October 2009
Hi,
After reading the advice in HJ's CBC breakdown, this forum and What Car? magazine over a period of many months, I eventually bought a black Ford Focus LX 1.6 petrol (113 bhp), 2006 06 reg, from Carcraft in Staines, Chertsey.
I am basically happy with the car except for its slightly boring interior, handbrake on the left hand side, and apparently poor fuel economy (but having said that, I mainly do short journeys in London). Also being a dopey sod I didn't initially notice that the car had a no smoking sticker (and a few other stickers) inside the windscreen, so I'm guessing it's probably an ex-rental?
Carcraft didn't supply any car mats with the Focus, so I'm just wondering if any of you friendly people know a good place to buy them, either online or in a shop?
Many thanks,
Chris Read more
Had a quick look online for some new studded tyres, and was amazed at all the new brands I've never heard of. It's pretty obvious which country some of them come from, but for the others, goodness knows. Surprisingly, they're not much cheaper than the usual brands.
Here's some strange ones: stunner, debica, sava, kingstar, trayal, nankang, achilles, rotalla, goodride, linglong, sunny, runway, dextero, mastersteel, maloya, meteor, roadstone, novex, nexen.
Interestingly, there was a recent test of winter tyres, including a couple of chinese brands. They both came bottom with appaling scores. So low, in fact, they were worse than summer tyres. Read more
. Anyway I got it back this morning
and in the boot was a winter set.
Result.
Some people have all the luck, whenever i've bought a cheap car the boot usually contains rubbish and the remains of some dead creature, but i much prefer your results.
With your luck i'd be inclined to spend a bit on lottery tickets..;)
Euromaster...now i may be wrong usually am but weren't ATS owned by Michelin at one time, maybe still are for all i know.
I wonder if those tyres you 'found' could be Mich's rebranded to sell through the ATS network?
My blower doesnt work, nor does the climate control. Im told the fuse (no.76) is behind the glovebox, as is the resistor pack, as such. I have removed the glovebox but cant find the fuse anywhere. It is a 40amp fuse so should be quite big, any ideas anyone? I really want to fix the blower so i can sell the car, cheers!
Carnut1980 Read more
So where is the new one now?It needs to be in the correct location in the blower airflow to keep it cool,otherwise it will seriously overheat and fail.hth
hi folks
just noticed my passenger side side light has gone, looked under the bonnet and just cant see how to change it. behind where the side light is there is a black box fitted to the back of the headlight with a wire going in, this seems to turn 90 degrees but wont come out. is it just a case of pulling this really hard until it comes out or will i break something doing that, any help would really be appreciated
thanks in advance Read more
fantastic advice, been at that hours, took ya advice and 2 minutes later the job is done, quick accurate advice, thats what i like
thanks again
hi can anybody give me any advice i have a mondeo 2.0 tdci i parked up yesterday and when i came to start it the starter motor was just clicking every time i tried to start it so i put it in gear and rocked the car back and to then it started i have tried it twice since and has been ok,is my starter on its way out or would it of just been a one off cheers.
Read more
thanks for all your help.
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 319 *****
In this thread you may ask any question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.
It does not need to be motoring related. In fact, in this thread it should not be.
No Questions About PCs. Please use the current "computer Related Questions" thread instead.
No politics
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which we think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details -
www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )
Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.
However, as has been said a couple of times, there is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.
This is Volume 318 Previous Volumes will not be deleted,
A list of previous volumes can be found:- HERE
PLEASE NOTE:
When posting a NEW question, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it's own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.
Read more
Remember, though, you are replacing an electrical item in a bathroom, and you will be breaking the law if you DIY. Part P of the building regulations applies. (I like to be warned before breaking the law...)"
OK, I have sourced a fused switch from a box of spares in the shed.
I thought it was only wiring that now had to be done by a qualified electrician? In any case, the switch will be in the loft, not the bathroom itself. Surely that is ok, it's no more of a job than wiring a plug after all.
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 198 *****
In this thread you may ask any computer related question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.
Usual rules apply,
No motoring related discussion,
No politics,
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which we think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )
Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.
There is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.
This is Volume 197. Previous Volumes will not be deleted.
A list of previous volumes can be found by clicking Here
PLEASE NOTE:
When posting a NEW question, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it's own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.
Read more
Rattle, clock speed is not the only restriction - architecture of the processor is a factor too. As well you know...
The Athlon 64 was faster than the Pentium 4 despite running at lower clock speed. Then Intel caught up. Now the latest (faster) Intel processors are slightly slower than the Core 2 Duo/Quads in clock speed but faster in performance.
Just thought that needed adding. I know nobody can reply :-)
"Conservatives will kill roadside cash cows"
summary: www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/07/tory_speed_camera.../
" .... new traffic lights would need to be justified through the publication of data justifying their location and their phasing.
Villiers also attacked fixed speed cameras. "Under Labour they've almost trebled. The truth is the fines they generate are blinding Labour to the proven merits of other better ways to keep our roads safe: like education, like vehicle activated signs, like traffic police." ...
