Car Troubles – part 4

 Well, Monster is now at Arbury Peugeot – waiting to be looked at.  I will admit that I was slightly worried that it wouldn’t start due to the damned electronic issues.

But, first turn of the key, and the car started.  To say there were murmurs of relief was an understatement.  So, it was then a case of nursing the little horror into Arbury, so that their technicians could see what the hell was going on – and what was draining the battery.  I mean two batteries in 24hrs was a bit excessive… 

Once on the road, I discovered the drawback to not having the climate control on…  The windscreen started to mist up (and my hands were freezing cold as well) so it was a case of having to put the climate control on and pray.

Well, I think my guardian angel must have been listening, as the car behaved itself – no stupid warning lights (other than the engine management light on the dashboard), so it was a slightly more comfortable trip – especially as all the traffic lights were on green, and traffic was a doddle.  

Mind you – that could have been due to the time that I was travelling – 08:00 – the schools aren’t due back until next week (bug permitting) and most sensible people were still in bed.

I managed to get the little monster to Arbury, and got it booked in earlier than expected (a big thank you to Molly – she is a real star!) so all I can do now is wait and see what the verdict is….

Back when I have more info on the expensive little monster….

 

Karen

Like a broken wheel stops turning
You ain't going nowhere
Now you've got to heal that burning
Or you ain't got a prayer
Like a broken wheel

Car Troubles - Part 2

Just when you thought it was safe to restart the Monster.... 

The battery strikes again. I went to unlock the Monster, and no response from the plip.  So several muttered curses later and it was the same as yesterday.  No click, no response from the dashboard.

So another call to the breakdown people and a mechanic was duly sent out to the Monster.

He got the car started, and then suggested that I let the car idle for about 30  / 45 minutes.  

I suggested that I gave the Monster a good run up the motorway with no stops, as that would make sure that there was a reasonable charge, and he agreed with that - provided I didn't stop or turn the car off.

My partner also sorted out a replacement battery for the Monster, in case this one is a dud.  They will have it in stock tomorrow (but fingers crossed that I don't need it)

So all I can do now is wait and see if the battery holds the charge overnight.  

Ah well, the chutney calls.

Back with photos...

Karen

The dead of night
You're saying words you can't recite
A sea of noise so empty
Get on your way
There's no excuse for the delay
Before it's just a memory

A weekend of car troubles

Not exactly the weekend that we had planned so far...  This was the weekend that we were supposed to be at Birmingham Town Hall to see Magnum on the Serpent Rings tour, but COVID-19 put paid to that.

So, we decided to say "sod it" and have a relaxing break.  Ok - Friday morning we dropped my partner's car off to the garage so they could investigate a couple of issues for him, and we still had Monster to use for the various bits and pieces (even though he doesn't like Monster (or my driving!)).

So Friday was successful in a way.  After we'd dropped his car off, we stopped off at Morrisons to pick up some shopping, then it was on to Wing Yip to get some bits and then once home, the first of the car troubles started...

The garage where my partner had left his car called, and said that they couldn't open the bonnet as the lock was inoperative.  Typical Ford problem from what we found out.  So he wasn't happy yesterday.

Today it was my turn.  We'd planned to go to Tesco to do some food shopping, then go into town for a look around.

Well, Monster decided *that* wasn't happening.  I hit the plip for the car, and the mirrors didn't unfold, nor did  the headlights come on.  Ok, strange, but possibly a dead battery in the plip.

So, I unlocked the driver's door (thank God for a physical key!) Then put the key in the ignition, and tried to start the car.  Nothing.  Not a click, and no interior light...

Ok.  Now I was worried.  But, my partner (practical man that he is) said that we should replace the battery in the plip to see if that worked.  So, one replacement battery later, and it was back to see the Monster.

Nope.  Still not having it.  So, I freely admit that I was now seriously worried. What had gone wrong with my little Monster?  But, luckily for me, I have breakdown cover, and decided to call on it.

The recovery agent came out, and he was charming, as well as being very informative.  He said that it was not a good idea to use jump leads, as this could fry the electronics on the car. (Been there with the Audi - don't want to go through that with the Monster thank you!). 

