Conference terri::cars_uk

    Check the spec in the catalogue. I suspect that it will specify
    a particular Ford radio. If it does, tell the supplying garage to
    fit the correct one that the leasing company has paid for. If the
    garage has problems, I have total confidence in the garage being
    able to fix them. If they won't, Car Fleet will have contacts in
    the leasing company who can lean on the dealer.
    
    Steve

Radio connections are more or less the same whatever radio you have:
   A +12V wire (maybe two, one straight from battery to power radio's "memory")
   An aerial socket, which usually is also the radio's earth connection
   Possibly an earth lead
   Speaker wires (4 for stereo)

Connecting any radio, regardless of make, should be straightforward.  I think
the garage are making excuses, probably 'cos the car came without a radio by
mistake so they just fitted one-they-had-lying-around-and-have-been-trying-to-
get-rid-of-for-months.

Insist on the radio given in the Ford spec (assuming that it's better than the
Panasonic and that you want it!)

Scott

    I agree with -1. ALL fords come with a Ford radio, so don't take
    any rubbish from them.
    
    Insist they fit the spec radio. Or buy a better one and get them to
    fit it free !
    
    I'm sure they wont mind ;-)

    Sounds very dodgy too me, a G reg Ford Transit I hired 2 weeks ago had
    a standard Ford Radio. It was the 'new' type with FM etc, plus search
    functions and all the business except a bit of plastic where the
    cassette would go!!!
    
    Greg

    What model fiesta?. 
    
    According to the current catalogue the base popular is the only model
    that has nothing. If so the lease company specifies a "push button
    radio" as standard, the garage is free to chose which one.
    
    All other models from popular-plus upwards have as a minimum the FORD
    2001 electronic stereo radio, with some higher models getting the
    2005 electronic stereo radio/cassette.
    
    
    Richard

    Myself and car fleet assume Fords come with Ford standard.  Even so, it
    doesn't explain why my radio is non-push button.  I think the garage
    is trying to fob me off with some old thing they just had laying
    around.  Even bottom of the range Fiestas have all the fixings for a
    radio, they just lack the radio (showing up the nonsense I was told
    about Ford radios being too difficult and expensive to fit into
     Ford cars!).
    
    Mikef

    I had to hire a Fiesta the other week and was suprised that it only had
    one of the 'old fashioned' radios in it. You know, the sort with manual
    tuning no pre-sets etc etc. I thought they'd stopped making these sorts
    of radios as all the moving parts must be more expensive than the LCD
    types. Also, I couldn't believe there was a market for simple car
    radios (ie, no cassette) these days.
    
    Richard
    

There doesn't seem to be a general topic, so I'll add it to this one.

I noticed in the fog this morning that my car radio reception was poorer
than usual. I live on the fringes of the Radio 1 FM London transmitter,
but I noticed the other FM signals wren't as good.

So the question; did the damp get into my aerial, or does FM get
affected in foggy weather? 

Peter.

    I guess that it is possible for the antenna to get damp in it, and yse
    sure that can effect a radio signal. However ALL radio signals can be
    effected by changes in atmospheric conditions. It is more likly that
    you will notice the changes in the atmospheric conditions when on the
    edge of the transmitter limits. Even satellite tv gets effected with 
    poor weather conditions as does normal BBC and ITV. These strange
    effects are more noticable radio amatures using AM or SSB where station
    in far off places pop up with changes in solar activity. Hope that make
    some sense.
    
    Garry

    The higher the frequency the more scatter there will be when there is
    a lot of water vapour about.  The more scatter there is, the less
    signal there is to reach your aerial, so, yes, VHF and UHF reception
    will be worse in foggy weather.
    
    Jeff.

    The moist maybe has made things worse on the arial.
    I it's a telescopic one, try moving it in and out again, to get better
    contacts between the moving parts.
    
    Hans

When it is foggy you can sometimes hear stations that you normally wouldn't
hear.

One very foggy day when I lived in Andover (not Mas. ;-) ), I heared some of
the London pirate stations. When the fog started to lift, the radiop strength
went down. I never did hear them again.


