March 2009
My local BBC radio station (Three counties radio covering Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire) have removed the part of the traffic announcement signal that causes audio equipment to override and switch to the station broadcasting a traffic announcement.
The radio station have stated:
'I have had quite a significant number of listeners contact me to say they find the system irritating. On that basis, we have decided to suspend the automated service.'
I cannot follow the logic of this. The radio station still broadcast traffic announcements as it did before. If listeners found it irritating before, then I'd guess they'll still find it irritating now. If they were irritated by the interruptions to whatever they were listening to, then all they have to do is turn off the TA feature.
Is it me? Am I missing something?
I believe it takes about an hour after a an incident occurs before it's broadcast and so traffic announcements aren't always very useful. But I still find them helpful in avoiding problems if you're far enough away.
Does anyone know if other radio stations have taken similar measures? Read more
Our Combi 1.3D is becoming increasingly difficult to get into gear and at times suffers from clutch slip, so i guess its due for a new clutch but what i want to know is, is this van fitted with a DMF or not ?
Also, any idea what an idie is likely to charge to do the job, our 06 Astravan had a new clutch at the Dealers last month and it cost us over a grand (no DMF on this), which i thought was excessive !
Thanks
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Have a read/watch video here:
www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse/chapter-18-envi...a
The jist of it is that we are fast using up our easy to get resources (oil, minerals etc) and as these resources get ever harder (or require more energy to extract) the world as we know it will change.
I think many people do not realise that the only reason we have the 'modern world' is down to the cheap and easy energy given to us by natural gas and oil reserves.
Many people also believe that it is their 'right' to drive a 'gas guzzler'. Do they really understand the impact it will have on us all when we reach peak oil? I believe in freedom and allowing people to do as they they choose, but can it be allowed if it will cause devasation on a global scale? Why are we so obsessed with 'growth'? How about maintaining a steady level and making sure there is something left for our children to inherit?
Has anyone noticed that oil is only $44 a barrel and yet petrol still hovers around 90p/litre? No one is complaining about the price of petrol/diesel, maybe its still too cheap?
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The earth is going to wear out eventually.
An interesting point of view, and one which I find myself agreeing with.
We will never recycle everything, or make everything from renewable sources. There will always need to be some resource input, and there will come a time when, if we're not in a position to up our entire civilisation and move it, we will be wiped out as a species. Whether that's through lack of food, energy or more likely, a strike from an asteroid or some such other completely random natural event that will render the planet uninhabitable long before we flood it or turn its oceans to acid. Mathematically we are apparently long overdue a major collision.
If I live to average age, I've got another 40 or so years left. I will not be wasting them worrying about a future i cannot see, predict, or frankly influence in the greater scheme of things. Leave it to future generations to take care of themselves using technologies and understanding which will be available to them, and likely to be far in excess of what we have now. Just like our ancestors left it to us, and theirs to them.
Hi All,
My friend has a problem with his 2.5 td Omega.
In the morning the glow worm comes on and goes off and the car starts perfect.
He then drives 2 or 3 miles and if he goes in to get the paper comes out the car will take 7 or 8 turns before the car will start even though it is fully warm.
It has been doing this for the last 3 or 4 years and no mechanic can solve.
I would be very grateful if someone could help. Read more
Hi I have change the sensor but it has not worked, the cure might be to change the pume as pouring the water over it dose work, any chance you can give us any futher drictions to the module on ebay. Thanks
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7938001.stm
"A new manufacturing method for lithium-ion batteries could lead to smaller, lighter batteries that can be charged in just seconds.
Batteries that discharge just as quickly would be useful for electric and hybrid cars, where a quick jolt of charge is needed for acceleration."
More in article. Read more
Motoring of the future will be heavily dependant on this sort of research. Batteries have always been the weak link of electric cars, once we can solve the problem of energy storage electric motors are far superior to IC engines. Lets wait 3 years and see if the technology makes it into the mainstream.
i need to replace the head on a 2lt 16v 406, do i need any pug only tools and what type of valves are thay are thay hydrolic
just need a bit of info just to set me wrigh. any one help. Read more
Get the manual from your local library!!!
i have a vw t4 2.4d ,today i was just driving along changing up to 3rd gear when there was a sudden whirring noise and i lost all drive ,the gears all go in no problem with no crunching but as soon as you release the clutch theres just this terrible whirring noise and no drive ,would you have any ideas ?
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Broken drive shaft? Hand brake on and chock the wheels. Start engine and put into gear, engage clutch and then look at the driveshafts. If its the outer end of the shaft or CV joint failed the shaft will be gently spinning away to itself. Otherwise it could be the middle has ripped out of the clutch. My money is on a chocolate drive shaft. Exchange units usually in stock at VW commercial.
Hi,
I need some help here please, my son has a Bravo 115HLX 1747cc Bravo & the cambelt snapped. We have had a mechanic round to change the cambelt & he then told us that it needed to have new valves fitted.This so far has now cost us £430.00 He is now telling us that as the car does not start/run (thru no fault of his as he doesn't have diagnostic facilities) it now needs some kind of sensor to get it going again,
Can someone please advise, have we been ripped off????? Is the sensor needed or has the guy mucked up???
Please help if you can
Many thanks Read more
I've heard that the auto versions of Jag's X Type have been de-tuned a bit. Anyone know by how much... and what difference it makes. I've looked up the official figures and they say the same for manual and auto.
The 2.0 diesel (which we've got already) needs a bit more oomph IMO when doing 'A' road overtakes and I fancy twisting the Domestic Financial Director's arm for a 2.2...but also fancy the auto. I'd accept a bit of performance loss for an auto box, but would be disappointed if it's a lot.
Am i right in thinking the de-tune is to protect the auto box? Read more
cheers..... i suspect that's decided it then....until they put the 2.7 diesel engine in an X Type, if it'll fit
Driving back from Plymouth late last night we passed a bp connect service station that also had an M&S Simply Food shop - can anyone tell me where it is please - or if there is actually more than 1 ??
Thanks in advance
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Also there are some here: tinyurl.com/crb3h4
Browse
Tried the TA service on first car that came with it. Picked up every travel flash from Oxford to Cambridge and Nottingham to Luton. Nothing much about Northampton though.
Radio 5 Live has very good coverage of major routes and of significant disruptions in towns etc. As above they use a mix of cameras, police and listener reports.