Maintenance & Repairs - March 2007

Hi,

My car lighter socket is broken. (Its not the fuse). I need it to power my old pda/sat nav.

VW said they were £75 per hour + parts + VAT so I thought I'd try to do the replacement power socket myself. (£8 part)

I've got the part and removed the console to get at it...

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w81/sherad100/sherad_vw/sheard_lighter1.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w81/sherad100/sherad_vw/sherad_lighter2.jpg

but i can't get the existing socket out of the red holder.....

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w81/sherad100/sherad_vw/sherad_lighter4.jpg

Any ideas on how to release it out of that red plastic holder ? Its fitted in tight.. and I've tried to force it upwards but it won't budge, and I can't move it by pulling down (unless use maximum force which would prolly break/rip it out.

Long shot.. but any ideas ? Haynes manual doesn't really cover this part of the repair well.. (push it out is what they say and its not moving)

2007-03-20 09:01:30 · 4 answers · asked by Joe Bloggs 4

I keep getting told from friends and family that you and you don't!!! Im just trying to save gas here so someone please help!!!

2007-03-20 08:58:07 · 20 answers · asked by Bee 2

I recently bought a 72 F100 from a car dealership in missouri. i towed the truck home and began to work on it. it runs fine except for 2 things.
1. the transmission takes a few seconds to catch and i have to give it a lot of gas for that.
2. the engine starts and stays running, but slowly loses power and then dies. i already checked the alternator and its fine. also has a new battery.

2007-03-20 08:53:03 · 5 answers · asked by carmaniac 2

2007-03-20 08:35:33 · 9 answers · asked by Mail J 3

2007-03-20 08:32:36 · 2 answers · asked by Cherry Pie 1

2007-03-20 08:32:19 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

1999 GM vehicle, 3.1 v-6

2007-03-20 08:31:34 · 1 answers · asked by Stagehand 1

I drive a manual Toyota cab and 1/2 pickup, it drives real sweet until recently when taking off our of 1st gear it trembles and then once you take off you need to slowly accelerate because if you press the pedal too fast all you get is a high reving and no speed. this happens in all gears, so what i need to do is just gas it slowely till it reach my desired speed.


any ideas people

2007-03-20 08:27:02 · 3 answers · asked by Jr DRE 2

i just put a tune-up, bought a new fuel pump (external) it will run for a few hours, then can hear a loud humming noise from the tank and it will stall,,,,????

2007-03-20 08:22:48 · 1 answers · asked by f g 1

2007-03-20 08:15:52 · 6 answers · asked by kcs_636 2

I have a 2000 Dodge Durango and both of my extra 12v power supply sockets are not working. My regular cigarette lighter one works just fine. My extra ones are located in the dash and in the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Could it be a blown fuse? Does the whole thing need to be replaced?

2007-03-20 08:10:11 · 7 answers · asked by tdghee 1

Ok, the responses to my earlier question have been much faster than I had expected. Thanks guys. But I mispelled a little, and I meant 15-20 seconds. Again, this is a 93 Toyota Corolla, dual overhead cam. I have checked/replaced plugs, fuel filter, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor button, and fuel injectors. I loosened the bolt on the fuel rail, and fuel shot half-way across my yard, so I dont think its the fuel pump. If I dont move the car, it will stay running for a long time. if I try and drive it, it stalls within minutes. I am not sure what to do, we need this car for transportation. It almost sounds as if it is out of time, but I cant be too sure, as Im not a mechanic. Could this be a possibility? Also, any other possibilities you can think of, or similiar problems you have had, please list these, and I will check all suggestions. Thanks!

2007-03-20 07:50:56 · 4 answers · asked by James O 1

Im Trying to Sell these On Ebay!! its not selling someone help me? i Know a Pawn shop will give me more then $200 i got these Tools for around 299. This is nonsence someone help me what could i do?

2007-03-20 07:45:43 · 4 answers · asked by The Man 2

ok so i am trying to fix it. i turn the key and it does not crank up. but it is not the battery the lights come on and everything. there is a switch in the trunk i guess to do something with the gas cut off switch? i was told to press that and that i would work but that did not work what do i do? im stuck.?

2007-03-20 07:44:31 · 4 answers · asked by littleluvkitty 6

The compressor is a small 12 gallon 1hp unit from sears. I have hardly used it at all and the warranty just expired. The problem is that it will not shut off. It just keeps running. When the compressor is fully charged with air and I manually shut it off and turn the unit back on it is fine. But as soon as some of the air gets drained and the motor turns on again (like it's supposed to) it will not shut off automatically like it's supposed to once it gets fully charged. Has this ever happened to you on one of your garage air compressors? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.

2007-03-20 07:36:26 · 5 answers · asked by guitardan 5

When I got back to my car today a lady parked next to me asked if I had scratched her car .I said I had not and she said Oh I thought maybe you had done it with a buggy.I had my childrens car seats in the back.I said no sorry if I had I would of left you a note .I checked my car when I got home just in case she had done something to mine.I really can't work out what she wanted can you. I had not hit or harmed her car I do not know her and if I had done this and was dishonest surely I would have moved my car.

