>> Generally if the aerodynamics are ok you shouldn't need wipers on the rear screen, it's more difficult to get the aerodynamics right with an estate or hatchback.

So you're saying estates and hatchbacks have rear wipes because of their bad aerodynamics, not because there's somewhere to fit the wiper/motor?!

Yes, that's it exactly. Detail aerodynamics around that area are difficult, but as has been said already lots of cars 'self-clean' the rear screen at any speed, very few estates do.

The level of research that manufacturers do would probably amaze you, a tweak of the wheelarch lip means that the side of the vehicle doesn't get so dirty etc.

Gareth

A little off the topic, but not a lot, I promise.

A local school is on a main road and has now had the road narrowed to the width of a country lane outside the entrance with a Zebra crossing and zigzags, hence no-one can park outside the entrance without totally blocking the road. Nearby is a T junction with a slightly less main, one-way, road joining which carries quite a large volume of traffic. Since the narrowing was implemented outside the school people have taken to parking on both sides of the minor road right up to the junction therefore narrowing the road to a single lane instead of left and right turn lanes being able to operate. Result, absolute chaos.

My neighbour decided to complain to our local parking enforcers, we've been decrimmed so don't have wardens anymore, to see whether anything could be done. Apparently they went through all the usual excuses until he pointed out that all these cars are left unattended for about 15 minutes while the parents have a chat in the playground every morning and that he reckoned they could ticket about 30 cars in the 15 minutes.
The guy on the other end of the phone obviously did a quick calculation and worked out that about £1000 in fines for 15 minutes work for two or three attendants was a pretty good return.

Apparently the enforcers have swooped three times in the last fortnight, the parents now appear to be parking a little further away from the junction, allowing it to function as it should. The traffic now flows much easier and even the bus company is happy because the buses now run somewhere near their timetable instead of queuing.

Cockle

Sorry Steve - haven't a clue about Saab engines but since the other obvious (to me!) things seem to have been done it may be worth a try. It is at least a simple and cheap job on the Renault and may be similar on a Saab?
Why not try a new thread on it - it would at least attract the Saab specialists
Good luck
P

Hi Phil

By disconnecting hoses at various points, I traced the problem to the point at which the water is passed through the boot panel to the wiper via the black bit in the center of the washer nut.

I tried blowing air through the joint but that didn't clear it.

Looking back through this thread I've just noticed the garden wire suggestion. I think that might sort it... again update to follow.

Emirates also have individual phones on each seat arm which you

can use in flight, presumably this is a system that is

checked out when they build the plane and therefore does not

interfere with 'fly by wire ' systems.

I do have memories of seeing film on TV of I

believe an Airbus coming in to land at Paris ( bit

hazy on the details) but as the Captain was trying to

land the 'fly by wire' was saying it was not safe

and over ruling him resulting in it trying to loop the

loop. I believe he got it down safely but I'm surely

glad I was not on board.

I don't know what caused it but I would not like

to think it was a mobile phone user.('Hello love - yes

we're just coming in to land'.'No we're not, Yes we are

No we're not etc etc.)

Turn 'em off.

>>

Mobiles can cause problems to other electrical/electronic equipment but by varying degrees.
Lay your mobile close to your PC monitor and ring it, you'll see an interesting effect. Certainly a mobile turned on within a metre of some of my audio level measuring kit will distort the readings by as much as 5dB, interestingly the older analogue mobiles made a difference of up to 8dB anywhere within 2 metres, obviously because they were on a higher power.

In the early days of mobiles the screening on most electronic appliances was pretty poor and there were tales of hospital paging systems being affected as well as medical equipment, hence the blanket ban in hospitals. Things have moved on somewhat and the GSM phones transmit much lower power but the ban remains 'just in case'. Many places have jumped on the bandwagon, though, my doctors' surgery has a ban on mobiles 'in case they interfere with medical equipment', the only equipment in his surgery is the digital blood pressure monitor, his computer, his phone and his fax. While I was sitting in his room one day he actually took a call on his mobile, when I mentioned it he said the ban was really so he didn't have to listen to a waiting room full of mobiles bleeping all day and that no-one would take any notice unless they thought it affected essential equipment.

Phones provided on aircraft will be designed for that purpose and will have been tested to death to make sure they don't interfere with the aircraft systems, not too sure that the handset manufacturers have applied the same tests to their products though.

Often feel for the mobile companies, they are the worst of the worst and also the best of the best. Nobody wants a mast within a mile of their house but everyone expects to turn their mobile on and be able to make a call from virtually anywhere. Most people seem to regard them as essential but don't want to hear anybody else's ring.
C'est la vie.

Cockle