My sister's looking at one of these - shares a house with a guy who's owned some Skoda or other with the same engine, so knows his way around them and could do a fair few jobs on them. Any gotchas on them? Says it's got FSH - it's got just over 120k on the clock - what's the official cambelt interval on these? If it's had the belt done recently but not had tensioners/water pump done is it...

I've got a CV boot ona Focus estate come adrift, fell off after reassembling the front after a wheel beraing swap. Done maybe 300 miles and ejected a lot of grease, and also over gravelly roads in the wet - not ideal but that's why you do weekly checks to see this sort of thing I suppose. How to fix? Clean the join in situ and repack with CV grease? Or worth pulling off the car, swilling...

Hi all, My car ('98 306 1.9TD estate) failed the MOT on NS Steering Gaiter split and OSF ball joint worn. For the ball joint, I had already replaced it - but there is still too much play and it seems that the new ball joint shaft is very slightly smaller than the original. I know that two sizes are available .. but are they really that close?

Just been watching local BBC News. Unemployment in working age adults in my area is 33%. Not quite sure how when there's been more than 200 jobs advertised within 30 miles in the last week alone. Maybe seaside resorts attract lazy ****ers. --

Mechanic mate of mine has a cosmetically scruffy but mechanically perfect, FSH, 60k mile 16v Polo on a 'P' plate which he's offered to me for plenty cheapness. He bought it for his girlfriend and spent plenty of time making sure it's spot on other than needing a few scuffs and scrapes on the body sorting out. 4 new good tyres on it, new brake pads, all the irritating little bits sorted like...

Car: Avensis 1.8GS Is it worth getting an exchange alternator or putting new brushes in yourself. Do they sell re-con kits for this? It can't be that difficult splitting the unit and replacing the bits.

The government is in the progress of preparing a new way to take more money from the motorist . Although in this particular case its the person who is licenced to use a sat nav rather than the actual car . The new sat nav licence will look like a photo driving licence , This is because when a motorist is stopped by the police on a random spot check and a sat nav is visible - the motorist...

We had to replace the battery on the car due to the xmas layup and we foolishly replaced the keyfob batteries. The keyfob will no longer talk to the car. 1995 Renault Laguna Keyfob is an IR one and appears to be working because a signal can be seen on a digicam. The car will turnover but not start. The CL light seems to be behaving

Following from previous post, thanks all who helped, I have seen a Cruise control stalk for an omega with a 4 pin connector. Is this compatible with the Facelift 2.2 Petrol CD Auto Omega (Y plate). Are the cruise control stalks the same ? Am I right in thinking that the pins for the indicator and lights are on the base of the stalk, and the cruise control buts on the flying lead with this...

Had to give it an italian tune-up to pass the emissions test. Failed on CO level initially. Fast idle .92 % first test. .04 % after 'tuning' Chuffed. I had visions of possibly having to fork out for a new Lamda's or even cats. E39 528i 5 speed auto. It surprised me, (I've only had it about 3 years) :-) Did over 80 mph in 2nd, and over 110 mph in 3rd. Stepronic box automatically changed at...

The Xsara VTS has 167 brake and seems to be available for approximately 2p.

a simple website with some manager features, usefull to store info about your vehicle maintenance http://www.lemieruote.it

hi there, I have a 1990 Escort 1300 OHV engine which suddenly stopped running. the exhaust popped a few times as the car was dying. when tried to crank the starter: it gives 4 revolution sounds and then a 'clunk' and then 4 more rev sounds etc. the car has clocked almost 160K. is it a snapped timing chain? how can i check for this? what else could it be? thx

I'm after a cheap(ish) DIY code reader that'll suit a Diesel 2005 Astra, I'm sure it's an OBD-11 jobby and I've found the socket between the handbrake and gearlever. I'm really just looking for something that'll do the reading and re-set function but doesn't cost the earth, I appreciate that it'll have shortcomings compared to professional gear costing £ks. Anyone got any kit that they...

Hi, After a (free - long story) session at a Renault Dealership the diagnostic response to symptoms in a JAON 1998 Megane Scenic DTi (loses power about the point when the turbo gets involved) is 'don't know - suspect wiring fault between maf sensor and ecu'. Does anyone have any idea where I can sensibly get pinouts for an edc (I think it'll be an edc15 variant).

