April 2005
I wonder if the combined brains here can answer a question, raised today when a friend, on the edge of tears, called me, having just been stopped and harassed by the police.
She says that she was told it is now mandatory to carry your driving licence with you at all times. I gather the officer who told her this was a great deal less than pleasant about it, too.
She frequently doesn't carry her licence, it appears and I hardly ever do, seeming to recall that the only requirement is that a valid licence has to be produced within seven days.
Has the law been changed? Was it ever as she and I recall it?
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A suitable campaigning site has started here:
www.open-road.org.uk/
A lot of the schemes suggested sound emminently sensible.
teabelly Read more
Top tip from Thommo. In Aberdeen make sure any taxi you get in has a sign on top, when ordering one specify a sign on top. Some have them some don't, the ones that do can use the bus lanes and traffic in Aberdeen (except in the bus lanes) is nearly always at a stand still.
Hi there,
I have a "simple" problem with the back wiper on my Rover 220SD (1997), it just runs continuously, it never stops (that was until I disconnected it). I was told it was probably the relay that was faulty. But where is it located on a ROVER 220SD so I can change it.
Thanks in advance for your help ! Read more
As an update.On my 200 the wiper motor had burned out through water ingress.The relay was also U S due to leak from rear light cluster..And if you havent found relay yet (may be different on yours)Its located behind rear O/S light cluster should be a green box..Fiddly to remove though.Ie remove panel to lamp cluster- relay is mounted on bracket bolted to cluster...
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Steve
Previously, I have for the last four or five years, taken my car(s) to a "while you wait" testing station, who always allowed me two weeks to make any repairs required, then take it back, have the work checked, and then issue me with a certificate with no extra charge over and above the standard test fee.
Today, I thought rather than take my chance with the possibility of up to a two or thereabouts hours wait at the above mentioned station, I would go to my local garage and leave it (for the day seems the norm). It has failed on some drop links. When I was about to take it away for repair I was informed that if I made the repairs myself , that I would have to pay a re-test fee again, or alternatively pay their going rate and leave it with them.
Therefore my question is, are they allowed to do this, and does that mean that the "while you wait" station were not charging for re-test out of the goodness of their hearts?
Yours, a perturbed and out of pocket Reggie Read more
Moving ever so slightly back to the original topic, New Zealand has had an on-line system for the equivalent of MOT and Tax for some time. I recently had an accredited garage test one of my cars. When the (every six months) test was complete, he used a dial-up (I think) modem and logged into the government site. He entered the vehicle registration number, then added the necessary details, received a reference number and logged off. He filled out the test form with the reference, applied the sticker inside the windscreen, handed me the duplicate copy of the test form for my records. Here we show an MOT sticker with punched hole for the month, and a computer-printed registration (tax) label as well. I was then able to go to another vehicle testing station, or a post office, that had the facility to process vehicle registrations (tax). They accessed the car's record, saw that an MOT had been issued, and allowed me to pay the tax. I could have had it all done at the vehicle testing station, but I like to support the friendly and helpful small businessman. All testing facilities allow a free retest within 28 days. Apart from the obvious difference in scale, there seems to be no reason why such a system cannot be used in the UK.
I've just done a search for parking aids. Thinking that it would enable me to park better, easier and safer. I know what some are thinking - I've read the posts. But, I can park my car well, manouver it easily (power steering) and I do know where it's corners are (405 estate). However I find it increasingly difficult to judge where the other cars bonnet ends, some of todays designs with a steeply raked bonnet on a small car means I can't see the end of it in any of my mirrors when I'm in line with them.
So I guess I will be buying a kit. I wish some drivers would do the same instead of reversing into other vehicles. I also wish these people were encouraged to instead of being ridiculed. Much cheaper for me than a new headlight/bumper/number plate/etc.
Off to Ebay for a kit!
Steve. Read more
got a chinese one from ebay. around £40 for a 4 sensor with lickle tv screen to put in car.
its great, you can get halfords bumper spray and it is perfect match for my grey/dark brown bumper on megane s tourer.
make sure you spray around 4-5 very thin coats, leaving 20 mins to dry.
i used an old cornflake box with 4 holes in and poked them thru holes so i could spray around edges of sensors too.
was worried they wouldnt work after, but they work great.
