April 2005
I was checking our two cars today, as we had new tyres on the Xantia last Friday. I never trust garages or tyre fitters to get the pressures correct. The result was that I found the two new tyres were at 26 psi, when the correct pressure should be 33 psi.
Whilst I had the tyre inflator out, I offered to check the tyres on our neighbours new C4, knowing that she never does. The front tyres were OK, at 2.5 bars (should be 2.4), but the rear tyres were 3.1 bars, when the correct pressure should be between 2.1 and 2.7 bars, depending upon the load. Read more
"An automated parking enforcement system could signal the end of the road for the region's much maligned traffic wardens.
Parking Eye uses vehicle-tracking software operated through a CCTV-style system to track vehicles as they enter, park and leave car parks and parking bays."
More at tinyurl.com/d6nnv
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The joke of this is that.......for police to keep surveillance on a crack house, or to keep tabs on an armed robber or burglar etc, you have to fill in millions of forms (RIPA = Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) and get various authorities to sign the forms before you can do it. Risk assessment into collateral intrusion into other peoples lives (i.e. you may be walking by and be seen on film) has to be carried out. It must also be pretty much a last resort. But, stap me! park on a double yellow and the full force of the local authorities with their cameras and other hi-tech paraphernalia come into full effect without so much as a by your leave!!! Makes you sick doesn't it?
The other day driving on the M25 a flying object which looked like a bit of metal flew out of nowhere and hit my windscreen, cracking it.
Anyone got any strange stories of ufo's hitting them while driving? Read more
Artful dodger - I can't remember if it did or not. I think it probably didn't. The one he has now does though, he made sure of that!
I've just bought a 2.0 dti, and the oil changes are stated as being done every 30000 miles with long life oil, this seems a long period for a diesel, what are your views on this, as i'm used to changing the oil every 5-6000, and what is the best oil to use? Thanks Read more
Thanks all, i'll get it done soon methinks
I want to protect my new to me (3 year old merc, metalic silver) from the effects of tree sap and other nasties on the road.
Use Autoglym super resin polish - but unsure which wax to buy - whether the high tech Meguirs is the one or plain cheap 'Turtle wax' or..........?
Prefer easy to put on. Read more
Sorry guys but you are all wrong :-)
Bilthamber Double Speed Wax....
I am opting out of my company car scheme and have been looking at getting a mondeo/octavia from a dealer. I have £11000 to spend but I am thinking of trying the auctions as I feel I could get a good saving on the cars. I have never been to an auction so I am a complete virgin. Should I try it or is it only for the experienced person.
Anybody any advice what to look for if I go and what to look for? Read more
Thanks for the information PW, that is very interesting. After learning you can pay at your local auctionhouse I might have to give this method some serious consideration - BCA Nottingham is only 5 minutes from where I live.
Morning all. I know this might sound silly to all you good mechanics out there, but could someone be as kind as to tell me how to change the spark plugs on a Rover 414i (N reg, new shape).
I doesnt look like the plugs I've come across before where you take off the cover and unscrew the plugs. There an injection unit running across the top of this lot.
Any help for a novice like myself is much appreciated.
Regards,
Dave Read more
Thank you both for your help. Found is easy.
Easy when you know how (",)
Regards,
Dave
Interesting idea for Ken. Perhaps this should be emailed for his attention.
Whether the internal design will meet EEC rules relating to internal access and disabled access remains to be seen.
The design of the front of the bus was very old fashioned, but no doubt could be improved to satisfy Londoner's tastes. Read more
I'm a relatively infrequent visitor to London, but as an 'outsider' it does seem to have got better over the last year or two.
Several German cities have had LPG (and also CNG) busses for several years now and I think the Dutch also use them - its not just in Hong Kong.
Am considering buying a Mazda MX5 Eunos as they are more plentiful than UK spec cars. have heard that some spares are more difficult and expensive to find than UK sourced cars. would appreciate any advice/comments on this. Also does anyone know of independent specialists in the London area that can service, repair the Eunos. Many thanks. Read more
I came across a company that insures Eunos drivers for less than £200.
(Edit: no free advertising)
hi
i have a knocking sound coming from the front suspension when i go over a pothole etc. it sounds as if something is loose - a kind of knocking sound.
ive heard that there are issue with the front arms on these cars.
anyone have any ideas before i take it to the garage. it doesn?t effect the cars drivability but its probably worth getting checked out.
thanks
dave
audi A6 1.8T SE 1998
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Hello Dave,
Had a lower suspension arm bush fail. I replaced the arm with an OEM unit at a cost of approx. £45.00-ish. Part came from Garrett-Wright in Slough, and is the basic triangular shaped arm with pre-fitted bushes.
El Dingo.
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>How do you know that your pressure guage is more accurate than garage's?<.
In absolute terms I suppose I don't (it's a pen-type). But it agrees within 1 psi with two others, and it must be more reliable to check with the same occasionally-used gauge than to use ones which may be wearing out from heavy use.