My Sylva with the Kawasaki engine being fitted that is. Been buggering about with the wiring, making up a temporary loom to get it running. Came in tonight and tried it and it ran. Not for long, but it ran. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=v1KH1V68UDQ Should be quieter with an exhaust on it......

here's a nice website with some manager features, usefull to store info about your vehicle maintenance http://www.lemieruote.it

IMHO all cars over 10 years old should be scrapped - as that would mean x percent would buy a brand new car to replace it . Thus getting the car industy back on its feet .

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on Thursday a 52 plate mondeo diesel is coming in, it has a strange rattle which starts a second or two after the engine fires, it sounds external and belt end, not entirely regular but similar to a noisy tappet. I haven't heard one before but my bet is the crank pulley. Anyone want to have a guess in advance?

Now you've had it a while, what's the verdict?

I've never used a sat nav. I'm thinking of getting one for my girlfriend to help her at roundabouts because she finds them dificult. Could a sat nav be set up to talk a driver across very large roundabouts? Maybe with a dialogue like this: "approaching roundabout, will exit on 2 o'clock junction" "not this exit" "exit in 30 metres"

The car is a 1994 Fiesta Si. Drove about 6 miles, when car seemed to lose power then get it back then after a few times it stalled. Started it up went a mile and it kept feeling like it was losing power then stalled and wouldn't start. Had some petrol in the boot, so put a gallon in just in case the gauge was faulty, but it wouldn't start. Lights bright, starter seem to spin the engine ok....

Right. I may have a buyer lined up to take the 406 off my hands, and I've decided that I want an MX-5, as I've always been a big one for originality. MR2s are too complicated what with having the engine in the middle. So, I want probably an 1800, an LSD and a hard top if possible. Given that I'm likely to be spending £2000-£2500, what variants / years should I be looking at?

A question for all you seasoned road-munchers. I am traveling perforce from the civilised north (Durham) to the diseased wastelands of the south (Midhurst). What I'm wondering is whether I'm likely to be better to take the M1 or the A1? The A1 appears to be a more direct route, but I have no idea whether it's likely to be more or less congested during early evening to night-time on a...

Hi. I have a 1997 214 hatchback (ok..they probably all are h/backs) Is it easy to change the break light bulb? Cheers. Arthur

When it comes to the price of petrol and diesel - i think there should be a two tier price policy . Trade - £1 a gallon . Public - £10 a gallon . Given that trade vehicles deliver stuff etc - they have a valid reason why they need fuel and they shouldnt suffer high fuel prices because of the average lazy motorist .

Hello I have a 2003 Astra - 1.8 16v convertible Just before Christmas the radiator started to leak and I lost a lot of water from it - the engine emissions light came on but after a day or two that went off and hasn't come on since. At the same time the engine wouldn't start when cold. As it was Christmas time I couldn't get the radiator fixed so kept topping it up with water/antifreeze to do a...

Need a new battery for the SD1. Any thoughts on the best make - or ones to avoid? Want value - not necessarily to save pennies. The current one has done OK - about 6 years - but is a 'no name' one bought in an emergency. -- *There's no place like www.home.com * Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Over the Christmas period my new michelin tyre got a nail in the outer wall. ATS etc said they couldn't repair this type of puncture, but a local- very good local tyre garage said they send these away and a new section of tyre is inserted in. They said its completely safe. Anybody any thoughts ?

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My son has a P reg Megane 1.6 and no user manual. The Haynes manual doesn't help. There is an orange warning that looks like an old fashioned wavy resistor symbol which comes on some time after moving off. Does anybody know what this is telling us? The next clue is that it intermittently cuts in and out at light load which doesn't appear to be temperature dependant and can be a surpringly...

Diesel, 2.0 litre non turbo T-spirit My daugther bought this car in Sept.08. In December during a cold spell it refused to start. She had it taken to the Toyota dealer who had maintained it from new. The diagnosis was degradation of the fuel system by contamination. They managed to save the fuel pump and injectors by purging the fuel system and charged her £600 to do so. Here we are in another...

Right, which one of you is this then.... http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3680224 I reckon I'll have a bit of a go at this...