Simon, G6ZTZ

    Perhaps you were driving out of the range yourself?  Oh no, I forgot,
    the fog probably lifted well before you could have driven out of range!

    Does anyone know why the Beeb FM frequencies are broader  (for want of
    a better word) than the likes of local radio?  For example,  R1 FM can
    be found between 97 and 99 (or whatever), whereas Radio 210 is on 97.0
    and 102.9.
    
    Martin (who_does_not_like_re-tuning_the_BBC_frequencies_as_he_drives
            from_one_part_of_the_UK_to_another)

    
    Beeb frequencies are the same width as Independant ones - namely 100
    kHz wide.
    
    However the Beeb has to cover the UK.
    
    Now theoretically it could do so with 3 or four frequencies thanks to a
    theorem in topology and the fact that FM radios exhibit what is known
    as "capture ratio". However they choose to have excess frequencies so
    that you annot receive - even at a low level - the transmissions from
    transmittors outside your immediate area.
    
    /. Ian .\

    What .15 is saying is that the beeb has a lot of different frequencies
    assigned, transmitting on different ones from adjoining transmitters.
    Hence R1 appears to cover a wider space on the dial. ( In reality R1.1,
    R1.2, R1.3, R1.4, R1.5, R1.6, etc)
    
    Yer actual 210 on the other hand has only 2, widely spaced, so you can
    distinguish them.
    
    Richard

The reason that the Beeb can't use one frequency nation-wide:

You would get "beating" from slight differences in frequency between adjacent
transmitters.  The effect can also be heard if listening to two musical notes
of almost-identical frequency; the beat frequency (pulses in amplitude) is the
difference in frequency between the two notes.  Eg, notes of 200 and 202 Hz
"beat" twice a second...

The Beeb has to ensure that no area can receive from two transmitters
broadcasting on the "same" frequency, hence you need to change frequency when
moving from one transmitter's area to the next...

Scott

    I'd like to rephrase the question, or rather, make a comment.
    It's a nuisance when you have an auto scan/store radio that the
    frequencies are grouped as they are.  Instead of having <all R1>
    <all R2> etc., it would be much more useful to have <R1 R2 R3 R4>tx1,
    <R1 R2 R3 R4>tx2 ....   That way when visiting a strange area, I
    wouldn't get one or more duplicates, where transmitters overlap (which
    they often do).
    
    Jeff.

    If you are fed up with having to retune your car radio when listening
    to VHF National Networks (there will be a VHF National Commercial
    Network soon) then help is in sight.  There are available radios
    that can "follow" a particular multi-frequency channel and select the
    stongest one available.  Whilst there are realtively few Radio 1 VHF
    frequencies the same is not true of R2,3 and 4 which have a large
    number of infill transmitters.  This will also be true of R1 in time. 
    These radios also have the ability to switch to stations giving traffic
    reports.  I think this capability is called RDS, although if not
    someone will doubtless correct me.  The system works because the
    stations transmit a digital signal that the radio can detect.  When
    (if) you next get to order your comapny car to your own specification
    then order the appropriate radio.
    
    Now that we are getting into the winter we can look forward to days
    with stable or declining "high pressure over the British Isles" which
    gives rise to various phenomena, inlcuding temperature inversion.  This
    is when the ground temparature is lower than than air temperature and
    the temparature can rise as you go up.  Sometimes layers of air at
    different temperatures occur and this causes refraction of
    electromagnetic waves, rather similar to refraction of light when going
    from air to water.  Radio waves tend to travel in straight lines. 
    Depending on their frequency they will reflect and/or be absorbed by
    various objects.  VHF and UHF (FM Radio and TV) waves are not reflected
    by the ionised layers in the atmosphere and so to all intents and
    purposes exhibit "Line of sight" propagation with a horrizon similar to
    light.  Typically you cannot recieve FM Radio or TV from a transmitter
    move than 60 miles away, less if you are in a valley or other hole. 
    The exception to this is when reflection or refraction of radio waves
    takes place.  In the weather conditions I have spoken about refraction
    can cause the radio horrizon to be extended, also ducting can occur,
    where the radio waves can be "trapped" in a layer or air and be
    proagated over many miles, ie you can sometimes hear German FM stations
    in Southern England.  There are many other ways that VHF and UHF radio
    signals can be propagated beyond the horrizon.
    
