The grumpy thread

[NorfolkNWeigh]

 

Noticed what I thought was steam coming up from near side of bonnet, then smelt smoke coming from under the dash.

At this point I'm doing 70* on a busy dual carraigeway, luckily, or so I thought at the time, I was able to pull into a gateway.

By now flames were bubbling around the bottom of the screen, for some reason I popped the bonnet! Then jumped out grabbing phone,wallet etc. Opened the boot and grabbed my shopping.

A bloke in a HiLux stopped and we tried to use his ancient work extinguishers on the car and grass...

 

A Police helicopter started circling , the Fire Service arrived after about 15 mins , by which time the Volvo was gutted and the verge,trees and bushes for a 100 yds or so were well alight.

4 appliances and a 2 white hatted Herbert's who arrived in a Qashqai dealt with the fire, 3 Police Astras and the Chopper attended, the helicopter crew advising which way the fire was spreading.

All over after about 45 mins and a Copper even gave me a lift home.

 

The Fire People reckon it was the fuse box , but I can't help thinking it was something to do with the turbo, as that's right at the back. Apparentlly the 30c heat must be a contributing factor because they're seeing many more car fires than usual. I can't see how though, cars don't just burst into flames in hot countries, do they?

[sierraman]

I once had a Transit catch fire, something to do with the wiring loom had got hot and burnt back to the fuse box. By the point it had burnt out the wiring loom it was scrap despite only being about 4 years old at the time

[sierraman]

  On 02/07/2018 at 19:53, BorniteIdentity said:

My friend had the ‘sticker from the council’ on a 2007 Ford Focus just last month!!1! It hadn’t moved for about a fortnight - all taxed, insured and MOT etc.

 

Baffling.

He'd run out of tickets on our road.

[oldcars]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:09, NorfolkNWeigh said:

image.jpeg

 

Noticed what I thought was steam coming up from near side of bonnet, then smelt smoke coming from under the dash.

At this point I'm doing 70* on a busy dual carraigeway, luckily, or so I thought at the time, I was able to pull into a gateway.

By now flames were bubbling around the bottom of the screen, for some reason I popped the bonnet! Then jumped out grabbing phone,wallet etc. Opened the boot and grabbed my shopping.

A bloke in a HiLux stopped and we tried to use his ancient work extinguishers on the car and grass...

 

A Police helicopter started circling , the Fire Service arrived after about 15 mins , by which time the Volvo was gutted and the verge,trees and bushes for a 100 yds or so were well alight.

4 appliances and a 2 white hatted Herbert's who arrived in a Qashqai dealt with the fire, 3 Police Astras and the Chopper attended, the helicopter crew advising which way the fire was spreading.

All over after about 45 mins and a Copper even gave me a lift home.

 

The Fire People reckon it was the fuse box , but I can't help thinking it was something to do with the turbo, as that's right at the back. Apparentlly the 30c heat must be a contributing factor because they're seeing many more car fires than usual. I can't see how though, cars don't just burst into flames in hot countries, do they?

glad you are ok. Scary stuff indeed.

[New POD]

  On 03/07/2018 at 08:36, meowdchina said:

I am I England at the moment and just discovered that Manchester airport is about to start charging 3quid to drop passengers off (5mins) and 4 quid for 10mins. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY??????

We lack the back bone to say "That's not happening"

Nobody protests.

Taxi drivers should be blockading the roads around Manchester airport and setting fire to things.

Holiday makers should be refusing to fly out of Manchester.

Business travellers should take the ferry to Ireland and fly from Dublin.

but we just suck it up.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:04, dome said:

Just pray you have some brake backing plates left.

 

Funny you should say that, my second call today after the one to my insurance company who said I'll have to wait a week for an engineer to look at the Volvo to decide if it's repairable!!!!! Was from my mobile mechanic who had discovered he can only get backing plates from BMW at £50 odd each.

He's going to bodge the handbrake enough for MOT- it's an auto so it only needs to work once, the fact it's got a water leak combined with really needing all discs replacing means this could well end up on eBay , before very long.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 03/07/2018 at 08:36, meowdchina said:

I am I England at the moment and just discovered that Manchester airport is about to start charging 3quid to drop passengers off (5mins) and 4 quid for 10mins. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY??????

Luton, Stansted and Birmingham have been doing this for years.

A couple of Saturday's ago, I had 4 Lutons and a Stansted £15 just in drop offs, I should add it on the fare, but it seems a bit petty. Luckily most of my work is to proper airports and, as yet, neither Heathrow or Gatwick have jumped on this bandwagon.

