April 2006
My son, travelling on his motorbike with a friend riding behind him (also on his own bike), pulled into the middle lane of motorway to let cars on the slip road easier access. Friend did the same but didn't notice that my son had eased of the accelerator. He braked hard to avoid colliding into the back & as a result dropped his bike resulting in a couple of broken bones in his foot.
Although police (they were passing) said no case for my son to answer the rider of the other bike is now saying that he is going to claim against my son for damage to his bike and leathers calining that my son was negligent in that he didn't make allowances for the person travelling behind him!!!
I know what the answer is but am curios to see others thoughts on this.......Many thanks Read more
My mk3 golf regulary crunches into reverse. Not all the time, but especially when on a slight hill when I park. I get the dreaded crunch, and of course it really does sound unhealthy but I was wondering if it actually does much harm to the gearbox?
Why does it actually make that noise actually??
Many thanks Read more
My mk3 golf regulary crunches into reverse. Not all the time,
but especially when on a slight hill when I park. I
get the dreaded crunch, and of course it really does sound
unhealthy but I was wondering if it actually does much harm
to the gearbox?
Crunching gears wears off bits of metal, so you get whatever effect wearing the parts makes and also the swarf produced won't do the rest of the gearbox any good.
--
L\'escargot.
Just saw this advice on Canadiandriver.com for avoiding damage when hitting potholes.
I thought it worth sharing with condition of UK roads especially after winter. Apparently it originates from Ford.
Pay attention to tire pressure. Keeping tire pressure at the manufacturer's recommendation will help protect your vehicle's wheels and tires from being damaged by potholes. Tire pressure varies from vehicle to vehicle and from season to season.
If safe, don't swerve to avoid potholes. Swerving can create a situation where the front wheel and tire on the car can hit the edge of the pothole at an obtuse angle, which might do more damage than hitting it squarely.
If safe, don't brake for a pothole. Heavy braking compresses the front suspension of the car and will have a tendency to force the tire and wheel down fully into the pothole, potentially causing greater damage.
Reduce speed if you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance. If you can't avoid the pothole and suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged from it, immediately reduce your speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road to check for damage.
If you do get a flat, drive slowly to the closest safe area out of the way of traffic. While this may further damage the tire, it is not as important as your safety.
Read more
Thommo.Hope you send the bill to the Highways agency/Surrey council.
My local Total filling station has just started selling a new fuel - Total Excellium. It is rated at 97RON and the leaflet states that it contains unique detergents.
I appreciate it may be a bit too early to say but does anyone have any views on this fuel as it does not appear in the list of fuels in the FAQs.
Currently I travel a little further to fill up on Optimax but would be grateful of advice if anyone knows anything.
Please do not give advice on: all fuels are the same and I should just use supermarket petrol - you will sound like my father-in-law - and he only half fills his car because a full tank weighs more and reduces his fuel consumption !!!! Read more
One of the chemists working on the project claimed that, in
his experience, supermarket fuels sold in France at the time were
~10% cheaper than premium fuels such as this green diesel, but
offered ~15% lower MPG. The green diesel I'm referring to
wasn't on sale at the time, so I don't think his
judgement was clouded by any sense of a job well done
on his part.
This is exactly what I have just found, a tankfull of French supermarket fuel in my car dropped my fuel consumption to 46-47 mpg from a clear 50-51 mpg previously on quality UK Shell diesel.
Anyone ever had a dealer take in a classic car as trade in?
Just wondering if anyone ever has? Clearly it's not a common thing to do.
Also depends on the what the classic is, anyone got any examples? Read more
My Brother traded his 77 Ferarri GT4 against a 4 Y/O TVR Chimera but the dealer made plenty of enquiries with other specialist dealers before selling it on imediatly
My g/f drove home with a 'funny noise' coming from the brakes. In the morning I had a look ad driver side...disc worn but drivable to garege (I thought) till I looked at passenger side.
The disc is the twin vented type and one half has completely sheared off. After I'd recovered from the shock of what 'could' have happened...I find out that it hasn't been serviced in the 18 months since she'd owned it...although Peugeot had fitted a new g/box 6 months ago. I fancy having a go at doing this job myself as it would otherwise be a suspended tow to a garage. My question is this:.
How difficult would it be to do (I can do both sides of my '96 fiesta in 35 to 40 mins) but suspect that these brakes are technologically more complex.
Also...are there likely to be problems with ABS sensors?
Hope someone can advise as I don't want to start what I can't finish
Many thanks
Gareth Read more
Most people don't realize how cheap modern discs are and carry on until their current ones are unsafe-discs can usually be changed as quick as pads.
Anyone had any direct experience or know who is behind them? They've come out cheapest on confused.com but I don't want false economy. Thanks Read more
My faith in confused.com has been eroded this last couple of days. I'm looking for insurance and entered details on confused.com and moneysupermarket. The results were duly returned but when I compare the lists some of the best prices listed on moneysupermarket came back from confused that they woudn't quote due to my circumstances. My current insurer was down on both lists as refusing to quote due to circumstances, but I have the renewal notice at home.
I went to a couple of the non providers and quotes were no problem to obtain.
Is it a case of 'he who pays the piper calls the tune'?
I am thinking about buying a second car,details:
August 04
Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 A/T V8 5.4 Litre
2,000 Klms
Used occasionally during visits. The car is parket under cover and engine started every 2weeks with A/C operating etc for a good half hour. Last time it was moved was january this year.
It was serviced 1000Km and 1500Km and last December 05 (oil/filter change)
I believe the Klms to be genuine as it is an Expat who bought the car then had to relocate.He is now trying to cut his losses.The car was approx 25/26K new and i was thinking of offering 15/16K.
I know virtually nothing about V8's and A/T and the effects of such a low milage over 20 months could have.Any advice would be welcome.
I am budgeting for new tyres/discs/full service but wonder if there are any other items which may need attention.
Thanks for any replies,
Estrada
Read more
The brake discs may be very rusty and in need of replacement (together with the pads) but if you buy the vehicle it would be worth running it for a while to see how good they clean up with use before deciding what to do about them. I don't suppose you need telling to drive with caution until you know what the brakes are like!
--
L\'escargot.
Hi,
My Xantia 1.9TD engine has just started running on after I sprung an LHM leak fron a hydraulic pipe and it covered the engine bay. I've fixed the pipe but it runs on every time now for quite a while before I can stop it, so it's possible that the cutoff solenoid is being shorted by fluid or I've disturbed the wiring. (the engine stops after some turning the ignition on and off.)
Where is the cutoff solenoid located so that I can investigate the cause? My local shop has a manual on order but it's out of stock at their suppliers at the moment so any help would be appreciated.
I must point out that this problem did not occur before the leak.
Thanks
Keith
Read more
It would appear that it was LHM fluid in the air intake and it now stops when I turn off the ignition. I never even considered that possibility before your suggestion. Thanks again. One more thing sorted out.
Keith
Near miss seen this morning:-
Cyclist waiting to turn right from side road to go north on ordinary two lane street which is clear northbound. Southbound traffic comprises a Jag XJ stopped at a zebra crossing. Fifty metres south of side road traffic is stationery queued to lights.
Cyclist moves out, as he emerges Jag accelerates sharply from cleared zebra crossing and misses cyclist by inches before braking hard to join back of queue for lights.
If he’d hit the cyclist whose fault would it have been?
Read more
Who cares? The police wouldn't bother to prosecute in either case.
Browse
If your son's friend has told you and your son that, then as oldman suggests, it's time to end the friendship, as friends shouldn't lie to one another, and if they do, shouldn't be trusted.