November 2003
Diagonal Hatching was mentioned in a recent Top Gear thread (because Clarkson had overtaken in that new Bentley) but I just wanted to clarify the position with overtaking on these.
I always assumed that the cross hatching bordered by broken white lines was a no-overtaking area. This is covered specifically in the Highway Code Rule 109 and the relevant bit says:
< >
So my question is, does overtaking (a moving vehicle) constitute being 'necesaary' and can I legally overtake?
I have a single carriageway 4 mile, 50mph stretch of road near me covered by these markings...an additional 'confusing' factor is that at the beginning and end of the stretch are arrows telling you to move back into your lane.
Thanks
Paul Read more
I have an R Reg 1998 registered 306 LXD with 118000 on the clock. Last week the speedo became erratic, I was stationary and the speedo said I was going a speed in excess of 160mph! My local garage has replaced the top unit, £35 vat and labour, to no avail, they have check all wiring all know recalls cleaned and checked everything, all with no success.
The problem appears to go away when the car has done 10-12 miles from cold, the needle which sticks off the scale judders and on stopping returns to zero and works fine.
The local main dealer hasnt encountered the problem. Peugeot UK is saying checking with their computer diagnostics and replacement of the main unit at a cost of £178 vat and hours labour, but with no guarantee of success. Has anyone got any suggestions? Or should I call it quits and replace the car? Its already had a replacement back axle, new ignition barrel and alternator. Read more
Have to say 2 hours labour is a lot to remove the 10mm bolt holding in the speed sensor!!. Sounds like a loose/dirty connection onto the sensor itself (on differential housing on gearbox) or loose connector onto instrument board. Also check wiring under bonnet as the loom sometimes melts/chafes and wires short out.
I need to get my 2001MY Golf (115PS Diesel) windscreen replaced before the forthcoming 1st MoT test, due to stone damage.
As this will be the first glued-in screen I have had replaced, I am nervous about getting a good job done.
Does anyone have any recommendation as to supplier, or are there any pitfalls to be aware of?
Thanks for any advice. Read more
Thanks Terry,
I checked carpets for wet patches - none found. Have checked door seals, all undisturbed. It does not look like they had to disturb any trim, especially scuttle area. The screen looks like it slides down behind the scuttle moulding, and is then glued to the aperture surround.
Anyway, I'm going to do as you suggest and see if it dries out on its own.
My only concern with that is that the window misting was only slight when driven in the evening after the work. The car then sat outside for a day and a half of mostly rain. When I used it after that, the misting was really severe, didnt clear in 5 miles or so. I conclude from this that water is still getting in.
Have not used the car since (yes, its now had even more rain!)
I'll keep you posted.
Does anyone know where the mysterious 'Works Exit' junction lead to that's situated between J14 & J13 east bound on the M4? I've heard that it's some sort of secret nuclear bunker or even a missile storage site. The fact that the sign is permanent - and not a temporary flimsy ?works traffic? type only adds to the mystery.
The other day my curiosity got the better of me so I decided to take the exit. But I was quickly met with a large locked gate (not exactly 'works' traffic friendly!) and just an 'End of Motorway' sign. There was a police car near the gate also who was very keen on watching me, although he didn't actually talk to me.
Anyone in the know care to spill the beans?!
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i think you mean the slip roads between Bath and Bristol (junctions 18 and 19). This should one day be junction 18a linking the M4 to the Avon Ring Road. Should have been completed about 8 years ago i think, and is needed to relieve the congestion at M4 / M32
Hi All,
I have an S reg 1.6 Ls Astra. I installed a new radio about a year ago and the multi function display only displayed the date, time and temperature, which was fine. About a month ago the MFD suddenly stop displaying anything? Does anyone know what could be wrong with it. My first thought was a fuse but i can\'t find the fuse for it. Any ideas where this may be located??
Thanks
Craig Read more
I dont think its the bulbs as there are two of them and the chances of them both failing together are slim.
Have you checked the fuse for the display its located in the main fusebox below the drivers dash.
If its not the fuse then Its likely to be a failure of the unit itself.
Annoyed with myself - haven't checked the coolant recently in my Corolla 1.4, and now noticed it is v.low.
What coolant would HJ readers recommend ?
Will I have damaged the engine (last checked 9 months ago in service and OK) ?
How do you check the condition of the coolant that's in ?
Help ! Read more
Drained the 'red' Toyota coolant,
which produced about half a bucket of coolant.
Went to fill with new (halfords green) non alcahol based
coolant, and it filled within a couple of litres.
How to get rid of air bubbles in the system please?
