Show Posts

691

General Discussion Area / computer help

« on: 25 June 2008, 09:52:54 »

Right ..... after being passed from just about every piller & post Tesco has I've been offered a replacement for my daughter's Gateway lap top - there's problem with the charger making contact inside somewhere.
I know that when you 'delete' information from a hard drive the info is still actually there until it's written over the top of again, the computer is just told to ignore it, but what's the minimum I should do regarding deleting files - other than sticking a screw driver through the hard drive?!

:-/ :-/
Any help should be in a Janet & John reading level type way! (for the younger viewers that means, easy to understand!

)

692

General Discussion Area / Barvarian Motor Werk

« on: 12 May 2008, 21:32:00 »

What engine oil do you reckon for a new-ish 730d? My brother's car is asking for a bit more oil & is unsure what should be going in it. I reckon fully synthetic - of the Vauxhall trade Club variety

Opinions please.

693

General Discussion Area / Non starter

« on: 22 April 2008, 09:02:17 »

For the very first time since I got my diseasal Astra on the road it failed to start for me this morning.

Even when it has 50% diesel & chip oil in it started first turn of the key after the glow plug light went out. This morning I initially forgot about the glow plugs & spun it over (been in the Omega more over the wk end) but then allowed the glow plug light to time out. After 3 or 4 goes I gave up & used the Omega instead. I'd even tightened up the 'fan belt' a little so the screech wouldn't disturb the neighbours at 5 in the morning ..... again!

Used it last night OK when I nipped out to fill it up.
Any suggestions?
Astra G 1.7 low blow turbo.

694

General Discussion Area / eBay mpg

« on: 19 April 2008, 00:47:52 »

How is it the land of eBay seems to be able to get morempg than the rest of us.
40-50mpg! 'dangle berries'

695

General Discussion Area / Fiat BravA 1.4

« on: 08 March 2008, 10:33:26 »

Does any one know anything about Fiat cars? Sisiter-in-law's car has just put an amber warning lamp on - engine shaped like ours but no flash or spanner through it - from the hand book it appears to be an emmisions warning. It runs like a bag of spanners on idle but seems to pick up OK when you rev it. Anyone know if you can do a paperclip test on it?
Should she just scrap it before the rust takes hold?

Is there a decent Brava Owners Forum?
TIA

696

General Discussion Area / Variation on Debs' avaition jokes. Some for Marie

« on: 11 February 2008, 19:12:42 »

After every flight, pilots complete a gripe sheet that conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The form is a piece of paper that the pilot
completes and then the mechanics read and correct the problem. They then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor.

Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident. (P = The problem logged by the pilot. S = The solution and action taken by the engineers.)

P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on backorder.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute
descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

697

General Discussion Area / fuel consumption

« on: 11 January 2008, 12:01:38 »

I know it's a well hammered topic ......
As mentioned in another topic I went to Edinburgh, and , as you do I reset the fuel trip.
The last time I went anywhere (without a caravan

) the best consumption I've ever seen on my 99 3.0 Elite has been about 27mpg driving at a steady 75 mmph using cruise. Wed afternoon with 4 adults in the car I saw an incredible 32.4mpg at a steady 80mph (once I'd got pased the M55

) Even after driving around Edinburgh's traffic free city centre

for a day, the return to home - without resetting the trip - I've still got nearly 29 mpg!
I haven't done anything in particular that I think has contributed to an increase in mpg. Perhaps I should apply to the Pope for miracle status!

698

General Discussion Area / Channel 4+1

« on: 02 January 2008, 22:37:32 »

If anyone feels they've eaten a bit much this Christmas & their jeans are just a bit tighter - as mine are

- just have a watch of 'The Half Ton Mum' on Ch4+1

64 stones!!!!!

699

General Discussion Area / cherished registrations

« on: 12 December 2007, 10:48:08 »

On the way home from work last night I saw a pre-face lift Omega. The thing I noticed straight was its registration E228 JLR! Mmm ? An E reg Omega? But if you put it into Autotrader/DVLA the number does match the car. :-? It just seemed to be a very ordinary number to pay out a cherished transfer for. :-/

700

General Discussion Area / Indian child

« on: 15 December 2007, 11:15:44 »

I hadn't heard anthing of this untill this morning on the radio news.
Just an unbelievable story.

701

General Discussion Area / Banks

« on: 13 December 2007, 12:16:56 »

Does anyone have any positive comments about their bank? I'm with Abbey, not particularly by choice, but due to take over after take over that's who I'm now with.
After one f*** up too many I think I want a bank/building society that is UK based. I'm f***ed off with repeating myself time after time to someone in India, I said .......

Any suggestions please!

702

General Discussion Area / EGR valve

« on: 11 November 2007, 15:56:05 »

When is it supposed to opperate? I've posted under general rather than Omega help as this is a question related to my 1.7 low blow Astra. My EML keeps coming on when I get on the motorway. It used to come on more frequently around town but since I cleared out the gauze infront of the air flow meter

and cleared some of the sh1te out of the EGR valve itself it's just coming on at motor way speeds. If I boot it on the slip road & keep my foot planted into the carpet (it won't go much faster than the limit anyway

) it usually stays off, however as I settle down to a cruising speed of about 70 - honest!! - the EML will come on. Some times if you accelerate gently it'' go off but come back on again. When you get into town again, it'll go back off as you pull away for the 1st or 2nd time & stay off.
Fault code via my cheapo TechII is P400 ie EGR fault, but the EGR on it is purely mechanical -- a solenoid opens up vacuum from the brake servo's vacuum pump to the other side of a diaphragm & lifts a valve up from its seat opening up to the exhaust. The air flow meter is a new one but was a cheap replacement from eBay rather than over £100 from Vx.

All ideas greatfully received.

703

General Discussion Area / Re: Headlight Cluster Lamp Replacement Guide

« on: 28 October 2007, 10:06:43 »

I've never had much success with the credit card method of removal. I found it easier to just pop the D shaped panel from the end of the dash to expose the side of the switch. You can then just push the whole switch out.

704

General Discussion Area / I'll show you mine

« on: 17 October 2007, 12:05:33 »

Following on from another thread ... it went off thread

... how tidy - or not - is your garage? Here's mine.
As you can see it's been a while since a car was driven out of it.

705

General Discussion Area / laser speed traps

« on: 09 October 2007, 23:25:29 »

Shamelessly(sp?) nicked the link from elsewhere :- http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/?N=190%2520410&Ns=P_Publication_Date%257C1

As previously said .... discuss!

News:

Profile Info

Topics - Andy B