I'm changing the cambelt on my 05 Astravan CDTI. The engine is the Z17DTL I believe. I've locked the camshaft pulley easily enough but can't find the way to lock the crank properly. Can anyone describe to me the prescribed method of locking the crank? Ta. Also, it's a common rail engine so I've no need to consider fuel pump timing AIUI, am I correct? Finally, any other tips, I know the...

Drivers should be made to sit a driving test every 10 years to prove they are still fit and capable of driving on uk roads . This retest should also include a written exam - and drivers would need to pass both in order for their licence to be renewed .

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy9kCQZNOuk -- Carl Robson Get cashback on your purchases Topcashback http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/skraggy_uk/ref/index.htm Greasypalm http://www.greasypalm.co.uk/r/?l=1006553

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In light of another thread in uk.legal about an unlicenced car, a question has occurred to me - when does a collection of parts become a car for the purposes of road tax (or, more appropriately, SORN)? I have a car purchased middle of last year that is in midst of a rebuild, it has a registration number and is in fact insured should anything happen to it, but its certainly not a car in the...

1990 Alfa Spider, Series III (the ugly generation of the original Spider). MOT 'till September. No advisories for rust, just a couple for a ball joint and a bush. Can be had for £1750. Argh!

ok i been home from my cousins house for about 30mins or so now and it's still getting to me! driving home earlier and i get in the car it the car dings and tells me it's -2.5c outside. ok i think i'll be careful in the bends, considering i live in the middle of almost no where and not far from a river. it's a 10min drive, i get about halfway down the road and i i start to see another car in...

Stop at a mini roundabout to let a learner round from my right. Pause, two, three. THUMP ****. A woman in an '06 Fester's just shunted into the back of the Saab. Damage to the Fester? Well, I handed her both upper and lower grilles as I walked back to her door. She opens the door and starts with "Oh, no! I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!"

The IS has a tracker fitted, so I'm going to find out what it will cost to change details and see if it makes enough difference to my insurance to make it worth while. -- Carl Robson Get cashback on your purchases Topcashback http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/skraggy_uk/ref/index.htm Greasypalm http://www.greasypalm.co.uk/r/?l=1006553

This is a must for any VW Beetle / Van / Baja owner or anybody looking to renovate or rebuild one as a project. This set consists of two DVDS taken from the original Better Beetles videos and covers engines on one dvd and bodywork etc on the other as shown below

Just in case anyone feels the temptation. Gave it a good wash, polish and cleaned the interior today. http://www.italiancar.co.uk/156tspark/156tspark.html Quick rundown of the details: 1999V Black

Spent last hour putting in new instrument binnacle as speedo and ammeter on old one was knackered. Couldn't get it to start before putting it back together as battery was a bit too flat. Anyways, puts it all back together, jump starts it and someone has dicked around with the potentiometer on the rev counter and calibrated a 4 pot one for a V6.....

Don't know the make, but there is a Motorola wired kit in. Is it worth doing anything with changing the cradle wise? Do they still make wired cradles for new phones or just for the old stagers. I'm guessing behind the dash the wiring will have already been cut to allow the phone through the speakers, and wired into telemute as toyota/lexus don't use ISOs. I don't have an old Motorola to stick...

A friends heater, Ford Ka S plate, is not working - it appears that hot water is flowing into the heater but it only blows cold. A quick look suggests that the temperature control is electrical, but the Haynes manual, as far as I can see, has no information about the controls - nor can I find anything relevant on the (limited) wiring diagrams. Any comments would be appreciated. Peter

In full knowledge that you are doing so .

Right, as Carl and Steve both managed to get about 4 billion posts out of their latest car choices..... As you've probably noticed, I'm planning on moving to Czech in May. CZ is a ****ing nightmare to register RHD cars, and I prefer to live happily at the bangernomics end of the scale. I'm going to need to take a few bits of **** with me, so it'll be cheaper to drive over than to pay...

Folks - You are reading this probably because you are considering participating in this UK car related newsgroups. These are the finest UK car related discussions on usenet, with many contributors who have the widest experience imaginable. This forum is a web gateway to this collection of newsgroups. AutoBanter mirrors these discussions and allows you to participate through a high quality web...