iansmith

Go for a few more 'opinions' before , n o t Kwik-Fit. Tyres can wear Very quick otherwise.

Diesel lost to petrol when the diesel fuel tax increased, there was publicity on 'unhealthy' diesel soot particulates at the time. I used diesel but now I don't, it's not worth it.

http://www.1stchoice.co.uk/ http://www.partsgateway.co.uk/ http://www.findapart.co.uk/ http://www.skospares.com/ http://www.uk-autospares.com/ http://www.247spares.co.uk/browse Used this last one in the past,got some good astra suspension legs ..

Have now found that the problem was caused by dry joint bad connection, (now re-soldered by helpful Britannia recovery man , when it conked under Ikea) on the main battery feed from the starter motor. I think this caused arcing voltage spikes, on high amps drain when using the heater motor,causing the heater blower fuse to fail. Its alright again now.

Sounds like a heater motor problem,mine has been stopping ,and blowing it's fuse (3rd one L to R). Apparently they draw too many amps for the fuse if it doesn't run when connected. :wonder: Just had it out ,the motor that is,lots of little clips on it's cover (it is just to one side of the wiper motor ), that have a tendency to ping off & disappear. Sprayed it with WD40,and it's working for now.. Maybe have to replace the thing, they're on Ebay from breaker's.

You really should shove a few of these http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=axle+stands&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a under there ref LINK for more info on jacking up a felicia http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/151040-jacking-up-a-16-felicia/

Sounds a good price to me,I would probably gone for that myself, But for having done it the once,actually for the first time,and it wasn't that bad a job. But previous I would certainly gone for the £50. I put the jack on some MDF roofing board scraps to gain some more inches,made it easier,likely would not have done it otherwise. And the rear box is not so far under the car.

I bought a rear silencer from Ebay 'eternalcar' for £18.34 + £11 postage last May and it was much better made ,and a better fit ,than the garage supplied one that I took off. The hanger fitting was a better fit, and better made altogether. Stuff the garage and their ridiculous prices. Give the join clamp a good whacking,undo it, jiggle and twist the box about a lot,and it comes off.. It aint that far under the car. You get yourself dirty, And it's 'worth it'.

It's better now tho. :yes: :evil:

Its done now,it was as I thought.. The 'cage' came off by gripping the gear stick beneath the cage with two hands and pushing with both thumbs. It flew off and bounced off the concrete,but it didn't break. And the gaitor pushed and pulled over the ball. And a bonus, the gear lever centralizes a bit better than it did before. It's not quite so floppy

The bottom gaitor that seals the gear stick ball from the weather below has disentegrated on my 1995 felicia. I've got a new gaitor, but how to get it past the ball to fit it into its housing ? Does the plastic ball cage just push off ? would it break? Can the gaitor be pushed and shoved past the ball minus its cage? Is this the way to do it? :wonder:

A few non (trad) PC... A 'chip' may be obtained.Aint tried it myself. Shell extra makes a difference (with me anyway) Asta 3000 makes a difference (with me any way) ref:- http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Asta+3000&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a Broquet makes a difference (with me anyway,used it for years..) ref :- http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=broquet&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a A dollop (little dollop) of Acetone makes a difference (with me anyway),not tried it with Shell extra. ref:- http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=acetone+diesel&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a 40% Kerosine NO NO didnt say that its illegal.. I really shouldnt be saying these things ..

Ebay Diesel Felicia batteries,Varta ads show cold cranking amps ..

For a 1300 Felicia ? :think:

We can search the forum for previous posts Found this "make sure the gearbox breather is not stuck (little mushroom shaped thing on top of gearbox near clutch arm - should be able to jiggle it up and down easily)"

Toms your man

These chains are known to rattle on for a loonnngg time without breaking. :yes: Or you can change them if you like Cam chain kit from £13.99P

Ive previously had two cars which broke their cam belts,one cost me £1000 odd to repair,I scrapped the next at a cost of £1000 approx.I didnt have that sort of money. They really smashed the engines when they broke. :'( One was a vw diesel (the cambelt was not old),the other a 1.5 diesel AX. Make sure your cam belt is a good one or .. Glad I got my 1.3L felicia. I never want to see another cam belted engine in my possession. :wonder: Thank god for the cam CHAIN on my frugal, reliable1.3. The number of production years just shows how good it is. Go for the 1.3

REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH With Thanks to 'myjalopy' Didnt do it myself tho.. Oops, but its the barrel you want changed

Yeah, best to check for that.. Mind you metallic paint optional on the 'Pacific' says Parkers..

Ive done this many times Or you can pay lots of money to a body shop :wonder: Loads of body filler Here Wot about a sanding disk Some paint ? A new wing for £39 + p&p duuno wot body shop charges\to fit and paint tho, maybe £300 odd ? This thing comes in very handy Actually Jorily is pretty good

Couldn't you just take out the transponder from the existing key,and tape it to the ignition key lock barrel behind the 'dash' (coo thats an old name for it , back from my day ), and then get a key cut without a transponder, cos the transponder now taped on the lock barrel would do the job anyway..

Thank you for the information. Use a wire brush ? Mine is still quiet.. SSHH :wonder:

My battery is ancient (out of a previously owned diesel Astra) and relatively huge,still good. Most of my runs are local. This weather (lower than 0c) I do not use top gear in order to keep the revs, and alternator output, higher. It hasn't failed me in years. Do they get lower than 0C in the Dominican Republic ? I think these do the job at NotALot http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-VOLT-LED-BATTERY-ALTERNATOR-TESTER-600mm-CABLE-12V-/260605648291?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3cad4e9da3 http://motors-parts.shop.ebay.co.uk/Diagnostic-Tools-Equipment-/30921/i.html?Item%2520Type=Battery%252F%2520Alternator%2520Tester&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A3445&rt=nc&_nkw=led&_dmpt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1

My last squeelling seemed to be from the water pump :( A squirt of oil just behind the pulley has cured it ..(so far). There again a few inadvertent drops on the driving belt may have inadvertently done the job The belt is tight,but I always wonder if it is too tight :wonder: I believe a worn belt, not necessarily loose, can be noisy,but a squirt of oil is easier and cheaper But maybe its too tight :wonder: Maybe too heavy on the waterpump bearing. Worry,worry :S