SILVER ROCKET

My previous vehicle, a FIAT Punto, needed a new exhaust regularly. The factory fit lasted 3 years and the subsequent kwik-fit items about 2 years a piece. My 1999 Octavia will be 11 in September and is still on it's original exhaust which appears to have been made from scaffolding. Do they ever rust or wear out, and would a kwik-fit replacement have anything like the same life span?

I'd be looking at the HT Leads and plugs. Damp and condensation can cause this if the leads are getting on a bit. Once they've warmed up a bit the problem goes away.

60,000 miles or 4 years I believe. Certain about the age not so sure of the mileage.

To do this you need to be able to see the speakers. Assuming say you have a red and a brown lead, connect them to the battery and the speaker drive unit will move in or out and stay there, Swap as necessary to make it move out, then mark the leads + and - as indicated on the battery. Now connect the other channel, does the speaker move the same way as the other side? If not swap the leads over then mark the + and - again. It actually doesn't really matter which way round the + and - are as long as both sides are the same. You are now in phase.

My larger Fan spins whenever the aircon is switched on. My smaller fan has seized and has been like that for 2 years. My aircon works and the temp gauge never goes above halfway. Every time it goes into the dealers for a service or any other work they insist I need to have the small fan changed as it's the radiator cooling fan and the car will overheat. They refuse to believe me when I say it doesn't, it never has and that it didn't during an August Holiday drive to Barcelona in temperatures approaching 40 centigrade. I looked into getting one from a breakers, but they wanted £60 and I'm sure that if I changed it I'd find that the fan controller was knackered as well. If it ever becomes an issue I'll fit a Kenlowe fan in front of the rad.

I think you really need to let the oil drain from the sump plug to get rid of all the sludge and other debris. Syphoning takes out the oil but leaves the crap behind.

That's 62pence a litre or half the national average.

When passed my driving test in 1979, petrol cost less than a pound a gallon which is about 23pence a litre. A fiver would fill up either the 2CV or Mini which were respectively my first and second cars.

BRAKES not breaks

I'll second that. Until last Autumn, I had used Preston Motor's in Forest Gate and been happy with them. Then suddenly their labour rates shot up to the same £75 + VAT per/hour. This seems a lot to pay to have the apprentice drain your oil and swap a filter. I've kicked the Full Service History into touch now, and will do it myself or use independents. I suspect the Service Department is trying to compensate for the loss of showroom sales revenue.

My passenger outer cable failed too about 2 years ago. I got the dealer to do it. I can't remember the exact amount but I didn't go ouch. £50 - £60 quid maybe supplied and fitted. However, 2 years ago their labour rates were not the £75 per hour + VAT that they are currently charging. I believe it is do-able DIY but fiddly in the extreme.

Probably leaves. After a couple of days they'll dry and become brittle. Then turn the fan on full blast, open a window or the sunroof to reduce back pressure and you'll probably get pieces of dried out leaf flying out the vents as the fan chops it up. That's worked for me anyway.

To get to the CD changer, I find it best "to enter from behind"

I pan fried mine with a little garlic.

On my Estate, 1999 Model Mk 1 you can open the tailgate from inside. There is a little lever you can push. I've done it a few times when my exterior boot handle stuck in so could not open it from the outside.

Not for me, but you do what you like. Ever so slightly off topic but I saw an AUDI yesterday with red LED's around the exhaust cut-out in the rear valence. The first time I've seen these, but I'm afraid it may not be the last.

Try posting on the Fabia forum. This one's for Octavias. Oh, I don't know by the way.

Ring your insurance company. They should send a car locksmith to get into the car for you. This avoids any claim you might make for damage to paintwork or windows caused by breaking in. Similar principal to getting windscreen chips fixed for free.

He does seem to have found room for what looks suspiciously like a dodgy pair of underpants

Unless you need the space, the Octy is never going to be the best hot hatch for your money. The Golf Mk,4 chassis is just too sluggish in it's responses and the nose too heavy. You'll get a Clio 188 for 5.5k. Less space but a chassis that's damn near as good as an Elise.

Does brake fluid really make a good substitute for gearbox oil?

Is it legal to run the exhaust through the inside of the car?

Fixed it now thanks. My drains emerge in the door hinge area, stuck a cotton bud in the end of a fat rubber teat that is accessible when the door is open and a load of crud and about a pint of stagnant water poured out. The water in the sun roof area has now gone and not re-appeared. Thanks

I saw a Fabia the other day with twin pipes on each side. The effect was rather spoiled by the fact that the 2 on the right were obviously dummies, a fact given away by the cold start steam and vapour coming from the left side only. I like yours very much. They are both real aren't they?

You can fit PCD adaptors £88 a pair if you really like the wheels. They double as a spacer if the wheel offset needs adjusting.