December 2002
There is a tendency in the Backroom for contributors, including myself, to take the easy path of defining the problem rather than suggesting workable solutions.
The problem with traffic congestion in our towns and cities is very easy to define. Too many of us want to use our cars on roads that cannot, and will never, cope with the amount of cars we would wish to use.
The solution is also easy to define - we have to be deterred from using our cars. But how to we do that?
It seems to me that it will take draconian measures to achieve this. For instance:
A huge(say £30) daily congestion charge to enter towns.
2 Bus lanes each way, where possible, into town with savage penalties for any car that enters them or vans that use them as their unloading bay.
As someone who uses my car to drive into central London each day I am clearly not one of the anti-motoring fraternity and equally clearly I am part of the problem. I rarely use the bus as it is even slower, unreliable and uncomfortable. Frankly I will use my car until it becomes untenable.
So Backroomers what radical measures should the government take to solve the problem of congestion?
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I have a very slight rumbling noise on my mercedes e320 coupe 1995. It is very slight - best heard on tickover and with the interior fan switched off. It can be heard best with your head by the transmission tunnel in the passenger footwell - it does not vary with engine speed and goes away when the engine is off. It does not happen with the engine off and the ignition on so it is engine/transmission related. It is so slight that it can not be heard when the fan is turned on. I am just wondering what it could be and is it going to get worse? Read more
Is it a fuel injected petrol engine ? If so it could be the electric fuel pump running pressurising the system. It should stop after a short while if the engine is not running but may continue running when the engine is running.
I have been lucky enough to own 4 Mercedes, E class and SL, in the last 5 years but they were all automatic. I was told that Merc manual boxes were unpleasant to use and having one affected the resale value or even made it difficult to sell at all. Would Back-Roomers be kind enough offer their opinions on the merits or otherwise of buying a 75K T reg C250 diesel estate with a manual box? Read more
Oops, it isn't a *hand* brake, is it? But you know what I mean!
....Some of us have to live here!
What is it about some idiot drivers and passengers that think that they can just open their car doors and throw litter on the street.
I just followed a car through my village and witnessed a passenger open his or her door to deposit an empty plastic disposable milk carton. I personally take pride in where I live, and to see this happen in my village makes me feel as if though someone has just emptied a rubbish sack in my front garden!
It would have been so easy to either take it home or deposit it in one of the scores of public bins in the village.
The good news is that I have his registration number, and he will be rewarded with a visit from the boys in blue, as a public order offence has been committed.
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I think in New York they got the crime rate down by concentrating on all the 'minor' offences. The basis was that the antisocial persons who did this would be likely to commit more serious ones.
James may be tongue in cheek re Singapore but I bet he has not had to clean up yards of carpet of chewing gum at a local college.
I am proud of our town and like to see visitors enjoying it. Encouraging people to take litter home and discourage spray can signatures is surely reasonable behaviour?
About this time last year, the wife of a friend of mine found their 1991 VW Passat (55k miles, fvwsh and in excellent condition) had a flat battery. RAC were called and jump started the car. Battery was found to be faulty, so was replaced. Fair enough. Unfortunately, immediately after this had all happened, my friend found that some of the dash electronics had failed. On examination, it was found that the printed circuit controlling the milometer etc. had burned out. Seems logical to surmise that the actions of the RAC patrolman had caused this, and understandably my friend approached the RAC for recompense. They, sadly, denied everything. My friend is now mid- small claims court case with the RAC to claim back the £800 (!) that the repairs cost. Basically, my question for this sea of knowledge is this: has anyone heard of this kind of damage happening before? Any court cases decided? Some evidence would really help! At the moment, it's down to proving that 1) the patrolman acted negligently, and 2) that the negligence caused the damage. All help very much appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Dr Alex Mears
Seat ibiza Cupra
Yamaha RD350YPVS
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I have just reread all the previous posts, including my own, and make the following comments.
Once again if this only applies if the Passat has similar wiring to the older Golfs…
You will need to seek both professional technical and legal help, but I believe a possible sucessful strategy would be to show that older Passats can suffer from both battery failure and an age related defect that can cause the vehicle not to start with slow cranking, both showing showing in laymans terms similar symptoms, , ie a 'flat battery'. In your case the RAC have told you that you had a defective battery (so they probably sold you a new one), therefore the damage to the pcb could not have been caused by your attempts to start the vehicle just prior to the call out. Since there is a known problem (by the trade) with older VWs resulting in damage as you have described, the RAC should be asked to demonstrate that they have a check process in place that requires that fitters follow a set checking procedure (which may be vehicle specific) before attempting a jump start. Following the manufacturers handbook instructions is probably not adequate for an older vehicles which could have acquired defects over time.
