November 2022
Hi
In the scenario where a car fails an MOT due to both dangerous and major defects then the dangerous ones must be fixed immediately. However, if no retest is performed because more time is needed to resolve the major defects then can can the car be driven legally provided the original MOT is still current?... Read more
I have tried Googling but have found conflicting information. No surprise there! I know there are some knowledgeable members and vaguely remember a thread about this years ago but I can't find it.
For a full State pension the current rules say we need 35 qualifying years. I've met that but what I am not going to get is a full pension as I've been contracted out for much of my working life. Some information I've read says you can't accrue more than 35 years (well I suppose you can but it doesn't increase the pension) but other paperwork I've received states I need another seven years to get the full weekly/monthly amount so it seems to contradict.... Read more
The web pension checker is very good, but you have to phone up if you are thinking of parting with cash. They confirm the years/amount and "fast track" you to HMRC who in turn give you the banking details and create a 16 digit reference to quote for online banking.
"Fast track" means you get through to HMRC straight away and don't have to explain it all again.
Hi all,
I'm looking at buying a used car from a dealership, and I asked if they had done an HPI check on the car. They said that they had, but were not able to share the results with me due to data protection rules under GDPR. Is that correct? I can't see why HPI should be affected by data privacy considering that I could easily just pay for a check myself and get access to the same data anyway. Could they perhaps be trying to hide something from me?... Read more
Its lack of updates or even the odd thanks that is helping so many forums to die off, this is an old fashioned place in many ways (despite it being inhabited by so many lefties :-) ) and many knowledgeable posters who gave real expert advice have disappeared over time, one such was a long time mechanic who really knew his stuff, so many times he would give freely of his expertise quite likely saving the poster £hundreds and invaluable time only for the OP to completely ignore him afterwards, it annoyed the hell out of me let alone said mechanic...sadly basic manners are vanishing everywhere, they say a fish rots from the head down.
I'm sat in the local supermarket car park waiting for some keys to be made up and can't help but notice how some people really struggle to park. Admittedly it is a small sample size, but most of the problems seem to arise as people try to reverse into a space. I usually drive in nose first and reverse out, based on the simple reason I find it easiest. So it got me wondering, am I right? Or should I be reversing into a space and then I have an easier exit? My logic in a supermarket is that by driving into a space I have easier access to the boot area for the shopping. But I also find that I am reversing into a much larger and less constrained space. Any views? Read more
A hundred poxes on the council planning departments that so often stipulate far too many undersized parking spaces early on in the planning process, regardless of the difficulties these will make for future car parkers. "Coming soon - new out of town shopping centre with parking for 3000 cars" (even if 2500 spaces is already pushing it!)
And contrary to popular belief in these blinkered departments, apparently staffed by determined non-drivers, a car cannot easily be parked in a snappy, perfect 90 degree perpendicular swoop, either in reverse or forwards. But time and time again, we see endless rows of perpendicular, rectangular spaces marked in geometric perfection, which have as little bearing on the realities of 21st century mobility as a penny f***hing!
Just looked round the Vitaras at a local Suzuki dealer as the wife is looking for a new car. Several of the ones with sunroofs were quite badly misted up inside. The non sunroof cars weren’t. All the cars looked like they had been recently washed.
Does anyone have any similar experience - or ideally a completely different one? Read more
Sat in sun until falling into shadow around 14:30.
That's the perfect mechanism for a misted-up screen. The car gets warmed through during the day, then the upper parts cool off rapidly, especially the screen, which is sloped while most other glass is more vertical. If there is any moisture in the car it will condense on the windows every night unless it is removed. Then you have to avoid adding more....
Did anyone notice this?
Snuck away in the @OBR_UK #autumnstatement2022 report is a bombshell. Needless to say, I'm loading both barrels to fight this tooth & nail
A sneaky 23% rise in Fuel Duty is planned from March 2023@pritipatel @cmackinlay @johnredwood @TheABD @jkyleofficial @Iromg @TiceRichard pic.twitter.com/ND0F4tk4fG Read more
"... the papers taking loads of $$$ / £££ from the likes of the Gates Foundation and others, in return for reporting favourable to their agendas."
- Please show what evidence there is that the Gates Foundation and other similar organisations are funding newspapers. You could also explain why the Gates Foundation and others are in any way sinister.
With the advent of EVs, increasingly heavy HGVs and the ubiquitous delivery van, we now have a grossly unfair VED system, . All must be accommodated, especially as our Victorian railways with their antiquated loading gauge, puny locos and short goods trains (I saw one 130 railcars long outside Los Angeles hauled by three locos - each flatbed carrying two containers, one on top of the other) cannot transport many containers. So what's fair? Two types of vehicle immediately stand out as getting a fantastic deal - the EV and the HGV.
It's large heavy vehicles that damage roads, and regular usage that causes congestion, so kerb weight x mileage would be the obvious basis for a new style VED. ... Read more
Capacity for offshore wind generation - we have barely scratched the surface of what could be generated - see map showing current and planned capacity. Exploiting that capacity needs investment but the technology is proven and mature.
Hi, I have to replace the injectors in my T5 transporter, the bolts that hold the clamp in place are stretch bolts and have to be replaced.
I need the correct torque settings to retighten please, it is a 2012, 2.0 diesel engine.... Read more
First turn is 8nM then 270 degrees final turn . Make you fit new injector washers.
This was discussed way back in 2004 .....
(www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=25296) .... so rather than resurrrecting a long and out of date thread I thought it was worth re-visiting as 'expert' advice varies depending where you look. E.g. the AA advise adding if below halfway between max and min on the dipstick, Halfords if below minimum, and Ford at minimum or below. The general consensus seems to be the level is OK anywhere beteen the two marks - and that is what I have always thought; rarely adding any until it reaches the min mark. Why would you? If the engine is nearing an oil change, it is a waste of good oil! ... Read more
Much olbliged for that link BT, 1.5 engine scrubbed from possibles list :-)
At least it's still got a chain cam drive (for now) and not a cotton belt inside the engine ;>)...
So in the morning the car starts fine, but when I press the accelerator it tries to rev up but stalls (Before I remove my foot from the accelerator pedal).
Some times I can start the car, start moving and even change to second but still it jerks and is about to stall again every time I change gear and press the accelerator. ... Read more
Yup, it is on my list on what to get next! I can find them for about 67 quid on ebay or around 50 on chinese websites etc (should be the exact same product). Not genuine of course as I can't seem to find a genuine one.
Final Update (Hopefully):...
Browse
.jpg)
DVSA tried to play up the 'if you have a dangerous fault the car is flagged as illegal to drive' line on gov.uk for the first few months after the new rules. Lots of newspapers reported the line as gospel, including the myth that the old MOT was somehow immediately cancelled.
The problem was that the primary legislation had not been changed, so DVSA were overstepping their powers. The law is not explicit on what makes a vehicle dangerous to drive - but it is usually taken to mean tyres, brakes, steering, body integrity....