What's made you grumpy today?

[brinker]

Went to the recycling station yesterday, with the trailer filled with cut-offs from the garden. There was a bit of a queue, to drop of garden cut-offs, as can be expected this time a year. Some old bloke thought it was ok to jump me in the queue, because as he said "I only have these 2 bags of stuff, you have an entire trailer"... I tried reasoning with him, telling him it was no different than queuing up in the supermarket, but to no avail - was complete unable to knock any sense into his head. Maybe I should've just dumped my cut-offs directly in front of his car..

 

[portland_bill]

Went to the recycling station yesterday, with the trailer filled with cut-offs from the garden. There was a bit of a queue, to drop of garden cut-offs, as can be expected this time a year. Some old bloke thought it was ok to jump me in the queue, because as he said "I only have these 2 bags of stuff, you have an entire trailer"... I tried reasoning with him, telling him it was no different than queuing up in the supermarket, but to no avail - was complete unable to knock any sense into his head. Maybe I should've just dumped my cut-offs directly in front of his car..

With that wonderful logic, you could be there all day, as those with less to dump move ahead.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

One thing lockdown has highlighted is how quiet a neighbourhood can be. So much unnecessary noise. I am however, quickly developing from miserable git, to angry and intolerant instead. There are two particular dogs that need shooting, or better still, two pairs of owners that need shooting.

Yesterday, just before 3pm, a Halfords 'Mobile Expert' van arrived opposite, parked on the footpath, and sat with his engine running, while the driver played on his phone.
Potential offences:
Driving on the footpath.
Idling the engine for longer than necessary.
Using a mobile device while in charge of a motor vehicle.
(If dealt with by fixed penalty notices, that'd be 12 points, and £400. So would have to go to court for consideration of a ban.)

Social offence: Irritating the hell out of residents with the drone of the idling engine.

After 30 minutes of this irritation, and him wasting his employer's money, as well as the environmental effect, I wandered across, in his blind spot, and arrived beside him, took him by surprise. (win)
I asked him straight, why was he here.
"Waiting for my client"
"You don't need to do that with the engine running". No aircon, so no excuse there.
"I'll need it running when I'm working on the car, fitting two tyres, to keep the compressor running, and the tyre fitting equipment."
I pointed out that as his client was not there yet, the engine was not required, and explained, firmly, that he was committing three offences. He thought that with the vehicle in neutral, and the handbrake on, he was ok to use the phone. Oops. Straightened that one out then, or so I thought.

Engine did go off.

At 4:00pm, his client arrived. Not here, but about 75yds up the road, behind him. So he reversed his van, quite quickly, all the way up to the client's house. That's another offence then, reversing further than necessary. (Another potential £100/3 points)

Didn't take him long to fit two tyres, and he was back, opposite, at 4:23pm, again leaving the engine running, while setting the satnav in his phone, again hand-held. Learnt nothing then. He then got out of the van, leaving the engine running, while he disappeared into the side door to tidy up inside. Windows open, work phone now in a bracket just inside the window, and his personal phone on the seat, within reach of the window. Easy to walk up to the offside, and take them both.
I challenged him again about the engine running, and again use of the phone. At least he hurriedly shut the side door and drove off.
Getting out of a vehicle and leaving the engine running, is another offence, "quitting a motor vehicle". Dates back to early cars which may run off on thier own. Still on the statute books, only acceptable justification is 'for diagnosis purposes'. So beware when scraping the ice off in the winter, if the car is on a public road.

We'll see what feedback we get from his company. Already got a nice acknowledgment, showing concern, and passed to his depot. The fun continues.

People leaving engines needlessly idling irritates the hell out of me. And most of the time with cars it always seems to be bloody diesel drivers for some reason :bang:

 

[StevenRB45]

People leaving engines needlessly idling irritates the hell out of me. And most of the time with cars it always seems to be bloody diesel drivers for some reason :bang:

It's probably just you can't hear an idling petrol 3 streets away.

Always amusing sneaking up on people in the port injected Mazda. Compared to a modern DI engine pretty much zero operating noise at low speed. Number of people who just wander in car parks along unaware there's 4.5 metres of car rolling along at a walking pace slightly behind them.

I want an "Ahem" horn as even a short toot in a multi story when they could pretty much reach back and touch the car is very loud and makes them jump about 3 foot high and you look like a prat.

Will get myself one of the starwars sound effects they fit to electric cars one day

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Always amusing sneaking up on people in the port injected Mazda. Compared to a modern DI engine pretty much zero operating noise at low speed.

I want an "Ahem" horn

Will get myself one of the starwars sound effects they fit to electric cars one day

Oh yes, my wee direct injected Ibiza sounds like a right bag of nails, especially when cold. I'm not sure what's louder the injectors or the roller type cam followers. Then there's the gearbox which seems to be filled with water! certainly at that consistency it can't be oil can it? Anyway it rattles and clatters away to itself as well. The Panda makes a small rattle from her cam followers just 'till the oil reaches them when you start her up after that she sounds like a Rolls Royce in comparison!