The damage therefore occurred because either the RAC have not issued correct process, or the fitter failed to follow them. If he had investigated fully before jump starting he could have identifed the defect and refused to attempt a jump start that could result in damage.
The RAC could argue that attempts to start the vehicle just prior to the jump start have caused the damage (following failure to the earth strap due to continuous cranking) AND also resulted in flattening of the battery to the point where it could be described as terminally failed. This would require that 2 failures (ie battery and earth strap) had occurred at the same time, - not impossible but less likely. (As an aside remember that the RAC have targets for the sale of new batteries by mobile fitters. This can result in batteries being condemned prematurely).
Best of luck with the claim, I believe that you have a small chance of winning because
1.it is unlikely that the RAC will demonstrate a robust proceess that shows adequate checks necessary before jump starting were carried out. This is particularly likely if a Sub contract call out was used.
2. and by condemning your battery it is unlikely that the damage was pre existing, therefore it must have occurred when they did the jump start.
pmh (was peter)
Tonight my gracious other half has just effed up the door lock on my pride and joy and now it won't lock from the inside or outside. Does anyone know of a place that has Citroen ZX door locks (and keys) ON THE SHELF? Preferably in the Gatwick area?
Typically, HER car is ok, so it's a case of "I'm alright Jack". Read more
Thanks MM. Luckily today my local Cit garage said they can make up a new lock and key for driver's door, so luckily I won't have to have a complete new set of locks and ignition barrel.
Cost quoted (for one lock) £35+VAT which is one lock and two keys, made up for original.
Unfortunately, in trying to force key into lock, I've now got a dented door to sort out too.
Last time I lend my car to anyone... she can walk, next time.
I'm thinking of buying a Citroen CX GTi, maybe a turbo or turbo2. I'm familiar with CX's but not the GTi or turbo models. Is there anything extra I should look out for other than the usual checks? Any CX gurus out there?
I realise I must have tendancy to masochism, especially as I'm not keen on sorting electrical problems, but once you have driven one of these cars just about everything else feels agricultural.
I've had 2 before, so CX ownership must be like remarriage, the triumph of hope over experience. Read more
Everyone may find the 'CX-L' group on groups.yahoo.com useful. It is full of nutters like ourselves (I own 2 x DTR T2, GTi & Turbo 2). People are on the list everyday and is full of useful info. worth a look, we wont bite!
Stan
I have recently bought a 1998 Audi A4 Quattro from a small dealer who had the windscreen replaced a week before I purchased the car. I'd had the car 3 days when the windscreen cracked from the top of the screen to just below the rear view mirror.
There is no evidence of a stone chip or any other damage to the screen so I am assuming the crack is some form of stress fracture.
I contacted the dealer as soon as the screen cracked but so far he has been unwilling to help in any way.
Can anybody advise me if I have any recourse against the dealer or the widscreen company who fitted the screen.
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Thanks carmad I feel an independant report coming on imminently.
has any one had problems with the rear parking sensors fitted to many new cars. have brand new micra and when weather wet or when its cold the sensors play up making a constant tone instead of the usual blipping. nissan have said that they think one of the four sensors is getting water in it. just wondered if other vehicles fitted with this system also have problems.
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Thanks for giving me this info.Really your forum site is good information source of this parking sensors.I am also give you link aboutr this.Visit here for collect more and more information.
=========== parking sensors...
There is a poll ongoing in the motoring section of the DT
Would paying for road use ease congestion.
So far NO = 71%
Nice to see the Government are in touch with that one. No change there then.
Cast your vote on
www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?view=HOME&...1
the poll is low down on RHS. Read more
Browse
Early in this thread HJ posed this question:-
"What congestion charging will do is kill off town centres as places to shop and go out. Eventually it will also kill them off as places to work. So we will see yet more countryside ruined by easy-access out-of-town car-friendly shopping centres. And town centres which are almost completely deserted at weekends. Is that what we want? We're getting it."
Well I don't want to see countryside ruined, but I would welcome town centres being killed off as places to shop and work. For myself the American style out of town shopping mall or business park, with easy access and parking, is infinitely preferable to trying to drive into city centres built before the car or bus was invented.
So perhaps the radical solution is for the Government to subsidise malls and business parks and provide incentives/penalties to get city centre shops and businesses to move to them.