TIA DaveP
Just received a email saying the M27 now has SPECS speed cameras.
They went operational on the 4th November.
The whole section of the M27 between Junc 11 (Fareham) and Rownhams Junc 2 is covered. The Cameras are set to trigger at 78MPH+.
Unforunatley this is my daily commute (Bournemouth to Fareham) so I will have to watch my speedo from now on (instead of the road).
If Mr Howard wishes to be elected at the next election he should promise to abolish this highway robbery and he would win quite easily.
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re. the title hope they leave this alone for a short while at least thought i would bring attention to a new camera (gatso)ithink. on the A38 patchway bristol much narrower box than the old one and alot higher up it hides very easily on the footpath aproaching flyover heading into bristol no lines on road yet so not live . posted it here as i've never seen a gatso like this before it doesn't look right it looks very hidden without actually being hid if you know what i mean . more like a red light camera but there are no lights there. anybody know something about it
ps sorry if it's in the wrong place
Hi folks.
The coolant in our 2001 Citroen Picasso petrol 1.8sx requires topping up (only small amount after 30k, so no dramas), but am not sure which sort to use, the stuff in the header tank is clear (has usual antifreeze type smell) and my usual car parts place is unsure what I can top it off with (they said it may be organic type??). Would any of the green, blue or pink variety be okay to use?
The car survived a cold winter in living Italian alps without freezing so pretty certain it's not just water. It's the original stuff from when it was new (uk car).
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks.
Read more
I'm going to assume topping up with blue coolant wasn't the
best idea then?
Damn.
So, anyone fancy telling me how to change the coolant on
an HDi? I have no idea about bleeding etc.
Remove header tank cap,remove bottom hose(or undo radiator drain plug if there is one),let coolant drain.Flush with hose,thermostat removal will make this more effective but you don't have to.Locate bleed valve(s),look on top of hoses at highest point.Undo,fill system with coolant,having replaced bottom hose on rad of course,when it starts to flow from bleed valves close them.
Morning all. After reading another thread about a fluttery noise it reminded me of my own current slight worry about my engine. When it's idling or decelerating under compression, there's a quiet high pitched chirping kind of noise - It only happens at these times and is fine when accelerating. I've had a cam belt change recently and I can't honestly remember whether it happened before that. Would a too-tight belt explain this - even with it only happening sometimes?
The garage changed my fan and power steering belts at the same time and the fan belt squeals during acceleration when I set off from cold - and curiously it seems to be worse when I have the blowers on. I took that back to get it adjusted and they said the belt needed a little adjustment (standard thing) after a certain number of miles and that they'd done it, but if anything it was worse. They did say it was self adjusting so will it just go away if I leave it? It seems to have improved but I'm worried that excessive slipping might damage the new belt prematurely.
Any help much appreciated. Read more
Oh and the fluttery noise has gone away as well - I can only assume that was a precursor to a full squeal.
-- Kev
My daughter has a 97 (98my) 1.4 Polo. Yesterday while driving to work the oil pressure warning light & buzzer came on. Stopped car, no oil leaks, oil level ok. Called out the RAC.The patrolman rechecked the oil level, confirmed ok and checked all obvious things.Asked my daughter to restart the engine which she did--problem gone!The RAC patrolman advised my daughter to drive the car home, he would follow her in case of problems (good service from the RAC)but the problem did not come back. RAC advised taking car to garage to get it checked out.
Does anyone know if there is a problem with Polo oil pressure switches that could cause this problem? Failing that can anyone recommend a good VW independent garage in Bristol?
Many Thanks,
SeanO Read more
Andy, when you say dash binnacle do you mean the whole
instrument panel? (speedo/tacho/fuel/warning light assy etc). That sounds like a major
disassembly as my haynes says the steering wheel (with associated airbag)
has to come off to access this.
Thanks Again for your help,
SeanO
Yes, I mean the whole lot. As you say it sounds like a major job. I let VW do the lot as I was out of the country at the time and couldn't practically do much else.
I don't know what the labour charge at VW was because the supplier sent the part to Aberdeen instead of Ashford, so the dealer waived the labour as a good will gesture.
Good luck
Andy
Browse
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On my commute there is a stretch about half a mile long which is marked with a broken/hatched central area along the whole length. This is to protect traffic waiting to turn into the many factories and trading estates that line the road. A few years ago there was a bad head on smash where someone overtook in this area as someone in the opposite direction decided to enter the area to turn right.
If there is traffic on the other side I do not even consider entering this area, even if no one coming in the opposite direction is indicating it doesn't mean no one intends to turn right.