I like the idea of a "polite" horn but I like the idea of a Star Wars horn even better. Maybe a copy of R2-D2 chatting with C-3PO or Chewy? but he might be too frightening?

 

[StevenRB45]

I like the idea of a "polite" horn but I like the idea of a Star Wars horn even better. Maybe a copy of R2-D2 chatting with C-3PO or Chewy? but he might be too frightening?

Would it be more or less frightening if you wound the window down and did your own?

It's one of those things last car had an absolutely none threatening cheery "bip bip" horn so you could kinda get away with it. This one nah, very serious sounding dual horns, so it is very much "get out of the damn way!!!"

Half the time end up awkwardly stalking people until another car gets stuck behind and they hear that or they eventually glance over their shoulder and then jump.

Not a daily inconvenience by any means but always a bit worrying when people have literally no idea you're a few feet behind them..

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Half the time end up awkwardly stalking people until another car gets stuck behind and they hear that or they eventually glance over their shoulder and then jump.

Not a daily inconvenience by any means but always a bit worrying when people have literally no idea you're a few feet behind them..

Quite possibly as a result of a misspent youth and some "dodgy" folk I would bump into from time to time, Possibly as a result of the combat training we were given at many ACF summer camps, but more likely gained from 6 years of working in old style live pit lanes at motor race meetings, I'm always well aware of anything going on around me, especially behind me. I'm frequently amazed at people's lack of awareness regarding their surroundings and the hazard this creates.

Covid also made me very aware of peoples spacial awareness/orientation, or lack of it. Mostly from observations in supermarkets but also from my daily walks on the old railway routes which are now hard surfaced walkways. Mrs J is very poor at this. She just doesn't seem to be very aware of others around her especially when in full shopping mode. I've now several times had to actually grab her arm and pull her to one side to explain how nervous she was making someone by standing too close to them at a counter or wherever. My personal observation is that whilst some males do this, many more females tend to. - sorry girls, just what I've observed.

 

[portland_bill]

When the aircon is running, the fans are often very noisy, and this announces your presence quite well, but still there are those that have no idea you are there. I like to get as close as possible, and just wait for them to notice. Frightens them a treat.

I wonder if one of those battery operated doorbells, mounted behind the bumper might be effective?

I'm seriously thinking about mounting a pair of loud horns behind the rear bumper, to awaken those behind, who when in queues, focus on thier phone, whilst gently drifting forward.

These posts reminded me of a lovely moment with a learner, quite a few years ago.
We stopped at a pelican crossing.
Just as we got the amber flashing lights, a young lad drifted off the kerb opposite, walking very slowly across the road, focussed intently on his phone. As he crossed, his pace slowed, until he stopped, right in front of us. We had had a green light for a few moments by then, and of course following traffic just assume it is the learner's fault.
When lad had stepped off the pavement, my learner had given a quite loud 'tut'. Now she was seriously miffed. "What do I do now?" she asked. "What are the options?" was my reply.
"OOH!" she exclaimed, and parped the horn, quite a nice horn on the Corsa C. Lad jumped in fright, dropped his phone. Slightly more delay, while he picked up the three pieces of phone.

Nowadays, the stop/start function can be useful in similar situations. The noise of the engine starting usually alerts people. It is like a subtle threat. Can't think of a better advantage of stop/start.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I wonder if one of those battery operated doorbells, mounted behind the bumper might be effective?

I'm seriously thinking about mounting a pair of loud horns behind the rear bumper, to awaken those behind, who when in queues, focus on thier phone, whilst gently drifting forward.

Nowadays, the stop/start function can be useful in similar situations. The noise of the engine starting usually alerts people. It is like a subtle threat. Can't think of a better advantage of stop/start.

Oh yes, wonderful idea, I think one which sounds like tubular bells would be good, something like the chimes before they make an announcement at the airport perhaps?

Another wonderful idea - the rearward facing horns!

At last, someone suggesting something stop/start might actually be useful for! - now how about hill hold?

 

[Didge3]

Compared to a modern DI engine pretty much zero operating noise at low speed. Number of people who just wander in car parks along unaware there's 4.5 metres of car rolling along at a walking pace slightly behind them.

I want an "Ahem" horn as even a short toot in a multi story when they could pretty much reach back and touch the car is very loud and makes them jump about 3 foot high and you look like a prat.

Will get myself one of the starwars sound effects they fit to electric cars one day

I have the same issue in the Ampera, although there isn't any noise at all, does get a bit hazardous in carparks and sometimes following cyclists on single carriage roads as they often remain two abreast not knowing I'm behind.
The 'noise' generation devices weren't a thing when the Ampera was built so it has no such device but it does have a pedestrian horn! There's a button on the end of the indicator stalk, I think it uses the same horn as the angry steering wheel one but at a lower volume

 

[portland_bill]

At last, someone suggesting something stop/start might actually be useful for! - now how about hill hold?