So, once he'd connected the jump starter (and shown me how / where to connect it on Monster), he asked me to turn the car into the first ignition point to see if I had power....

Yes!  So we started the Monster, checked the alternator was working ok and the battery was charging.  But, he couldn't guarantee that the car would start again, so I needed a new battery.

Great.  Now as the car is a smart ass stop start system, it costs a hell of a lot more than a normal battery.  And to add insult to injury, there are two different versions of the battery for the Monster.

Luckily for me, the local independent car spares had one of each in stock... And said if it wasn't the right one (as in it didn't fit) I could swap it for the other one.

Ok - then it came to getting it fitted...  Now I appreciated the honesty of the car spares staff - they'd never replaced a battery on a car as new as Monster, and were unwilling to risk damaging the car's ECU -  but they knew somewhere that could near by...

So, off we went.  Only this other store didn't have a battery in stock.  Damn.  But, if we supplied the battery, they would fit it.  

So, back to the car spares store for the new battery, and it was duly fitted by a really helpful and charming gentleman who didn't treat me like a dumb female when I asked questions about the battery as this is the first car I've had with this system on.

Monster is now sorted, but I still have to get the engine management light reset, so I'll call Arbury on Monday morning and see if I can drop the Monster in for their engineers to reset the system.

So, after a day like today, all we have wanted to do is chill out.  And I had planned to make some mango chutney as well as season the two carbon steel woks that we bought from Wing Yip.

That's now being done tomorrow as the weather doesn't look too good, and neither of us is really interested in shopping - especially not this close to Christmas....

Time to call it quits - I am starting to fall asleep, and don't really want to fall asleep on the setee...

Back tomorrow with photos of the chutney making...

Karen

The Moonking is waiting again

And maybe he'll welcome you in

To ride on a warm solar wind

Back where your dreams can begin

The Moonking is calling again

But never a sound to be heard

So up through a bright silver sky

Waiting but never deterred

Damn car

And this time, it's not mine that's playing up.  It's my partner's car.

He bought a nice looking Audi A4 estate, but it's got problems.  It sounds like the the instrument cluster talks to the ECU, and completes the circuit allowing the system to tell the little plug in fault reader to tell you what the issue(s) are.

But, what isn't common knowledge is that the dratted instrument cluster can be "fried" by jump starting the car.

So, he's stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Replace the instrument cluster, and then hope that the damned car decides to play ball and show the error codes, or run the car until the MOT runs out, then have the "fun" of selling it for spares or repair.

So we are now desperately trying to find a company to fix it, preferably without costing more than the car is worth....

So, I am now off to find a company that can sort this damned dahsboard out.

Back when I get chance....

Karen

To the spirit that guides you, follow it through
To the spirit inside you, always be true
You know you'll despair
If the spirit inside you is used without care

Bringing petrol to the (wealthy) people

Sometimes, I wonder if the BBC publishes things for a joke, but reading it further, I realise it's serious.

See what you think of this....

Karen

I tell myself
Hey only fools rush in and only time will tell
If we stand the test of time
All I know
You've got to run to win and I'll be damned if
I'll get hung up on the line

********************

Bringing petrol to the (wealthy) people

Bentley Motors has commenced trials of a smartphone-powered fuel-delivery service that promises to ease the burden for those too posh to pump.

• By David K Gibson
        5 October 2016


There are millions of people who have considered purchasing a Bentley. The vast majority of them have decided against it after discovering that the vehicles require regular injections of a noxious and combustible substance known as “petrol” (street names: gasolina, hi-test, Slurpee). Worse, this petrol must be procured from specialised dispensing stations, most of which lurk beneath freeway flyovers and in rough parts of town.

But Continental considerers may reach once again for their chequebooks, thanks to this week’s announcement of an on-demand fuel-delivery service. Rather than sully their tyres on the macadam of a BP drive-through, Bentley owners may now use a smartphone app to notify “Filld for Bentley” that their automobile requires a bit of that nasty stuff and have it delivered to the bemarbled cul-de-sacs of their vast estates. A truck of petrol will arrive at the appointed time, zeroing in on the car’s location and unlocking its fuel cap, and then dispense only the highest quality petrochemicals (garnished with an artisan Bourbon-cardamom cherry*) into the awaiting tank. The service will roll out first in California, because where else would an on-demand fuel-delivery startup start up?