2007-03-20 07:28:39 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

Car was running smooth. Then I took it to Sears to get the tires balanced and rotated. When I got it back, I noticed that there was a grinding sound comming from the front wheel/brake area(not sure which side). I notice the sound only at slower speeds(around 10mph). It seems to get louder when I turn(in either direction) or brake at these slower speeds. I do not notice the sound at faster speeds. The sound itself sounds something like a "constant soft grinding" with a "whomp" sound with every rotation of the tire as it moves. In the meantime I was due to change my brake pads so I did that but it did not help. I'de love to know what could be causing this noise.
On a side note: my muffler also sounds like it has holes in it after I got it back from Sears. Haven't looked under yet. They might have had it in for me because I complained to Sears HQ when they refused to do the balancing and rotation (long story).
But my question is about the grinding noise.

2007-03-20 07:22:11 · 13 answers · asked by Max 2

2007-03-20 07:20:18 · 2 answers · asked by Gringgo P 1

Hello! I have a 93 toyota camry with a butt load of miles on it. We've had some problems with it power surging but it seems to be intermitent. We checked many things and finally replaced the fuel filter again and it seemed to fix the problem. We also had a family member tell us that our fuel injectors were very dirty and to run a couple of bottles of this stuff in the gas tank to clean them up. Anyways we did that things seemed to be going well then we let the gas get down to just above empty and filled it and it started power surging again. This is the second time this has happened so closely to after we filled up on an almost empty tank. Does anyone think I might have sediment in the bottom of my tank that is causing this and if so is there any way to get rid of it? Also since its doing it again would we need to replace the fuel filter again even though we just put a new one in last month? Thanks to all who answer!
-Sara

2007-03-20 07:17:10 · 3 answers · asked by mychem23 2

I own a 98 isszu rodeo and recently it snowed like 4 inches, when i went out to clean the snow off my car the next morning i started it up first, not realising the wipers were still on.....anyways it stayed like that for like 10 minutes but the blades werent able to move because of the weight of the snow. They arent working at all now, but when i flip the switch i can hear the motor...or something in there running the blades just arent moving. The retaining nuts arent loose and the blades arent frozen to the windsheild. Any ideas what could be wrong with it, and how much its going to cost to fix?

2007-03-20 07:13:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-03-20 07:10:50 · 4 answers · asked by James 1

Would I be able to change the starter on a 1996 Volvo 850 or should I take it to the shop. What does the book say on how many hours of labor for this part replacement.

2007-03-20 07:10:09 · 5 answers · asked by irish_writer8277 1

We've replaced the distributor cap, fuel filter, spark plugs, fuel injectors. I don't know what else to do. I would appreciate any advice. My car is a 1993 with a manual transmission.

2007-03-20 07:08:04 · 8 answers · asked by James O 1

We've replaced the didtributor cap, fuel filter, spark plugs, fuel injectors. I don't know what else to do. I would appreciate any advice. My car is a 1993 with a manual transmission.

2007-03-20 07:07:12 · 2 answers · asked by James O 1

When im going slow, or pulling out of a parking place the power steering seems to not work properly. But when im going at about 20 and above there seems to be no problems. What is causing this? The car is a Hyduai Elantra

2007-03-20 07:06:43 · 6 answers · asked by JASON F 1

Just got a 1976 ford f350/ 400cid engine (265,000 kms). Previous owner said it sat over winter and when started had blue smoke out of left side exhaust pipe only.
Pulled out plugs and driver side plugs were badly fouled with oil + crankcase was somewhat overfilled. After cleaning plugs/changed oil runs good but still piles of blue smoke and when reved high some oil on ground from exhaust.
There is a sticker that says the engine was rebuilt, and our neighbor thinks that engine sludge/junk from having it sit too long is the only problem and that running hotter plugs/ +ignition tune up is all it needs.

How do you tell whether this problem is just "crap in the engine" , or worn valve guides/seals, or needs new rings?
I dont want to put hotter plugs in until i know they wont foul up right away.

2007-03-20 07:05:28 · 11 answers · asked by cool_camaro81 2

2007-03-20 06:56:09 · 2 answers · asked by Dean G 1

Im installing the harmonic balancer on a new engin, Ive followed all the instuctions on the rent-a-tool, to install, but when I try to take out the tool used to push the pulley in the bolt stays inside and I cant get it out, unless I pulle out the pulley again. am I inserting the tool wrong?

2007-03-20 06:55:04 · 4 answers · asked by JUDAS RAGE 4

I have a 2000 dodge stratus recently when I would break I would feel the car woble. Today when I tried to go reverse the car would not go it only made a screaching noise...I dont see any visable damage to the rear tires which seem to be the ones not moving what could this be?

2007-03-20 06:54:28 · 4 answers · asked by Roze 1

I have a 1997 Ford Probe, when ever you first try to start it will turn over then die like a second after it comes on, or it will die when you idle below 1RPM at a stop when in drive so i have to stop and put it in neutral and rev it. Does anyone know why or how to fix this?

P.S. I took it to a local mechanic but his scanner could not get a reading just keep sending back "Error Can Not Communincate."

2007-03-20 06:48:39 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous