November 2001
Talked myself into replacing the dip beam bulb on a mk iv golf today - the normal driver has further to go home and he won't mind me saying that he is not in the least mechanically minded. He tried to call into the local VW dealer to have it replaced, but it couldn't be done until Friday. Foolishly, I thought how difficult can it be to change a headlamp bulb?
Now, I see why. The nearside headlamp unit has 2 covers, 1 to protect the bulb and one, seemingly to protect the first cover in the event of battery explosion or some other unlikely event.
The golf uses H7 bulbs for main and dip so the plan was to rob a sound main bulb and fit it for dip beam use. The main beam bulb cover doesn't so much give access to the bulb as reveal a wire-filled tunnel where you can just see the back of the bulb if you've got a mirror and some imagination. Access wasn't possible for someone with normal hands.
What is going one here, is this German over-engineering gone mad?
Having got to this point it would be obvious that none of the 4 local all-night garages would have a H7 bulb. Sandwiches, yes. Newspapers, plenty. Wilting flowers, loads. Sweets of all sorts etc. etc.
As a long time owner of various Citroens, I have ofter been accused of having quirky French junk on my drive, but I've never had to clear my diary to change a headlamp bulb before.
Or am I missing something? Read more
Arising from the thread on motorway driving, middle lane hoggers etc.
If you suspect a loved one is unfit to keep driving, what do you do about it?
My mother complained that my late uncle was clearly unfit to drive - let the pedants understand that this is before he died! - a combination of failing sight, heart problems, taking a cocktail of tablets and altogether not at all alert. He should probably have reported his medical problems to the DVLA but had not done so. Although it would probably have been picked up at renewal of licence time (over 70) he was not always 100% honest when filling in forms, when he bothered to fill them in at all.
She was concerned that if she reported his failing health to the DVLA and he lost his licence he would know that she had done this, and he would be upset. I said she should worry less about this than about how upset she would be if my uncle had an accident which resulted in death or serious injury for someone other than him. I'm pleased to say she reported him, his licence was revoked and he never managed to have his driving re-assessed to get it back again.
And while we're talking about unsafe drivers, my aunt (this uncle's wife) had learned to drive before mandatory tests, so had a licence without ever taking a driving test. She had not driven for years, but insisted on keeping her licence up to date and being kept on his insurance, so that if ever he was taken ill she could drive herself home (I think the intention was to leave him behind - they were never what you'd call a 'close' couple!). Fortunately this never happened, and she died before he did. The thought of this lady taking over at the wheel of a large and powerful car after not having driven for 20+ years was a truly terrifying thought! Read more
I don't know about re-test following bans for drink-driving, DWDC etc, but I know my uncle - still before he died - found out what he would have to do to get his licence back. He lived in SE London, and the test centre was in Reigate (in Surrey, SW of London for the geographically challenged). I think he had to be at the test centre by 10 am and would then have to do a driving test in a strange car before they would give him back his licence.
I don't know how the test compares to the initial driving test. The simple logistics of getting to that part of the country by public transport that early in the day in his poor state of health defeated him. Much to my mother's relief!
I have a Focus tdi Zetec, with ABS, just coming up to 2yrs old & 30k miles.
I drive quite a lot on urban roads, but am fairly light on the brakes - still comfortably on my 1st set of pads.
When do you experts recommend that I renew my brake fluid ?
Thanks in advance :-) Read more
In fact though,with modern cars,nearly nothing ever DOES fall off.
I dont like the extended oil change intervals one little bit,but I would very much like to see a 6 month servicing requirement,with oil change.
I think we need to get away from mileage related anything and move to an hours/time system of servicing,together with lifed parts that are automatically
replaced at set intervals.Rolls Royce were heading this way,but the nearest available service book is 300 miles away so I cant check!
I dont think it would hurt if the Mot was far wider ranging and also included all bodywork.
Here in Cornwall there are an awful lot of belching multicolored heaps with very dodgy suspension,so something must be wrong with the inspection system.
Or perhaps its just that the police are just as obsessed here with annoying motorists trying to keep the traffic moving rather than actually doing something positive about road safety.I've seen the same car with only one headlight and an illegal lump of bodywork for 3 weeks now,if he ever exceeds a speed limit he'll be dead meat....
Local dealer offering Mazda Premacy 1.8 @ £10,995, anyone got one who would like to praise or warn? Read more
Hey Guy! You kept the Premacy hire car quiet! What ever happened to the ST24 hire cars then?? Company cutbacks?