The service will roll out first in California, because where else would an on-demand fuel-delivery startup start up? 

Filld for Bentley is a part of the marque’s Connected Car initiative, a suite of technologies that makes the vehicles part of the Internet of (very expensive) Things. The goal, according to Christophe Georges, Bentley’s Director of Product and Marketing, is to provide Bentley owners with “the greatest luxury of all: more time.” Further advances of the fuel delivery service may include predictive fuel ordering, in which your car will autonomously call Filld to arrange a discreet pump, meaning that you, Bentley owner, need never think about stopping for gas again. And for an extra monthly fee, Filld will even place a paint-matched silicone disk over your Mullsanne’s fuel cap,* so you need never be reminded of the existence of petrol.

This is clearly a valuable service, one that is not ridiculous in any way, but — as habitual contrarians — we feel that we must raise some thorny issues.

Is not the whole point of having an amazing car to drive it to places where there are guaranteed to be other, lesser cars?

• Does Filld charge for the petrol that their delivery trucks burn getting to your Bentley? And do you have to tip for that, too?

• Where will the wealthy procure their Slim Jims? (Note to self: Pitch investors on Jerx, the Uber of desiccated meat product delivery services.)

• How will we monitor the health of Demi Lovato without regular paparazzi shots of her filling up her Bentayga?

We are confident that the engineers of Bentley Motors are hard at work on those problems.



*These features have not been specifically announced, but may be reasonably inferred.

The car is BACK!

Well, the engineer at the dealership has worked his magic, and the 207? Well, it’s back to its old self (if anything – its better than it was when it was new!) Talk about a smooth gear change – it’s lovely to drive.

The only “drawback” is that I’ll have to treat it like it like I’m running the car in for the first 500 miles, so that the car learns my driving style again, and gets the new bits “bedded in” for want of a better term.

I can’t praise the dealership service team highly enough – they’ve worked magic on this little car, and I’m rediscovering the reasons why I fell for the 207 in the first place.

As for the 208 – that can go and whistle – I’m not swapping the 207 in for it yet!

Ah well, time to call this quits – I’ve got stuff to sort out before I escape on holiday next week.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Verdict? It’s screwed.

Not a happy little bunny rabbit. The damned solenoids in the gearbox are screwed, and it’s not a quick fix. Apparently, this is an unusual occurrence, but it’s still going to cost me £600 to get the car sorted out, as this includes replacing the solenoids, and doing the software update.

Thankfully, the dealership has done a fix of sorts (a braking switch) meaning that the car should behave slightly better on a cold start, and I’ve got the little fiend booked in for a week today to have major “surgery”. It’s going to take about 4½ hours to do, provided nothing goes wrong.

Mum has been a real star, and has said that she will pick me up from the dealership if the car isn’t ready by the time I escape the playpen, and will give me a lift into work on Friday.

Ah well, time to call this quits – it’s nearly the end of my lunch break…

Back when I get the chance.

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Crunch goes the gearbox.

So much for driving the car normally, and letting the gearbox do it’s thing from a cold start with “normal” driving. It did that alright – and threw a hissy fit every damned time.

So I’ve booked the little monster in, so the engineer can clear the codes (again) and the dealership can tell me what they think is wrong with the car. I just hope and pray that they can get this sorted, without it costing me an arm and a leg, as I don’t like the new 208 (and they don’t do an auto yet!)

Time to call this quits – I need to get the little fiend booked in…

Back when I get chance.

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Car Woes

Not a happy bunny rabbit. Why? Simples. It’s called the Peugeot 207. Don’t get me wrong, the car is a lovely drive – when the engine oil is warm, and the gearbox doesn’t throw a hissy fit and throw a gearbox error at me.

So, as it was due to be serviced (which tied in nicely with the MOT), I thought I’d mention the gearbox… Now the service went ok, and the MOT? Not so good. The car failed. On one silly little thing that I hadn’t spotted – a small split in the side wall of the offside front. That was sorted (the spare tyre went on) and the car passed the MOT… However, that wasn’t the end of the story, far from it.

