March 2004
Just done the 40,000 miles plug change my '97 model. I have removed some OEM motorcraft AYRF22P Platinum and replaced with some AYFS22C supplied by a ford dealer as being correct for a fiesta 1.25.
The oweners manual specifies AYRF22P.
As they are different to the OEM ones I wonder if anyone "in the know" could cross check the new number to confirm they are correct? They look like a "coooler" plug as the insulator is shorter.
Many thanks in advance. Read more
Anyone know the AI well just north of Berwick-Upon-Tweed? Thinking in particular about where it runs close to the coast and village of Burnmouth.
I've not driven this stretch for 10yrs plus and just can't remember it.
Is the traffic heavy in July/Aug and does it dominate the locality? Thinking of a holiday property there but the A1, railway, village and coast all look squashed together in a very narrow area.
Also...For years now we've crossed the country from the A1 over to Kendal, and headed into SW Scotland. What is the A1 like North of Scotch Corner like on a Friday these days?
Thanks,
M.M Read more
Now hadaway yer booger ma Mapmaker!
Alright I agree that the good people of Alnwick are Northumbrians but the good people of Newcastle are Geordies and as far as I'm concerned thats South Northumberland ( Don't let this Tyne and Wear rubbish fool you - Newcastle and Sunderland are two different tribes!).
MM - The MM kids would love the beach at Alnmouth and the Castles at Dunstanborough and Bamburgh and the Priory and Castle on Lindisfarne. And of course Hadrians Wall.
You and Mrs MM may care to try the glorious Craster Kippers, bangers fron the butcher in Bamburgh ( finest in the country IMO) and the Lindisfarne Mead.
Beware of the tides at Lindisfarne - I've seen too many cars full of seawater at the local garage to know that its not worth the risk!
Why do the front wheels get so much dirtier than the rear wheels?
(no prizes for guessing who cleaned the car yesterday) Read more
EBC greenstuff pads are meant to be good for dust-free performance. Personally I like my brakes to really stop the car, so live with a bit more dust and a bit of squealing from time to time and use Ferodo DS2500. If I had false teeth they would have gone through the screen, the way these babies pull your car up. Mind you, I have to put copperslip on the back of the pads about every 4,000 miles or live with the sound of a tortured cat each time I brake at low speeds.
tip: Once you have got your wheels all lovely and shiny, put a long-lasting car polish on them. The wheels will clean up a lot easier next time as the dust doesn't adhere so readily.
My father is 79 and had a mild heart attack before Christmas. His insurance is up for renewel and he should obviously mention his heart problems, but is fearful that they will refuse to renew. He lives in the middle of nowhere in Mid Wales, miles from public transport. What should he do? Read more
He must notify relevant facts but I'm sure he'll find that a company like Saga will be sympathetic to his plight if no one else.
My Father in Law was 87 when he died and had had heart problems and he was insured with Saga.
What worries me is that they keep sending me their magazine with special offers on Cardigans and Slippers!
... on a cold and frosty morning to clear windsceen etc. Get a kettle - or other container - of MODERATELY WARM and pour over front and rear screens, side windows and mirrors. Start engine, wipe screen and go.
Quick, convenient and safe too - the water heats up the glass and prevents misting. Simple. Read more
"car pre-heaters"
Best thing I can think of to preserve engine life, which presumably is why most manufacturers don't offer them...
Idles on 3 cylinders.
Uses 1 litre oil per 100 miles - spitting it out through the exhaust pipe, leaving a nice oily smudge if the car is parked somewhere.
I know what I think is wrong - what do you BRers think?
MOT\'d last Wednesday. Is it really possible that the emissions test could have been passed with all that rubbish coming through the exhaust pipe? Or was the MOT tester too \'friendly\'? He did apparently have to up the idle rate to 1250 rpm from the specificed 700 to get it to pass. Read more
Haven't changed oil (and the rate at which it disappears out the back, would be thinking of going to buy some second hand oil from Kwik fit).
ND - thanks for helpful observation, but there's not actually any smoke.
Not going to be checking for pressure in emission control pipes just in the next few days, unfortunately.
But seriously, would it really have got through an emissions test whilst spitting out this rubbish?
