[...]
It is indeed a difficult situation, but I very much doubt that punters will try it on. If suspicious the garage holds all the cards to screw the customer. The customer wants to build a good long term relationship with the garage on fair terms and visa versa. Trust is a crucial ingredient.
Once heard that Fiat sold 500 Cromas in the UK in total, so it's quite a rare sight. And they didn't just dissolve in thin air since the body was galvanised. I had mine for 10 years and no rust. Quite nimble handling since car was light for size, but indeed some body flex. Poor quality interior plastics warped on a sunny day, strange for an Italian car.
Topping up the oil via the dipstick.
They were OK-ish, but much better with a Saab, Alfa or Lancia badge ;-)
Nor do I. My own punctuation isn't up to me being too pedantic about others writings. The OP to this subthread did use one misuse of English that always riles me though. The constructs - "He teached me how to ride a bike" and "I learned him how to ride a bike" smacks at the poor education standards nowadays (or of pure laziness).
I shouldn't let such trivia bother me but the raised blood pressure gives a nice colour (NOT color) to my cheeks as well as giving my BP pills something to work on. :-)
Vin
Heh! I did that. Well, not all over Ireland. Uni was in Guildford, home in Bracknell (that's a really long drive as far as the other Peter's concerned!). Popped home to get various things, and while I was there I cleaned out all the crap from the car (just moved the rubbish into the bin, didn't go to any stupid lengths like vacuuming it or anything), and also checked and topped up the oil. Left the cap off, and half way to Bagshot there was a crappy old Uno in front of me and I could smell and see burning oil - thought nothing of it, just a knackered car in front of me which I was quite close behind. Then I get to the M3 junction (Bagshot/Lightwater) and the smell's still there, but the knackered Uno isn't. I pull over and realise what I've done. Oil's splashed bloody everywhere. A quick check reveals that it's just within limits, so I carry on driving it (very gently) to the Vauxhall dealer about 2 miles down the road, where I buy an oil filler cap (plastic type as well, saves burning your hands on it) for £2. Problem solved, though it was still burning the oil off for a wihle.....
Peter
snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk (SteveH) wrote in news:1gggozr.1loalzi1dry37oN% snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk:
Actually that was my Mother not me :-) she'd done a course in car maintainance as an evening course and was so proud she'd checked the oil and topped it it up all by her self that i was in a quandry. fortunately the puddle of oil on the driveway decided me and she did see the funny side of it
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How the hell did they manage to make essentially the same floorpan. ISTR the doors are swappable between the Saab, Fiat and Lancia. Only the Alfa had a significantly different bodyshell.
Yep, I liked the style so I got a Saab 9000 after that. The Saab is 200 Kg heavier, and it shows in quality and durability.
The doors might have the same shape, but I don't believe they are interchangeable. The Saab doors are much more substantial and closes with a solid clunk, whereas the Croma's doors closes with a "pling". The wheel bases on all those cars are exactly the same 2672mm or thereabout. Saab has dead axle rear suspension, whereas all the Italians had independent rear suspension. The Croma felt more nimble in turn in, whereas the Saab feels more stable at high speed. It is a more relaxed car to drive. The old Saab engines are extremely strong and durable, and now perhaps getting into "they don't make then like that anymore", territory as GM has taken over much of the business.
My friend commented on the funny burning smell when i arrived in Belfast,
I just told her its a diesel!
Underside of the car still has a nice oily coating 15'000 later!
still it lubed up my stiff throttle/pump assy!
Tom
Had to be the latter. NOBODY is so stupid as to believe anything a salesman tells them....
Vin
It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "FatSod" saying something like:
Simply Directory Enquiries for Vauxhall UK in Luton, phone and ask.
It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Anthony Britt" saying something like:
OMG! The sneaky bastards have swapped the engine on him. :)
Ok let's get this sort once and for all.
Can anyone give the GM & Isuzu engine serial number ranges for Astra's registered 08/08/1997
I think it's the GM engine, but that is purely based on the fact that it has GM cast into the exhaust manifold.
- Fatsod
If the oil filter is on the back of the engine near the top at the gear box end then it is isuzu.
mrcheerful
Can't help with the serial numbers, I'm afraid.
If the exhaust exits the engine on the bulkhead side of the cylinder head, then it is the GM unit. The Isuzu exhaust manifold is on the front.
HTH
Anthony Remove eight from email to reply.
I always top up oil Via the dipstick. I can't find anywhere else to put it into the engine.
I have read all the posts but cant get the above url to work . Have you taken the pics down ?? S
Some cars have dipstick sitting in a hole different from the oil filler cap.
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