    Refraction sometimes occurs to light, a common example is the mirage
    you see on hot days on roads (shimmering objects).  On a few rare
    occasions light can be propagated and you can see object beyong the
    horrizon.  This is most common over water, as is radio propagation. 
    Finally due to ice crystals in the upper atomosphere you sometimes see
    more than one moon in the winter sky (this is sometimes a result of
    partaking of "something to keep the cold out").
    
    Regards,
    
    Rob
                                              
    PS the reason that radio and tv signals can get weaker during these
    conditions can be due to a number of things.
    
    Water droplets may form on you aerial and make it less efficient (not
    very likely)
    
    A station on the same or very close frquency (but many miles awaya) may
    cause you radio to become less sensitive.
    
    The signal may be ducting and you may be in a shadow.
    
    Some years ago, when TV signals were distributed to the transmitters by
    microwave (they are now mostly fibre optic) refraction caused the
    signal to "bend" and a number of TV screens were Blanked Out, as the
    tabloids say.
    
    
    Alternativley, you can always put a tape on!

�    reports.  I think this capability is called RDS, although if not
    
    Yes, I believe this is one of the features of RDS radios.
    
    When tuned in to, say Radio 1, this is indicated on the display
    by something such as "R1" - not the actual frequency concerned.
    When travelling through different areas, the set somehow picks
    up the alternative frequency information and should then re-tune
    automatically (still displaying R1).
    
    The other benfit of RDS is that traffic bulletins may be picked
    up and played, even though a tape (or CD) may currently be in use.
    
    J.R. (who doesn't have RDS, not sure if it is worth having)

    My understanding is that RDS constantly scans the frequencies which
    broadcast your selected station, and plays the one with the best signal
    at any particular moment, in much the same way that Cellphones switch
    transmitter, although because there are relatively few frequencies and
    since they are intrinsically more powerful, the changeover is supposed
    to be seamless.
    
    I think it is worth it if you travel using FM radio. If you only ever
    play tapes, it is probably not.
    
    Steve

    I'm sure local radio's traffic reports is invaluable to most who drive
    during the working day.  Plus (as stated) it can also cut in over tape
    and CD sources too.
    
    I've got a really boring article on RDS and RDS phase II, with a review
    of 3+ RDS had units.  Mail me if you would like a copy.

    
    
    BACK TO .0
    
    I had a brand new fiesta which had a blaupunkt stereo in it...
    	
    I wanted a cassette...sob sob !!
    
    
    
    

        Hi.
        
        Does anyone have a copy of the operating instructions manual for 
        a Blaupunkt Melbourne car radio at I could borrow please?
        
        Alternatively, can someone provide me with the telephone number 
        of Blaupunkt or their distributor in the U.K.?
        
        Post reply here or direct to me, Howard Easton @REO 
        (SUBURB::EASTON) alternatively call on -830 3197.
        
        Thanks, Howard.
    

        With the assistance of Ken Dougall and B.T's Electronic Yellow 
        Pages (EYP) I have pleasure in posting this address of the UK 
        Blaupunkt distributor...
        
        
                ELECTRONIC YELLOW PAGES
                            * LISTING SCREEN * * * * * * * * * * *
                            Enter number for details, *=no details
                             *  Bosch Robert
                                 P.O Box 98 Broadwater Park,
                                  Denham, Middlesex, UB 9 5HJ
                                   Denham          (0895) 834466
                                   Denham          (0895) 838383
        
        If anyone requires further information on EYP please drop me a 
        E'mail message (Howard Easton @REO or SUBURB::EASTON).
        
        Regards, Howard.
        
    

    
    
      Hi,
    
      I have a Bluapunkt Boston. Whenever I use the radio the sounds
      cuts off, however the cassette is working perfectly.
    