Tories would abolish the partnerships that currently run speed cameras, and make their use more transparent. "That means publishing the information that's now kept secret on each speed camera's record on safety and on fines, so local communities can judge for themselves whether a camera should stay or whether it should go," Villiers said."
details: tinyurl.com/y9sv6x5 (Tory party speech in full)
Read more
Without particularising to this one, Scottish Sheriff courts are notoriously unpredictable, or so I have been told.
The mind boggles at this sentence - can there be more to it, previous offences perhaps? I hope it's possible to appeal the sentence.
I think the road is the route I used on a journey from North Berwick to the Lakes this summer - if so it's a belter. Smooth surfaced, scenic, sinuous and sparsely used on a weekday morning, and I can well imagine being a bit above the NSL on some stretches...
A bit of a brouhaha has been caused by "Essex Safety Camera Partnership" in their use of a covert camera and van on certain nights of the week. These sited on the London bound A127 near the Brentwood turn off. The local MP is frothing at the mouth and, apparently, the whole of Essex is fizzingly angry (except me)
Essex spokesperson says that as there is an issue with certain bikers meeting on this night of the week, speeding and riding dangerously.....it is a proportionate response.
I don't really have a problem with covert cameras to be honest. In fact, I think the use of a covert camera would more accurately reflect the negative attitude to speed limits by drivers.
When approaching overt cameras, all that happens is that speeding drivers brake on approach, then speed up again after. Hence, out of 1000 cars passing, a small proportion get caught (through day dreaming one suspects)
With a covert camera, how many out of 1000 drivers do you think would get caught?
PS:- Having said I have no problem with covert cameras, I did don the flak jacket and tin hemet in anticipation of shrapnel coming in my direction. Fire away!
Read more
Can't imagine how this would affect traffic flow etc.
I expect that if everyone stuck to it it would make traffic flow better, same way as any speed reductions help traffic flow... on motorways at least... thats why they reduce speeds and not increase them when it gets busy on those variable limit sections! But how they would police a 60 limit nationwide is beyond me, they can't even police the current limits effectively... daft idea...
My dads Fiesta passed its MOT in August and needed some advisories doing these included rear bushes and new front wheel bearings. A couple of months before this he spent a fortune having the rear brake cylinders and shoes replaced as well as new tie rods at the front.
We have spent around £400 on these repairs and now its clonking everywhere
1) There is a clock from the front, the lower wishbones were last replaced 15,000 miles ago by us so it may be the bushes on this have worn again.
2) It makes a knock from the rear, I checked all the obvious exhaust, spare wheel etc and its all fine.
3) It makes a clicking noise everytime you do a fairly sharp turn. The steering itself seems perfect with no play and its not pulling.
I've checked the springs and shock absorbers and they are all fine.
Anybody have any idea what this could be? Could it be that the replacment parts are just not that great quality and thus noisy? I've checked the bearings and they all seem fine, e.g there is no wobbles from any of the wheel.
The problem is I checked it underneath and there is little rust, the engine sounds healthy too, we know we need a car new as this is not going to last but decided financally the best thing we can do is keep it until next years MOT providing this clonking noise is nothing too serious.
So where do we start? We are worried taking it to another garage in case they charge a fortune just to look at it but should these noises be easy to spot whats wrong? Read more
And the correct year is?
DD
Browse
.jpg)
Hi again,
Wow, you guys are fantastic! You truly are a bunch of dedicated car enthusiasts. I mean, car mats are probably one of the few things even more boring than X Factor contestants! It was a great feeling to see so many helpful replies, including from many of the regulars whose advice and comments I used to read almost every day earlier this year when I was looking for a car. This must be one of the best forums on the internet, and I hope to become a regular contributor to this community too. By the way, sorry for not replying and expressing my thanks earlier; I am a bit of an insomniac, hence I originally posted my question at about 4.15 am last night, and it's 4.45 am right now...
My very grateful thanks to everyone for their kind advice and comments. As it's early days for me on this forum, I feel I must thank you all individually for taking the trouble to reply (in future I guess I will just say thanks everyone), so here goes...
b308 - thanks for your advice. When I said that I wasn't too happy with the handbrake being on the left hand side, I could have expressed this better! What I meant was that the handbrake is quite far to the left, i.e. just next to the passenger seat (is this because the car was originally designed as left hand drive and they couldn't be bothered to move the handbrake as well as the steering wheel?). So if a passenger rests his arms a bit beyond the edges of the seat, I often have to request that they move their arm so that I can operate the handbrake! Not a big problem, but I would prefer it in the centre.
Dutchie - yes the car has been serviced regularly (at Ford main dealers), so thanks for allaying my fears about it possibly being an ex-rental.
jc2, Focus {P}, cuthbert 1, honeybear, Old Navy - I will check out my Ford dealer and the shops and websites mentioned.
ifithelps - very interesting view about company cars! (How's the Focus CC running by the way?)
spood - thanks for telling me about Blackbushe (BCA) and the guy buying up all the stock for CarCraft Chertsey. Very interesting indeed!
Manatee, Falkirk Bairn, pmh3 - thanks so much for your comments.
Again, thanks to all and hope to see you on this forum regularly! I think I will try to get a bit more sleep now...