Steve Gee

I keep meaning to post this question! As mentioned in another thread, I regularly perform my own oil changes. I have a TT with air con and cruise control, which makes the engine bay pretty cluttered. The question is, HOW DO YOU GET THE OLD FILTER OFF AND NEW ONE IN?!?!?!?!?!? The way I have to do it, is take the nearside front wheel off, unscrew the filter (eventually!), put my finger in the feed hole and gently lower it to near the steering arm and carefully balance it. Then get under the car, reach up through the gap between engine and sump guard and slowly extract the filter. You can guess how many times I've knocked it over and what the state of my drive is like!! Getting the new one in is even more fun. Put it through the gap, balance it, go back up to the top of the engine, reach down, hook my finger in the feed hole and lift it up into position!!!! Is this really how it's done? I cannot see any way to get the filter in or out of the top of the engine bay?!?! Help please!!! Thanks Steve

Further Update: The rear tyres were taken off and we found that the inner shoulders on one of the tyres had small cracks in the sidewall. I had previously had a bolt through that tyre which I thought I had spotted pretty quickly and that I hadn't been running it on a reduced pressure for too long. However, the Technical guy from Toyo said that these cracks were probably caused by running the tyre with too low pressures. The other tyre was fine apart from a nail in it, but it wasn't losing pressure. Both tyres were replaced FOC, and the car is now back to how it has been for the last 60,000 miles. I'm happy, and both Toyo and Orbit Tyres in Rushden deserve credit for their handling of this problem. Many thanks to them! I can burn some tarmac tonight!!!!!!!! Cheers Steve

Update: Took the car back to the company that fitted the tyres. When they saw the tyre wobble when I closed the door, they agreed it wasn't right. They are going to contact Toyo and get them down to look at my car. In fact the wrote down "Jelly Tyres" in their diary. Maybe it is a bad batch. I'll let you know. Steve

Mine's on 123K. I've had to replace radiator, stone went through it!!! Front discs, rear discs and calipers. 6 sets of tyres. Other than noisy injectors and a leaking valve stem seal, everything else is fine, apart from handling like a pig at the moment, but that's on a separate thread!! I do my own oil changes every 5000. So look after it, and it'll look after you, is the moral here! Good luck Steve

I'm on Fronts 235/40s and Rears 255/35s on 18" wheels, and have been for over two years. I suppose it is possible that it's a bad batch of tyres. Tell you what I have just noticed, that when I close the door, not slam it, I can see the sidewall move on the rear tyre. Now that may be normal, but there again it might not be! I might take it to the tyre suppliers tomorrow. I'll let you know. Steve

Not sure these symptons relate to tracking or tyre problems. Car still goes round corners and in a straight line, it just becomes unstable over bumps. I've already been in touch with Toyo to see if they changed the sidewall stiffness at all, to which they said no. Guess I'm going to have to take it somewhere, and pray I don't get stung for shocks!! Steve

Recently put on a new set of Toyo T1-s's, my 6th set! I had them inflated to the exact same pressures as all previous sets, 2.5 bar. The handling has since become very poor. Any bump I go over, is felt quiet harshly and the car bounces. I went over a cats-eye last night and the car physically moved sideways! Not good! Immediate attention turned to the tyres, but they are fine. The shocks were replaced early last year and have covered 40,000 miles, but they're Koni adjustables and can't have gone yet. So I guess it could be the springs, and purely coincidental that it all seemed to go wrong after a tyre change! Does this make sense? I'm gonna have to get it sorted soon, before all my fillings drop out!!!!! Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Steve

Smaller turbos, smaller injectors, smaller brakes, and less power. BUT, at least our J-specs have got the better rear light configs!! Woohoo!

So, is James right, and I have a 70 litre tank? It can't be 60, 'cos I regularly put 65 in. Cheers Steve

I have a 93 J-spec TT Aerotop Auto. I've had the car over two years now, and I keep meaning to ask this question. Question is simple enough! How big is my fuel tank????? The gauge regularly drops to the E, but I still only put 65 litres in. I don't think I've ever put over 70 in, but I thought it was an 80 litre tank. Am I right or wrong??? Thanks Steve

Hi All, My 1993 import Aerotop requires new discs and pads on the front. I'm not looking to spend £1000's but wouldn't mind upgrading the discs. I think it has two pots on the front!! Does anyone have any recommendations and where is the best place to purchase? The other question is, do uprated discs make much difference when compared to the standard ones? Many Thanks Steve

Thanks Guys, I shall now put my worry beads away again. Certainly the engine, oh what an engine, does not seem to be down on power or have any problems. Thanks again. Happy motoring. Steve

Hi All, After standing for 36 hours I get a puff of blue smoke out of the exhaust when firing up. It soon goes, but it does look like oil burning. It doesn't happen if the car's only been standing overnight, 10 hours say. Should I be worried? 115K on the clock now!!! Thanks Steve

Help and advice required. My car is with Toyota. Rear brakes are knackered. My car is an import, and needs calipers and discs both sides. The quote for import parts is high. Can I replace the discs and calipers with UK spec? Thanks Steve

I can't remember what my fuel situation was at the time, but I'll monitor it from now on. I've tested my battery and it still show 11V while constantly turning the engine over. So looks like I'll have to whip the alternator out. Has anyone done this before? How difficult? Thanks.