September 2008
In the last week I witnessed the most extraordinary behaviour from other motorists who simply cannot be capable of linking their own actions with what they see out of the window.
On the M40 traffic slowed up with congestion ahead and the car next to me was being driven erratically by a woman on her mobile whilst taking notes on a pad on the steering wheel. I gave her my best "disgusted of Surrey" look and continued to concentrate on the road ahead. The cause of the delay was soon apparent, a crash on the other side that had only just happened. Paramedics were tending to two front seat occupants of a flattened car and the scene was pretty grim, at least one of the ashen figures couldn't have been alive.
As traffic eased, woman zips past me in outside lane still on phone and paperwork on dash ;-)
Less serious but still annoying, a hold up on the Woking Road as a council vehicle moved slowly with operatives collecting litter from the wooded verge. Car in front (10 year old Beamer) winds down passenger window and chucks a fag packet out about 100 yards behind council truck where their work had already been done.
What is the matter with some people, can they not make a simple connection in their feeble brains?
Rant over!
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I was involved in an accident in the early hours of Sunday morning. There was a wrecked car straddled across the road which had already been in accident. The car's lights were not on. It was a country road with no street lighting. The car was not visible until I was almost on top of it, I managed to hit the brakes and swerve a little but there was no time to avoid and I ploughed into it. I was injured also my passenger and my car is a write off. The driver of the car I hit was arrested for drink driving. I only have third part fire and theft cover plus legal cover. Okay that's the situation.
My insurance company tell me they cannot make a claim off the third party on my behalf because I hit a stationary vehicle and as far as they are concerned it was my fault. Can this be right? Is there any other recourse I can take? Thank you.
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I had to go offline for a while. I'd like to thank the last few posters who have been more reassuring. with good advice. I have contacted a "no win no fee" lawyers firm who specialize in road traffic accidents and they were quite interested. Once they get all the details - police report etc, they will make a decision on whether they think I have a case.
Help! I've read though a few threads and know 306's are renown for there electrical problems but would appreciate any advice on the following. Its a 1998, 306, 1.4 petrol. On starting the other morning I drove away and could feel a misfire, a short distance later the temperature, fuel, rev and speed gauges started dancing all over the place, I had the lights on, and they went out, and eventually she cut out completely. On trying to restart she wouldn't even fire at first, but after a few mins standing she eventually fired up, still with misfire but kept going long enough to struggle back home with plenty of revs! I'm thinking this could be an earth fault? Last night I cleaned the battery negative terminal, and disconnected and cleaned the connection to the gear box housing. She started up and ticked over fine on the drive, but as soon as I reversed back the electrics went mad again and she cut out, and wouldn't restart until being left for 5 mins. Tonight, I'm going to clean the earth to body connections. Any idea if I'm on the right path? We've had the car for 9 years and I can't remember ever having put a new battery on it, if its breaking down could it be the cause of the problem? Thanks in advance for any help Read more
Hi
Have u had any responses to this as i have had the exact same problems?
i have astra 2.0 desiel LS had it for about 4 months in that time i have had maybe 15 times a starting problem i have changed glow plugs so i know its not them.well the problem is intermitant on these 15 ocations the car will just turn over and not start well it will but takes a lot of turning over it will do it whether its hot or cold what i normaly do is let the glow plugs heat up twice but even that sometimes dosent work.ive had a look at a few forums and i hit the same thing glow plug ecu unit can someone advice me before i think about getting a new ecu
{moves across to Tech Matters} Read more
Nope. The paperclip trick only works on petrol engines up until sometime yr 2000 at the very latest.
The price of oil has jumped by more than $16 to $120.92 a barrel, the biggest one-day gain on record.
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Mike,
Already under debate in the fuel thread down the page somewhere !
Sorry to lock it.
whats your favourite music clip that involves cars
Here is two from my eclectic taste
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKwbEsXBmKA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycjVSyDVQM&feature=related
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Can't do it.
Unless I'm on a motorway I just can't listen to music in the car.
I'm a paranoid listener for funny noises in my cars at the best of times, and when the music is on I tend to hear the low-pitched hum of the engine more, and find myself constantly pausing the CD only to hear virtual silence from the engine bay.
Drives me nuts. I prefer the sound of the engine anyway.
I was wondering if someone could help me, my car is driving me up the wall! It currently has the following fault - somehow oil is getting blown back into the air filter, collecting in the tray underneath and subsequently dripping all over the engine. We've had our regular mechanic look at it and he can't find an oil leak and doesn't really have an explanation. As a result I'm losing oil at a tremendous rate, and I'm wiping the engine down every day. Before I reluctantly take it to my local SEAT dealer (who have an AWFUL reputation), does anyone out there know why this is happening and if it can be sorted out?
Thanks in advance! Read more
I've had 2 problems with my 2004 (april 04) IGNIS Sport (25,000 mls -used almost every day ) that should not have happened so early in the life of the car.
First problem was Feb. 2008 back box had to be changed (£250) had it done at Hi-Q, they were excellent.
Then 3 weeks ago A/C packed up, most probably a leak. It can't be due to misuse as I am used to using my A/C all year round at least once a week. Car is obviously out of warranty but it annoys me as these things should not have happened. Could be in the 100's.
I have a good mind to write to Suzuki to claim some goodwill on their part on the A/C at least (obviously it is too late for the back box). I bought a Suzuki partly because of its reliability reputation. Engine is OK but I am disappointed about the rest (exhaust & A/C).
1) What's the first step? (write to Suzuki or local dealer where I bought the car?)
2) what are my chances of obtaining goodwill payment over A/C prob?
Any suggestions or advice welcome. Read more
So i guess that means no then.
I have been mulling this and there is no way to coat it in chocolate : Round my part of North London ( i am sure in other parts of the country too ) you will see lots of cars being driven by foreign looking drivers. In the same way that when we apply for insurance we are assessed on a multitude of factors ( postcode , job, car type, where parked, driving record ) , my observations based on 22 years driving experience tell me that foreign drivers , particularly from the 3rd world ARE worse drivers , do commit more traffic violations and drive badly - maintained vehicles, and are therefore a greater risk .
QED - Can the insurance companies put a loading on such drivers ?
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When I worked in car insurance in a high street broker - before the days when everyone did it direct - one insurer (a Lloyds' syndicate) had a word - it was "do us a favour - no ethnics."
As for what I did about it - absolutely no comment.
Ha ha.
Hi,
One of my work colleagues has the above mentioned BMW 323 (e46), which has failed it's mot on chassis corrosion where the N/S/R subframe bolts up to it. The chassis seems to be a box section with a section within it that holds the nut that the subframe bolts on to. The chassis has cracked and ripped open enough that you can clearly see into the box section.
Has anybody else heard of such a thing on these cars i.e, could this be a common fault on this year or model of car?
Also would anyone else know if BMW would be likely to meet costs etc under any 10/12 year corrosion warranty that should come with the car when new.
He is the second owner of the car and prior to him buying, the car had full BMW service history, although not for the past 2 yrs.
Other than this the car is mint and sailed through the rest of the MoT.
Thanks Read more
Known problem on early E36s which I believe are similar. Not sure corrosion warranty is more than 6 years. I understand some specialists have a fix for these so hope is not lost. Apologies, can't find the references.
JS
>> yards behind council truck where their work had already been done.
British economics, keep people employed at taxpayers expence. As with parking and speed cameras etc.