What's made you grumpy today?

[portland_bill]

It appears the people who did the PDI were as blind as they were brainless! Damage is long done. They didn't even use the correct size of screw and the number plate started to hang off! I have now installed nylon bolts and re treated the rust. Anyone doing this to any new car of mine would find it rejected on the spot. What brasses me off so much is having now to nurse this to keep the tin worms out. I think the Fiat Dealer in Diss are to be avoided!

Fitting number plates seems to have always been a problem for most dealers. Such a simple task, but never enough care taken. My Panda has four plastic nuts in the tailgate for the plate, but only two are used. At least they used them, rather than drilling new holes.

A poorly fitted number plate can really detract from a car's looks. So many are not central to the car, or worse, not straight, or both. It just takes a little more time to get it right.

Back in the early eighties, when I worked at a large Rover dealership, we had two very good lads, who made up cardboard templates for every model, to ensure all plates were fitted centrally and straight. Of course, no-one ever noticed, which was the point.

I recently saw a new Bentley, with its rear plate offset and lower at one end. Just naff.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Our boss at the wee DAF garage was very particular about number plates being fitted "just right". I like the idea of templates you mention PB, wonder why it never occurred to us to do that.

Putting the number plates on the new cars was always a job for the apprentice and I think I told you all of the incident where two cars of the same model went out with one set of matching plates on the front and one set on the back (ie, same numbers on the front of both and same, but different, numbers on the rear) That one caused considerable embarrassment! Our boss would often wander around the showroom when cars were due to be collected by customers which was quite nice as he was very good with the customers and made many of the customers feel more valued to be attended to directly by the garage owner. However if a plate wasn't located just to his liking he'd very quickly have the apprentice out there with his screwdriver adjusting it 'till it was "just right". On that day he must have been concentrating so much on the positioning that he missed the fact that these two cars, which were standing side by side, both had the same plates on the front and same on the rear! Maybe "the lad" had suffered the same distraction, concentrating too hard on the positioning and not enough on the plates themselves?

 

[portland_bill]

I remember a time, nearing August 1st, when the registration change was at that point, when a stack of plates fell over. Unsurprisingly, they didn't get restacked quite in the right order, resulting in a row of cars with the rear plates tranposed one car along the row. About half needed remaking, as screw holes needed to be in different places. Did get rectified before delivery of any vehicle.

A few years ago, when we still had tax discs, I went to a fleet customer for some driver training. "Your lucky day" said the manager, handing over the keys to a brand new van. Sadly, not to be. Front and rear plates did not match, and neither matched the tax disc. Scanning around the yard, you could play spot the pair, with a rear plate on this, matching a front on another, etc. They'd taken delivery of 6 new vans, none of which had a matching set of plates and tax disc. The manager thought it was not a problem, as they had all six, all were taxed and insured, so the plates would all point back to them anyway. I disagreed. They had to check VINs, then swap plates and discs to match. We got a very old LDV van to train in instead.

Occasionally find front and rear plates not matching. Usually the result of a replaced plate, and careless writing/reading of the number.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The manager thought it was not a problem, as they had all six, all were taxed and insured, so the plates would all point back to them anyway. I disagreed.

I'm with you on that one PB. I've always understood that "the buck" stops with the driver of the vehicle so the driver would have been on the firing line if stopped by an observant policeman or other relevant person. I find myself wondering what your liability as a trainer in the passenger seat might be in this circumstance?

 

[mowermender70]

paj you have just reminded me back in the early sixtys had a bsa c15 m/c fitted a fairing as you do put the stick on no plates with all the nos i thought great looks good . a couple of months later stopped by the fuzz on his velo water called 250 twin .alright son which one is it front or back back 764 con front con764 whoops changed it there and then and he helped me

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

stopped by the fuzz on his velo water called 250 twin

Velocette LE? Was that what was called a "Noddy bike". Takes me back to my student days riding around London on my Mobylette moped in the 1960's. I always liked the sound of these police bikes, quite quiet but "purposeful" I always thought? Some of the "Bobbies" could really make them move too!

Ps, one of my pals had a C15, another a Triumph Tiger Cub and I had a Bantam. Always coveted the Tiger Cub!

 

[portland_bill]

The manager thought it was not a problem, as they had all six, all were taxed and insured, so the plates would all point back to them anyway. I disagreed.

I'm with you on that one PB. I've always understood that "the buck" stops with the driver of the vehicle so the driver would have been on the firing line if stopped by an observant policeman or other relevant person. I find myself wondering what your liability as a trainer in the passenger seat might be in this circumstance?

