August 2007
Hi
Can the UK police / DVLA pursue speeding tickets from 'safety cameras' when they flash a car from another EU country?
Are they able to hold a driver until they pay a fine like the french if plod pulls them in person?
I am specifically thinking of a German reg car.
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Hi
I have a bespoke system on my car which by-passes the manufacturer's headlight switch in order to resolve a full beam switching problem.
The problem I have is that after implementing the system I find the full beam switch becomes dirty very quickly and will not operate on first attempt. The switch is wired up at 5v to a high impedence microcontroller input with a 10k resistor to ground.
My question is what do I need to increase to resolve this problem? Do I increase voltage (i.e. back to 12v), current (i.e. to that it would have seen from a relay coil), or power (i.e. current change taking into account the 5v not 12v)?
Any suggestions welcome.
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Mike Farrow Read more
Mike, I'm assuming that the car maker's switch is controlling your microcontroller using a 5V supply with a 10k pull down resistor so the switch current is 0.5 mA.
Two things:
Don't control safety essential lights with a system containing so many elements and in your case, software. You are asking to be plunged into darkness at any time.
You are passing a contact "wetting" current of only 0.5 mA through a car dipswitch which is designed to handle (on cars without relays) several amperes. Car manufacturers are not charitable organisations and don't fit precious metal contacts - they rely on a good dose of current shifting the oxide build-up on the silver (if you're lucky) or brass (if of American origin) contacts. Your circuit will not shift the oxide deposits on the contacts.
For safety's sake, put it all back to OE spec (I'd hate to see an insurance investigation on your present setup) and buy a new dipswitch if you need one - although I suspect normal operating current will condition the contacts and restore normal operation.
659.
I'm a bit surprised at the number of Backroomers who admit to, or even sometimes seemingly brag about, customarily speeding. What satisfaction do they get out of their admissions?
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L\'escargot. Read more
Agree with all your points Ian, I think the problem here is there are a body of posters who mistake reportage for bragging. Probably some sort of issue for them rather than the rest of us well adjusted contributors.
Agreed the Golf GTi is slow, even remapped to 260bhp it's a bit sluggish. Nice round town run-around though.
Following searching on that well known on-line Dictionary and finding surprisingly little, I was wondering if the Backroom could fill me in on anything to do with Xenon Headlights.
After a couple of months of owning my first Xenon fitted car (MG ZT) and being supremely impressed (oh so bright) however I know nothing about them!
How long they last? What if they stop working? how they work? etc etc.
Do you have them? What are your opinions?
Personally i'm looking forward to winter so can drive with them properly in the dark!
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I am experiencing an idling problem.
Once the engine is warm when I slow down to idle, after depressing the clutch the engine revs are rising to just under 2000 before dropping back, passing through the normel idle speed range and often cutting out totally, or close to cut out.
Any ideas as to potential root causes? Thanks
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Yes, speedo works fine. No other issues noted.
Hey all,
I was hoping somebody could help me with a legal query. First of all the background:
Apparently my dad received a letter claiming he did some sort of U turn or some traffic no-no. This I heard from my brother so the details I'm patchy on.
His was fined £60 so it's not going to break the bank however apparently my dad heard about a "loophole" some years ago which went along the lines of; if the letter they send you with the fine, has as incorrect description of the vehicle involved it invalidates the claim.
In my father's case the car colour was not totally correct. So he believes he can nullify the claim.
My questions to you all...
Does anyone one know anything about this "loophole"? And if so, what are the exact details of it?
Does anyone have any idea where I can look for more information regarding :
-motoring watchdogs
-motoring associations etc
Basically any independent body which can provide help or advice on this matter.
I mean my brother and I just think he should pay the fine but bless him, he nevers does anything without a fight.
Thanks in advance,
Emelia Read more
Update
On 19th July 2007 The London Local Authorities Act 2007 received Royal Assent.
Wef from 19th September 2007 the following is law:
Section 61. A penalty charge notice under this section
MUST STATE
(i) the grounds on which the council believe that the penalty charge is payable;
(ii) the amount of the penalty charge which is payable;
(iii) that the penalty charge must be paid before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the notice;
(iv) that if the penalty charge is paid before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date of the notice, the amount of the penalty charge will be reduced by the specified proportion;
(v) that, if the penalty charge is not paid before the end of the 28 day period, an increased charge may be payable;
(vi) the amount of the increased charge;
(vii) the address to which payment of the penalty charge must be sent; and
(viii) that the person on whom the notice is served may be entitled to make representations under subsection (1) of section 62 (representations and appeals) of this Act; and
(b) specify the form in which any such representations are to be made.
this is in confirmation of what was in the Road Traffic Act 1991.
