December 2001
I borrowed the old man's merc to go down to the shops today (Boxing Day family thing, y'know...)
When I came out, I saw that the back n/s tyre had large patches of discolouration on it, as if fluid had been spilt over it. As these all seemed to start at the wheel, and flow outwards, I was naturally worried, thinking brake-fluid leak. When I drove back, and pointed it out to the old man, he said not to worry: "That's where the dog pees every morning, when I let him out" ... Read more
If you get an email advising you to search for a file called SULFNBK.EXE and delete it as it contains a virus, IGNORE IT! This is a vital system file and my sister-in-laws PC is buggered to the extent that she needs to re-install windows to recover, after she received the email and acted on it. Read more
i have just found out that 'sophos' has deleted my sulfnbk.exe file, the sophos company must not know what the file does???
Here's one for you that's taxing my brain.
Car wanted, max purchase budget £350!
Must have some remnants of street cred, diesel or smaller petrol engine, estate or useful hatchback for carrying dog etc, rugged rather than flimsy if possible, not a potential rotbox, owner has very good DIY skills so repairs/maintenance no problem, insurance group not a problem either.
Can you think of anything that might last two years for the cost of six weeks depreciation on a new middle range car? (By the way no BXs, I know that option well!)
Bear in mind this buyer will hope to get lucky with a private purchase where they have got stuck with a car over Christmas and now need a fast cash sale, hence this £350 car may be one you would expect to see over £500 normally.
David Read more
sorry mate, just trying to help.
So which are the good and bad ones? I'll nominate BMW's as being about as user-friendly as a cornered rat... try ordering a brochure if your house doesn't have a number (mine doesn't) or try the used car search to see some interesting geographical defintions.....
Audi's is OK but the national used car search seems to go mad now and again. Read more
Yeah I have noticed that all VW group's continental sites are much better than the UK ones. Helps to know a bit of German and you're away.
Just bought a '92 Carlton Diplomat and the leather is quite tired on both the driver's and passenger's side. It is cracked and lots of white bits have appeared where grey should be.
What is the best (must be cheap) way of improving the look and feel of the upholstery? It is in nice condition in the back btw. Read more
As Ian says saddle soap you cannot beat it
It's that time of the season when I have to assist Mr Lucas and give him a dose of electricity via a charger now and again.
Some books tell me that I should always disconnect the battery from the vehicle before charging and others say not. Even HJ's recommendation, the Airflow Battery Conditioner/Charger, condones charging without removing the battery as there are extension clips to allow a quick clip connection without opening the bonnet.
So I ask, what is correct? Do I do any damage in not disconnecting the battery, and if so, what?
DVD Read more
I followed HJs advice & have utilised the Airflow charger successfully for several years with success.The company produces quality goods.
regards
simon
Does anyone out there have any hands on knowlege or tech info, on the ECVT auto box used on the Panda Selecta please. ( Yes I have already asked Fiat )
Any input much appreciated. Thank you. Merry Christmas. petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Hello Careful Driver, are you out there ?
I think none of us has actually expressed good wishes to the members of the garage trade, most of whom faithfully carry out what we set them to do, and from what one sees have not infrequently to take the part of Do-it-yourself-undoers Limited.
I beg to move! Read more
re
"It is important to emphasise the real problems that we are experiencing as result of speed related injury accidents. There is a necessity to bring traffic speeds down, and the Government, through its hypothecation trials, is determined that speed cameras do affect traffic speeds across entire areas, not just local to the camera. The net result is reduction in traffic accidents.
"
the key point here is that even from a more reasonable sounding member of the political classes that the retoric is that speed is the problem... it isnt... bad driving is the problem, exasperated by bad road design
Re "is determined that speed cameras do affect traffic speeds across entire areas" I dont think this has been proven scientifically at all, local speeders drive alternate routes or use GPS system
Re "is a necessity to bring traffic speeds down" roads thinned to a third of their width, and masses of new min-roundabouts being imposed by complaints from less than half a dozen "speed kills" campaigners is the problem
The real problem is that is you speak to the locals there is no real consultation, and what consultation there has been has been largely ignored on the back of an agenda to impose the minority anti-car agenda...
This is only the tip of the iceberg, the contractors employed as consultants and workers on the road schemes are related to various local gov employees etc
very sad state of affairs
After nineteen years, SWMBO has given up driving instruction and has retired her Saxo Diesel to runabout status. Without the pressure of having to have the car back on the road ASAP, Christmas Eve was spent carrying out the 40k service. Oil & filter no probs, air filter a breeze and even fitted new glow plugs which cured the sluggish starting. The service also calls for a new fuel filter. This looks an absolute pig to get to, so before I splash out on a new one, is it easier than it looks to remove without causing permanant wrist damage and will the system need bleeding after replacement?
The car is booked in for a new cambelt next week, so if the job is likely to cause more trouble than it is worth I can leave it to them. Any suggestions? Read more
Sorry Tom - What I should have said about resetting your service indicator was - this is how I reset my Zantia, it may work on your Saxo. Funny! our Saxo doesn't have one!
Christmas is always a special event but this year a little more for the family.
We were married on Dec 23rd 1961 so this year was the 40th Ruby anniversary.
The weather was similar to this years 23rd with a freezing cold wind and the reception building alongside the River Derwent. The photographer was blue in the face but he stuck gamely to his task.
The only thing which puzzles me is...where has 40 years gone. It only seems like yesterday that I said "I will" and look where it got me.
Could have been a thousand times worse.
And the car I had at the time.....A Morris Minor series 11 4 door. reg:YNU 415 with an 803cc OHV engine which had to be decoked every 20K. But you could do it in the afternoon. Cost £410.00 which was a lot in those days.
Cars were relatively expensive due to less being available.
In 1964 I only paid £624.00 for a new VW Beetle. I imagine that if you worked it out cars today would be relatively half the price.
Were these the good old days of motoring..... I think so. not because the motors were as good but simply that you had your own road space with little or no aggressive behaviour on the road. Even so there were plenty of accidents then but I think was down to other factors.
Sorry to ramble on, just put it down to senility which begins if I remember rightly at about 45 plus.
Alvin Read more
Alvin/Robert,
Since 1961 the Retail Price Index has risen by a factor of 13.625 which makes your £410 Morris = to £5586. However disposable income was less in those days, so whilst the prices for a car at the bottom end of the market are comparable Mr Average would have had a harder job to afford it in 1961.
For your 1964 Beetle costing £624 the RPI rise is 12.37 =£7718.
Bob H
PS
Compare that with the way house prices have outstripped inflation. A nice 3 Bed Semi in Southern England would cost £3K-£3.5K in 1961. Cant get much for £40-50K now!!
Browse
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It doesn't do copper any good either.
I used to go to a factory where they made central heating components, the night watchman's alsation used to play havoc with bits waiting for chrome plating, they had to put them back through the cleaning process before they could plate them!