The engineer (I won’t insult the guy who worked on my car by calling him a mechanic – he’s too highly qualified!) who had the task of getting the information from the CPU on the car (see – I was right to call it “Plug & Pray!) managed to clear the error messages from the system, and they thought that might be the solenoids in the gearbox that are at fault.

So, I’ve got to drive the car “normally” (i.e. no letting the little monster idle for 5 minutes before starting the journey) for a couple of weeks or so, and see what happens, and then take it back to the dealer for the engineer to have another look at the error codes.

But, at least the dealership is trying to help me, so all I can do now is see what happens.

Ah well, time to escape – I need to get some sleep tonight. Back when I get the chance….

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Fuel Panic

Great. Just what I didn't need. Since the Unite union announced their intention to bring the fuel tankers out on strike, the coalition government has been running about like headless chickens, fuelling the panic buying of fuel.

It doesn’t help when you get idiots like Francis Maud saying that people should not only fill the tank on their car / van, but fill a Jerry Can as well. Then you get the Energy Secretary Ed Davey saying that there is no need to do that, but if you’re going past a fuel station, and you’ve got ½ tank, then fill up.

Ok – I don’t like going below ½ tank on the Peugeot, as I run the risk of dragging the crap that may have accumulated in the tank though into the fuel lines, so me filling up like that is part of my normal routine.

But the trip into work this morning was… Interesting. I go past a couple of garages – one is an independent local garage (I used to refuel there, but since it’s been taken over, the price has gone silly), and Sainsburys.

Now normally, the little independent garage has a couple of cars there, and Sainsburys is usually quite busy, as it’s a reasonable price, and the fuel is good. Not today. Today, they were queuing for fuel at the local garage, and Sainsburys? Well put it this way, I was waiting to hear the sirens howling down the road, to deal with an accident, as the queue was down onto the mini-roundabout by the retail park, and was starting to back up onto the main road.

So how does this affect me? The same as it affects most responsible drivers. The muppets who panic buy drain the fuel stations dry, meaning that when I need to refuel, I’m unable to get fuel, meaning that it’s more grey hair trying to find somewhere with fuel. Meaning that I add to the problems of people trying to find fuel…

Equally, it may well bugger my plans for the Easter break, as this time next week, I’m planning to head up to Cheshire Oaks for a shopping trip with Mum, and I won’t be very impressed if we have to cancel that, as I’ve been really looking forward to that (and I’ve booked the day off!)

All I will say is that the sooner the unions and the employers start talks at ACAS, the better this will be for everyone – me included!

Ah well, guess I should think about calling this quits – my lunch break is nearly over.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

More Potholes...

This comes from the BBC Website, and as per normal, I'll put my thoughts on this story at the end.

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

********************************************************************************

Pothole repairs cost £90m, says asphalt industry report

Councils spent £90m repairing 1.7 million potholes across England and Wales last year, a survey suggests.

Engineers, forced into short-term planning,

are unable to do preventative work, the report says

But it will still take more than a decade to clear the backlog, says the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) report.
 
Local authorities say that while repair costs have fallen, £10bn is still needed to bring roads up to standard.


Councils received £200m in emergency funds after freezing weather in 2011 exacerbated the problem and ministers say they recognise an "ongoing need".


Potholes are formed when water runs through cracks in road surfaces, freezes and so expands, causing the surface to rupture and creating a void which later caves in under the weight of vehicles.

However, the AIA report suggested two-thirds of local authorities had been unable to make good damage caused by the cold weather of 2010-11, despite the emergency funding and a milder winter this year.

'Decades of underfunding'


It said the number of complaints to local authorities from the public about the condition of roads increased by 10% last year.


AIA chairman Alan Mackenzie said: "Severe winter weather would not, in itself, produce a plague of potholes on well-maintained roads.

"These disastrous figures result from decades of underfunding and enforced short-term planning."

Highways engineers had been unable to carry out necessary preventative work, leaving one-in-five local authority roads with a life of less than five years, he added.

The report did not cover Scotland, where authorities paid out £1.7m over four years in compensation for damage to vehicles caused by potholes.