      ANY IDEAS ????????
    
    
      Thanking in advance,
    
      Gary...
    

    
>      ANY IDEAS ????????
    
Don't attempt to listen to the radio ?

    >> Don't attempt to listen to the radio ?
    
       Any more stupid answers like that and you will be
    
       LYING SHIPWRECKED AND CAMATOSED.

	I know two people who have Blaupunkt radio's in their cars and both seem
to have similar problems.

	My mothers is in a Passat, the tape works fine but the radio cuts out
when warm, and the other is in a Nova with identical symptoms.

	What car is yours fitted to ? and is it only when its hot/warm ?

Andy

    I had a problem with a previous radio/cassette (Kenwood) I had to tap
    the unit sometimes to get sound to come out, both for radio and
    cassette. In the end I took it back and they found that it was due to a
    split circuit board and was more likely to happen once the unit got
    warm! They fixed it and it happened again, in the end I ditched the
    unit. 

           <<< WANLAD::DUA1:[NOTES$LIBRARY.GENERAL]CARS_UK.NOTE;2 >>>
                                  -< Cars UK >-
================================================================================
Note 1065.30                     Radio Question                         30 of 31
NEWOA::CROME_A                                        9 lines  30-SEP-1993 12:00
                           -< Not much help here .. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
	>> What car is yours fitted to ? and is it only when its hot/warm ?
    
    
        Andy,
    
        It fitted to a Daihatsu Charade and it cuts out straight away when
        the radio is turned.
    
        Gary...
    
        BTW. Answers better be quick as my employment with DEC will cease
             at 5.15pm today. It was a pleasure reading this conference. 
             BYE
        

	Check the aerial isnt  shorting, ie. the cable isn't rubbed through to 
the inner core on a sharp edge of body work, or the wiring in the aerial plug 
isn't shorting.

	Let someone who is "still" working for DEC know what the fix is, and ..

			

			has it ever worked ?


Andy

    
    
       Andy,
    
       Yes, it has worked for 3 yrs. I'll check out the aerial plug.
    
       Gary...

    Anybody know how to get the radio out of a Cavalier (J reg, not the
    newest range)? I have removed the 4 allen screws from each corner and
    it held firm. So I slipped 4 pieces of wire into the holes, thinking
    there may be clips holding it in place. Still won't budge.
    
    No I'm not trying to steal it. It's my car which will be left in the
    car park over the weekend, and with no radio in it, it just might get
    away with not being broken into. Failing that, it looks like the local
    car thieves will have to sledge-hammer it out. 
    
    Phil Gill. 
                                             

	Phil,

	You need the correct removal tool as it is used to pull the radio out, 
	pieces of wire do not have the correct shape notches to release the
	little locks.

	Andy

    Thanks Andy. I presume all the car radio theives carry this tool? A
    secure place has been found to leave the car now.
             
    Phil Gill.

	..and they won't sell you the tool. I had to get a Vauxhall dealer to
	take it out for me. 

	If a 'C' falshes across the display when you turn it on, it has
	the security code enabled. Make sure you know the number before
	you take the radio out!

	Richard.

I have just bought a second-hand car, and there is no instruction book for the 
radio. The radio is SAAB's own label job - I do not know who makes it for them.

There are some buttons that I don't understand - maybe someone else can? The 
radio has RDS, and I think that I can display the names of the radio channels -
perhaps the buttons have something to do with this?

The buttons are labelled:

PI
TI
A-ME

Cheers

-Steve

    
    I have an RDS radio that goes into "PI seek" mode when it's trying
    to locate a preset station and the signal is too weak. As far as
    I'm aware PI is just 'program information' ie "BBC 1". Perhaps your
    "PI" button switches between wavelength display and station name?
    
    I'd guess that your "TI" button is for 'traffic information'. When
    on, this allows traffic information broadcast by other stations
    to interrupt the programme your listening to. When the traffic
    bulletin finishes, you're returned to your original programme.
    This only works though on some stations who support EON eg BBC 1.
    
