February 2004
Morning all!
Sorry - this is long!
On Tuesday, the city council did this groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pologirlsparkingnightmar...5 to our car park, meaning that where you used to be able to get around 15 cars around the central circle and many more around the kerb, less than ten people can now park.
The other option is to park around the front, on the roads that go around the flat complex. As you can kind of see in this photo groups.msn.com/honestjohn/pologirlsparkingnightmar...6, the kerb is cut away a bit at one point and sunken in the middle. Now, sensible people pull onto the curb and to either end of the cut away bit, to allow other people to park there too, and also ensuring that their cars aren't clipped by the numerous ambulances and dial a ride buses that come to see the old folk.
But.. there is one Ka that always parks right in the middle of the cut away, and not on the kerb at all, meaning that noone else can park there, and they have to bump up onto the kerb or find somewhere further away. Trust me in this area you wouldn't want to be too far away from your car. Admittedly the Cavalier in the photo is doing exactly what the Ka does but he doesn't live here, and well, he drives a Cavalier so it's not his fault! ;-)
Wednesday night I left this note on the Ka's windscreen: "Sorry to ask but if you pulled onto the kerb and further forwards/back, other people would be able to park in this bit too. At the moment your small car always seems to take up space for 3. Thank you." Nothing happened so last night I left "Please pull on to the kerb. There's just not enough room now for you to take up this much space. Thanks." This morning she has left a big note on her own car saying "DO NOT TELL ME WHERE TO PARK MY CAR!".... which she took off and threw on the floor when she went to work, which just shows how selfish and inconsiderate she is. I don't know which flat she lives in otherwise I would have asked her personally in the first place, and I don't think she knows it's me leaving the notes.
What next? It's only a little car - is it criminal damage to just rock it along a bit?? ;-) Read more
In the 'what to write on receipt thread' there was an archived thread resurrected which included an interesting comment from our esteemed Judge His Honour regarding rogue clampers and the fact that they could perhaps in some cases be brought to book for demanding money with menaces .
I am also aware that they quite often refuse to accept payment by other means and insist on cash.Can they legally do this?
Also what is the best means of dealing with the rogue clamper and ( DVD alert) in what circumstances would the police get involved? Read more
I mean the privately employed sort who hide and within seconds of someone stopping jump out and clamp . The ones that clamp hearses and ambulances or force grannies to the cash machine when they have no money on them - the sort you get on Watchdog.
I really think that demanding cash is threatening behaviour and that anyone in the position of being clamped even on private property has a right to expect police to attend if they feel threatened.
It seems that scotland is ahead of England in this case.
Pug 106 Map Sensor. As a general check over I was trying to find the MAP sensor associated to a 106 1.1L TU1M+ engine. Much to my surprise I can not find it, nor can I find it in the cct diagram. Does this Bosch monotronic system not have a MAP or a MAF. This is a Mid 98 Look 2 model. Regards Peter Read more
Just for information relly although I was checking the whole system over as the car, on occasions, start up but does not respond to the throttle for 30 secs or so. I may have alreaddy traced that to a dirty connection at the Temp sensor so the choke was not coming on. I also had a problem with the immobiliser and that appeared to be a connector problem at the induction ring around the ignition key. Thanks for your replay. Peter
Ladies and Gents
A friend who is emigrating is offering for sale this vehicle. I think it is the shorter wheelbase but can fit 8 x 4 sheets flat in the back.
It is in very good condition and has 109k on the clock. I believe it is ex Transco. It is not sign written.
Although he is in the Property maintenance trade, the van has not had much heavy use at all and is in generally good shape
He is asking £2K for it with no VAT, as he is not VAT registered.
I had thought of upgrading my Trafic, which I would probaby get £600 to £700 for (N reg 185K with a few dents).
I'm not too good on van prices - any thoughts - is it a good deal?
Hugo Read more
Vansboy
You're absolutely right! I have already had to buy a recon Power steering pump for the renault plus have its cam belt changed. That little lot alone cost me £300 and it's still worth what it was before I spent the money.
That, and image, is why I like the idea of this van. It is clean, tidy and secure. I would have no reservations about signwriting it. The Renault has served me well for a year and a bit now, and has more than earned its keep. Even if I scrapped it now I would say that I had got my money's worth out of it.
However, if I got say £600 for it I would be pleased as it cost me £750 when I bought it.
This seems to be a minimum price for latish mechanically sound vans with long MOTs around here. Its year of registration (1996) would probably generate a lot of interest.
