January 2002
I'd like to add a new angle to the tyre debates which feature on this site. We all know the legal tyre requirement and the supposed use of the tread wear indicator (TWI). However most modern tyres have at least two depths of tread when new. The shallow. fine channels wear away long before the deeper grooves with the result that the tyre becomes a "slick" with only the three or so main grooves remaining - those remaining grooves are still well within the TWI but the tyre is now very different in overall pattern from its new state. When this happened to me three separate tyre fit companies assure me the tyres are legal but admit the fine tread is functional, not decorative!
I believe the law doesnt refer to the TWI but to the depth of tread across the tyre so I assume, TWI or not, that tyres worn in this way are illegal - meaning the effective life is much reduced. I wonder if anyone has been pulled by plod for having tyres in this state and whether they are as dangerous as they look? Read more
Good to see the return of this programme to ITV tonight. Almost as funny as the comedy driving of some motorists is the way the prog tries to pass itself off as a serious lesson in road safety!
But did anyone else think Alastair Stewart was a bit out of order to gloat at the Pug 205 that skidded and crashed after the driver panicked at the sight of a speed trap? Funny how you never hear statistics of how many accidents are CAUSED by speed cameras, isn't it? Read more
I think that it is attitude that kills more than speed. It is the thinking that I am the best driver, nothing can surprise me, I am king of the road, that causes accidents. This then leads to people driving too fast, too close and putting themselves and otheres at grave risk. Lets all take a step back, stop accusing others, like we all do and do something about our own driving rather than try and change every one elses.
I am not the perfect driver, neither are you, and it is about time we looked at our own driving rather than having a go at other drivers, police, cameras etc.
Andy W
Interesting snippet in current car mag.(For modern cars)
Vehicle Characterisitics Tester.
Computerised test of cars 6 primary systems(engine,gearbox,brakes,clutch,suspension & emissions) plus visual inspection of all major components.
8 page report & comparison with manufacturers standard settings, all for 59 pounds.
Its in its infancy, with only one currently in Edinburgh. Possible drawback-KwikFit are involved(personal opinion)
regards
Simon Read more
Simon,
Yes, I don't think that AA do that. Is there a AA inspector in the back room that can answer this?
Carscan does sound interesting, but note when I had a 'Superchip' in my Audi, the fault diagnosis (computer check) did not work any more (or so the dealer told me!).
Martin.
my 95 astra 16 sport has atendancy to run very rough firing on only 2 or 3 cylinders mainly when cold but not from the off. usually after a couple off minutes into the journey and lasting for a further couple off minutes. it has been known to happen after 15-20 mins of driving resulting in lack of power.having had countless visits to main dealers resulting in valve stem modifications and ultimatly a complete short block replaced the fault still occurs. any ideas Read more
Kevin,
Forgive me answering on Andrew's behalf - he must have had a bad night !
Esso / Q8 is fine - he was jsut concerned that you might have been using Supermarket blends, which can throw up your sort of problems.
Regards, Adam
I came across some stored treasures the other day. Amongst them were old handbooks & maintenance manuals of past owned everyday cars, including Morris Minor, Triumph Herald 12/50, Alfa Romeo Alfasud and Morris Mini cars.
Up to the early 1980's cared for engines wore out very quickly, with mediocre lives of approximately 70,000 miles. After this point, engines with much tighter clearances were introduced togeather with early electronic ignition systems. Car milages of 150,000 plus then became commonplace.
What encouraged the use of finer tolerances? after all, the technology to achieve them in mass production was probably available as far back as the 1930's. Was it the availability of better oil chemistry perhaps, (Duckhams 20/50 and BP Viscostatic were available in the early 60's) or the increasing opportunity to run at higher constant road speeds for long periods? The M1, the UK's first motorway, opened in 1959 with constant speed motoring limited to A road dual carriageways by and large until the late 1960's mid 1970's.
It could'nt possibly be the influence of a cynical motor industry - could it?
