February 2009
My SWMBO had to visit her mum, 95, who had been taken into hospital. I wasn't able to go and she came home complaining of having to drive round for 20 minutes and then pay £5.00. I went the following day and ignored the pay and display as I have a blue badge. All the blue spaces were full, many by cars not displaying so I parked on the double yellows, like everone else, as the site is private property not subject to the Road Traffic Regs. In fact, the parking is so bad that folk use the few 'blue' spaces along the roadway and park at right angles to the road with half the car across the 'pavement'...no-one bothers. the 999 ambulances have their own entrance and area in front of casualty.
The point of my post is...the whole of the site has acres of grass, traffic islands shrubbery, etc and other areas which could be used for cars. Some of the grass is used by desperate people, leaving a churned up muddy mess. It must cost a fortune for contract gardeners to come in and tend these lawns and areas of shrubbery. My own feeling is that there is no need for them...ok, it's very nice to look at, but I think visitors may be pre-occupied with other matters, and not need the stress of parking, to pay much attention. This is a modern hospital and the grassy areas are constantly being eroded away with more building work anyway.
Ted Read more
I have a professionally fitted hands free kit in my car. I limit what calls get taken. A quick call home to say stuck in traffic but no longer would I take a more technical call related to work. It is surprising how distracted you are on the phone even hands free.
Conversations on a mobile can be like chatting in the car. They can also require quite some thought and these type of calls should be avoided.
If I call a colleague and realise they are driving they often say "it's okay I'm handsfree" but I still call back later. Read more
Remember it was a jury decision which the judge was bound by.
The jury decided on the evidence, which is all it can do. The charges were those available in law.
In view of the research that's been done into the subject of danger caused by using telephones while driving, by the TRL and worldwide, it's time for a change in the law, and has been for some years.
while driving today a boy of about 15 ish decides to overtake me as i was about to turn right luckily i looked in my door mirror and saw him and stopped in time he wasnt wearing a helmet no tax or mot and no insurance i told him what i thought of him he was lucky he wasnt hurt all this happened about half a mile from a police station on a main road Read more
Nsar: You know that 13-year-old kid who looks 8 and is supposed to be fathering a child?
Straight man in pub: I have read newspaper reports on the allegedly randy nipper, yes. What of it?
Nsar: That's your dad, that is.
My dads P6000 has given up the ghost, the thread is now down to 2mm and it is cracking in the side wall it is at the rear. The other tyre is a V thread Barum with about 3mm on it but both these tyres were on when we bought the car and it has done 15,000 miles since.
We have two 6 month old Kumho's at the front.
If we just replaced the urgent Pirreli would it be legal with a normal thread and a V thread on the same axle? It has alwyas passed the MOT like this but I always thought it was ilegal.
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>>If I get a response I will be surprised.
>>
Well I have not got a response BUT
The same paper yesterday had a reply from the original author (now turns out to be ex Dunlop) reversing his original statement.
So " your best tyres should always go on the rear"
" There are safety implications if the front tyres are better than the rear"
also
" ...found that gip in the wet drops off to about TWENTY per cent by the time the tyre is half worn"
That is a rather concerning statement as I had no idea that grip dropped off that much.
The last open ANPR thread was just getting to fever pitch where did it go?????????? :-((
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The original ANPR thread is back. It was accidentally hidden.
Aero 210 bhp Only 32000 miles Full saab history last at 28K Smokes badly at first start of the day Do you think Turbo Seals or Valve Guide Rubbers. How can you tell which one and is there a cheap way out
Many Thanks Read more
Thankyou will try 2morrow
I have been given good advice from this site as to the cause of a dashboard fault, which now regures me to remove the rear tailgate inner panel. This is to gain access to the wash wipe mechinism. I do not see any visible fixings.... Is it all a snap connector fit.. OR something else? Any ideas please
Peter1177 Read more
A torch enabled me to see the two recessed screws, so will get on with it Tuesday night after work... Thanks for the info Peter1177
The Ford franchised dealer I go to has a total of eleven employees including the Dealer Principal. Is it a "main" dealer? It's the only Ford franchised dealer in our town. In fact, it's the only franchised dealer regardless of make, so you can't get more "main" than that.
What's the definition of a "main" dealer? Read more
Main dealer is one who has direct access to the manufacturer.
They can generally (there are a few exceptions) get you ANY parts you require within 24hrs and full software upgrades when your car is in for a service.
Should you have an unusual problem with your car, they have direct access to the techies in the factory who can get you a fix.
Hi guys
Our 52 plate 1.6 focus is due a full service
How much should I be looking to pay for its service and what will nedd doing at this stage? Its now on about 42000 miles and its past history is a little vague, It had 3 stamps in the book when we got it last summer on 35000 miles, 1 service every 10k but no real details on what was done.
Thanks in advance
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I seem to remember paying around £180-190 for a major service at a Ford dealer, but prices do vary. Ford recommend a major service every 3 years/37,500 miles and extra items that are changed (that aren't included at an interim dervice) include the spark plugs and pollen filter.
It's normal to look at getting the fuel filter changed around the 6-year mark, although your car isn't particularly high mileage for it's age - this may be included automatically if you get a 6 year service at a Ford dealer. If you go for an independent garage, then you might want to ask how much extra this would cost. The fuel filter itself is <£20 and fairly easy to replace.
Put your details in here to find out what should be done :
tinyurl.com/cx2383 {link to www.etis.ford.com shortened to restore page width}
Can anyone please help?! I have a 1998 Ford Escort 1.8 non turbo diesel van which in the ten months I have owned it has never wanted to start in the morning or after a period of standing. This problem is especially bad in cold weather (requiring a jump start to get it going) but after a lot of smoke and chugging, once started it will start and run fine all day if not left for too long. I have read other similar posts and replies on here and have tried everything (I think), new glow plugs, glow plug relay and all cabling checked and ok, new battery, new starter motor, new fuel filter housing and it is still the same!! Has anyone please got any other suggestions (apart from setting fire to it!). Any help greatly appreciated. Read more
I'd put my money on more of a fuel running back issue than anything else given what you have told us.
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Didn't they ban them after the "do" at Glasgow?