdi when it ages. What is this v6 like to maintain and run, it was updated to 210hp plus better economy in 2000. I can handle the odd gremlin as long as the core build is strong and the engine is not an oil burner, my last peugeot 205 gti put me off the marque for life... stalling, coughing, smoking thing that it was but beautiful on the right road and to be fair the body was still corrosion free.
• Late Mk1 Mondeo timing belt tensioners 18 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  The advice from his parts counter is that a kit is not provided for this model because the tensioner has been improved and does not need changing - only the belt itself is required. Clearly I don't want to run a significant risk of tensioner failure, but equally I don't want to waste money buying parts that are not needed! What do y'all think or know? Thanks Andy
• Insurance and death 14 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Eagle Star (bless 'em they deserve a mention because they have been good) have given a three week extension on the insurance against fire and theft in good faith (long standing customer and all that). That runs out next week. As the car now belongs to my wife and her brother, it can be driven third party only on their own insurance. Like i said, probably not a big worry when the inevitable happens to your nearest and dearest, but something to be aware of.
• Triumph Spitfire gauge readings 13 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  If I turn on my headlights when driving, the temp gauge rises to ½ full-scale. 2. The speedo back-light comes on OK when the lights are turned on, except when the engine is running, when it then goes off. (Is it a coincidence that the voltage regulator is fixed to the rear of the speedo?) Any suggestions gratefully received.
• Servicing and fuel economy 9 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Coming to mind may be air filter changes and cleaned, oil change (pistons and rings), changing timing belt on time. What other items need to be taken up at service to maintain economy in the long run. Just a SH is not enough, and knowing what items need inspecting means I can probably check the servicing quality myself to some extent. Also, what driving techniques are important to maintain good fuel economy e.g. quick gearchanges, low revs etc Any comments would be really helpful.
• Renault Megane 1.6 - power loss. 7 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  I've recently had an HT coil replaced on my Megane (1.6 RTe - '98 8v version) after it packed up, along with a new cat after that got destroyed too. Since then the car was running perfectly for a couple of hundred miles, but now its decided to lose some power. It feels like a 1.0l diesel, barely out-accelerating HGVs, and can't get past 4000rpm in 2nd on the flat. It seems to idle OK, so it doesn't feel like a misfire (i.e other HT coil dying).
• 306TD Cambelt Change Cost 7 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Hi all, I know there's already a lot of information about cambelt changes on other threads, but the costs to change them seem to vary very considerably, and i was wondering what i should be paying for my 95M 306 D Turbo It's done 121000 miles and runs beautifully, but it was 63000 since it's last change, in '99 and i'd rather get done now than suffer a catastrophe before the scheduled 72000 interval. Thing is, Peugeot told me £380 (not a hope of me going there), and two independants, one of which has never done me wrong in the past, both offered me £250 plus.
• Solar battery 'topper upper' 2 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  The previous owner hadn't done any mileage in it for some months and was finding he needed to charge the battery every few weeks because it was running down. I guess this was due to the drain from the alarm system. Well, since we've had the car we've done less than 50 mils and much of that has been learning - stop/ start/stall/restart etc. and the battery is absolutely fine.
• CC zone update 6 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  Don't really know how many roadworks have been completed in other parts of the CC zone to allow for smoother running, but I am a cynic and suspect that quite a few have. Also the average speed has improved from 8mph to 11mph. IMO this would be even higher if councils stopped putting in stupid pedestrian traffic lights rather than zebra crossings.
• Suzuki Vitara cooling system 27 May 2003 (Forum)
  I think that this could be that the pump is not working or that the thermostat may be stuck closed as I can't see any drop in temperature as I would expect when it opens... the temperature just rises all the way. I have tried tapping the housing to no avail. Can I run the car without a thermostat? ...and is there anything else to try before getting it to a garage. (replacing pump costs about £150) Any suggestions?
• MkIV Golf another gearbox bites the dust 25 May 2003 (Forum)
  It appears to have been a running theme through some posts recently. I have a 4 year old 51000 golf 1.6se and the gearbox has been rendered useless, due to a great big hole being put in the casing!! It was an approved used VW and it has just gone past the extended warrentee period.
• Dead Battery 25 May 2003 (Forum)
  Stopped outside my local motor spares place yesterday to buy service items for my V8 90. When I got back in the car, which had been starting and running perfectly, I turned the ignition key and all the lights went out and the engine wouldn't turn. Having checked all the obvious, tight battery leads, bang the starter motor etc the owner of the shop brought out his battery tester.
• What does this bit do? 9 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  What is this black box for?? I am interested as my ducting has come out and it is a struggle to get back in. The car seems to run ok with out it on, but for all I know it could have been disconnected since I bought the car!! I doubt if Vauxhall would have the part if it was not required. If it does give some advantage it will be a pain to reconnect, I suspect I will have to remove the most of the front bumper to get enough movement to get it back on.
• Which Civic Auto? 16 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  Have checked HJ\'s CBC breakdown but there is not much info on the 1.4. The car will be used mainly for school runs, and local driving with the occasional motorway trip and cover approx 8 - 10k miles a year. It must have 5 doors and be automatic and be Focus /Astra size. Is there anything else I should consider?
• New car for SWMBO 25 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  Likely to have to double as a small pick-up-truck for plants and other horticultural paraphenalia as SWMBO is giving up the rat race to become a kept woman on a Horticultural course in deepest Dorset. Now, I'm tempted towards a diesel for the lower running costs, but then there are plenty of petrol hatchbacks that will see close on 50mpg with that kind of use. Currently thinking in terms of Punto diesel, Yaris petrol, Ibiza diesel in that price range.