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• Buying winter tyres - online or otherwise 12 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  Just moved to the UK from Switzerland. I am driving a Ford S-Max We take occasional driving trips to the Alps (the next one in 2 weeks). My original plan was to buy some snow chains, but the owners manual says snow chains should not be used if we have larger wheels (225/50/17), which we do.
• Synth oil solution - cold cranking & seized engine 23 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  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.
• VW dsg 6 / 7 speed differences 1 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  We have two VW?s with dsg in our household. I have a 1.4 tsi Golf with the 7 speed trans, while SWIMBO has a 2.0 tdi Eos with the 6 speed. I?m aware that the 7 speed is rated for less torque than the 6, and that it has dry clutches rather than ?
• Crashworthiness of BMC Mini - Video link. 3 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  It stands to reason that a car launched in 1959 would not be up to the passive safety standards of the 90's, even with various upgrades, the mini ran with no crumple zones in an era where rivals had sophisticated survival cells. How bad was the mini in an accident? The HJ write up states they have a very high fatality rate but I guess this is no surprise.
• Info gathering - Engine oil history 27 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  I thought it may be interesting, to do similar on the range of cars owned by forum members ( not just PD) CAR OIL/S USED (oil heath history ;-) MANUFACTURERS SPEC CHANGE INTERVAL OIL RELATED ISSUES The idea was to cut and paste the above into a new post and then write answers. It was a struggle - people drifted off from the format.
• FIAT Punto II (1999 - 2006) - 02 1910 EGR blanking plate - made from what? 13 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Hi Guys, I`m stripping off the top manifold/cambox cover on the old 1.9D at the weekend and at the same time want to try blanking the EGR to see if it`s causing a slight hesitancy at low speed. The question is about the actual thickness of material to use to make an EGR blanking plate, rather than any other issues around doing this. Where would you blank it?
• I thought insurance dropped at 25! 8 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  So, now that I've discovered this I'm left asking the question, just what on earth is good about being a quarter century old? I now interview people who were born in the 90's and it makes me depressed! I want my youth back! {made non make/model specific as this probably applies to any car, and not just a Mondeo II}
• Volvo V50 (2004 - ) - V50. Is it any good?? 15 May 2009 (Forum)
  I am considering buying a used Volvo V50 2.0d, either S or Sport model. I currently run a V W Passat 1.9Tdi 100hp, which now has 167,000 miles on. I have not had a minutes trouble with the Passat. Prior to running the Passat I have run 3 Golfs, all having around 140,000 on them when I got rid and again I did not have a moments bother with any of them.
• Audi A4 (1995 - 2000) - 98 1.6 Alarm problems 2 May 2009 (Forum)
  My alarm has started to go of randomly on hot days (not often then) I had a bout of this last year, 2 or 3 times, I found a rather large spider hanging...
• BMW 3-Series E46 (1998 - 2005) - 04 2.0 Unenven tyre wear 13 Apr 2009 (Forum)
  Had 4 new tyres fitted about 2 years ago. We don't do big miles so they're still in reasonable shape. That is, apart from the n/s rear which got an advisory at recent MOT because it's wearing on the inner 3rd (outer 2/3rds are fine). This is going to need replacing soon but I'm wondering why this has happened. Is it that the wheel just wasn't balanced properly (which will be remedied by new tyre being fitted)?
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 04 1.8 Zetec: emissions failure 23 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Started from cold yesterday and idled until warm, it let out a bit of steam and perhaps later a small haze of blue oil smoke, nothing much. The exhaust smelt very faint and very clean. The garage was talking piston rings and a s/h engine. But could there be a problem with valve stem oil seals? and would a bit - it only is a bit - of oil smoke make a car fail disastrously on emissions? There is no guarantee that the car hasn't been abused, run dry of oil or something, in the past, but it runs very well.
• Citroen Xsara (1997 - 2004) - Citroen Speedo 2 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  I had to take the battery off to recharge, when it was very cold. could be relevant?? maybe something in engine management s/ware reset? AGS.
