December 2004
Do the dvla get it wrong with the v5 sometimes? Because I've noticed on the v5 of a car i'm buying the colour listed is different to the actual colour of the car. The car itself has been checked over by a mechanic i know and looks trustworthy and nothing on it appears to be tampered with, also the documents (mots and dealer service history) indicate the car is the right colour and the v5 is wrong. Has this ever happened to anyone else before? Read more
Last night I was feeling pleased with myself for finding a parking space on the street and avoiding car park rip-off. Then SWMBO pointed out a yellow "H" on the (cut-off) lamppost next to where I parked. I had to leave the space as I wasn't sure if I could legally park there, or if this is just an American rule. I've often found no spaces on this particular stretch.
Is it illegal and has anyone actually been ticketed for this? And if so, what is the rule for the size of gap that needs to be left? A car's length? A fire engine's length?
--
Mattster
Boycott shoddy build and reliability. Read more
"...the back the car the next day was crumpled slightly..."
That must have been an unpleasant surprise for him, when he returned from repairing the roof.
Anyone help me locate the fusebox in a Vauxhall Vivaro which I have borrowed (sans manual) for a couple of weeks and in which I need to change a fuse????
Thanks in advance.
VDM Read more
Cheers guys.
Although the 'far left of the steering wheel' bit had me confused for a while. It IS to the far left - especially on a RHD Vivaro!! ;)
The pic in the manual was my saviour! :) Thanks again.
VDM
hi newbie to this site...ive got a ford focus c-max,from motability got it from deleted. picked it up on the 15th- 12- 04 broke down on the way home.got rac to take it back to garage .next day was told by garage it was fixed and that it was an computer fault. on the way home it broke down again.dashboard lit up like a xmas tree. so we called garage to send a car out to us and to collect ours. its been in the garage since. its had a instrument cluster changed a new wiring loom and a new multi plug fitted. guess what ? the manager took it out for a 30 mile run took it back to the garage let it cool down for a hour.mobility specialist went to take it out and it broke down again. i was told today that the car will not be looked at again until jan 4th.....is this completely taking the michael or what? ive contacted motability today and they are going to ring me back in 48 hours because ive asked to reject the car. do you think this is right?
{Dealers name/location removed as it's irrelevant where you got it from. DD} Read more
apparently motability have said that ford will answer to them if they try to get the car back.he said that its up to motability to keep me in a car
My Octavia TDI (1999) has an intermittent fault with the windscreen wipers in that they frequently fail to stop, and when they do eventually stop it can be at any position on the windscreen. This can happen when using any of the wipers speeds or the intermitant setting. Any ideas as to what may be the problem and how I could fix it? Read more
It will most probably be the wiper timer relay. Fairly common problem that can crop up on any car, or anything with windscreen wipers for that matter!
They are usually dead easy to replace once you've found the relay and shouldn't cost more than about £10-£15 for a new one. ISTR Halfords carry a wide selection of them.
Hi there,
Having some trouble with my fiesta mk4 1.25 zetec
The car is lacking significant power, it seems really underpowered when pushed (ie. at full throttle, it seems strained/restricted).
When i say lacking I mean if I floor it in 2nd gear the car will crawl up the rev range and will not rev over 5000rpm. If I have a clear dual carriage way and accelerate in 3rd gear I will usually run out of road before it will get to 70mph.
Hills make this even more apparent, on 4th and 5th gear climbs I find myself dropping down to third and not accelerating.
I have noticed when in say 3rd gear going up hill at around 3000rpm and over, I can hear a rattling type sound.
The car idles fine and seems ok when not pushed, and doesn't make any tappety noises. The car will also rev freely as if normal when sat in neutral.
There is also a clear short, sharp sucking noise when the throttle is blipped just before it revs is this normal? Didn't notice it before, but it doesn't sound like a normal induction noise.
I have changed/checked:
Spark plugs, HT leads, fuel filter, vaccum hoses, sensor connectors, throttle body gaskets, inlet manifold gaskets.
Diagnostics show no failed sensors but reports the error code P1270 (Engine RPM Or Speed Limiter Reached) this error re-occurs when cleared dispite revs kept below 5000rpm. I was told this was possibly a faulty cam sensor which we have replaced.
Cheers Read more
The local dealer wants to fit
a fuel pump at a cost of 450 which makes me
wince..
laugh in his face would be a better response
I have just bought a new Blaupunkt CD/radio (double DIN size)from E-bay to fit a 2002 Vauxhall Corsa. The CD/radio went in to the cage the standard radio/cassette (Philips CAR 2004) was in, and the 3 plugs at the back all aligned, however there is nothing showing on the dashboard display, and unit cannot be turned on to enter security code.
The only sign that there is power getting to the new unit is that the red security light is flashing.