    Your A/ME button may be the same as my "AF" button. When "ON" the
    tuner always switches to the strongest signal for the station you're
    listening to or if all signals are too low it switches to another
    station that is broadcasting the same kind of music eg ROCK.
    When off, the radio just stays tuned to the set wavelength.
    
    Hope this helps,
    Richard.
    

I've also got a Saab's own radio:

PI	= Program Information
	When on the display will show the station ident e.g. 'BBC R4'
	when off the display will show the frequency selected.  I always
	keep this feature on as it allows the radio to 'track' the best
	frequency for reception of a particular station - useful if you
	want to listen to BBC R4 all the way from London to Scotland
	without retuning.

TI	= Traffic Information
	When on the tape and CD player will be interrupted with traffic
	reports from the selected radio station.  If the selected station
	does not offer this service the radio will beep and the display
	will show 'NO INFO' to warn you.  I never bother with this.

A-ME	= Auto-Memory (or somesuch)
	Press this and the radio will assign the 6 strongest signals to
	the preset buttons.  It doesn't over-write the previous stations
	which you can go back to by pressing the 'BND' (=Band) button.

Hope this helps ...

Mike

RE: replies

Thanks for the help - I'll play with the options tonight, and see how I get on!

BTW. Mike, can you add a CD changer (in the boot?) to a standard SAAB 
radio/cassette? Is there a socket on the radio, and do you know if it's wired
all the way back? I'll have a look sometime soon - but just in case you knew.

-Steve

RE: .41

Mike,
	I don't have any preset buttons! I've got two buttons to go up and 
down the band-width, but no presets.

	Any thoughts on how this might work?

-Steve

I don't think I've ever seen a car radio without _some_ preset buttons 
which can be used to select the desired station.  Are you really sure 
about this?

The radio in my car has six buttons (in 3 rows of 2) towards the right 
hand side for stations selection (and also, incidentally, for setting the 
anti-theft security code).  If yours does not then I guess we have 
different models.  Mine just says 'Saab 9000 Audio System' or similar, I 
don't recall seeing and actual model number.

Regarding CD auto-changers, I don't have this but I know that Saab offer 
it as an option.  I don't know how it would be fitted though.

Might be worth talking to a Saab dealer.

Cheers,

Mike

    re presets...
    
    The first few car radios I had never had pre-sets - just two knobs. 
    One for the wavelength and one for the volume.
    
    Jc

    My Phillips RDS radio does not have preset buttons as such, there are 6
    preset stations on each waveband and 2 selector buttons for cycling
    through the presets (Up & Down), as well as 2 for Up & Down for tuning
    the frequency.
    
    Martyn.
    

re: -2
I guess I was rather forgetting about non-synthesised, non-digitally 
controlled radios.  Actually, now you mention it, my first car/heap had 
only volume and tuning knobs - doesn't time fly :-(

re: -1
Fair enough.  Do you find this sort of implementation better or worse 
than one button per preset station?  It sounds worse to me but I guess, 
like most things, it's what you get used to that counts.

Mike

re: -1
>Fair enough.  Do you find this sort of implementation better or worse 
>than one button per preset station?  It sounds worse to me but I guess, 
>like most things, it's what you get used to that counts.
    
    I find it less convenient, if I want to go from 1 to 4 I need to press
    a button 3 times, also you need to know which number you are already on
    so you can work out how many times to press it. I would prefer to have
    6 buttons and just hit the one I need. Having said that there are
    already about 15 buttons on the front of the thing, so adding another 4
    would not be realistic.
    
    Martyn.
    

Hmmm...

When I actually went and had a look, I DO have presets. They're just rather 
small compared with the brightly lit green ones on my Alpine. The A-ME worked
just fine!

BTW, the PI and TI and A-ME all worked as you described - thanks very much.
I guess I'll get to try the RDS and traffic gizmos when I'm in the UK in a 
couple of weeks time - they don't have this system in Switz.

