June 2009
Had lunch today in Farringdon with two old friends from university 50 years ago. One of them is the Skoda owner who has now bought a diesel Octavia with 90,000 miles on it to keep at his house abroad, following advice from BR members sought by me on his behalf.
He briefly recalled that thread, which I had emailed to him to back up my own recommendation to buy that car if he liked it (the garage he bought it from is a family outfit, specialist rather than main dealer, and very clearly excellent). In the course of that conversation he repeatedly referred to the advice he had received from people here as 'scholarly'. He said it had enabled him to impress the salesman at the garage who had told him, no, the car didn't have a DPF and he was quite right to want it not to have one...
As it happens they are both Old Etonians. Etonians don't always know the meaning of the word scholarly, but these two certainly do. Indeed one has been an academic for his whole working life.
So it's official, chaps. You're scholarly. You can carry your noses high. Read more
I have a C5 which will shortly be needing new front tyres. Currently shod in michelin primacy 215-55-16,w-93. I doubt they will last 20,000. Just wonder if anyone has any recommendations for another brand. I have no problems with the wear rate( I was warned by dealer they would only last 20k). Just the price of michelins that puts me off. Also, would like them to be quiet. Thanks. Read more
Lets see how I get on with the cheap Nankang's....I gather they last well (lets
hope 20000 miles plus) but they lack grip in the wet!
Sorry, am i missing something here??
Just found some fantastic footage of London Motor Shows from the 1960's. Oh, those clipped tones, the great smell of Brut, the hot pants..........oh and there are old cars too!
Utterly brilliant ....memories. I have driven one or two of the cars on show and remember my Dad having some too.
Follow this link for 1 of them, the remainder are on the right hand side of the youtube page.
tinyurl.com/pjzrgj
Read more
There is some fabulous old footage on BritishPathe.com, for all to see. Worth a sniff around.
Not just car stuff either, lots of local interest, news items etc. I was priveleged to even stumble over footage that included my grandfather from 1929.
I think the site has changed recently, but used to alllow download of a low res version for free or pay about £30 for a good copy.
does any body no if my saxo vts engine will go into my 205 gti if so what parts will i need to renew will i need parts specially made such as gearbox mounts and engine mounts ect. Read more
like you say finding one, but a vts engine is newer and ull notice a saxo vts will destroy a 205 gti any day ive just got a engine here thas all.. unless you can help me with my over fueling faults... spark is fine, it wont start unless i press the throttle a bit then itll start but it misifres hugely then just stalls, after 20 seconds of doing this i took the plugs out and they were soaked in petrol
Does anyone know how good City College Brighton is in teaching motor vehicle engineering as a practical subject? Can anyone recommend it as a good place to learn as an adult in this field?
Thanks for any advice.
Greg
slt Read more
New to this car, fill it to the brim and - consternation among the Shell guys - diesel started leaking all over their forecourt. Quickly bought a fuel can and whipped under the leak, but now diagnosing. After around half a litre or so, it stopped, but the fuel was capillaring down to the bottom of the tank, from where I don't know. Wasn't the long neck that emerges under the wheel arch.
Any thoughts as what might be the culprit gratefully received! Read more
I gave it a tighten. Hopefully that'll do, because, as you say, not a lot of space down there. Thanks for the help
Hello
My Xantia 2.0 HDI has developed a "hard" ride - on checking, the suspension fluid level is very high - the top of the glass (with the suspension set on high). May have been overfilled when I had a sphere (self-levelling, at rear) replaced recently.
Is the best solution to open the suspension fuid cover and remove a few ml of fluid at a time, using a syringe, with teh ingition off and the suspension in "normal"?
Thanks in advance for the solution!! Read more
Yes that was the case with the CX but the XMs seem to stay put OK, I have four of them and have changed many spheres over the years.
So we may all know a little more about each other - in a friendly (forum post enhancing) way..
A life `snapshot then - 4th June 2009
Awoke without the alarm - as usual around 5.30AM - came down to a coffee and the `afterglow` of the Punto 1.9D passing it`s 7th year MOT again the day before.
(Garage guy intrigued about the Castrol CL waterproof grease - still oozing into the frames - he too didn`t rate Waxoil)
9.10AM Rush hour gone. Punto van up to 70 - on the M62 heading East towards Hull. Pulled off for a coffee at California garden centre and rolled into Bridlington - parking by the harbour at around 11.30.
A big (naked) bike arrived same time and an older couple prised themselves off - blue with cold - yes, this is June on the sea fret East Coast.
Walked around shivering - then after lunch - back into the car, heater on.
Came back through Carnaby and towards the Driffield bypass.