Unfortunately the new CD/radio did not come with a wiring diagram, and doesn't have a wiring sticker on it so I cannot compare it to the Philips radio/cassette.
As the Blaupunkt unit is shaped to fit Vauxhall/Opel cars I would have thought the wiring arrangement would have been the same as the Philips!
Has anyone come across this before, and if so please can you advise which wires need moving to make this CD/radio work.
Thanks
Darren Read more
The unit may fit, but its a different make to the one you're replacing, so the display on the dashboard won't work. These split radio/displays are designed to work only with the original Philips units (thus tying you in to Vauxhall if you need a replacement). The Blaupunkt you've bought might work in a 2002 Corsa, but only if it had an identical unit fitted in the first place.
Andy
My Vectra has finally succumbed to the old idle speed problem which has been traced to - surprise, surprise - the idle aor intake control valve. I have a shiny new one all ready to go on but I was just wondering whether I can fit this myself, or should I take it to my local Vx specialist to do the job.
I have very little experience of car repairs but I have done a few jobs such as replacing the exhaust, spark plugs, etc. And I'm not an idiot so if it's a very straightforward job, I wouldn't mind having a go.
Someone here must have done this job before.. any advice? Read more
Forgot to say, many thanks to Dynamic Dave for the instructions. I've saved over £100 on the part and labour by sourcing the valve and fitting it myself, so thank you.
Yesterday the rotted and smashed-up mountings finally gave way, and the front of the undershield dropped onto the M11. Having nothing to tie it up with (and the car being too low without ramps/stands to get underneath and remove it completely), I treated myself to a lovely scraping sound for the last few miles home.
The undershield is now wrecked beyond use, and I've had to take it off completely for the time being. VW have quoted me £100 to supply and fit a new one. Perhaps I should try Seat or Skoda? Or can I just carry on without it?
I'll be driving without it in the short term, but what do people think about carrying on like this? VW said it wouldn't matter a damn so long as I was careful what I drove over (bearing in mind the low ground clearance). Read more
I was relieved that my (then brand new) A4 had an undershield. A truck blew a traffic cone into my path and I had no option but to run over it. No damage to car at all.
Also, I notice how long the A4 engine stays warm after it has been parked, and I ofen wonder how much of this heat retention is due to the undershield.
Many years ago I ran over a lump of frozen snow and it ripped off the brake pipe to the rear, which then wrapped itself around the prop shaft.
No, not ones with blue fluourescent lights...
My downstairs rads are all suffering from hot top and sides but cool middle and bottoms. I whipped one off today and sure enough it was full of silty stuff, and clearing that has improved it no end. And this system was power flushed not too many years ago!
So what's the best way forward? It's easy enough to take them off (we're only talking about 3 more) but I can visualise the silt dropping all over the carpet, finding it's way between the joins on the plastic sheeting I would obviously lay first.
There is also a Fernox product which breaks down the silt.
And once I have done whatever I do I know I need to add an inhibitor.
But would you consider it best to remove the rads (as above) or to hire/borrow a flushing pump, to do the system properly? Or both, I suppose...? Read more
PG, didn't I tell you you'd get a job and your dispairs would be looked back on fondly?
Well, there you are!
CONGATULATIONS!!!!
Now, your other questions......
Don't think about buying just yet, because if I am right, property prices are falling in that area.
Rent, amounts I can't help you with.
Deposit.....as others have said, reasonable wear and tear is accepted under your tenancy agreement, if not there, then by law.
If tables etc are scratched by draggin the odd cup of tea or plate of food across it then that's wear and tear, however if you have been using them as work benches to rebuild various parts of POLO and they are severely dented, tops split and have marks left by the angle grinder, then that is chargable.
If electrical fittings are broken through accident, or you've fitted a 150w bulb in a 60W lamp holder and thus melted it, that is chargeable. If however your carpet shows nothing more than regular domestic use (ie you've not been tredding engine oil into it on a regular basis) then that is wear and tear.
My advice is to give the place a thorough clean before you move out and make is look as presentable as you can. Subtle use of air freshener etc (ie woman's touch;) ) would be a good move.
In addition, if you're that concerned, photograph every piece of furniture etc and every room to identify exact condition you left the poperty in. The landlord should but may not carry out a tenancy termination inspection with you. You should invite him to do this the day you move out. If he does not then this would weaken any case he has.
If you landlord does make a deduction on the deposit then ask him for a written explanation for it. IE which items is the deduction for and why - ie what degredation have they suffered etc. Your photos will be used to counter argue this.
If the property was furnished in the way you say it was. The chances are that you have a reasonable landlord who is prepared to meet reasonable letting expenditure. His approach sounds very like mine - make the property presentable at fair cost and expect tenants to take their normal toll.
Hope this helps
H
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I have two identical motorbikes.
One logbook gives the engine capacity as 233cc, the other as 250cc.
Says 233 on the crankcases!