March 2002
As my previous thread on this question seems to have died and the only replies (though welcome) refered to other vehicles, I would wish to ask again,
Could any owners or persons familiar with the vehicle (perhaps in the trade) offer any hints or tips as to what the owner should look out for with a new Wagon R ?
Any forewarnings of possible maintenance, build or running problems would be much appreciated. I am aware of the recalls on earlier models from details on HJs website.
Can anyone please advise the cam belt change interval ?
Thank you. petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Why might two sets of new wiper blades smear the screen on my wife's Focus ? Anything to do with the Ford "Quick-clear" screen with de-frost elements ? By the end of one wipe, the smear appears to evaporate, only to be replaced by another.
Any ideas ? Read more
Brian wrote:
>
> If you go to France, get a litre of acetone at the
> supermarket.
Never ceases to amaze what you can get in french supermarkets. My partner swears the Hydrochloric Acid is of a concentration she is not allowed to use as a secondary science teacher.
I am about to fit a towbar to a Vauxhall Zafira, and wondered if anyone new if there is a prewired connector hidden away to connect the electrics to? Or whether I have to use "scotch blocks" Read more
First the Bar must not only type approved must have a TUV mark for europe travel .Connectors for just about every car are available .BUT DO NOT FORGET when fitting a 13 pole (now the standart the power lead for AUX trailor electrics such as battery ,fridge etc must be taken direct direct from the battery and have an in line fuse .This cable is not in the car wiring loom.
HJ is very correct, somebody tail ended me in Germany my Disco had a UK supplied tow bar from Land rover but was not type approved or a Euro tuv mark I was blamed for 30% of the damage and my insurance would not pay my share..
I cleaned the mass air flow sensor from my 2000 Vectra DI today as recommended by a 'friend' with Isopropyl alcohol. Anyway, I was very careful with the sensor, and after putting it back into the black plastic air tube and then back into the car, the engine management light is now permanently on and the car is very sluggish. Does anyone know of a good diesel specialist in the Warrington/Manchester area? Does anyone know how much a typical Bosch MAF sensor is? That is the last time I listen to my mate and his car maintenance tips!
Thanks,
Richard Read more
"It is an industry wide problem at the moment, thats why they are in stock!"
Not wishing to take issue with you Dr Dave as I'm sure in essence you are right but......
remember this one from beginning of Feb?
www.honestjohn.co.uk/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=37462&t...f
Well after much investigation and gentle hints, followed by not so gentle hints, the dealer and presumably lease company have finally agreed that the mass air flow meter *is* up the spout. Guess what? We'll have to order you one sir.
I am looking to buy a Series I or II landy, to use as a "utility" vehicle.
No more than a £1000, anything I should look out for when inspecting them.
I imagine a bit of chassis welding will always crop up, is this a difficult thing to get done?
Any help/advice appreciated Read more
Not as much fun though
What is the general opinion of stolen/recovered and salvage cars? Are there any circumstances under which they make a good buy for the average private buyer, e.g. if a car with 'light panel damage' was bought, repaired and run until the end of its useful life (thereby avoiding a difficult resale)? Or is it better to just steer clear?
Mike Read more
Older light damage cars at the salvage auctions are dirt cheap. Perfectly good 1990s runners with perhaps just a wing and bumper to do.....£5 - £75.
David
Today I decided to change the oil and filter on my 1.8 escort diesel, until i tried to undo the sump plug ! try as i might i could not undo it. The trouble was that the plug itself had its corners rounded, making the spanner slip. Help !!!
Is there another way I could undo the plug ? Or is this now best left to a garage to help !!
many thanks, Andrew Read more
And it's still about £50 cheaper than anyother supplier!!!
A friend of mine is working in the United Kingdom for two years on a fixed length contract - 20 months remaining - at which point he will return home to Sri Lanka.
His intended plan is to buy a secondhand 4x4, run it for the duration of his UK contract, and then ship it back to Sri Lanka, for use as the family vehicle. His monthly budget to buy and run the vehicle whilst in the UK is £500, and obviously, at the point of leaving the UK, any finance should have been paid off. Given Sri Lankan market servicing conditions, the most likely vehicle will be Far Eastern.
In his favour are the facts that if he has owned the car for at least six months in the UK, he will not have to pay Sri Lankan import duty, and also that in Sri Lanka, driving is on the left hand side of the road.
Not in his favour, however, are the facts that neither he, nor his friends, have any idea how to go about this, and he is worried about being led up the garden path.
In addition to deciding which 4x4 to buy, and where to buy it, to execute his plan he first needs to learn where to obtain the best finance, as UK banks are unlikely to want to know, and how to research export and shipping mechanisms and costs.
All these are subjects in their own right, but if you are able to assist even with just one element in isolation, we would be grateful to read your advice.
Many thanks,
Steve Read more
When this thread was previously active, back in March, I promised to share the outcome:
From advice received, the conclusion that my friend drew was not to buy a relatively low budget Japanese 4x4.
After careful thought, he instead chose to spend more cash, and purchase a Mercedes 180 automatic, 'S' reg, 16,000 miles, clean HPI, and a genereral air of being an honest motor (John!)
Reasons?
The price was right.
A relatively simple car, though at the same time, well built.
Automatic suits Colombo traffic.
Large enough for the planned family.
If the car is exported to Sri Lanka as planned, it is suitable both for running over many years as a private car, or for sale at reasonable profit, even after paying import taxes and freight charges. He does not believe servicing will be an issue. The fact that the car is not new, and he will own it in the UK for over 12 months before potential export are big factors in his favour. Equally, if plans change, or he realises that he got his sums wrong, it is ideal for him to sell in the UK, without huge loss, on departure at end of contract.
Again, many thanks for helping fuel the decision making process.
/Steve
If anyone could help me out with this it would be very much appreciated.
My car is presently with the volkswagen main dealer who have now had it for over a week. They do not really know what is wrong with it and have faxed Volkswagen UK. Presently they are goign through a 'list' of repairs.
The symptoms are that the car (which is only 19 months old and a full UK spec import) judders when you put your foot down on the accelerator.
I drove all the way down to London from Manchester and could not reach a speed of over 65 mph. The power died, although it did pick up if I changed down a gear and then back up. Volkswagen repalced a 'temperature management something or other' which came up a a fault on the engine diagnostics test. They had then replaced the seals on the fuel injectors/injection system?, however the juddering fault continues.
I am not particulalry clued up on cars and therefore have no idea really, as to what could be wrong. Has this happened on other Golfs? What could be cuaisng the judder? Read more
Many thanks to everyone who replied to my initial e-mail.
The outcome was that the garage (a main dealer), found petrol in the tank (allegedly) to be the cause. They said that the pressure of fuel going through to the injectors was too low and although I find it difficult to believe, the petrol caused the seal on the tandem fuel/air pump to deteriorate, resulting in air getting into the system. Cost to replace £519 including labour.
My boss has decided to go and work in our New York office for a year, and has asked me to look after his cars, and drive them regularly while he is away. The vehicles in question?
1965 Ford Galaxie convertible (V8 of unknown size)
Two 1966 Mustangs (convertible and fastback) both with the 289 V8
1969 (?) Dodge Charger (383 V8)
Almost makes up for having to work over Easter putting in a new computer system. Read more
You naughty, naughty boy. Does the boss have any daughters, or is that what you meant by 1966 Mustangs?
BL
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Thank you to HJ, Spud and Colin for the input. Much appreciated.
Rgds. Pete.