Crazy overtaking by some cars in the 50/60MPH constant traffic stream - straight into the path of oncoming trucks - and then managing to dive back into the line of traffic.
Approaching Howden, in a long line of cars with a caravan at the head - 45/50mph. Set the computer and after 6 miles showing a trip average of 84.7mpg.
Arrived home - (having bought Shell antifreeze) Did an antifreeze change and flush on the old 1.9D (which was sitting with a cold engine on the drive) Again resolved to buy a few quality hose clips..
Decided to do the oil & Filter. Up to Shell garage for Rimula D4. Filter STRAIGHT OFF. (It seems the latest of a long line of filter tools is best (hook on claw type - single handed)
Looked in at the cams - through the filler hole. Clean as a whistle with silver alloy showing in the base. The indirect injection engine really loads the oil and it`s a 6,000 change interval. I used to halve this - given the severe usage - but since using Rimula have gone up to 4,000 and its still not forming sludge.
Air filter - done.
Whole engine bay washed and re-applied WD40 over all alloy. Cleaned rubber hoses with a wipe of degreaser and rinse.
Test run, top up antifreeze.
By now it`s 5.00pm - and the evening is spent reading History - watching TV and using the Eee pc.... on The Forum.
If I were to keep a recording diary of yesterday - that`s the `motoring context` it would reveal - of the day and typical of me in retirement - (garden excluded)
Do you want to post your own snapshot of (preferably) 4th June. It would be interesting to see what we were all doing on that day.
(remember the TV show were they followed the weather on one particular day around the world)
All the best ;-)
oilrag Read more
Woke about 08.30 in our Murvi Morello parked on the nice campsite behind The Masons Arms in Odcombe, near Yeovil.
Leisurely breakfast, then off to Montacute House. Easy parking for the van (6m long, rather wide turning circle, and long wheelbase mean concentration often required).
After NT lunch tootle up M5 back home,topping up with cheap diesel at Asda Patchway.
Passing Sainsbury's at Wallbridge, Stroud, become aware of 2x Police cars behind me, so wait behind artic blocking left filter up to Golden Cross, rather than mount pavement, and proceed up hill observing speed limit (3l. auto Ducato deceptively fast), so as not to annoy plod.
Stop for lights at Golden Cross about 6 cars back from line.
Four police cars roar past in right lane and stop at lights.
About eight cops jump out with machine guns and wrench open doors of 54 plate Laguna third car back from lights in O/S lane.
Lot of very angry shouting by police, two men dragged out, one knocked to floor, both have hands tied behind backs. Boot opened very gingerly by one cop.
One dragged back up and limps towards ex-police house on the corner, supported on both sides.Other walked behind wall, and glares across road.
One plod dons blue gloves and backs Laguna into side road to Rugby Club, after traffic told to move ( all cars told to stay where they were up till then to maintain road block)
Traffic told to move.
We finish drive home.
Greet cats-always annoyed when left behind, so not friendly until bed time, when they sneak into bedroom, hoping to stay night.
Unload van fridge and bring in dirty washing.
Cup of tea then cut grass before forecasted rain starts.
Sort out post, e-mails, catch up on BR.
Have supper.
Bed
Can anyone help :
My wifes Fiesta has an " Endura DE " 1800 non turbo fitted but its very tired , I have been offered another diesel from a 1997 fiesta but the rocker cover says 1.8 Diesel so will it fit her car & will the bell housing / gearbox still match up.
Your thoughts please Read more
There was quite a bit of change to the 1.8 engine about this time, in fact the later model was direct injection, I believe this was the TDDI. If yours is IDI, the only difference between that and the earlier engine is a measure of electronic control. Fitting a non electronic engine should be fairly straightforward, in fact why not fit a turbo engine while you are about it, these are probably more common. There are a couple of solonoids on the pump for cold starting advance but if you have any problems just put 12v permanently on one or both of them and the engine seems to run fine.
The best course of action would be to have a good look at your engine and take some photo's then compare it with the one in the donor vehicle. I have just fitted one in a P100 pick up which was by no means easy as it was rear wheel drive, but yours should be a straight swap.
Has anyone done The big end shells on this make of car before. The main question is can they be done with the engine in place and by removing the sump for access. And is the job fairly straight forward as i am thinking of buying one. Only prob is it needs the shells done. It is a 170bhp Japan import. Thanks. Read more
I have had experience with an import MR2 engine, the turbo engine.
You need to take it out with the gearbox, it takes and lot of time and effort.
My lad's problem was that the pistons's lands were braking, proably due to the incorrect fuel grades in England.
So if you take this one, make sure you make a daft offer, and price in the cost of repairs.
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Funnily enough I don't recall contributing to that thread, which is probably why it got the praise that it did!