May 2009
I am thinking of ordering a new car through Drive the Deal. This is a company that I have never used before, does anybody have any comments to make about this broker. Read more
I passed a set of traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing on amber. They changed to red as my A pillar drew level. There was no flash but there were small black, hooded cameras mounted high over the crossing and angled sharply down to it, possibly with smaller, unhooded cameras pointed up and down the road (difficult to say owing to foliage of surrounding trees).
What is the prurpose of these cameras? Am I likely to be hearing from the poilice? Read more
The camera is called a microwave vehicle detector, its purpose is to monitor traffic flow.
A stop line detector loop is cut into the road surface where cars stop waiting for the signals to change. The detectors help the signals respond to the changing flow of traffic throughout the day.
Hi all
Coming to the end of a very enjoyable holiday in Sicily. We've hired a car and although I was a little disappointed walking past the Alfa 159s and Lancia Deltas to the Bravo Diesel it's been a good servant this past couple of weeks, has eaten the miles comfortably.
Was a bit worried about the reputation drivers in Italy have, and especially in places like Palermo - they are nuts but it all sort of works. No one pays much attention to road signs, junctions or speed limits, but there's no aggression and everyone just makes steady progress.
It's actually a lot more effective and enjoyable than driving at home. Sure, lots of people probably have hideous accidents but that's all part of the fun (tic)
That said, on no less than three occasions I've been pretty much driven off the road and into a hospital - interestingly, all by the same type of person in the same type of car. It's not perhaps what you would expect either. I'm back home tomorrow so will reveal Silicly's most maniacial driver and car but thought you might like to guess beforehand.
Clue : it's not the Polizia with their 159s with Squadra Volante on the side of the car, or anyone on a moped...
Lee
Read more
Three times I was sent almost into the scenery/scene of the accident by mommies in Renault Scenics. They didn't look distracted, but were hellbent on driving over the bit of road I was on so were more than a little scary!
Did actually have a moped drive into the back of me while I was stationary in a big traffic jam in Messina - the old fellow riding it just waved apologetically and rode off...Got a load of abuse from some fellow who then went off to vent spleen at the Polizia. Still don't know what had upset him, but he seemed angry with everyone.
Loved it though, great place :-)
New in-car technology which forces motorists to obey the speed limit will be unveiled in a major Government-backed trial to be announced on Monday.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-tran...l Read more
It's fairly obvious that a system of that sort, while immensely annoying, would not usually cause accidents or road deaths. Not usually, just from time to time.
Our country has one of the world's highest traffic densities, with many towns, urban areas and local variations in speed limits for other reasons or none. Driving standards and standards of general behaviour leave much to be desired. Given this background, 'from time to time' may mean, probably would mean, many times a day. It wouldn't take long to become measurable.
The idea is silly and impractical. They are just flying a kite.
I was sitting in my six-week old Citroen C1, parked at the side of the road, dropping off a passenger. A supermarket delivery van driver tried to squeeze through the gap between my vehicle and oncoming traffic. I looked in my door mirror and watched the van getting closer until it struck my car, gouging deep furrows in the o/s of the rear bumper and lesser furrows in the o/s/r wing paintwork and damaging the door mirror. As I was struck, I gave a loud, sustained blast on my horn as this van scraped down the side of my car. I'm sure the driver knew what he had done, and didn't even slow down before driving off.
Luckily I was able to make a note of his registration number. I have reported this to my insurers and at their insistance, to the local police. My insurers set HelpHire on me, but having read of their activities here, I have declined their "assistance". This will obviously save the insurers of the other vehicle a considerable sum. I have also insisted on having my vehicle repaired by the supplying dealer, rather than the "approved repairer" that my insurers wanted me to use. The dealer has seen the damage and sent an estimate to my insurers. I am now waiting to hear from them. Have I acted correctly so far? I do not have legal expenses cover on my policy. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Read more
For a very small fee DVLA will tell you the registered keepers details. There is a form to be downloaded from somewhere on the DVLA website which will ask you a few simple questions and why you are requesting the information and they will respond to you.
Hi i recently got new discs and pads put all way round my car and after a week or so they started grinding under heavy braking, but not to heavy to set the abs off. It seems to get worse when they are used more, then its more like if they are binding.
5 mechanics have looked at it now and its not warped discs, not the pads, or the caliper. There is nothing to say its the brakes.
One mechanic said could be something to do with suspension or steering but cant see how?
It gets worse though when the brakes get used more. It gets that bad sometimes it makes the whole car vibrate.
Can someone give me some sort of clue. Could it be a drive shaft ,or wheel bearing, or something as the passenger side drive shaft has been clonking for about 14,000 miles now. It only makes a noise when suddenly putting the accelerator down in 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th gear; not 1st and 2nd gear.
Thanks
{Wording amended to remove the SHOUTING, and to include some grammar - whoops! wrong word used punctuation to make for easier reading - also snip, I'm sure you really didn't mean to post your phone number for the whole wide world to see?} Read more
hi yes it was a brand new wheel bearing, and the calipers have been checked and seem ok
we have a 52 plate mondeo which started to struggle to select 5th gear. now i cant get it at all. any idea,s. Is the gearbox gone or is it a possible cable problem. any help will be greatly appreciated Read more
have you tried 2 bleed the clutch it is not a cable
Future son-in-law has just bought an MGZR and is really happy with it. He mentioned to me that something was hanging off under the front of the car. I crawled underneath to take a look and it looks like some kind of sensor. It's hanging down under the alternator and the wires come from a wiring loom that runs down past the alternator. It looks like a black plastic probe and has two wires running to it. Don't know what it is or where it should live? Any ideas? Read more
engine light wont go off. Car still starts. Windsreen wipers very slow. Please help with advice. Do i go to auto electrician or my normal garage . Cheers. Read more
sounds like the alternator has given up.
If you've recently asked a question regarding the car scrappage scheme, then you'll most likely find its been moved to the dedicated thread that was created (if you wondered why your question had apparently *vanished*)
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=74503 (vol 3)
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=75157 (vol 4)
DD Read more
Bump
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Quote " (The cheapest one was arrogant, and didn't return calls when they said they would etc )"
What Broker was this just for interest ??