September 2002
For the last couple of months, there have been roadworks on the A14 Ipswich bypass, to put up some signs. (You may wonder how it can take 11 weeks to put up a few signs.) These consist of a couple of large concrete barriers (well clear of the road) and a line of cones along the verge, which can be moved out to close off the nearside lane if work is taking place. There is a 40mph temporary speed limit in force.
Now I am all in favour of speed limits to protect the workforce, but this particular limit has annoyed a lot of people because it is very rare to see anyone actually working on the site. You can come through at any time of day and it is deserted - just a line of cones on the verge, two clear lanes and a 40mph speed limit which appears to serve no purpose. So of course most of the regular road users have been ignoring it.
Someone must have complained, because about four weeks ago some new signs appeared reading 'Speed limit for safety reasons'. Then one Saturday morning there was an unmarked Vectra tucked away behind the cones, with a policeman operating a mobile speed camera. This really annoyed me because the speed limit was intended to protect the workforce, yet this policeman was the only person on site at the time.....
Yesterday evening I noticed that, although the cones and barriers were still there, the temporary speed limit signs had all been covered up. Presumably the authorities have at last recognised that when there is no-one working on site, and no obstruction in the road, a 40mph speed limit is inappropriate. So will all the people caught by the speed trap be let off? Somehow I doubt it - unless the speed limit was illegal in the first place, perhaps because it was only supposed to be in force while work was actually taking place.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
My 2 litre petrol-engined Focus has done 60,000 miles, but my Ford dealer says not to worry because the cambelt on these "black-top" engines is good for 100,000. Does anyone know different ? Read more
.....Maybe so, but would you let yours run to 100K?
Ripley annoyed me this weekend.
A bloke drove up to Scotland (500 miles) in 12 hours.
Ripley suggested this should have been done in two 250 mile stints.
Utter tosh. I've driven 600 miles to a party and I presume delivery drivers drive 8 hours a day every day of their lives.
I *do* accept that driving when tired is a mistake - I know at least one prerson who crashed after a 22 hour stretch of work.
Just don't see why 5-6 hundred miles or 8-10 hours would be that big an issue.
Discuss.
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley. Read more
Regarding average speeds between tolls leading to being nicked, my uncle lives in France and drives a Boxster. Apparently its not the average speed that gets you but the speed coming up to the Toll Booth. Traffic Police figure that its far easier to stop you when your stopped at the booth rather than at 100mph+. If you slow down for the final mile coming up to the booth you should be fine.
Head restraint sockets on Astra/Vectra etc. that is. Has anybody changed these? SWMBO has managed to break one by folding rear seats without due care and attention! Read more
One of the very few things I don't like about my Focus is the fact that the indicator warning is inaudible in most conditions, and hidden from view by the steering wheel.
This may sound trivial, but, believe me, it is a potential hazard, if one's indicator has failed to cancel!
My Ford garage say that it is impossible to fit a louder unit. Does anyone out there know differently?
Thanks Read more
Yes my Focus is a 2.0 petrol.
Actually one of my biggest annoyances with the Focus controls is
that if I flash my headlamps during the daytime and pull
the lever slightly too hard, come sun-down I turn on my
headlamps and blind some poor b***** becase the main-beam is switched
on from my earlier flash...please Ford, why?!?
Happens on mine too. My biggest gripe is that you can't have the rear fog lamp on without the fronts. My other gripe is why on earth have Ford made it so that the heater automatically reverts to "recirculated air" mode when you restart the car after having turned off the heater fan during the previous journey. Weird !!
Astra 1.4 Merit Estate '92 - Reverse lights not working.
Dont know much about cars but have checked the fuses = fine, checked the bulbs = fine and apparently the reverse lights work off the same fuse as the cigarette lighter which works fine. Could it be the contact/switch that must be pressed when reverse is engaged? If so, where do I find this and can it be changed/checked easily? Any other suggestions?
Whilst on the subject of my Astra, the driver's door makes annoying creaking noises when driving over bumps. Seems to be coming from the hinge/pillar area. Know of anything around that area that could be causing this?
Thanks
Murray Read more
Murray -
just a word of warning
I had this problem on my VW polo, so I took out the switch from the gearbox - unfortunately, it was below the level of the filler plug, and half the gearbox oil drained out !
might not be like that on the astra, but you have been warned !
mike
when you've got tired of driving ...
www.mikes-walks.co.uk
I've got one of the last, top of the range Carina CDXs (now five years old).
The backlight to the digital clock has failed. The clock is incorporated into the walnut-effect stereo/heater console and a quick lok has failed to find a way in. Anyone help ? is this a quick job or an all-day, on yer back looking-upwards job ?
Cheers
Bt B
Remember - it's not how you vote that matters ...it's who does the counting. Read more
I have a Carina E and the centre consule is held in by four clips, two at the top and two near the bottom on each side. Use a fine screwdriver to prise the consule out of the clips.
Even nostalgia isn't what it used to be...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&g...l
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley. Read more
No doubt any past or present Mrs M's laughed along with
that excerpt!
Not to mention anyone that married a blonde who lived near a race track in the 50's!
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
Does anyone know the purpose of the 3 loose rubber rings that dither about on most pump hoses?
I used to think they were to prevent chafe, but watching them this morning I noticed that the rings drop to the bottom of the looped hose, leaving an unprotected section of hose to rub on the edge of the kerb.
What are they for? Why 3? Read more
And pre-war chrome was a lot better
>> than it is nowadays !!
Which war would that be, escargot?
;-)
Ian Cook
As the vast majority of patriotic UK subjects and their war-time allies are aware, the expressions "post-war" and "pre-war" have always referred to the (1939-1945) second world war. Don't blame me ~ I didn't invent the expressions. Bring back National Service, that's what I say !!
And it's L'escargot, if you don't mind !!
Recently had new rear shock absorbers fitted to my Mk 3 VW Golf. As soon as I drove away from the garage I noticed that there was a rattling / knocking noise coming from the nearside rear of the car. I thought that this was being caused by a piece of loose trim or the parcel shelf.
Subsequent investigation shows that the noise is due to the nut at the top of the suspension strut (the bit inside the boot of the car) appears to have been cross threaded. It is jammed tight but leaves about 3/4 inch of free play in the top of the strut. This means that the shock absorber is loose and is banging against the top mount every time the suspension is depressed.
Clearly I will be taking the car back to the place where this was fitted. Could someone advise me if this is potentially dangerous and what the correct remedy for the problem is (given that the nut is jammed on). I have no confidence in the garage which carried out the work. Any help would be appreciated. Read more
Very dangerous, do not drive car except back to whence it was butchered.
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To conduct roadworks other than simple patching, Local Authority, months ahead will have made and published an Order which gives the dates the works will be carried out within,
the length of road involved and any restrictions applicable i.e lane closures, speed limits etc.It is all within the Order as to what is involved.
First thing L.A. will do is sign to protect the area but because of logistics etc equipment/materials/labour may not come in for days (or weeks) as and when available. During this period the Order remains in force as do the restictions unless any special proviso is mentioned. Not cost effective to pull down the signs etc every day and this could also prolong the length of time.
Plod with Handheld in plain car. Did he pull anyone? Doubt it from what you say. Could be carrying a percentile speed check for reference/testing equipment/training. Likewise could it have been LA doing the same on percentile speeds?
As to fine repayment I can only make general comment that it will be up to the individual Mags Clerks Office where the fines are due to be paid but in my day if a defective speed limit was brought to light then back records were checked and all treated the same. I leave Pugugly to explain Queen's Pardon. I never had any trouble as I banged em to right.
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