Can anyone tell me where to find the boot light switch on this model? Definitely not the usual visible type!

Many thanks

JS Read more

Yep, thats it, Corsa that served me so well over the last 18 months has gone to a new home- a family who have bought it for their son to learn to drive in. Am now the proud owner of a 53 plate SEAT Ibiza 1.2 3-cyl and its fantastic- lots more toys and nicer to drive even though its a cylinder down on the Corsa.
I have one question though- how much power should air-con sap? I only ask because its very nippy with it off, but as soon as its on it goes really sluggish.


Ben Read more

I picked up an 'autocare' digital tyre pressure gauge for £2-3 in a recently refurbished Tesco store that now sells car bits. It displays to nearest O.1 pounds and is black plastic and 14cm long by 2.5 or so wide and quite light . Also the nozzle angle is nicely positioned.

This (one) sample proved to be pretty accurate when compared with my trusted dial gauge and loses no significant amount of air in making the measurement. I am quite pleased with it.

Incidently, I now realise why my other digital gauge loses a lot of air. The rubber was too short that seals the valve end, before the gauge centre spiggot gets to press the valve centre that releases air to the gauge. Having dug out that rubber and glued it in a bit higher up, it too now works OK. Read more

Just got back from a "holiday" in Italy which did not start well and got me wondering about crash tests.

Shortly after leaving Milan Malpensa Airport to Bellagio, our hired Fiesta got hit from behind by an HGV.... which in turn was hit by a tanker. No sure what was behind that just recall view from the side ambulance door. Do not have much recollection of the accident (why/how it happened for a start as I must have passed out after impact). Spent the first afternoon in Italian A&E with wife, both having stitches, xrays and for me a CT scan! I have pictures of my brain now.

Italian hospital and police to be congratulated apart from drive to the hire car to collect wrecked luggage.... 140km/h in a 90km/h zone with blue lights and Carabinieri driver on his mobile whilst cars in front eventually moved over! And we only both fitted once the weapons boxes were stacked high in the boot!!!

Thankfully we are relatively well and continued via taxi/limo for the rest of the holiday.

But it made me wonder about crash worthiness of any car when hit from behind... okay I got hit my an HGV so the driver was cheating. But the rear obviously shortened and frighteningly the roof to the rear of the front passengers caved in like a V shape... filling much of the space for passengers. This is what ripped the back of my head open but had someone been in the rear I do not think they would be with us today. It was that bad.

Now I am not criticising the Fiesta because we "walked away" (actually helped in my case with lots of blood from headwound) from being hit by an HGV but with NCAP concentrating on frontal and side impact, what about rear?

Rob (the lucky one I think....


P.S. Another topic... turns out I had dreamt about being in this hospital prior to departure... I recognised some of the interior of the hospital and some staff. Deborah also dreamt of the hospital recently and dismissed it.... That is spooky is it not...! Read more

help !! i have an austin somerset with the origonal 1200cc engine cylinder pressures are fine , and there is no smoking , it does not lose oil or water however the problem has just started suddenly and that is it lose,s all oil pressure when the engine reaches it s normal water temp untill then it is running at about 30 on the oil indicator then suddenly and slowly the oil pressure drops untill it reaches zero if i rev the engine it will rise slowly but as soon as it goes on tick over it drops again any ideas folks i dont know where to start looking
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