April 2005
My friend took her Nissan Micra to a local mechanic to carry out the MOT. It failed on emissions so he "did some stuff" to make it pass. Now not only does it do 7 miles to a fiver petrol, but as soon as the temp gauge starts to rise off 'C' it won't run!!! This is a 988cc engine. I noticed black water from the exhaust so I checked the oil.....2 inches above the max on the dip stick!!! I drained out 5 litres of engine oil, this engine only takes 2.8 litres with a new filter! Her grandad put in some new points but he isn't sure if they're adjusted properly.........HELP...I've never delt with points before! Also noticed I couldn't adjust the idle speed screw in the carb, this had been bent inside the carb, near it's point. Today I fitted a replacement carb from a 1990 micra, same thing really. Any one got any ideas on why this car won't run when hot please....?
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I had a drive in a Mondeo the other day, but was thoroughly distracted by being able to see the filaments in the heated windscreen. The salesman says he's never come across anyone else who noticed them. Is it just me? Read more
Ford own the patents, so you only really see them on cars made by companies owned by Ford.
However, final testing is taking place of a new generation of heated windows that don't have elements. They use the metalised layer used in solar reflective screens (pinky purple ones)
These are made with silver and barium vapour in alternate layers which produces and interference coating.
These new screend have a pattern cut in with a laser which is supposed to be invisible.
I've just read how close Jenson Button came to disqualification through the combined weight of him and car being below the 600KG minimum net of fuel. Although the FIA may yet intervene, for now, whatever the reason was (not given to the public) has been accepted.
Made me recall my first win in the 'Supers' class one kart championship I was racing in at the time. At Shenington, whilst on the dummy grid waiting for the current race to finish and mine to start, there was a downpour. Ours was declared a wet race, so switching to wet weather tyres was mandatory. To save time, make the chassis more flexible, narow the rear track, and change gear ratio (taller, to blunt torque delivery), we did this by dropping in a new axle (narrow and solid rather than large and hollow bored) on which the wet tyres and rear sprocket were already mounted.
Before the race, I also, unusally and I don't know why, took my watch off.
I won the race hands down, but in post race scrutineering, was found to be 50 grammes under the minimum allowed for kart and driver (including fuel in this case) and was disqualified.
My father then handed me my watch, simply to give it back to me, and the scales changed exactly to parity with the weight minimum! Of course this didn't count, and the disqualification stood. I was mighty unhappy, and had to accept that the scales had been certified, and 50g was within allowed sensitivity. (It was actually exactly the finest tolerance certified)
We thus learned the hard way that a wet weather kart was 1.2KG lighter than in dry race trim, and from them on carried a tobacco tin with lead melted inside to bolt on the back of the chassis (to help traction), whenever racing in the rain! Read more
BBC: Tuesday, 26 April, 2005, 16:31 GMT 17:31 UK
BAR protest innocence over Button
Button could lose Imola podium
BAR have insisted that they did not deliberately run an underweight car during the San Marino Grand Prix.
The team was cleared by race stewards after Jenson Button's car was found to be too light, but F1's ruling body the FIA has appealed against the decision.
BAR team boss Nick Fry said: "This team is owned by two blue-chip international corporations with huge integrity.
"Does anyone really think that we would deliberately do anything against the rules? We've hidden nothing."
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"If anyone is trying to destabilise us, that will not work. We're bigger than that."
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Seems to be infering a conspiracy!
What tool do I need to undo a zafira (1.6) sump plug? Read more
If it's the same plug as the Vectra, then you'll need a T45 sized torx bit.
I'm looking to buy a car at auction and am wondering the safest way to check the car's head gasket. Any other quick checks I can make as the car is stated up before the sale? Read more
Agree with Aprilia.My mate sells at auction.Last one he sold had H/G problems.He cleaned up filler cap area.Also blocked the expansion tank pipe/s. then filled with water to normal level. which worked due to engine not running long enough to see any faults..after all it only drives into hall-bid is made-driven out.
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Steve
Was reading an article in the times a few months ago about the greatest invention of all time that hasn't yet been invented. It was the ultra efficient battery.
Was very interesting - basically saying look at how ridiculous a technology the motor car is. Driving around in vehicles with mobile furnaces on board and spending endless time and hassle with all the greasy mechanical bits wearing out / needing changing etc. will seem laughable in 30 years time.