D
I have the chance to buy the above, manual gear box, M reg. 65,000 miles, looking in What Car used car price guide, there is no mention of this model with a manual gearbox, the seller assures me it is U.K. spec. therefore can I assume replacement parts etc. would be no problem ? and if the price is right is it, is it resaleable in the future? Read more
If the car has 17 digits on the vin No it is UK/Euro spec.The best model in my opinion is 2.2 Vtec man or auto pref Jap spec.Parts for the Jap spec are no prob even from your local Honda dealer.A loaded Vtec is a very nice car and goes very well,as for resale,if the price and condition are right you will allways find a buyer.
My wife's Micra M Reg 1 litre, has a probelm with cold starting
If you start the engine for a short period when cold, say when moving the car a short distance, and then stop it, it is then very hard if not impossible to restart. Got caught out yesterday when having to move the car in the local car park.
Had to call the AA sometime ago due to the same problem, and was told that this was a known problem with Mk2 Micras.
If you let the engine reach normal temperature i.e. ECU finishes it's cold cycle, the engine will restart fine every time. I have checked the ECU for fault codes, but none are shown. Read more
Hi Mark!
Nice to see that the O-S-M Tar Barrel event is reaching your far flung quarters!
I was wearing a yellow jacket, accompanied by Guy in an orange Helly Hansen Jacket (That got badly tar-stained this year as we were feeling brave, getting a little close to the action...) We also had a friend in tow - suitably beered up - he could be seen on Guy's shoulders at many times during the evening!
We have been to the barrels event 99,00 and 01.
This year we saw Ben (from Country File) running about after downing 12 pints of local ale!
I would recommend the event to anybody - just wrap up warm and be prepared!!
Rgds
David
It makes a lot of sense to ride a bike, particularly in urban traffic, and as an ex-biker I always try to make room for them to get by me.
Many of the major roads in London are 2 lanes each way, but not dual carriageways. I have noticed an increasing tendency for bikes and scooters to overtake their 2 lanes of traffic by crossing into the oncoming traffic lane and refusing to move back even though both oncoming lanes are occupied with cars heading toward them; keep left signs in the middle of the road are simply overtaken on the right. It develops into a game of ?chicken? with the car often having to take the avoiding action.
I have lost count of the number of times my mirrors etc have been clipped by a bike trying to squeeze by when I am stationary.
The empathy I had with bikers is waning fast..
Bob H
Can empathy wane? Evaporate? Well you know what I mean Read more
Each type of vehicle has a minority of users who ride or drive inconsiderately.
For m'bikers it may be inappropriate overtaking.
For cyclists it is probably going through red lights.
For car drivers it is may be tailgating and middle lane hogging.
For taxis, stopping or turning without sufficient warning.
Etc., etc.
Let he who is guiltless cast the first stone.
Due to the forthcoming company car tax changes, I've been offered the option to buy my R reg 2Litre Accord (71,000 on the clock) from the leasing company. The car is in good nick, reliable and I've grown to like it. Can anyone advise on what a reasonable price would be? The 'allowance' my co will give me won't stretch to a private lease of the latest model unfortunately.. Many thanks, Tim Read more
Thanks for info so far. A bit more about the car, that I should have added on my first message.
It's the 4 door 2.0 iLS (saloon) model with a/c, first reg Sep 1997. It's not garaged, but has been properly maintained at an approved Honda dealership.
Thanks
Tim
I have a VW Passat TDi ( Red I) 110 bhp, (P reg)
The electronics seem to have a mind of their own. If I leave the car parked outside on the road, when I return to it in the morning, the right hand side lights, front and rear (one side parking lights?), are on, this has happened over ten times, even after I have checked they were off when I go to bed, I also check them when I get up. On several occasions, when I go to drive to work they are on and they were not on when I first checked them in the morning.
I can cancel these by using the rotary switch on the right hand side of the dash board and switching all the lights headlamps and sidelamps on and off
Using the indicator light switch on the steering column doesnt do anything
any ideas? Read more
Could try a spray of WD-40 on the switch contacts. There is usually a small gap to spray in. Then moving switch across range will remove conductive debris or corrossion. I have never had to replace car switch yet!
I hope today isn't a repeat of September 11th. Read more
Lee H wrote:
> PS - If he'd also be so kind as to remove my Insanity Test
> post for totally different reasons, I'd be grateful....
Gone! See my remark to Randolph Lee: email me if you want something like this done. I'll do my best to help.
(However, everyone please note: if I delete a particular post because its author has second thoughts, that deletes all the dependent posts as well.)
Browse
OK, armed with H7 bulb, went to put the Golf in the yard to fit the bulb, just inside the gate and POP, I'm bathed in darkness. The other bl**dy bulb has gone hasn't it?
Fortunately, the FOGLIGHTS work, but I couldn't switch them on because I wasn't wearing my baseball cap.
The extra cover is part of the cool air induction system, not something fitted just to annoy me.