• On drive oil & filter change at -1c pics 15 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  (ok ) Pic 1, shows the extractor I use - the old oil has just been poured back into the Mobil container ready for disposal. http://www.forumpics.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/oilchange1.jpg/ Pic 2, the filter and sealing ring. http://www.forumpics.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/oilchange2.jpg/ If you look closely at the sealing ring - you can see the snow `particles` This oil change is at only 4,000 miles - last changed in August 08. Images on my own site - valid for 1 week - Photo`s taken with a G600 phone
• Today's auction report 1 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  Before Christmas, most cars were struggling to get near "book". Now, to use some of today's examples at Blackbushe: S-Type 2.7 D V6, 23k, Glasses: 12050. Sold: 12600 (and this was Grade 5 online which means horrible) VW Tourag 2.5 TDI, 28k CAP Clean: 15600. Sold: 16300 Honda Accord 2.2d Exec, CAP Clean 3475, Sold: 3500 (these were well under book 1 month ago) Peugeot 307 HDI, 40k, CAP Clean: 5175, Sold: 5850 Audi A6 TDI, 114k, CAP Clean: 5725, Sold: 6450 VW Bora 1.9 PD 100, 45k, CAP Clean: 4125, Sold: 5150 BMW 525d, 119k, CAP Clean: 7175, Sold: 8050 If this goes on it will filter through quite quickly to retail prices.
• France/Italy or Scotland - Early March or May? 26 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  Unsure of the latter - but need to start planning the March trip shortly Any advice on missing school holidays in March and May in France and on the best chance of finding hotel vacancies (on the day) abroad? Previously we have only headed south from Calais in late May or September. It`s around 500 miles to get up to north of Applecross from here - only a little less than Reims.. another day from there would be passing through the Alps.. Which would you prefer and why? ;) I`m having trouble deciding - or to put it another way - I have to present viable plans to the boss shortly ;-) Cheers
• New car required - help please? 17 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  The budget is around £1500 pound and MUST have a diesel. I have suggested that she spends around £1000-£1250 to save a few £££'s back for repairs if needs be as it will be 8-10 years old anything she gets. She has her mind set on the Vectra B facelift 2.0 diesel turbo/non-turbo so a few questions; Is this engine a chain cam?
• Heater switch - inside story + Pic 3 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  Strange though, it was still very stiff even with the backplate off. In other words - with just the ball and spring on the shaft in engagement. I notice that there`s no grease on the ball or the housing on the right it works in. Grease it? Modify the spring tension - putting it outside design parameters? Incidentally - I fitted a new one before noticing the old one was designed to be DIY friendly (£20 ;-( notice those integral housing clips.
• Mazda Mazda 6 (2002 - 2007) - Tyre Time 2 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  They are low profile and, even though I've never kerbed them, still seem to have worn on the outer n/s edges. Anyway, the alloys are new and mint so, in the north surrey area, any ideas??? When the Mazda dealer changed the alloys under warranty they did a good job and they were spot less, I had a puncture repair done by KandP in Ewell and they did a good job as well, so trying those places.
• Peugeot 406 (1999 - 2004) - 01 2.0 very sluggish 110 hdi 8 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  If i am doing 70 in 5th on a motorway and try to accelerate it will not get above 80 without me dropping into 4th and putting my foot to the floor. Once it hits the 2800rpm power band in any gear the car suddenly picks up and she,s off. as long as i keep the revs up hi it drives fine . but its just not right and its also thirstier when driven like this. Any help and advise will be greatly appreciated (I havent had it on a fault code reader as yet ) Cheers Bigun
• Vauxhall Astra G Petrol (1998 - 2004) - Front Suspension spring broken - just passed mot! 8 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  Dear All, I've recently put my car through it's mot and passed with flying colours. All was well, then on a cold morning my front o/s suspension coil broke off and lay there on the road! I've read some of the discussions and this appears not as uncommon as I would have thought. On closer inspection the coil seems to have rusted and obviously this contributed heavily to its weakness.