Hill hold gives me mixed feelings. Only necessary with electronic parking brakes, as hill starts otherwise are a struggle.

Hill hold only operates for a few seconds, then lets go, or that's the theory. Enough to allow finding of the clutch bite point. Most these days sense the tug, then release, but early Audis released from the clutch pedal switch, so as soon as the clutch lifted slightly off the floor, it let go, often before the bite point was found, causing a roll back, just what it is supposed to prevent.

Some hold a little too long, allowing owners to forget to apply the parking brake, step out, and let their car wander off down a hill. New cars now automatically apply the parking brake if you step out. Some as the door is opened, a pain for diagnosis or maintenance purposes, some from a seat sensor. Some require both door open, and weight off the seat.

Early Renault Laguna would prevent parking on slopes, fighting all the way. There's a guy near here, still parks his on the road, leaving his sloping drive clear. Had it since new, been told by garage it is standard. I'd have inserted the car in the salesman.

Had a bit of trouble with hill hold on supermarket vans recently, not letting go, causing stalls. Can't turn them off on the Sprinter van, unless it is buried in a menu somewhere.

 

[portland_bill]

I have the same issue in the Ampera, although there isn't any noise at all, does get a bit hazardous in carparks and sometimes following cyclists on single carriage roads as they often remain two abreast not knowing I'm behind.
The 'noise' generation devices weren't a thing when the Ampera was built so it has no such device but it does have a pedestrian horn! There's a button on the end of the indicator stalk, I think it uses the same horn as the angry steering wheel one but at a lower volume

Was driving an ID3 last week. It generated a noise, up to about 18mph I think, but was a strange noise, not associated with a moving vehicle, so I'm not sure it will be as effective as it should. I see an opportunity for aftermarket noise generators. Harley Davidson? V8 rumble? Acclerating train? Wind chimes?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Made me grumpy? Well yes, because I thought I was sure about this one and now I'm not.

The question causing this "grumpiness" is Twink's (our Ibiza) cam belt. It's now 5 years 4 months old and I'm starting to feel a little twitchy about it as that's the sort of time interval many would be needing renewed. I'd pretty much made my mind up to get our VAG indy (AVW Autocentre) to do the deed for me and I'm about to book it in with them but thought this morning I'd ring the main SEAT dealer for a comparison quote - just to see if I'm saving much at AVW.

Why do you want it changed the service desk asked me. Because, at 5+ years old, I recon it must be needing it I replied. You know there's no recommended time/mileage interval on these engines don't you? Well I do remember the salesman saying something about the belt being a "lifetime" fitment when I was looking into buying one but I thought they'd changed their mind on that. No, said he, the belt gets inspected for cracking at every service and changed only when necessary. He finished up by saying they haven't done one yet as far as he knows!

I really don't like the sound of that as a maintenance regime. My experience of timing belts is that when you look at them they look absolutely fine, then you look at them again and they look absolutely fine and, in general, they continue to look absolutely fine until, one day, they suddenly go BANG! (always supposing a tensioner bearing or something else doesn't fail first) So I've asked him to price the job for me anyway and he's going to ring me back. He finished up by saying, I thought rather rudely, "Oh well, it's your money I suppose"

At the end of the day it won't be them doing it anyway and if they haven't actually done one then that's probably a good thing. I know AVW have changed a few and have the tools to do the job and I think I'm going to play safe and just get them to do it as we are planning a wee staycation soon and hopefully a trip down to Devon/Salisbury at some time and I don't want to be worrying about it on a "smart" part of the M6

I think these wee EA211 series engines first came into use in SEATs around 2015? and if they genuinely have never done a belt some of them must be at pretty high mileages now. I'm feeling very sceptical about their advice.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hill hold gives me mixed feelings. Only necessary with electronic parking brakes, as hill starts otherwise are a struggle.

Hill hold only operates for a few seconds, then lets go, or that's the theory.
Some hold a little too long,

Electronic parking brakes? Oh Satan tempt me not to comment other that to say WHY?

I find the hill hold on the Ibiza hangs on for about twice as long as I would like it too. I've found ways to defeat it though, not least of which being that I simply apply the hand brake whenever I'm stationary anywhere - makes brake light bulbs last much much longer too!

 

[StevenRB45]

Another wonderful idea - the rearward facing horns!

At last, someone suggesting something stop/start might actually be useful for! - now how about hill hold?