The buck certainly stops with the driver, which is why good companies give drivers a checklist, that must be carried out. Sometimes before every journey, sometimes daily, and some weekly/monthly lists. Surprisingly I meet people who have ticked all the boxes for months, but have to think before locating the bonnet release.

As a trainer of a qualified driver, I'm just a passenger, but any such query would reflect badly on me, and could result in my contract being cancelled. During each training session, I give a demonstration drive, and that is not going to happen if things are not right.

 

[pooroldcodger]

The rear plate fell off mine recently. Luckily it was on my drive at the time not away from home so I noticed straight away.
It had been stuck on by the dealership with double sided tape only. Over time with the back end of the car sat in the direct sun the tape had dried out.

 

[portland_bill]

The rear plate fell off mine recently. Luckily it was on my drive at the time not away from home so I noticed straight away.
It had been stuck on by the dealership with double sided tape only. Over time with the back end of the car sat in the direct sun the tape had dried out.

The double-sided tape was introduced to remove the need to drill holes, so preventing rust, as well as avoiding screws in wrong places, so seems like a good idea. But, it does need care when fixing.

Yours has just dried out due to frequent heat exposure, which is disappointing, but at least you know you can remove them if necessary. The plastic trim panels on the doors on my Alessi are fixed with similar stuff, and the driver's door is trying to peel in one place. I'm reluctant to try to remove and reaffix, as beign old plastic, it is likely to break and I doubt I'll ever see another except on a car.

The number plate fixings need to be fitted when warm and dry. Plate, car and sticky pad all need to be warm. Good garages will keep the car inside overnight, and fit them when all is room temperature. Others will bring the car in, wipe it with a cloth, and slap the plate on. On a hot sunny day, this works. On a cold winter day, they may fall off within a week. (As experience tells) If fitted warm, they seem to stick well.

 

[mowermender70]

paj thinking about bikes, 6th sept 1962 black day for me was knocked off my cotton double glouster 250 sports twin ended up in hospital for a month and off work for 32 weeks over the next 2 years to and throw to hospital and in 64 lost fingers on left hand , still plays up and knee now begining to do same still you only live once,next year will be 60years of pain

 

[chr1s]

Five years ago we had a holiday in Austria, but collected our hire car from Munich Airport and drove across the border. Mid-way through the week I noticed that the registration on the tax disc (or German equivalent) was one number out from the registration plates. Fortunately there were no issues during the rental. When I returned the car I pointed this out, but who knows whether they sorted it - they didn't seem very interested.
I assume that they had another car with the complementary mistake and would need to have them both together to swap the tax discs around.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

paj thinking about bikes, 6th sept 1962 black day for me was knocked off my cotton double glouster 250 sports twin ended up in hospital for a month and off work for 32 weeks over the next 2 years to and throw to hospital and in 64 lost fingers on left hand , still plays up and knee now begining to do same still you only live once,next year will be 60years of pain

Sorry to hear of your injuries fella. However I doubt if anyone who has ridden bikes for any length of time is without their "reminders". I count myself as exceptionally lucky never to have broken a bone (not on a bike anyway) or caused myself serious disfigurement due to being "caught out" on a bike but I do have a rather good scar on my knee and various other minor "imperfections" caused by youthful poor judgement. One of my most spectacular efforts was when descending the mound here in Edinburgh on my Trials Bantam in the pouring rain. The bike had knobbly tyres and the front just washed out depositing me, thankfully at quite a low speed in the road right in front of the bus which was following. He managed to stop without any drama and the Bantam didn't even stall. As I picked it up I noticed he was clapping me with a big smile on his face.

Cotton Motorcycles? I haven't heard that name for many years. I tend to associate them with trials and scrambling (nowadays called Moto Cross I think?) A revered name from the past like Greaves, Ariel, Bultaco, Montesa, etc. Ah, happy days out on the hills with your young pals, We were invincible!

 

[DaveMcT]

I used bikes for many years but have only a broken wrist to show for it and no long term issues. Periodically, whacking my head on low pipes/scaffolding) at work (and causing whiplash damage) has been far more of a long term issue.

 

[Cheest]

Work finished on the Jeep, save for the front axle U-joints. Took it for an extended ride yesterday and no check engine light. Bit more pep with not having the rear cat plugged.

Park it next to the garage and go fart around on a couple of other project for a few hours. Finish up those and as I'm locking up the garage, I spot a puddle under the Jeep. At first I thought it was condensation runoff from the AC but I remembered it was a nice day and I didn't use the AC. Reach under the Jeep and it's oil. WTF!!!