A recent AA study suggested Scotland had a higher number of potholes per mile than the rest of Britain.

The motoring organisation says its Streetwatch survey last October resulted in volunteers across Britain reporting 14.9 potholes on average, compared with 12.5 in 2010.

We need a new approach to stop this vicious circle of decline which causes danger to all road users

Edmund King
AA President

AA president Edmund King "We need a new approach to stop this vicious circle of decline which causes danger to all road users, particularly those on two wheels, and expensive damage to vehicles."

On Tuesday, MPs on the Public Accounts Committee warned the UK's road network could deteriorate as a result of cuts in road maintenance spending.


'Chasing tails'


Overall savings would not be made if this ultimately led to higher repair costs and more claims by motorists against councils for damage to their vehicles, it said.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said the average cost of filling potholes had reduced from £64 to £48 apiece in the last two years.

But its economy and transport board chairman Peter Box said: "Councils are currently stuck in the position of chasing their tails, repeatedly patching up a deteriorating network rather then fixing it properly."

Increased central government funding would save billions of pounds in the long term, he added.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said the government was providing £3bn to councils for road maintenance between 2011 and 2015.

"I recognise there is an ongoing need for highways maintenance that can't be fixed overnight," he added.

**************************************************************************
Ok - so the roads need repairing.  Fine.  I thought that was the idea of the so-called "road fund licence" was so that the UK roads are kept in reasonable repair, instead of being used to swell the coffers of the bloody government.It appears to me, that the motorist (be you a biker, car driver or HGV driver) are seen as "cash cows" to prop up the coffers. 

Right. If we're going to be treated like this, then surely we have the privilege if not the right, to demand that our roads are kept in reasonable repair, so that we don't have to fight the insurance companies and the local authorities to get them to accept that we have damaged our vehicles / had accidents because of the poor state of the roads.

As I've said in the past, would it be possible for my family to get the 4.8 potholes repaired that we damned well pay for???

Italian Police Car

GALLARDO POLICE CAR


The new Italian Lamborghini Gallardo police car at its unveiling ceremony, one of two new high speed patrol cars in the Italian police force, needed to catch speeding drivers:

What a car!






Pity they couldn't find someone who could drive it...

Mamma Mia!




They don't seem to have any better luck steering ships, either!

Car Hiccups

I was late into the office this morning, and the reason? Hiccups. Not mine – the car’s. I thought I had seen the back of the dreaded gearbox error message on the car when I had the sensor replaced in March, the car seemed to settle down and didn’t give me any problems.

Ok – so it seemed a little reluctant to pull away a couple of times, and I put it down to the fact that I was on the white line, meaning that the tyre couldn’t get the necessary traction… It was the same this morning, then it threw the dreaded error. Thank god its not done it when Mum’s been in the car – she would have been really worried, thinking that the car had a major problem. I admit it is a problem, but it’s one that I can deal with.

So one trip in to Arbury Peugeot (having confirmed that there were no warning lights on other than the blasted gearbox warning on the main display, I was able to get some coolant, and was told to wait until the car was cold and level, then do the top up, to bring the car back up to where it should be.

Needless to say, this will be something that I will keep a close eye on, as the last thing that I want is the car frying itself.

Ah well, guess I should be doing some w*rk, but I have a case of TNFI, and it’s only Tuesday.

Back when I get the chance…


Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

On-the-spot fines planned for careless driving

This was announced this morning, and this seems to be rather interesting… The BBC has got this on it’s website…. As normal, I’ll post my thoughts at the end.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

*********************************************************************************

Police will get powers to fine careless drivers on the spot, rather than taking them to court, as part of a government strategy to make Britain's roads safer.

Ministers say motorists who tail-gate, undertake or cut others up often go unpunished and that introducing instant penalties would be more efficient.

Offenders would get a fine of at least £80 and three points on their licence.

Critics say the approach - likely to be introduced in 2012 in England, Scotland and Wales - is too simplistic.

Drug crackdown

Currently motorists who have driven in a careless manner have to be prosecuted through the courts.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will give a written statement to MPs on Wednesday explaining the new strategy for England, Scotland and Wales.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it would also include a crackdown on drug-driving and the closing of loopholes that allow people to escape drink-driving charges.