Cheers

-Steve

    
    Steve,
    
    	are you sure the RDS features don't work in Switzerland? The reason
    I ask is that they seem to work fine here between Bern & Neuch�tel!
    Unless I'm imagining it of course! I tend to stick with my CD changer
    as I have difficulty understanding the DJ's for some reason! 8-)
    
    JBG

RE: -.1

Could be. (BTW, I also live in  Neuch�tel). RDS wasn't available 2 years ago, 
when I bought my Alpine - that's why I didn't bother specifying it. I was told
that Switzerland and Germany used a rival system? I guess that technology has 
caught up since then in Switzerland....

Thanks for the info - I'll try it out tomorrow.

-Steve

    
    	Dear All
    
    		Just a quick one for you all, I have just bought a "J" reg
    Ford Escort (nice one for it's age), The problem is I can hear the
    engine on the Radio (You know ehhhhhhem ehhhhhem ehhhem) any clue's.
    
    
    		I must add the car has 12 months warranty, and I dont want
    the sale's man pulling the wool over my eye's. So can I have a list in
    most likley order please .
    
    
    
    	PS: Its a 1.4i with a Cat (meeeeeowwee)  %-))
    
    	Ta DaveHeron_whoKnowsJack&*%$aboutCars.

    Possibilities :-
    
    	o Poor radio aerial
    
    	o Poor power supply in radio (ie. radio kaput)
    
    	o Some ignition problem (seeing as it's a modern fuel injection/
    electronic ignition system I'd doubt this).
    
    	o Poor wiring
    
    Definite no-nos :-
    
    	o Static electricity build-up
    
    	o Solar rays
    
    	o Dodgy tyres
    
    	o Your local radio station is at fault.
    
    
    You say you can only hear it on the radio, yes? Then I'd try a new
    aerial first. Cheap and if it doesn't solve it there's no hard cash
    spent.

    
    Thanks very much for your pointers.
    
    Just another quicky. The ariel is on the roof so do you mean swap the
    stick or the bracket and wire bit.
    
    	yours Dosey Dave ;-)

    re � The ariel is on the roof
    
    Swap the roof

    :-D haha!
    
    No, but seriously, it depends on how hard it is. In general
    manufacturers put some cheap crappy aerials on cars to start with... my
    mother's car has a roof mounted aerial and it's terrible.
    
    Try and replace it with an aftermarket kit which is similar. Try
    visiting any decent In-Car Entertainment dealer (and I don't mean
    Halfords) and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
    In fact they should be able to test your radio system first, and find
    out where this buzzing is coming from (for a fee of course).
    
    Good luck!

    Yo big bird.
    Noise may be worn alternator brushes, or just poor radio, you could try
    putting some c on the +ve radio power conn .1 microF is usual spark
    suppression type of thing, if it doesn't make any difference then
    see if you've water on the roof end of the aerial conn give a squirt
    of WD40 or equiv. Halfords will probably sort for you, but with all
    that sea air AND Burnley weather you might like to make sure the 
    aerial ain't losing signal via moss or potatoes on the conns first
    The aerial may be inferior but standard ones should work ok, you 
    wouldn't expect bad sig/noise. Are you listening to A.M or F.M
    God knows why everyones helping a deserter but still stranger things...
    
    Luv Matt.

    Yo get down Martyy (Yo even lower) It happens on FM and Its the MRS
    large flying creture's, Thats why I want it fixed coz the noise I get
    coz of the noise she gets is tenfold, Get my drift man. As reguard's
    my leaving I will be here till next Thursday so you dont have to help
    me then.
    
    All The Nest Big Bird (Get down)

    ?!

    Just a little Northern Soul Southern brother, don't worry, it'll pass.
    Matt.

    
    I'm an import from Manchester, and I'm confused (no change then then).
    
    Ian.

    So your from Manchester Ian, that explains the Queens comments then.
    
    	Rik

What a lot of bizarre people.  Anyway, Manchester's in the far south.

Chris$geordie.

    
    
    >> So you're from Manchester Ian, that explains the Queens comments then.
    
    >> Rik
    
    Who's been calling me a `Queen' then ??
    