My brother-in-law runs a 2001 VW Bora. His wife took it in for a service recently and there is an item on the bill; "Replace leaking rear axle suspension bushes". Are these bushes fluid filled? Is it a known issue? Last time I had anything to do with suspension bushes was on a Triumph Toledo 20 years ago.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land Read more
Why can?t I? It seems wherever I have to steer or brake there?s a non-skid road surface to help me. To get me to ?behave? at junctions there are traffic islands, road markings and traffic signals, maybe together tending further towards confusion than helpfulness*. There are speed bumps everywhere, even in car parks ? is there a big accident risk there, then? And to force me to concentrate on my speed, as opposed to traffic conditions and the antics of pedestrians, there?s a proliferation of cameras.
Part of the satisfaction ? enjoyment even ? of motoring is the exercise of judgment, of speed, positioning, acceleration, deceleration and behaviour. But the ability to do that is disappearing fast. We?re not allowed to think for ourselves. In the relentless pursuit of safety the authorities are determined to minimise as much risk as possible. How practical is this? Where will it all end? How much will it cost?
*Re confusing ? even dangerous ? re-engineered junctions, anyone familiar with where the road to Cassington joins the A40 west of Oxford? Lanes and lights all over the place. Approach that lot at night and it?s a profusion of red and green lights. For drivers new to it a nightmare, ?Which signal applies to me? Where should I be?? And it causes big traffic jams. The designer should be demoted to cycle tracks. Or pramways.
Read more
I could have done with some shellgrip or similar on Sunday. As I exited a roundabout I found a large patch of diesel. I was in the fwd cavalier so left foot braked the back end out, opposite locked and smoothly pulled out of the slide.
Coming towards me at the time were two jam sandwiches!!!
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I read often, only post occasionally
A friend (honest) quite literally nudged a vehicle in front at a junction and he says that the impact speed was less than 5mph.
He stopped his vehicle and gave the other (lone) driver his name and registration mark - not insurance details or address. However, the other driver was using insulting behaviour and words and would not calm down to exchange details further. My friend left the scene.
The car in front was fitted with a towbar and the only reported damage was to the number plate on my friend's car. No injuries reported from either party.
My friend has now received a letter from the local police requesting details of the driver in relation to an alleged offence of careless driving / failing to stop.
Question:
My understanding of s.170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is that there is no legal obligation to stop, give any information to any person or report any incident to the police follwowing a collision with a vehicle and there is no damage to that vehicle or no injury to any occupant of that vehicle or my vehicle other than myself.
Is this right?
Careless driving could be a sticky point if the matter proceeds. Is the whole thing just a formality Read more
S 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 (Damage only accidents)
If owing to the presence of a m /vehicle on a road an accident occurs whereby Damage is caused to another vehicle, the driver shall stop and IF REQUESTED to do so give his name and address and that of the owner of the vehicle and particulars of the vehicle to any person having grounds for requiring these details (obviously the other driver).
If he doesn't do so, the driver must as soon as practicable and in any case within 24 hours report to the Police.
On the premis that both vehicles were damaged then your friend gave details at the scene and from what you say the other driver did not do so but seemingly has covered his tracks by reporting to the Police giving you friends details. Both drives seemed to have complied with the law.
Running into the back of the vehicle in front is generally driving without due care and attention.(S 3 RTA 88) As to whether proceedings are taken will depend on the amount and quality of the evidence that Plod comes up with. Plod has asked your friend for drivers details and he will have to comply otherwise an offence is committed.
DVD
I had insurance from 93-2000 and had a letter stating I had 6 years NCD June 2000. I then had a company car until now. The only 'accident' I've had was Nov 2003 when I clipped wing mirrors with an oncoming vehicle (narrow lane at night), the other car didn't stop, and my employers placed an insurance claim for the £130 repair bill. I'm now getting my own car, and insurance companies wont give me any NCD, and most of the quotes I'm getting for an Xsara HDI are £920-£2000+.
Are there any companies that will recognise my NCD from 3.5 years ago.
It seems that because I've broken a wing mirror, that the previous 10 years of accident free driving don't count, which to me seems ridiculous. Read more
Take my word for it: I work in financial services. (No
need to send me hate mail - I'm not an 'adviser'.)
Not another one! We're getting thick as flys in here.
No Dosh, moderator and part-time Compliance Consultant.
Browse
Yes...1.3mm...that's what he said...?
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....