[Lacquer Peel]

MONETISE EVERYTHING

[sierraman]

I'm genuinely surprised Ryanair doesn't charge to use the toilet.

[Guest Hooli]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:09, NorfolkNWeigh said:

image.jpeg

 

Noticed what I thought was steam coming up from near side of bonnet, then smelt smoke coming from under the dash.

At this point I'm doing 70* on a busy dual carraigeway, luckily, or so I thought at the time, I was able to pull into a gateway.

By now flames were bubbling around the bottom of the screen, for some reason I popped the bonnet! Then jumped out grabbing phone,wallet etc. Opened the boot and grabbed my shopping.

A bloke in a HiLux stopped and we tried to use his ancient work extinguishers on the car and grass...

 

A Police helicopter started circling , the Fire Service arrived after about 15 mins , by which time the Volvo was gutted and the verge,trees and bushes for a 100 yds or so were well alight.

4 appliances and a 2 white hatted Herbert's who arrived in a Qashqai dealt with the fire, 3 Police Astras and the Chopper attended, the helicopter crew advising which way the fire was spreading.

All over after about 45 mins and a Copper even gave me a lift home.

 

The Fire People reckon it was the fuse box , but I can't help thinking it was something to do with the turbo, as that's right at the back. Apparentlly the 30c heat must be a contributing factor because they're seeing many more car fires than usual. I can't see how though, cars don't just burst into flames in hot countries, do they?

 

Feck!

[DodgeRover]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:51, sierraman said:

I'm genuinely surprised Ryanair doesn't charge to use the toilet.

How many people would leave a bottle of piss on the plane for them though if they did?

[sierraman]

£1 for the bottle then

[Kiltox]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:09, NorfolkNWeigh said:

image.jpeg

 

Noticed what I thought was steam coming up from near side of bonnet, then smelt smoke coming from under the dash.

At this point I'm doing 70* on a busy dual carraigeway, luckily, or so I thought at the time, I was able to pull into a gateway.

By now flames were bubbling around the bottom of the screen, for some reason I popped the bonnet! Then jumped out grabbing phone,wallet etc. Opened the boot and grabbed my shopping.

A bloke in a HiLux stopped and we tried to use his ancient work extinguishers on the car and grass...

 

A Police helicopter started circling , the Fire Service arrived after about 15 mins , by which time the Volvo was gutted and the verge,trees and bushes for a 100 yds or so were well alight.

4 appliances and a 2 white hatted Herbert's who arrived in a Qashqai dealt with the fire, 3 Police Astras and the Chopper attended, the helicopter crew advising which way the fire was spreading.

All over after about 45 mins and a Copper even gave me a lift home.

 

The Fire People reckon it was the fuse box , but I can't help thinking it was something to do with the turbo, as that's right at the back. Apparentlly the 30c heat must be a contributing factor because they're seeing many more car fires than usual. I can't see how though, cars don't just burst into flames in hot countries, do they?

 

HOLY FUCKING FUCK

 

That car has been nothing but trouble for you - that's absolutely gutting.

 

Glad you're OK!

[Zelandeth]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:09, NorfolkNWeigh said:

The Fire People reckon it was the fuse box , but I can't help thinking it was something to do with the turbo, as that's right at the back. Apparentlly the 30c heat must be a contributing factor because they're seeing many more car fires than usual. I can't see how though, cars don't just burst into flames in hot countries, do they?

 

Ouch...

 

The worst thing for me in a situation like that I think is the not knowing exactly what had happened.  I'd never be able to trust a similar car again.

 

Hopefully it's a smoother process to get everything sorted out than one of our old neighbours who suffered a car fire a few years back (clapped out old Hilux - we reckon fuel leak as it had a history in that department).  Insurance almost immediately paid out the few quid they valued the car at, then closed the case.  This was fine and good until the bill came through from the Local Authority for the emergency service attendance and repairs to the road.  Insurance weren't interested because the "case had been closed."  They did get it sorted out, but it took well over six months.

[Zelandeth]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:51, sierraman said:

I'm genuinely surprised Ryanair doesn't charge to use the toilet.

 

I'm sure I remember hearing that they did indeed try that a few years ago, but scrapped the idea after their crews nearly got lynched by the passengers.

[sierraman]

  On 03/07/2018 at 10:07, Zelandeth said:

Ouch...

 

The worst thing for me in a situation like that I think is the not knowing exactly what had happened. I'd never be able to trust a similar car again.