Few bits of information missing? Colour for one.
dvd
I couldn't quite believe this when I first saw it a few weeks ago on a UN agency purchasing list but it is still there in the newest edition. A Chinese-built Changfeng Yangzi FINE 2.2 petrol double-cab pick-up can be bought by UN-related personnel for just US$ 974 or roughly £482. There are catches, of course: it only comes in white, is Euro 2 compliant and will be left for you on the dockside in Shanghai. Nor will the factory, which is presumably dumping these things on the market, give you any kind of warranty. Add in £2000 for container delivery just about anywhere in the world and it is still under £2500 before taxes. The thing is that if the Chinese can get their vehicles up to US or European standards in the next few years and retain the low manufacturing costs they appear to have on this evidence then some of our major manufacturers could be in for a drubbing in the bread-and-butter market. Oh, and it is $500 extra for a 4x4 diesel. Read more
Should be on www.engrish.com/
I remember my parking sensor instructions were a howl with phrases like make sure engine is in flame out situation before tackling the bumper bar.
Hi guys i have a 1999 1.6i citroen xsara vtr coupe. Heres the problem.
It seems that my central locking has a mind of its own and continously unlocks itself after only a few hours. This occurs 9/10 times. When i go to lock it i occasionally have to relock 4-5 times for it to stay that way-its as if one of the doors is slightly ajar so it cant lock. I believe it is one of the solenoids, does this sound likely? Obviously a bit of a worry as my car is 90% of the time unlocked! Hopefully someone has a bit of experience with this type of thing so any help is hugely appreciated. Thanks. Read more
I have just looked out the bedroom windown - down onto the top of an 07 plate Jag XK in racing green - visiting next door.
What a stunning looking car - from any angle.
I have never owned a Jag but have always been a fan as I think they are well engineered (something I think is number 1 in a car), and have got the quality / customer bit right as well - according JD Power.
It struck me that if they fixed the design on some cars (X type in particular - next S type looks good according to current spy shots) then these things should have no problem selling.
So imagine we are now the new board at Jag and Ford have just sold it to HJ & asscoiates for £1 - what we would do next ???
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Jaguar when it was an independent company under Sir William Lyons specialised in slightly pretentious value-for-money with a sporting slant, 'the poor man's Bentley' they used to call it, something of a spiv image. The first post-war model, the Mk V, had I think a pushrod engine, but from the launch of the XK120 most Jaguars have had variants of its longish-stroke twin-cam six. They weren't always good cars and even iconic models like the XK120 and early Mk VII had slightly dodgy brakes. But social change in society made the marque more acceptable, and enthusiasts always liked them because they were fairly cheap and could be made to go fast. Now Jaguars are expensive cars.
It would take an auto-industry genius to relaunch the marque now, development costs for entirely new cars having risen to such colossal heights. Handmade upmarket kit car, a la TVR, wouldn't really be appropriate. An assembly job using bought-in parts, a la Jensen, might be feasible. But what floorpans? What engines? What market segment to go for? These current Jags seem like nice cars but they aren't real Jags to me. The marque is effectively dead. The last true Jaguar, one I would like if I could afford it, was the XJ12.
Hi All
A friend of mine's girlfriend's car has been hit when parked up.
She unfortunately let her insurance renewal lapse and has subsequently renewed it. The other person has admitted liability (hard not to when hitting a parked car!)
How can she claim on the other persons insurance. I said they should inform of a claim directly and obtain a quote for repairs and submit to the insurers together with all other ancillary costs.
Is this correct? My friend was concerned that as she had no insurance (at the time of the accident) the other party's insurance co would refuse to pay. She has spoken to the police who have said NFA for the insurance (as she has bought some since).
Thanks
Jonathan Read more
If you have the insurers details, why not simply write to both the driver and the insurer anyway?
You (your client) ran into my car and admitted liability. The damage and others costs amount to £x. Please sort it out between yourselves, but pay me asap.
If neither does, then move on to Plan B.
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Perhaps when DVLA and the police get talking to each other, the paper trail will get a result: www.dvla.gov.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/archive2...x