Crawl under and keep my fingers crossed that it isn't the rear main seal I just replaced. Not that. Whew! Drain plug is tight, good. Check all around between the block and the pan, dry as a bone. Check the front of the deep sump and, ARRGHHHHH!, there's a pin hole in the front of the sump. Sh!t.

So now, I have ordered a new pan and gasket so I can do everything I've done the past few weeks, again, to replace the oil pan. On the bright side, if there is one, I don't have to deal with rusted bolts.

 

[StevenRB45]

The time of year when both cars can just **** off..

Mazda is theoretically done until insurance is due in February, taxed and Mot'd until August 2022 but obviously it has a random knocking noise front left..that comes and goes and I can't see anything wrong with it and it passed the Mot so track Rods etc will have had a look over. It's recently started clunking as you engage reverse so maybe a CV joint but all the boots are intact so not really any reason it would be.

It works fine but I very much like my car to be 100%...and it is annoying me, tbf the undertray is loose so knocking might be that as well. God knows...one day whatever it is will drop off and I'll know.

Citroën..well my wife came up to me today and said 'I can't renew my tax because the car needs an mot". Oh yeah it's due 30th September. Ring the garage "yeah we can book you in 5th October". Well that's not going to work...anyway long story short managed to get it booked in 28th September for the extra jeopardy. Also no courtesy car...because if we wanted one of those we'd off the road until November. But have to use that garage as wife had a service plan with them and it needs to be a Citroën main agent to get full warranty coverage as well.

Selling both of them and getting one is looking really nice about now ...especially with Citroën offering to buy the C3 back for more than I paid for it last year.

 

[portland_bill]

11pm, and there's a growing puddle in the kitchen. Dishwasher drain hose has split. So that means heave the dishwasher out, and the washing machine, to replace the hose. And of course, the dishwasher is mid-cycle, so full of dishes, and water.

Lying in the damp, have wrapped some duct tape around it, so at least it can empty tonight with much less leak, then that's tomorrow's job then.

Good news, it is the second of these we've had, so hopefully the length of drain hose in the garage will do the job.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Oh joy. Mine was the washing machine pump at my daughters in Manchester, Another pump sourced eventually in Bolton and fitted before I left tonight, It was a nearly new washer but has stood for nearly 4 years which is never good. It had worked fine for a week before it stopped pumping, so I share your pain. At least it went before she needs to use it in a couple of weeks and I think it's now good to go. Worst of it was the diabolical plumbing done by so called kitchen fitter all started to come apart once touched.

 

[portland_bill]

Spare drain hose is without end fittings. These are rubber connectors, but seem to be fiercely glued on.
Took the easy route, ordered a new one, should arrive early next week.
Meanwhile will have to wash up in the sink. So will be grumpy every day for a few days.

 

[Officina red]

The value of my car has risen to a ridiculous price, because of the shortage of cars, I’ve been giving serious thought to cashing in on it, and buying a 500 or panda sport, went to he local dealer to view both, like the 500 looks but also like the practicality of the panda, on the drive back home a young man in a Mercedes drove into the back of my car, ? I’m not sure if it’s a lesson in not being greedy or not to count your chickens lol

 

[puntofan01]

The time of year when both cars can just **** off..

Mazda is theoretically done until insurance is due in February, taxed and Mot'd until August 2022 but obviously it has a random knocking noise front left..that comes and goes and I can't see anything wrong with it and it passed the Mot so track Rods etc will have had a look over. It's recently started clunking as you engage reverse so maybe a CV joint but all the boots are intact so not really any reason it would be.

It works fine but I very much like my car to be 100%...and it is annoying me, tbf the undertray is loose so knocking might be that as well. God knows...one day whatever it is will drop off and I'll know.

Citroën..well my wife came up to me today and said 'I can't renew my tax because the car needs an mot". Oh yeah it's due 30th September. Ring the garage "yeah we can book you in 5th October". Well that's not going to work...anyway long story short managed to get it booked in 28th September for the extra jeopardy. Also no courtesy car...because if we wanted one of those we'd off the road until November. But have to use that garage as wife had a service plan with them and it needs to be a Citroën main agent to get full warranty coverage as well.

Selling both of them and getting one is looking really nice about now ...especially with Citroën offering to buy the C3 back for more than I paid for it last year.

My dad is already wanting to get rid of the Mazda they bought in March. It was sold with emphasis on its full Mazda service history, but my parents have had to spend £500 on sorting the aircon out, the brakes have become noisy, the exhaust is blowing, and the engine is sounding tappy. My dad doesn't feel he can trust the car, so he wants to cut his losses.