    Oh, you mean the remarks made by our toffee nosed, stuck-up monarch.
    
    She should really get her own house in order before looking through
    other peoples windows.
    
    Anyway, I'll think of something nice to say about you, when the time is
    right.....
    
    Ian  8-)

now then lads, let's not start getting personal, that's my job.

Chris.

	What's all this drivel about. Why is it in here?.

	-John

    
    
    Just put it down to static on the radio.
    
    Ian.

>>>What a lot of bizarre people.  Anyway, Manchester's in the far south.

>>>Chris$geordie.


	I was always taught that the North began at Macclesfield and that's
slightly South of Manchester!

				Malcolm.

PS. I hear that for many, the "North" starts at Watford!

					;^)

    
    
    THe north does indeed start at Watford; Watford village as in Watford
    Gap :-)
    
    

    So back to my ariel Please.
    It is ok now. Thanks to all you southern Puffter's and NORTHERN
    NICEBOYS for your *HELP*.
    
    PS: My Wife has spilled some milk in the boot and it is *VERY* smelly
    any help with this one ?????.
    
    PSS: Be quick coz I leave Tomorrow.  %-))))

    
    Easy......get yourself a new wife! 8-)
    
    JBG

    You expect help from us now ?! And I'm NOT A SUTHERNER either.

    
    >> Thanks to all you southern Puffter's and NORTHERN NICEBOYS for your
    >> *HELP*.
    
    >> PSS: Be quick coz I leave Tomorrow.  %-))))
    
    With comments like the above, I can't say I'm sorry.
    
    Ian.

    I had 5 litres of emulsion paint spilled in a Sunbeam hatch once, the
    easiest thing is to strip the carpet (wash seperately) remove the bungs
    and take a hose to it. You could use soap and water as in the outside
    first, but you really do have to hose it down to get rid of everything.

    Get 10 cloves of garlic, 1 whole lemon, a kipper and some caster sugar.
    
    Place the whole lot into a food blender and add water until you get a
    nice creamy paste. Smear the paste over the affected area and leave for
    24 hours.
    
    You'll never notice the milk smell again.
    
    Ian.

    Dettox is the answer....lots of it in water (cool).  Wash it out really
    well and preferably VAX it out of the carpet (wet & dry, not a 4000!!). 
    Good luck.
    
    Irene
      

	My car radio suddenly went quiet for no reason.  The max.
	volume is now not enough to hear the radio when the car is
	running.

	Any ideas why this has happened?  I've considered taking the
	radio out and getting it checked, but it's installed in a
	Renault 19 and I can't see how I can get at anything behind
	the dashboard.

	Could it be the speaker system?  There are four speakers
	installed.  The radio is a Tokai.

	Thanks for any help & Regards,  Geoff.

    I know this sounds silly, but have you checked the fuse? Most radios
    have two power feeds - a switched feed from the ignition, and a
    constant feed so they remember radio station frequencies, etc.
    
    Now, some can take their power from the switched feed, and some can
    take their power from the constant. If the fuse goes on the main
    feeding wire, you might still get power (albeit very little) - hence
    why the volume is low. I would have thought most radios would have
    sensed this and not worked, but then again I've never heard of Tokai,
    maybe it's a budget make?
    
    Failing that, and any loose connection on the same wires or earth, I
    doubt it's the speakers if all of them have gone quite. You haven't
    knocked any balance settings or some such (sorry, just checking, it's
    been done!). Failing that, I'd get the radio checked out, there's not
    many user serviceable parts inside and, in all honesty, it's sometimes
    cheaper to buy a new one than get it fixed.
    
    Best of luck. Cheers,
    Dan

	Thanks for the tips.  Will check it out tonight.

	Cheers,  Geoff.

	re .78

	It's likely to be what you said and probably a flakey contact
	on the main power feed as the radio suddenly came back to its
	full volume last night - and scared us out of our wits!  It
	stayed for about ten minutes, then went quiet again.

	Still need to find out how I'm going to get behind the R19's
	panel to fix the lead; It looks impregnable.

