Your fleet running reports

[DeskJockey]

That's not ideal...

But... There isn't any water in the tyres. I'm confused!

[Rich B]

This thread reminded me to search for a locking wheel nut key - i’ve just been through my box of car stuff and found 3 different ones. thankfully one is the right one!

[jamcg]

i had a puncture in the van the other day, no problem - i have a spare…

…except it’s attached under the back, with what turns out is 2 wheel bolts holding a big bracket/support. One of the wheel bolts is a locking wheel bolt, which i don’t have the key to.

I tried a can of foam to fix the hole, which did fuck all and then i called the AA. To be fair, i should have just done that in the first place, because the guy was there in 20 mins and did a plug repair on the tyre and we were on our way.

i now need to find a good way to break off the locking bolt.

Smash a 12 point socket over it, works a treat. Just means sacrificing a socket

Edit just seen you’ve sorted it

[jamcg]

Focus has been having starting issues, given that the battery is ford branded I assume it’s the original one. Been getting going with the help of a booster pack.

Popped to my local car parts place, he put his tester on it and it flagged it as bad and recommended replacement. They had a Bosch in stock for about same price as Tanya plus delivery charge, so new battery purchased, installed and monitoring reset, nice easy fix

[DeskJockey]

Focus has been having starting issues, given that the battery is ford branded I assume it’s the original one. Been getting going with the help of a booster pack.

Popped to my local car parts place, he put his tester on it and it flagged it as bad and recommended replacement. They had a Bosch in stock for about same price as Tanya plus delivery charge, so new battery purchased, installed and monitoring reset, nice easy fix

Funny coincidence, Galaxy has been making it known that the battery is on the way out. Start/stop hasn't worked for months, and it is taking longer to start. This morning was the first time the start/stop wasn't available, so it is timen for a new battery. Will get one ordered and fit it.

Zoe is back on the drive looking rather sad for itself. Had it recovered to home, RAC man was really helpful, told me there was no reason for me to hang around while he got sorted, so I left him to it.

[MikeHunt]

Has anyone owned a manual with an automatic handbrake?

Im not sure Ive ever driven one, seems wrong but also the norm in modern cars amongst the very little choice of manuals.

[mik]

Has anyone owned a manual with an automatic handbrake?

Not owned, but have driven a few hire cars like this. All worked fine.

[DeskJockey]

Has anyone owned a manual with an automatic handbrake?

Not owned, but have driven a few hire cars like this. All worked fine.

Same.

[mr_jon]

You mean a manuel with a button handbrake and hill hold?

[Mito Man]

I found out something silly about electronic handbrakes recently. They’re designed so as to not be accidentally activated, so if the car is moving you need to hold them for 3-5 seconds depending on manufacturer for it to activate. 3-5 seconds is a long time if you have an actual brake line let go or something…

[MikeHunt]

You mean a manuel with a button handbrake and hill hold?

yes, exactly this, ive only driven a manual with the old school handbrake.

[Carlos]

My wifes old Kia Sportage was Manuel Box with an Electronic Handbrake.

The hold hold worked well and the handbrake would always engage when you turn off the engine although it was sometimes reluctant to manually disengage when you started the car and first move off.

It generally worked well although felt weird to start.

[jamcg]

Has anyone owned a manual with an automatic handbrake?

Im not sure Ive ever driven one, seems wrong but also the norm in modern cars amongst the very little choice of manuals.

My focus has this, the auto hold button is really sensitive and knocks off easily

[mr_jon]

Have it on the X-Trail for the last few years. Works well, just a different technique vs. a ratchet handbrake, in that you have to positively come off the clutch and trust the system, rather than balancing clutch, throttle and handbrake. The next generation of drivers won't ever have to do the latter - for better or for worse.

[Gavin]

The passat sport TDI I had briefly had the manuel and auto handbrake. It worked OK, I preferred the normal handbrake in the Superb that replaced it, and the auto HB had had a grands worth of remedial work done to it just before I got it.

[mik]

So as mentioned slightly more than once - the factory PPF on the Evora has yellowed over time. As it’s a white car - this is far more noticable than on other hues - but it’s only really jarring on the leading section of the rear wheel arch, as it’s a sizeable section of film.

I’ve ummed and ahhhd about getting it redone several times, but never been so frustrated that I was actually driven to action.

But yesterday I finally did.

Rear arch section done. I realised that if I was doing that, I’d better do the strips along the lower edge of the front doors and front arches too.
It looks so much better. Before n afterz.

[Gavster]

Has anyone owned a manual with an automatic handbrake?

Im not sure Ive ever driven one, seems wrong but also the norm in modern cars amongst the very little choice of manuals.

Have manual and automatic handrake/hill hold etc on the Ateca and I absolutely love it. The handbrake engages whenever the brake pedal is pressed and the car reaches a standstill and it disengages the moment there's a hint of forward movement. It works brilliantly and intergrates seamlessly into my largely inner-city driving. It's also easy to turn off if you don't want it to be automatic for any reason. I can't see the point in going back to an old-school ratchet handbrake on a modern car.

[MikeHunt]

maybe Im revealing myself as a luddite but it seem weird to me

[Rich B]

So as mentioned slightly more than once - the factory PPF on the Evora has yellowed over time. As it’s a white car - this is far more noticable than on other hues - but it’s only really jarring on the leading section of the rear wheel arch, as it’s a sizeable section of film.

I’ve ummed and ahhhd about getting it redone several times, but never been so frustrated that I was actually driven to action.

But yesterday I finally did.

Rear arch section done. I realised that if I was doing that, I’d better do the strips along the lower edge of the front doors and front arches too.
It looks so much better. Before n afterz.

Huge difference, i bet you kicked yourself you didn’t do it earlier! My M2 was the same.

[Jobbo]

Has anyone owned a manual with an automatic handbrake?

Im not sure Ive ever driven one, seems wrong but also the norm in modern cars amongst the very little choice of manuals.

Have manual and automatic handrake/hill hold etc on the Ateca and I absolutely love it. The handbrake engages whenever the brake pedal is pressed and the car reaches a standstill and it disengages the moment there's a hint of forward movement. It works brilliantly and intergrates seamlessly into my largely inner-city driving. It's also easy to turn off if you don't want it to be automatic for any reason. I can't see the point in going back to an old-school ratchet handbrake on a modern car.

I've definitely driven a manual courtesy car with automatic electric handbrake and it felt perfectly intuitive to me. My MX5 has an old-school handbrake but does have a hill start assist/hill hold function on the brakes but I find that less intuitive so have to force myself to use it. I just don't trust it.

Mik, the PPF looks amazing. You didn't apply it yourself I assume?