CBS news item from 05 April
In the USA, the latest ANPR units operate from a moving car with a laptop on the passengers lap.
The operators cruise the streets to identify cars whose owner has an outstanding fine, even a library ticket.
Once a target is identified they strip the plate off, clamp it and it is then towed away.
Surprise, surprise, there are larger queues to pay outstanding fines.
Is this likely to happen here? Read more
Fascinating as some of this is, can we make sure we stick to motoring /ANPR related posts please?
Cheers
No Do$h - Alfa-driving Backroom Moderator
mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk
My 1995 210,000 mile ZX TD Estate has developed a light knock in the front suspension. It's almost a rattle rather than a knock, in fact, it's that light. The noise is triggered when the front wheels run over a slight road surface imperfection - it doesn't happen when the suspension deflection is greater. It doesn't seem to happen when the car is heeling over in a bend, either.
Could this be the antirollbar bushes? I know the rollbar links are prone to go on these cars but I've had these done and it's made no difference. If it is the ARB bushes are they expensive/difficult to replace?
Any help appreciated. Read more
check your wishbone bushes (front O-bush and rear p-bush) for wear and tear. If worn, easier to replace the whole wishbone (about 40 quid each). You may also want to check your bearings sandwiched between the front suspension strut and chassis.
Hi all,
Hope someone out there can give me some advice!
I own a Mazda 323F Shiraz on a 99/T plate. It's running fine, no problems, I took it in recently for the 54k service (even though it's only done 46k) and I was told that the timing belt/tensioner change happens upon certain mileages with Mazda, rather than over a timescale. Is this a wise move to sit and wait until it's done 54k and take it in for a new belt then, or should I get it done now? I don't particularly want to shell out for one if I don't need it yet, but I don't want the timing belt to break and cause costly damage to the engine as a result! The car used to belong to my Mum who would drive about 2 5-mile trips per day - my use is more intensive, it's doing about 20 miles per day and I took ownership after around 39k... just wondered if use is a factor in the wear of the car.
Nice car, but it costs an arm & a leg to service! 54k service= £300+ They also quoted me £500 to replace the rear shocks (very slight leak - not enough to fail its MOT) and the front brakediscs (slightly corroded - again, not enough to fail its MOT). Am I being stitched up? Is it worth looking to get the shocks & brakediscs elsewhere or is it best to stay with the Mazda garage?
Thanks all
Si
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Just had my Cambelt done on mine( 51 plate 96k) this is the second belt change on the car done early, as many people have pointed out, I would rather pay the £185 it cost me at my excellent local independant, than run the risk of having to buy a new engine, however as you can see I do a lot of miles and mostly on the motorway. Again if you can find a GOOD independant, things are usually a lot cheaper. BTW, fantastic car.
Can anyone tell me why drivers of ANY diesel vehicle seem to have a penchant for leaving their engine idling for long periods ?
I am a diesel car driver myself and I've never been able to understand why people switch petrols off as soon as they stop for any reason whereas the diesel is left idling perhaps as some form of comfort blanket ! Read more
I actually read that in the REDLINE magazine some years ago!
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
Anyone know a place that scraps cars for free in the Guildford area?
Free cup of tea at Blackbushe for the information provider... Read more
Milk with no sugar please Thommo.
I was actually quite impressed with the Guildford council initiative having had a case of car arson where I lived previously in Surrey.
One Saturday afternoon a carload of scroats robbed an off licence and came down our road on their way to the local council estate, lost control and smashed car up , leaving it with wheels awry, lights blazing and petrol leaking they ran off down the road.
It was a very obvious candidate for the match in the tank.
Despite our requests to the police and council the car was left like this until at 3 am Sunday we were awoken by an explosion and fire which took most of neighbours hedge as well . The local brigade took 3 hours to sort it out.
So why can't other councils follow Guildfords lead.
Browse
As has been said there is no actual requirement to carry it with you, the only requirement is that you can "produce" the relevent documents upon demand. Hence the issue of the "7 day wonder". Sounds yet again like more of our wonderful boys in blue are thinking that they are the law rather then there to enforce the law.
I have a real problem with the patronising attitude of the majority of the poilce, I have on occasion walked off from them and told them that unless they can talk to me in a civil manor then I will not speak to them. They are getting more bulshy as time goes on.