	Will report back after the weekend as that's when I'll attempt
	anything.

	Cheers,  Geoff.

    Good luck!
    
    Impregnable, you say? I'm sure a metal drill bit and power saw will
    work wonders :-)
    
    Cheers,
    Dan

    RE: .80
    
    Geoff,
    
    I've got a heavy hammer and some wood spliting wedges if you like
    and/or I can bring around the chainsaw.
    
    Dave

    RE .80
    
    Geoff,
    
    try leaving it in your local NCP car park, overnight, with the drivers door
    undone.. when you get your car back, I think you'll find it much easier
    to get at the wiring %^)
                                           
    Graham
    

    Sony Question!!!!
    
    Anyone out there own a SONY XR-UB01RDS (20w x 4)
    
    and happen to be able to get their hands on a instruction 
    manual as i don't have one!!!!
    
    Cheers
    
    Mark

	It's me from .80 again and I managed to take out the
	radio from my Renault 19.  The thing slides out of a
	drawer type affair and is really very neatly wired
	into a specially made plug (not how it was on my 1962
	Triumph Herald way back when you had to second-guess
	everything...).

	However, I checked all the wiring, the fuse, the fuses
	under the dashboard, everything and still the radio is
	the same.  Very frustrating.

	I suspect the radio itself, so I'll have to see if I
	can get it checked at a hi-fi centre somewhere.

	Thanks for all the help anyway.

	Regards,  Geoff.

    Can anyone tell me where to find (what used to be) Sextons radio in
    Woodley?  I think the address is Western Avenue or something, but I
    haven't a clue as to where it is.  Any help *before 12*!!!!!!!! would
    be appreciated; as I need to get my cd sorted out this lunch time.
    
    thanks,
    m.

>          <<< Note 1065.86 by CHEFS::GEORGEM "Cannibalise Legalbis" >>>
>
>    Can anyone tell me where to find (what used to be) Sextons radio in
>    Woodley?  I think the address is Western Avenue or something, but I
>    haven't a clue as to where it is.  Any help *before 12*!!!!!!!! would
>    be appreciated; as I need to get my cd sorted out this lunch time.
    
Probably too late for you, but...

If you go to the north side of the shopping centre, and go up the road that
goes to the A4, Western Avenue is about the 2nd or 3rd road off on the right.
Sextons is on the left.
Sorry I don't know any of the other road names.

Carol.

Thanks, Carol.  I managed to find it from memory (I went there about 9 months 
ago), but they'd moved to Earley.  Anyway, everything's sorted now, as they've 
whipped my changer out, and are sending it to London to be fixed.

thx,
m.

    I just had a test drive of an Astra Sport TDS.
    
    I was quite impressed but very dissappointed in the apparent very 
    basic stereo.
    
    The brochure proudly boasts "All Astra models benefit from advanced
    stereo systems featuring the latest auto hi-fi technology".
    
    However, the Blaupunkt CAR 300 which is the mid range stereo fitted
    to the Sport TDS doesn't even have an auto-reverse cassette let alone
    the very useful CPS feature which I have on my Cavalier.
    
    How can they say 'latest hi-fi technology' when auto-reverse car 
    cassette players have been the norm for nearly twenty years.
    
    Sure its got Auto Search and RDS and TP but thats not much good when
    all you want to listen to is your tapes.
    
    Royston

    Hi,
    
    	I got Auto-reverse and CPS on the stereo fitted with my Sport TD,
    delivered back in march, and I don't think the spec. has changed since
    then.
    
    	Spec. is fine, the lack of LW for months, followed by now losing
    FM, and the revers side of casettes getting chewed regularly is not,
    currently waiting a new radio.  One of the many problems with this
    astra,
    
    		Euan

    Hmmm, it appears that the radio spec has changed since then.
    
    I'd be very interested in your thoughts of running the car as I'm
    thinking of getting one (yes in the outrageous Pinnapple Yellow).
    Perhaps you could post a report in on eor the Astra notes.
    
    Thanks
    
    Royston