Disqualified drivers would have to undergo retraining, and possibly take another test, before they got their licence back.

Courts would be encouraged to make more use of their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.

Ministers insist the new approach will try to target genuinely reckless motorists rather than those who normally follow the rules but make an inadvertent mistake.

There will be support for new drivers who need to hone their driving skills, and wider range of retraining and education courses for cases of less-serious offences.

'Greatest danger'

A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement.

"By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer.

"While seeking to do everything possible to tackle the most dangerous drivers, the strategy will also help the responsible majority to improve their driving.

"This is the government's twin approach to improving road safety."

But the Institute of Advanced Motorists  said on-the-spot fines were not necessarily the right approach for careless driving because, unlike speeding, cases were often not clear-cut.

It also said their introduction could make police reluctant to enter into lengthy prosecutions even in more serious cases.

*********************************************************************************

Good idea in theory, as it should mean that there are more traffic officers on the roads, but in practise? Not going to work, as the budget cuts as the police are losing staff left, rights and centre. Equally, what one person considers careless, another may not see any problem with…

So I’ll reserve judgment and see what happens, as I can see this plan not making any further than the ideas stage…


K

On-the-spot fines planned for careless driving

This was announced this morning, and this seems to be rather interesting… The BBC has got this on it’s website…. As normal, I’ll post my thoughts at the end.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

********************************************************************************************************
Police will get powers to fine careless drivers on the spot, rather than taking them to court, as part of a government strategy to make Britain's roads safer.

Ministers say motorists who tail-gate, undertake or cut others up often go unpunished and that introducing instant penalties would be more efficient.

Offenders would get a fine of at least £80 and three points on their licence.

Critics say the approach - likely to be introduced in 2012 in England, Scotland and Wales - is too simplistic.

Drug crackdown

Currently motorists who have driven in a careless manner have to be prosecuted through the courts.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will give a written statement to MPs on Wednesday explaining the new strategy for England, Scotland and Wales.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it would also include a crackdown on drug-driving and the closing of loopholes that allow people to escape drink-driving charges.

Disqualified drivers would have to undergo retraining, and possibly take another test, before they got their licence back.

Courts would be encouraged to make more use of their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.

Ministers insist the new approach will try to target genuinely reckless motorists rather than those who normally follow the rules but make an inadvertent mistake.

There will be support for new drivers who need to hone their driving skills, and wider range of retraining and education courses for cases of less-serious offences.

'Greatest danger'

A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement.

"By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer.

"While seeking to do everything possible to tackle the most dangerous drivers, the strategy will also help the responsible majority to improve their driving.

"This is the government's twin approach to improving road safety."

But the Institute of Advanced Motorists  said on-the-spot fines were not necessarily the right approach for careless driving because, unlike speeding, cases were often not clear-cut.

It also said their introduction could make police reluctant to enter into lengthy prosecutions even in more serious cases.

*********************************************************************************

Good idea in theory, as it should mean that there are more traffic officers on the roads, but in practise? Not going to work, as the budget cuts as the police are losing staff left, rights and centre. Equally, what one person considers careless, another may not see any problem with…

So I’ll reserve judgment and see what happens, as I can see this plan not making any further than the ideas stage…


K

Things that make you go “Smeg”

The car service for one. My 207 has had its 40,000 service, and it flagged a couple of issues… One of them being that the rear exhaust bracket (it’s corroded) and the other being a temperature senor that was leaking.

Now I know that the car has thrown its toys out of the pram a few weeks ago, when it threw the gearbox error at me… It turns out that this sensor could have been the reason for the snatchy gear changes when the little monster was cold. So, Arbury have sorted the sensor, and all I have to do is go and collect the little monster (without getting nabbed by the sales team, who seem to be desperate for the monster!)

Ah well, time to log off and go and collect the beastie…

Back when I get chance.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

That’s what’s been happening just recently. If things can go wrong, they have done. I had the car serviced – ok – not an issue there – until I got a call from the garage to say that there was a problem, and a couple of advisories….

