January 2003
A friend had the misfortune to be involved in an accident on New Year's Eve, in which he suffered an epileptic episode (a blackout rather than seizure) which caused a fairly serious collision with a third party. Both vehicles written off, neither driver hurt thankfully.
In this case, he's obviously liable without being 'at fault'. The problem lies in the fact that the car had failed its already 3 month overdue MOT just three days previously, on 1 point (some welding needed for one of the sills). It was booked in to have the work done on Jan 3rd, but was legally unroadworthy at the time of the accident. A stupid risk, yes, but the car was virtually never driven so the timing could hardly have been unluckier.
Is there any chance whatsoever of his insurance company paying out under these circumstances? My friend's car was a worthless banger but replacing the other vehicle will cost in the region of £8k, a sum he can ill-afford having recently lost his job.
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www.sod-u-ken.co.uk/
Worth a read but I doubt people\'s opinions count! Read more
I wonder how robust Transport for London's computer system is?
Would it hold up to (say) one million people logging in at the same time?
I ask this as a purely academic wquestion, of course. ;-))
is the rear diffs on the petrol models the same as the one on the turbodiesel models Read more
Has anyone had experience of this? Water seems to have run down the a-pillar (cloth lining on a-pillar and around sunroof is soaked) and then soaked the front passenger footwell. I've heard the drain holes might be blocked but when I push a wire down them, it stops after about 2 feet. Suggestions? Read more
Don't know about Alfas but on my wife's Xantia the drain tube had come off the L-shaped plastic thingy that joins the drain tube to the sunroof tray. Inspect by dropping roof lining slightly??)Maybe you are pushing your wire into air space in the pillar. Blockage could be lower down of course in which case it may be worth blowing gently up the drain tube (found just behind front wheel on a Xantia) with a footpump with the Li-Lo blow up adapter. May also be that the blockage is on other side and when you park on a slope the water runs across the roof lining to other side ?? Test by pouring (small) amounts of water into each corner of sun roof and seeing where (and if ) the water drains.
By the way - took the Xantia into a Cit dealer in France and he spent an hour curing the problem and didn't charge us - all part of the service he said!
I'm off to Lagos next Tuesday, on business.
Apparently their roads and driving make ours seem quite civilised!
I'll keep the Back Room posted as to the developments - and also see if I can get some exotic snaps! Read more
See if you can pick up a nearly new RHD Peugeot 504. They were still being made until recently and there might even be a few new kits left. And don't lose your yellow fever certificate. I did and ended up in a line of about 20 people at Apapa Port where we were injected in quickfire succession by a 'doctor' with a multi-shot syringe apparatus. This was before AIDS became a major problem so things have probably changed.
Seconding the mention of uncertain vehicle maintenance. I had then engine of my Citroen out by one Nigerian roadside mechanic and back in for peanuts to cure an oil leak from the transmission. Another solved a leaking brake pipe damaged by a stone on unmade roads by disconnecting the pipe and welding it up. Foolishly I didn't check until I was a few hundred miles away.
Enjoy your trip.
is the rear diff on a ford sierra petrol the same as a ford sierra 1.8turbo diesel Read more
Research carefully;there are two different sizes of diff,two sizes of prop-shaft,three different sets of half-shafts and four final drive ratios from 3.14 to 3.92.
It is stuck in the locked position and cannot be unlocked from inside or outside! Cannot remove trim without opening the door - a real catch 22 situation! Do I have to open the front door and remove the hinges?
Has anyone come across this before and found any easy solution?
I would be very grateful for any ideas and suggestions. Read more
Is the door lock stuck down?, or can it be lifted?
I have a 309 and the O/S rear door has corrosion above the lock and it always appears to stick, with the door lock lifted.
I just give it a good yank and it comes open. Maybe yours is worst though.
Check out
www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=31282003
How much does this woman earn for her to be able to afford these parking tickets. The scary part is that she has already paid back £12000!
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I said it deliberately, I'm afraid, knowing their preferences (so it must have been the English bit of me!). PG Wodehouse referred to Scotchmen, but I expect that was on purpose, too.
Didn't know about the beer though - I'll have to be careful in future...
Last month I got some new tyres fitted at a national fast fit chain that I have used on many occasions before, and until now have always been very impressed by their levels of service. Yesterday when pulling up outside the house the Girlfriend informed me of a rattle from one of the wheels. When I checked Two of the wheel nuts were rattleing around behind the covers of my alloys. I was not able to hear the noise from inside the car so God knows how long ago they came out. I cursed myself as I would usually check the wheel nuts a week after getting any work done that requires the removal of the wheels, but with Christmas... Bad weather.... the fact the fitter was observed useing a touque wrench to tighten the nuts ... and general lazyness I had neglected to check. What is particullary scary is I have recently done alot of fast motorway miles probably with only two nuts holding on my front wheel.
Do I phone the fast fit chain and tell them?? Or just learn my lesson and encourage others not to be lazy and check?
What if it happens to the sterotypical female and her wheel falls off at speed? Read more
Driving downhill on a dual carriageway with a trailer fully laden with logs I suddenly heard a loud bang and scraping noise and at the same time I was overtaken by the offside wheel of my trailer, I watched with horror as the wheel which seemed to be gathering pace was being avoided by the following traffic, this seemed to last ages as I watched he wheel first go to one side then the other and finally come to rest on my side.
I shudder to think of the consequences if the wheel had bounced over to the other carriageway.
On my return home with my still fully laden trailer courtesy of the AA I found that the holes in the wheels had been elongated to fit the hubs (mini wheels jap hubs)!.
I and other innocent motorists were very lucky that day
I've just changed the way I view forums from the flat view to the threaded view
every time I see 'new' against the BMW service thread, go and read all the messages and go back to the top level , it always says there is 1 new - does anybody else see this ?
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up Read more
I'm in msn right now, but you're not? Gotta sleep in a mo but if you can make it for a quick hi........
HF
Browse
My insurance is coming up for renewal shortly and I was having a read of the policy document and was disturbed to find that having a valid MOT was a requirement and not having one would invalidate my insurance...... Not nice.
Martin