October 2009
Replaced the failing battery on my wife's Punto after four years. Reminded me that when I scrapped my Fiat Mirafiori at nine to ten years old it still had the original Marinelli (I think it was called that) battery on it.
What's your longest lasting one? Read more
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 27 *****
***** This thread follows on from VOLUME 25 *****
Another thread for commenting on rare, unusual, old or just plain daft cars etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more
A 6 foot skinflint colleague had one - after lunch one day we cut out a giant cardboard key and stuck it to the back of the car - he drove home afterwards without noticing...
i get the impression the Skoda is a more roomy car
But the Kia has that dammned 7 year warrenty
Virtually the same money on the scrappage scheme
both nominally the same weight & towing capacity & indeed fuel enonomy
Looking at a level 2 Kia
Or a SE in the Skoda
both have ESP as a cost option
decisions decisions Read more
>> KEY question is the VW a chain cam engine?
No its belt driven
Exactly, it'll cost hundred to replace the belt. The Kia is chain and the servicing isn't actually very expensive. My dad pays about the same to service his Ceed as the Corolla before it (and Toyota servicing is very reasonable).
Hyundai i30 might be better value than either (although only 5 year warranty).
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 321 *****
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 320 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
Just for one, nobody in the backroom has any advice or a view - even if it is on trying to make two cats nicer to each other.
For those who suggest there are more kittens, you obviously missed my "and had them spayed" in my OP.
Recently got a 1.4 TSI SE. Have noticed a rather annoying booming/reverberating/droning noise from the rear when travelling at anything over about 40 mph. Not sure what it is exactly, Sounds are always difficult to describe. Had a saloon car before and wondered if hatchbacks are just noisier. Even so the noise is noticeable and could be irritating on a long journey.
Layed a thick blanket in the boot but no noticeable difference when testing on a drive.
Sound is slightly similar to having a roofrack rail. It's not engine as dropping the clutch the noise is still there.
Called the garage and they said it could be the bearings! Could they fail so soon? Only done 150 miles!
Just wondering if anyone else has noticed a booming noise.
Shame as the car is very well built and quiet otherwise.Hope this isn't going to be the minus point of the car.
Read more
As a test, change the tyre pressures - either pump them right up to the max load, or down to 20psi (for a short time, short distance in the dry if poss) as that may change the noise and help pinpoint.
Had engine management light come on did code read came up as p0420,=faulty cat,faulty lamda sensor or faulty wiring,local exhaust co removed exhaust found half the cat missing(internally)nissan want£800 for front cat,got aftermarket for£350 fitted with a mate(mechanic)engine light reset ,came on again,replaced lamda sensor can only get gen nissan£198 fitted another reset,light came on again,same code,had emmissions test done exactly same readings as last two mot"s,had test on lamda sensors on oscilliscope both switching fine,more cost,tried four garages,no one seems to want to know now as its no longer just a bolt on,even my local auto electrics co say they cant help,spent a fortune car now only worth about £2500 max trade in ,HELP ANYONE? Read more
I am not proposing to offer any excuses, other than to say I should have been paying more attention.
I was recently flashed doing 37 in a 30 area. After some correspondence, I have been offered a speed awareness course in either Brighton, Eastbourne, Bognor or Horsham.
I am inclined to accept the Horsham location, however the don't do automatic cars there. So this would mean driving a manual gearbox car - something I haven't done much of for about 15 years - apart from driving my Minor.
Does anyone know how much driving is involved? Read more
I did one this year in East Sussex. I learnt quite a lot too and also enjoyed it. There was a fair bit of driving involved. It included negotiating what, in my opinion, is the most dangerous crossroads in the area, which rather surprised me. An expensive day out, though ? I don?t intend to be flashed again. I?ve decided it?s just simpler to stay within the limit all the time. What?s the rush?
Can anyone confirm what engine oil I should use for my V70 D5. It's a 2002 model and has always been previously been serviced by a main dealer. Mileage is 116,000. One dealer said I should use 0W 30 and A3/B3 fully synthetic and another dealer said a oaart synthetic ws OK so I am confused. A trusted colleague said Chevron 5W 30 sold in Costco would do the job. Also should I use an engine flush, and if so what sort. I would really welcome any comments. Read more
PS> I certainly WOULDN'T use the 15-40 semi the link above recommends, and you don't need to flush the engine
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 38 *****
As the title suggests, this thread is for all things Formula One and other general motorsport related stuff.
This is Volume 37.
Usual rules apply. When we get to around 100 posts, the thread will be locked and the next volume will start.
PLEASE NOTE
As with the IHAQ & the Computer threads, When posting a NEW topic, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each topic in it's own separate segment and stops each new topic from getting mixed up in amongst existing topics. Also please remember to change the subject header.
Read more
Helmet our paths may have crossed. I was on the North Lincs rally circuit for several years until 1995 with Grimsby Motor Club.
The Triumph Mayflower was only produced from 1949 to 1953 so there are not many examples around these days, especially ones in good condition.
One example was traded in for a new MINI under the Scrappage Scheme and as disposal of scrappage cars is dealt with centrally by BMW UK, the Dealer had no control over its fate and it was eventually destroyed.
Follow the link below for a picture and a copy of the response letter from BMW.
www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2009/10/11/scrappage-kill.../
Mandy should have set a 25-year age limit for the scrappage scheme like the Americans did for their scheme! Read more
I do agree that not every old car (or bike) is necessarily a classic and the Triumph Mayflower is not exactly Pininfarina! However, there was a recent short article in my local paper about the car Scrappage Scheme as implemented, in this instance, by Suzuki as below:
"Of the orders taken, Suzuki has seen some unusual and classic vehicles that have come through the door to be traded in. These include a Fiat Coupe, Triumph TR7 and Spitfire, BMW 2002, Jaguar XJ Sport, Mercedes-Benz 380 SLC and several MGBs."
There are some genuine classics in this list and it just seems a shame for them to be scrapped. If road tax exempt vehicles were no longer eligible for the scrappage scheme, at least cars like these would be more likely to be sold on to enthusiasts. Even if they are old rust buckets, at least the parts could be sold on and re-used to keep other BMW 2002s etc on the road.
It does seem odd for government on the one hand to provide support for historic vehicles through tax exemption and then to also provide incentive to scrap them!
As Harleyman says, guess they could revert back to the 25 year rule, but even if this were implemented for the present pre 73 rule, it would save some good cars. Not sure what the figures are, but the numbers must be quite low for cars this old going for scrappage, so it is hard to see how this would impact much on the dual aims of the scheme, the green aspect and the industry stimulation aspect.
Browse
.jpg)
...the more you use a car battery then theoretically the longer it should last...
This could explain why batteries seem to last longer these days - there are so many electrically operated systems and gadgets on modern cars.
When I worked at a 'proper garage' in the 1970s we seemed to change an awful lot of batteries.
Sealed for life ones seemed to be a step forward, as did the widespread adoption of alternators.
I think a modern battery is still a mixture of lead and acid, but I wonder if the materials/the way they are used has improved somehow over the years.