John
Thanks for that tip. If I cannot verify the cambelt change, I'll probably get it done straight away anyway.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Hugo
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is broke, blame someone else!"
its that dreaded day tommorrow!
any motoring bad luck stories post them here!!! Read more
imagosuk - see www.originbluei.com/
I have an original "Blue i" for sale in the classifieds section if anyone is interested.
Is there any statute relating to the size and style of info/messages on reg plates other than the spacing & size of the registration number itself? I'm refering only to the commercial messages that dealers etc put under the letters/numbers of the reg number.
I am specifically not refering to people who manipulate the letters/numbers for "personalising"
Thanks in advance. Read more
Go to the top of the class Adrian M.
A further couple of hours digging led me to BS AU 145 d which tells me:
The British Standard also requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: -
The British Standard Number (currently BS AU 145d)
The name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier. (The company who actually make the number plate.)
The name and postcode of the supplying outlet. (The 'supplying outlet' is taken to mean a company whose business consists wholly or partly of selling number plates.)
A non-reflective border and the Euro-symbol with the national identification letters are optional additions.
There shall be no other markings or material contained on the number plate.
..........so it looks as if I have to eat 'umble pie...
Registration of suppliers is covered by Vehicle (Crimes) Act 2001.
DVD
Is Pug Ugly still on vacation? He generally keeps me right...
Ihave a rover 220 diesel, the windscreen wipers will only work on normal or fast speeds, on intermittant they stop half way up the screen and seem to please their self when they want to stop or start. When you switch off they will park anywhere but where they should. Any ideas ? Read more
Hi Chris,
Not sure if this will help you but I believe there is a wiper park relay fitted on or near your fusebox. I had a similar problem with swmbo Rover 111 and it turned out to be a relay. Your handbook may even tell you what the relays re fitted in the fusebox area.
Hope this helps
--
These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
I have a VW Golf Mk2 1300.
I recently changed the oil two weeks ago, since then there has been a minor oil leek from the sump drain plug.
I decided to increase the sump drain nut torque from the recommended 22 lbf/ft to 26 lbf/ft, there is still though a minor leak.
Any help is welcome. The sump drain plug has one washer and no rubber seal. (only the higher spec engines require a seal).
Read more
are you sure its coming from the sump plug as oil tends to get moved by the airflow under the car when moving.
favourite spots on older vw are the sump gasket or the sump goes porious due to old age.
porious sump can be hard to see but when you remove it and look you will see tiny pin holes in it.
Folks
I apologise for asking what may well be a daft question, but anyway...my '99 Accord has started making rattling noises from the driver's door panel. I remembered something about this on HJ's Car-By-Car Breakdown - sure enough, a TSB was released to fit a piece of plastic sleeving around the lock mechanism to cure rattles.
My question is...is this something you can stroll up to the dealer and ask to be done in the manner of a recall, or (as my car is long out of warranty) I should expect to be charged the going rate for the work?
Incidentally, anyone else got this problem with their 98-03 Accord?
Cheers in advance! Read more
A TSB is not the same as a 'recall'. Since the vehicle is (I assume) out of warranty and the problem is in no way safety-related then I imagine the dealer will want to charge.
You try contacting Honda UK and appealing to they goodwill.
Rover 414 Sli 1990 'H' - just had the headgasket replaced for the 2nd time at 102K miles including skim, new oil, new cam belt and thermostat. Now 600 miles after the repair at 70 mph speed runs the oil light flickers on/off when I come to a stop or changing down in the gears - I can get it to go out at tickover by throtling up the tick over to about 950/1000rpm. Any ideas please as to what is the cause? - I did think that it may be still gummed up with some mayonaise that is obstructing the oil flows. Read more
I've now changed the oil filter and I put back in the 'new' oil. After a 20 mile run there is no hint of the oil light coming opn at all so fingers crossed that I might have solved it.
Browse
PG - when it comes to guarding their adored vehicles, just about everyone has an evil streak - and there's no better way of showing how rules for oneself are different from the rest. There's no easy answer to the problem of the space cars take up when their owners aren't driving them (or when they are, for that matter).
The Englishperson's castle has now spread to include his/her car, but unfortunately parking space for it isn't seen as part of the bargain. I think the point has now been reached in most towns where cars take up so much public space that anyone who decides to buy another 10 cubic metres of plastic and metal should be able to show that it won't be an obstruction.