July 2007
A friend recently got caught by a speed camera. His fault maybe? The crime was driving about ~3 m.p.h. over the speed limit on a deserted urban dual carriageway where the limit had been reduced from 40 to 30 by extending the 30 m.p.h. zone outwards. However he could have committed far more serious offences such as ignoring traffic lights, ignoring pedestrian crossings, etc. How? By riding a bicycle!
A growing number of cyclists (the majority in fact) now ignore the Highway Code, and endanger themselves and others. Why nothing is done is beyond me. This behaviour could soon be eradicated if those with driving licences received penalty points and those without were made to sit their Cycling Proficiency Test. Those who refuse to give their details could have their bicycles confiscated and crushed.
Do you agree or?
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Hi all,
I have a pug 206, 1.4 hdi and recently i ran out of fuel; yep was being lazy and tried to squeeze too much out of her.
Since then however, my engine management warning light has constantly been on and ive no idea why.
Can this light come on as a result of running out of fuel?? Or could some other sensor have triggered that causes the light to be on.
I know i should try find out the error code; but I just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas or have experienced this before.
TIA.
Matt.
{Slight tweak to header to include car details - DD} Read more
Probably linked with running out of fuel - some sensor returning a reading that's made the ECU have a fit. Get the code read, and the light reset by an independent garage. HDI's are economical, but even the French haven't yet made a diesel engine that's happy running on fresh air! ;-)
Sounds like a right mess
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/6294512...m
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Not all "accidents" transpire to be completely accidental viz. the Land Rover and trailer that left the motorway and caused a huge train crash.
Oooo...that's a can of worms! Define 'accidental'? I don't think they came up with a specific cause in the case mentioned, so surely that was an accident? If the initial departure from the carriageway hadn't resulted in a train crashing we'd have never have heard about it - is that fair?
On one of those Police programs, repeated every few weeks it seems, there was the very sad case of the girl killed on the M3 by a truck crashing into the back of a queue of traffic. There was a huge investigation yet the facts were clear - the truck didn't stop. Difficult to deny. Exactly why it happened is pretty irrelevant, surely?
I am going to buy one or the other diesal,does anybody have any recommendations regarding which of the two is the best re reliability,features and trim.
Thanks in advance
Shula Read more
On my A31/M27/M3 daily commute I'd say Notes outnumber Modus(Modii?) about 4:1, they seem to becoming more common.
I know I've touched on this subject before, but is it really necessary to let an Impreza idle for a long period before driving off? I first noticed it when one of my neighbours acquired one and he used to allow it to idle for 10 minutes or more. Another neighbour has now also got one and he allows his to idle for some time, although admittedly not for as long as the other neighbour. I can't see the point of having an Impreza for everyday use if you have to do that. If I started my car at the same time as these neighbours I'd be long gone by the time they got to drive off, so their power advantage would be completely wasted.
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L\'escargot. Read more
I do try and let my 1.9TD ZX idle a minute or so before turning off. Sometimes I get back late and the neighbours probably hear the noise, but that's life I suppose - I have to live with their barking dog so they'll have to live with my engine idle.
The problem I have is that I live on a 40mph busy main road (average speed: 50...). I usually have to accelerate quite hard in to a gap in traffic to get out of the drive. I am a bit stuck really then, as I don't have much choice but to use the Turbo just after turning the engine on. I do keep off of the power, after that, until the engine has warmed up.
It just goes to prove what a great bunch of guys (and girls) make up the classic car fraternity.
No longer should they be tarnished with the "beardy-weirdy" brush; they can stand proud as warm-hearted car lovers.
Nice one!
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Colin-E
Leaving out the skill/conscientiousness of the tyre fitter and the particular machine that the wheel was balanced on, is tyre balancing carried out to the same standard/accuracy regardless of the potential top speed of the vehicle?
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L\'escargot. Read more
In the 1960s the car was raised at the front on a jack. The wheel was then spun up to speed by pressing a rotating roller up to the tyre. How is it "a little different now"? Please describe the procedure.
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L\'escargot.
Hi guys. I'm new to the forum. Just bought myself a 2000 (W) Ford Focus 1.8l petrol Ghia. I'm thinking of upgrading the dash (cheaply) with something like this:-
tinyurl.com/2u2pxv {Link to an item on ebay shortened to restore page width back to normal - DD}
Anybody have any idea how difficult it would be to fit? I know nothing about cars so would I be biting off more than I can chew and what would the dangers be of trying to fit something like that?
Cheers in advance! :o) Read more
Thanks. Very helpful! :o)
Sort of following on from the ANPR thread, just wondering why the author of one of those, '101 things to do to avoid prosecution by Traffic Police' mentions NOT having your licience/docs on you, if you were to be pulled, on a roadside check.
All I can think, is that the officer would be more inclined to present you with an order to produce, at the Police station, so making it more hassle, for yourself. Unless the thought was the officer would simply, let you go. But if you've commited a minor transgression, I'd still expect a 'producer'.
DVD, one for you, perhaps!
VB
{Slight amendment to header - DD} Read more
Scotty
Like you years ago I used to get flagged down on my Tiger 110 by beat bobby two or three time a week who wanted to see licence and insurance but one night it was tipping down so I said no ain't got em - I heard a bit of swearing under his breath and out came the official book which he filled in for me to do a produce - Yes!!!!- I thought- it causes them hassle if I ain't got it and have never carried it since - if they can be bothered to stop me they can do all the paperwork. - in all my life on road I have always had all papers.
Just spent a very enjoyable day at the Great Yorkshire Show, despite tales of some visitors taking 4 hours to get there from 30 miles away our 20 mile trip took about 10 minutes longer than usual.
A motorshow forms part of the show and it was a chance to see some newly released models.
smart - so new the demo on display was German. Much more grown up with a less 'funky' interior. Car is slightly longer, but more noticeable is the increase in width. Dash totally redesigned.
Fiat Bravo - looks like a slightly larger Grande Punto.
Daihatsu Materia - If you like the Nissan Cube this is for you with no grey import problems - I think it's hideous!
For Christmas I'd like a commercial mulcher to attach to a John Deere and 10,000 acres of forest to go at. The demo of this thing showed it taking 6 10 foot length telegraph pole diameter trunks at a time and turning them to pulp in seconds!! All I could think about was why James Bond has never been dangled over one by his arch enemy!!!
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The new Bravo looks fantastic in the right colour. The Fiat dealer round the corner from me has one in metallic red, which suits the shape perfectly. It has sparkly red-on-black upholstery too, and red stitching on the gear lever and steering wheel. The larger of the junior Beests was forthright in his approval when we paused there on the way back from school the other day.
There's another Bravo there in Dithery Silver, though, which just looks dull.
Browse
"A bicycle can be a very safe means of making short urban or suburban journeys, but only if it can use footpaths and alleyways"
As someone who was run into by a a youth on a bike on a public footpath and sustained a cut in my leg requiring a trip to casualty and needing six stitches I think I can answer the question "why are not not bicycles allowed on public footpaths?"
I'm afaid I'm with the nasty old man on this one