Once somebody invents ultra efficient batteries, all cars (except recreational 'classics' such as Aston Martins etc.) will be electric. The reliance of the world on oil will be gone. We'll all recharge our cars overnight from the mains, which draw power from nuclear powerstations (probably based somewhere a long way away from anywhere such as the desert).
Sounds good to me - massively reduced pollution, quieter / less complex cars - fewer bits to go wrong.
Discuss.
Rich
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I have alway wondered about the accident thing with these hybrid petrol electric cars....
Officer one..."Yes Sarge, this was the scene of the accident, but as you can see, the battery acid has helped us to clear it up rather quickly!"
HJ says (so I wouldn't dream of arguing) that cars registered before 1/3/2001 don't qualify for reduced rate VED.
I hadn't realised this. I don't suppose it means that I can pay the rate in force in 1989 for my car... Read more
OK!
Does anybody know if the law requires you to stop when an unmarked police car signals you to pull-over?
(Recently there's been a spate of hijackings involving fake unmarked police cars) Read more
Some support for ihbj!! Cut from an older thread.
Its a question of prioritising and trying to give some quality of service.
On a personal note I find that I have very little actual free time to patrol and for want of a better word 'hunt'. I work in a busy city centre. I have a tray load of 'hit and runs', normal collisions for statements and process, crime reports to ivestigate and on and on. It doesnt stop. You get rid of one and another two appear. CPS wont prosecute without a shed load of statements even though I could give a verbal summary of an accident including witness accounts in a couple of minutes. I am generally doing or en route to something. Not forgetting responding to ongoing calls for service.
Its a case of managing your own workloads and keeping your head above water. I think you would be hard pushed to find may bobbies just ambling about these days.
So having said that whilst it may take only 10 minutes or so to dish out a ticket for some infringement, the process is adding to workload and it can be a case of trying to offload some of that pressure by ignoring minor infringements. Sad as it is.
For example some people get a bee in their bonnet about pedal cycles without lights and write in to the papers moaning about Police lack of attention and there are threads in this column about particular minor infringements which annoy people. In 25 years I have never been to a collision involving a pedal cycle which has not had lights on. As a consequence in the bigger picture bikes without lights are therefore not a priority, annoying as it may be to those who demand action.
Historically the Police have been a 'Can do' organisation but we are now in the ere of Performance, Targets and Priorities. Excessive demands are meaning that we are now Prioritising and actually saying 'No sorry thats not a Police matter' or stating that it is low on our priorities and will not be responded to. If I can give an example. Kids throwing snowballs or playing football. I know it can be annoying but isnt that what kids do? Traditionally we have always been responsible for escorting Abnormal Loads. That could be particularly time consuming. Now they have been hived off to the private sector, unless of course they are particularly large.
We are going to see some big changes in the next few years and Community Wardens and private motorway patrols run by the Highways Agency are only the start!
Fullchat
I am in the market for a new car and have had my fancy taken by an imported FTO (direct from Japan) does anyone have any comments or suggestions to make about this car?
Cheers Read more
Aprilia Thanks for that info. Very useful. Yes when cold I have to double declutch 1st-2nd and the same goes for changing down. 2nd to 3rd has to be taken slowly as it is not a fast box as you say. Although the clutch bites early I don't think it is dragging and I always match my revs (old school) to avoid punishing the syncro. I will check out the oil. Cheers.
Hi All,
Am going to look at some 323ci coupes this week. When I check the service history, can anyone tell me how how often in time and miles the car should have been serviced and which services they should be (out of inspection 1/2/oil)?
The cars I am looking at are all about 5 years old with 40-45 k on the clock.
Also, is there a recomended method for validating the milage as genuine on these cars?
Thanks Read more
its nice to be nice
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agreed, which is why i replied initially.
however, i personally prefer to stop short of spoonfeeding.
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When you drained the oil from the sump, did it smell very strongly of petrol. Looking at HJs' CBCB, these Micras can split the fuel pump diaphragm which leaks neat fuel into the sump. This may explain the extortionate thirst for fuel and the seeming overfilled sump.
However, I can't quite understand how a mechanic could have managed all of this, so this might not be the answer.