Put me right,
Regards,
Julian Read more
"My two Triumphs, a 1965 2000 and a 1972 2500, each reached 170,000 miles before significant trouble arose
(piston/ring wear in both cases). I feel sure that this was helped by the fact that I changed the oil at half the
specified intervals. In each case the crankshaft and bearings were still serviceable, though I fitted a new
crankshaft in the 2500. I kept the filter changes to the recommended mileage however, since a part-used
filter should provide slightly finer filtration than a new one."
Interesting point about the oil filter. I would never have thought of. I agree entirely about changes - I have always changed oil at 3000 miles and the filter every 6,000, ie with alternate oil changes. My reasoning was that with more frequent oil changes the filter would not have picked up so much so it was a bit of a waste renewing it. But your point makes good sense too David.
Another thing about older engines is they seemed often to have poor engine breathing/ventilation, so a lot of old gunge accumulates in the rocker cover. Attention to the pipes and breather holes, possibly enlargement, seems to improve this.
An Inspector of Constabulary has warned Cleveland police of the consequences of their enthusiasm for targetting 'speeding' motorists. Dan Crompton said the practice was affecting the way officers tackled other crime, and was thus damaging its relationship with the public.
The ABD would like to point out that decades ago, the police displayed the same enthusiasm for targetting ethnic minorities. That is no longer 'politically correct', but the government has intentionally created an atmosphere in which the targetting of drivers is 'politically correct'. Thankfully it appears there are at least some police officers who are begining to realise the consequences of this irrationality. Read more
its on the abd website youll find
Thinking of getting one of these to use as a van. I like the thought of a diesel with auto gearbox, standard a/c, sliding door.
I know they're about the same price as a UK Previa, but does anyone have any experience of these? Parts? Corrosion, MPG etc.? Read more
test
The SMMT suggests that car sales are up because of their value for money.
Could not the record car sales of 2001 merely be the result of the UK's public transport system being so bad that people are driven to purchase cars in desperation?
Rob K. Read more
I wouldn't know the figures for the UK, but don't forget there are three categories..
Made/Built in
Assembled in
Imported into
There are standards, but the amount of actual building actually done as opposed to assembling in order to call it "home built" is actually quite small.
e.g. Blazers were "produced" in Brazil for considerable time before they were made here.
I'm towing a car this evening to a garage about 8miles away. I bought a tow brace/rod to do this. It's about 2m long and has a spring damper in it.
Is there any specifc advice to take on board when towing a car with such a device and for that matter any general towing advice.
Is a tow rod/brace better to use than a rope. I'm a little worried about having such a short distance between the two cars but I suppose they're quite well coupled so a collision is unlikely.
Thanks,
Phil Read more
Someone should tell them down at Halfords if tow ropes are illegal. I haven't heard this rumour but have always understood that towing on a rope is illegal on motorways but otherwise acceptable on other highways. However, I still saw a couple of cars being towed by rope on the M6 just before Christmas.
On a personal note, I always find it scary both to tow and be towed on a rope, and have often wondered if the cheaper bars are up to the job.
And I always have a tow rope in the car. Last used to get an elderly lady out of the soggy, snow-covered field edge on which she had parked her Pug 205 while walking her dog out in the sticks far from a phone. However, I had to persuade her just to sit in the car with engine off and the steering wheel securely gripped while I towed her out. She was all for 'helping' by trying to drive out but was persuaded that her 205 risked a lot of damage on my SAAB's towbar if she didn't stop in time.
David
i have just taken the HT lead off the spark plug, and oil is swimming around the spark plug, what could this be (please dont say its the head gasket) Read more
Is it a BX14? The cam cover gasket on the 1.4 motor cracks with age. I've seen the same on AXs which have the same engine design. The problem is made worse if the crankcase breather pipe is blocked.
Browse
I agree with your point about motorcycle tyre mileage, Derek. However, what surprises me is the discrepancy between motorcycle front and rear tyre wear.
I have just changed the front tyre on my bike for the first time at 40,000 miles.
I have lost count of the back tyres it has gone through in the same time but it must be at least four. And the back tyre always gets the punctures, I haven,t had a front tyre puncture for thirty years.
It seems that the design spec. for rear tyres leaves a lot to be desired, or the basic bike design needs to be changed to even out the stresses.