Just fit aftermarket Parking sensors, to keep the wiring to a minimum usually spliced into the reverse light for a power supply and then the speaker and gubbins in the boot. In my case it's in the jack compartment behind the rear light, by the time you've turned the volume up enough to hear it in the drivers seat anyone walking past the rear of the car gets the full top gun "target lock" sound effect. Bebebebebboooop!

Also hill start assist makes sitting on the foot brake for minutes on end less stressful...that's totally a good thing. Citroën one doesn't drag brakes etc, seems to work fine, just only ever useful on an uphill stop sign that's local where people park terribly either side of a blind junction. You can peep forward, get on the brake if someone is coming and not worry about rolling back but not a huge help. However you need to request it old Subaru style by firmly pressing the brake, it holds the pressure you applied so if you've just gently stopped it'll happily roll backwards.

I actually like stop/start, a well engineered system that works predictably and is fitted to an engine that has been engineered with it in mind (I.e. no crank driven pumps for oil and belt driven water pumps) is no problem at all. Can predict exactly what it's going to do and when most days. Can see exactly why a bad system is a pain in the arse though...

 

[varesecrazy]

Made me grumpy?

I think these wee EA211 series engines first came into use in SEATs around 2015? and if they genuinely have never done a belt some of them must be at pretty high mileages now. I'm feeling very sceptical about their advice.

Im 'in the market' for one of these motors Jock

Apparently launched @2011..chain diven

Revised @2015 .. belt driven

Chains were problematic ....

But belt is 'fitted for life'

I read its check at 5 years and annually thereafter..

So my purchase will be due a check very quickly

 

[StevenRB45]

Im 'in the market' for one of these motors Jock

Apparently launched @2011..chain diven

Revised @2015 .. belt driven

Chains were problematic ....

But belt is 'fitted for life'

I read its check at 5 years and annually thereafter..

So my purchase will be due a check very quickly

Always wonder what it is about German engineering that makes rubber last longer than metal...

 

[portland_bill]

Made me grumpy? Well yes, because I thought I was sure about this one and now I'm not.

The question causing this "grumpiness" is Twink's (our Ibiza) cam belt. It's now 5 years 4 months old and I'm starting to feel a little twitchy about it as that's the sort of time interval many would be needing renewed. I'd pretty much made my mind up to get our VAG indy (AVW Autocentre) to do the deed for me and I'm about to book it in with them but thought this morning I'd ring the main SEAT dealer for a comparison quote - just to see if I'm saving much at AVW.

I've got an electronic service manual. Not sure of its origins, but it lists a service schedule for Russian and Australian markets. (odd)
For Russian markets, it says inspect the cambelt at 4yrs/60,000km (38,000 miles).
Same engines, but Australian market, inspect the belt at 90,000km (56000 miles) and replace at 7yrs or 105000km (66000 miles)
Perhaps the hotter climate necessitates the change.
My 1.2 Fabia is now 6.5 years old, so I was bracing myself for a cambelt change next January. Maybe not. Only on 39000 miles now.

Just fit aftermarket Parking sensors, to keep the wiring to a minimum usually spliced into the reverse light for a power supply and then the speaker and gubbins in the boot. In my case it's in the jack compartment behind the rear light, by the time you've turned the volume up enough to hear it in the drivers seat anyone walking past the rear of the car gets the full top gun "target lock" sound effect. Bebebebebboooop!

Not sure how that would help prevent cars from rolling inot the back of the car when stopped in a queue, and the driver is faffing with their phone instead of securing the car properly.

 

[portland_bill]

Idiot in a Lotus Elise earlier today.

50mph road, just him and another car ahead.
Behind me, a Land Rover Freelander, trying to drive faster than the queue, and keeping advancing and dropping back. Seemed to be in deep conversation with his passenger, not paying attention forwards, so a definite risk.
Behind him, a Transit, very impatient, following the Land Rover very closely, and just pushing.
Ahead, a right turn, with a protected lane in the centre. Front car signals and moves right, into the protected lane.
Elise suddenly decides he wishes to go there too, so just stops beside the other car.
I've got time and space to stop, but have to manage the clowns behind, to wake them up, get them stopping, without squashing the Panda. Also making my actual stopping point close to the Elise, so that if I am hit, he will be too. Let's see fibreglass shatter then.
No collision. But he did get earache from my horns. (Twin Fiaam, not the standard parp.)

 

[StevenRB45]

Not sure how that would help prevent cars from rolling inot the back of the car when stopped in a queue, and the driver is faffing with their phone instead of securing the car properly.

If the big red lights on the back of the car in front, it's sheer physical presence and a forward facing horn won't stop them...I doubt shooting the sound in the other direction would prevent much either

If I'm honest I was still thinking of clueless pedestrians, specifically the ones who walk into your blind spot while reverse parking and then proceed to cross behind you.

In that case both you and them get an audible warning they are doing something stupid as the parking sensors work a few feet either side as well as directly back so go off if someone standing beside the C pillar steps towards the rear.