Now I hate it when I get that sort of call. It turned out that the problem was a blasted sensor on the cooling system that had decided to start leaking. Ok – not a major leak – but it was one of those little nasties that could develop into a major problem – and it would be just my luck for it to go when I was on the motorway.

The advisory was to say that the offside front tyre had 3.5mm left on the tread (the UK legal limit is 1.6mm) and that the back box on the exhaust pipe is showing signs of corrosion.

So, the sensor was replaced, and the car seems to be running ok. Thankfully, it looks like this sensor problem has sorted out the gearbox issue (but I still keep the little monster in full auto mode until it’s got some heat into the engine!)

The tyres can wait until I can get the tyres that I want, as I know what suits both the car and me, but the back box I’ll ask for a second opinion , as I don’t want to rush off out and spend money needlessly on the car…

Ah well, time to call it quits – I’ve got stuff to sort out before I pick the car up.

Back later…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Spider web fire risk prompts Mazda6 recall

Some things you just can’t make up – and this is one of them.

Enjoy.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

***************************************************************************

Japanese carmaker Mazda has announced it is recalling 65,000 cars in North and Central America because of concerns over spiders in the fuel system. 

A Mazda spokesman said dealers had found 20 cases where webs of yellow sac spiders were found in a vent line.

The company said this could increase pressure in the fuel tank, leading to possible cracks and a risk of fire.

Dealers will check the cars for cracks, clean out any webs and install a spring in the line to keep out the spiders.

About 50,000 Mazda6 vehicles from the 2009-10 model years are being recalled in the United States, with another 15,000 in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes said it was not clear why the yellow sac spider liked to build nests in the Mazda6.

"Perhaps yellow sac spiders like to go zoom-zoom?" he joked, referring to Mazda's advertising slogan for the car.

The company said it did not know of any accidents or fires caused by the spider webs.

MOT and brakes…

Well, this title sums up what the car has needed doing today. It’s hard to believe that my 207 is three years old this month.

But that’s not the thing that’s bugging the hell out of me. I got a call from the lass on the service desk at the main dealer (where the car was taken for the MOT) to advise me the car had passed the MOT ok, but there was an issue.

The brake pads were at 10%, and need changing, at a cost of £205. Ok – not a problem, if it needs doing so be it. But then I realised that I’d had the car serviced at the end of July, and was told that the brake pads were at 50%.

Now had I been driving like a moron, and standing on the brakes, and specialising in last minute braking, I could have possibly understood this. But as I’ve been quite gentle with the car (it doesn’t drink as much petrol that way) I am less than impressed, as I estimate I have done a maximum of 3,500 miles since the car was serviced, so I doubt very much that I have been able to use 40% in such a short time.

So as I type this, I have steam coming out of my ears, as I seriously wonder if I made a bad mistake when I swapped my beloved 206 for the 207. Don’t get me wrong – the 207 is great fun to drive, and is fast enough to get me both into and out of trouble.

However, the 206 had a similar mileage on it, and I had no problems with the brakes at all. So either Peugeot has cheapened the components, or my driving style has altered radically. And my money is on the cheapened components.

Ah well, time to call this rant quits – it’s nearly the end of my lunch break, and I’m still fuming.

Back later if I get the chance.


Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

“Bee Wing” Impact

A term given to the type of impact damage that my windscreen has suffered. Again. This is the second screen that has been damaged in the past 7 months, and to be honest, I’m more than a tad fed up. Simply because it’s dratted inconvenient to get Auto Glass (who are very good) to come out and have a look at the damage.

The worst part is, with this grotty weather, the road surfaces are breaking up, meaning that you get more stones / boulders available, which means that you run the risk of more screen damage.

I wouldn’t complain so much if the money that I fork out to the government for the “Road Fund” for my car (£175.00) was used to maintain the roads, but somehow I get the feeling that the motorist is just a convenient source of revenue – in effect a “cash cow” to subsidise things the more “fashionable” things.

Ok – maybe the motorist isn’t a saint, but I object to being charged “Road Fund Licence” when the money is certainly not spent repairing the roads.

Ah well - guess I should call this quits - I'm supposed to be working, not blogging, but I'm suffering TNFI - and it's only Monday!

Back later...

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most