July 2006
From the BBC News website...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5170898.stm
"Wheelclamping for only the most persistent offenders
More transparency and information for road users
Dedicated training for those involved in civil parking enforcement
A more motorist-friendly appeals process
More powers for independent adjudicators when procedures have not been followed properly
Regular reviews of parking policies by local authorities
Persistent parking offenders targeted through a national database
The proposals, which affect England only, are expected to come in by the middle of next year. "
Will be interesting to see how it develops... doesn't mention "towing away" though.
Tim{P} Read more
Can anyone help, I have a 1999 1.8 petrol ford focus,and on almost every journey i intimitantly lose my speedo reading, thus resulting in a noticable loss of engine performance, if anyone has expirenced this problem before i would be very grateful for their advice, thanks jason.
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Jason
Failure of the gearbox-mounted speed sensor is pretty common on these. Although they're not exorbitantly priced; they're often seized-in and changing them can be a source of deep joy.
Just been watching French TV (LCI news channel) and had a giggle at two English lads stopped by the Gendarmes near Bethune,France. They got caught at 190 and 250 Km/h in a Ferrari Modena
and Porsche 911 during an organised "Cannonball Run" from the UK to Italy. The LCI chain claims that the Kent Police tipped-off the Gendarmes who set-up the speed traps with helicopter back-up. They've been sent before a French judge in Bethune fined, cars confiscated (Yes £200.000 worth) and received 3 month suspended prison sentence. I think i'll stick with my PS2... Read more
I have tried watching these programmes before, but can't stand the idiots who participate!
The only one that was OK, all the cars had to be 1.5 litre (or something like that) or less, and over 10 years old.
So were the cars confiscated permanently?
Hi there,
my elderly 1989 celica (2.0 16v) has started making a nasty noise- it sounds like somone hammering metal in time with the revs. it is worst on startup or harsh acceleration. it hasn't ran hot- all the fluid levels appear to be ok- oil presure (by the guage) is normal-
any ideas?
recently had a new head gasket and radiator if this matters
could it be tappets/rockers?
Ta
Dan Read more
I go along with Pete sounds very much like big ends.
i have recently bought a 2003 renault kangoo van from a dealer. it has a factory fitted cd player which has annoyingly started skipping, i have tried cleaning it with a lense cleaner but it hasnt helped and it is not covered by the warrenty. i wouldn,t mind if i could just by a cheap replacement one but it has a dash monted display and steering column controls so would be a real pain to fit. any suggestions? Read more
I would agree,had trouble with my domestic player,lens cleaner did nothing,took the case off and cleaned the lens properly and it has been fine.
I have a 2000 W Reg Golf 1.6SE and have been having constant problems with the Emissions warning light coming on for a couple of days then going out for a couple. The light is amber and doesn't blink. It has come on when the car has been stalled on a couple of occassions, but also when the car seems to be running fine. The only other symptom seems to be a occasional slight misfiring.
The problem has been happening since VW put a new speed sensor in. Although I don't know if this is related.
I have had the throttle body cleaned, but the light has still come on again. VW told me I would need a new throttle body, but I'm not convinced that this will solve the problem.
Does anyone have any ideas??? Read more
thanks for your suggestion edward, will check this out
i am looking to buy a rover 25 2001 it looks and drives fine and has recently had a new gasket skim radiator etc the only thing that concerns me is that it states on the M.O.T advisory notes that "Metal PAS pipes to rack are coroded" does anybody know how much this part would cost to replace and the price of fitting etc (is it a big job?)
any advice greatly appreciated Read more
To many people have their head in the clouds when it comes to Rover some nostalga thing hence the silly money punters are paying for 3 year old just registered cars.Put a good safe distance between yourself and and any suspect Rover. There are thousands of GOOD used cars out in the world ask yourself why on earth would I want a dodgy Rover
Has anyone had trouble with Avon ZZ3? Despite always maintaining the pressures within recommended limits my 215/55 ZR16 (on a volvo S80 for 12000 miles) are badly worn on the inner and outer edges of both front wheels. The centre 50% of tread is like new and a straight edge across the tread reveals a hollow centre.
Has anyone managed to get good tyre life on the S80 from other makes of tyre? Safety, low noise and long life are my main priorities.
thank you. Read more
I have a similar issue with load rating. On my Saab TiD I have 205/50/16's, all the major manufacturers only make these tyres in 87 load index, but Saab owners recommend 91 load index, which is fine if you've got 17" wheels, but mine are 16's. With 87 load index the outer edges of front tyres wears prematurely. To try to combat this I now put 5 psi extra pressure in them, which seems to be helping marginally. The standard manufacturer figure is 33psi, the figure for max. load/ high speed is 41psi, so I put 38psi in mine.
On my 60,000 mile S80 2.9 at the first gearchange on any journey from engine off (whether hot or cold) just after the box has changed up to second gear there is a slight grating noise. Any suggestions welcomed. Read more
We hear a lot on here about truck drivers and the fact that they often sit alongside other trucks for miles overtaking with little difference in speed. Well, I had the displeasure of driving a minibus (full of kids) from Midlands to Snowdonia and back over the weekend. It was limited to 62 mph and, though obviously I didn't want to be driving at daft speeds with a load of kids on board, it made every overtaking manoeuvre a real challenge. Gone was the look in mirror, indicate, put foot down a bit, overtake, pull in, - instead it was, look in mirror, think "how long will it take me to get past, will I be stuck in middle lane for several miles holding up traffic? I'm doing 62, truck is doing 60, will I ever get past him, is it worth even trying to get past or should I just sit behind him? If I pull out, put my foot down and hit the wall at 62, will I hold up that car coming up behind? What if there is an uphill stretch ahead which he goes up better than me?
Any thought of overtaking on ordinary roads (there are a lot between Midlands and Snowdonia) was completely out of the question. Suddenly you realise how many car drivers go along the inside lane of motorways at 58-60 mph and present a major challenge to get past (especially on busy M6 or 2-lane M54) and how many Rover drivers proceed along the A5 at 30 mph, slowing whenever there is an oncoming vehicle or bend 800 metres ahead but you don't have the power or speed to get past.
In the end you have to be very, very patient and think of those in the back and their safety - give up overtaking and forget how in your own car you could effect a swift and safe manoeuvre.
So, truck drivers, in future when I come up behind a "rolling road block" of 2 trucks on the motorway, instead of my opprobrium, you have my sympathy!
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Phil Read more
>>Anyway, it's been nice talking to you.
Glad we can disagree and still remain friendly about it.
By the way I do try my bit at going green, today I cycled to work rather than using the car.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
Browse
Point 20 of the consultation suggests that instead of the current rule whereby you can be clamped 15 minutes after being ticketed, it should be 60 minutes.
Sounds like another step in the right direction, but not far enough. I think it would be fairer to say two or three hours for some cases, and a lot more for others.