 

Hopefully it's a smoother process to get everything sorted out than one of our old neighbours who suffered a car fire a few years back (clapped out old Hilux - we reckon fuel leak as it had a history in that department). Insurance almost immediately paid out the few quid they valued the car at, then closed the case. This was fine and good until the bill came through from the Local Authority for the emergency service attendance and repairs to the road. Insurance weren't interested because the "case had been closed." They did get it sorted out, but it took well over six months.

Funnily enough my grandfather once got a bill through from the council for writing off a lamppost. It was quite a substantial amount they wanted to charge him as well.

[Captain Furious]

Crikey, that fire looks intense.  Glad you got out OK.

 

And glad you got a photo to satisfy my inner rubber necker.

[Guest Hooli]

  On 03/07/2018 at 10:12, sierraman said:

Funnily enough my grandfather once got a bill through from the council for writing off a lamppost. It was quite a substantial amount they wanted to charge him as well.

 

 

Last time I destroyed a lamppost I run away before the cuntcil could do such a thing as they take quite enough in cuntcil tax for nothing already.

[clayts450]

Hell's teeth that fire is huge. Glad you got out okay.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 03/07/2018 at 10:04, Kiltox said:

HOLY FUCKING FUCK

 

That car has been nothing but trouble for you - that's absolutely gutting.

Glad you're OK!

Ironically it's been behaving perfectly for the last few months, that could be because I've been using other cars belonging to customers or hire cars. In fact when I drove it yesterday I was just thinking how comfortable it was and how much I miss driving it.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 03/07/2018 at 10:07, Zelandeth said:

Ouch...

 

The worst thing for me in a situation like that I think is the not knowing exactly what had happened.  I'd never be able to trust a similar car again.

 

Hopefully it's a smoother process to get everything sorted out than one of our old neighbours who suffered a car fire a few years back (clapped out old Hilux - we reckon fuel leak as it had a history in that department).  Insurance almost immediately paid out the few quid they valued the car at, then closed the case.  This was fine and good until the bill came through from the Local Authority for the emergency service attendance and repairs to the road.  Insurance weren't interested because the "case had been closed."  They did get it sorted out, but it took well over six months.

Yes, I did wonder about the damage to the trees and field, luckily there were no lampposts or signs that got burned. The Police just shrugged when I mentioned if there would be any 3rd party costs and only got an incident number when I requested one , but I did think at least I can't be done for failing to report an accident or whatever.

 

I know what you mean about worrying about the cause, two of my daughters drive Volvos too, a C30 and an XC90. There attitude is that it's got to be the way I drive! Don't think I'll be getting another V70 to replace it though.

[yes oui si]

C30 is basically a MK2 focus in a nice frock so should be fine.

[yes oui si]

I wear shorts all year round yet my legs stay whiter than Theresa Mays social circle.

 

[somewhatfoolish]

  On 03/07/2018 at 10:09, Zelandeth said:

I'm sure I remember hearing that they did indeed try that a few years ago, but scrapped the idea after their crews nearly got lynched by the passengers.

It was a load of bollocks invented by Michael O'Leary; there's one thing he's good at other than thinking up ways of making airtravel less pleasant, and it's ways of making the tabloid press give him free publicity. See also the suggestion O'learyAir might get rid of seats and make passengers stand like on the tube and any other things that are featured strongly by the Daily Heil.

 

 

  On 03/07/2018 at 08:36, meowdchina said:

I am I England at the moment and just discovered that Manchester airport is about to start charging 3quid to drop passengers off (5mins) and 4 quid for 10mins. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY??????

Thieving cunts who run Glasgow have been at this game pretty much since that pair of fuckwits drove a Cherokee into the terminal building and set themselves on fire; the myriad rearrangements(seemingly on a weekly basis) of traffic non-flows since have each time involved more cash being extracted, more confusing signage and ever greater distance to walk to check-in. I'd now like to drive a Cherokee into whoever runs the place and set them on fire, then get John Smeaton to beat them up.

 

A reliable wheeze is to drop off and collect from the Shell station as they can't put that behind a barrier and charge for entrance; a bit of a trek if you have lots of luggage though.

[scdan4]

  On 03/07/2018 at 09:33, NorfolkNWeigh said:

I should add it on the fare, but it seems a bit petty..

You absolutely should, plus a handling fee to make it a round fiver. Say why and no one will begrudge you it.

[Lord Sterling]

NorfolkNWeigh - Glad you're ok mate.

[New POD]

  On 03/07/2018 at 11:35, scdan4 said:

You absolutely should, plus a handling fee to make it a round fiver. Say why and no one will begrudge you it.

And put it through the books so that you pay less tax.

[iainrcz]

Going to cut this.

Jesus I hate doing it. Hence why it's knee high.

 

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[dozeydustman]

Bloody hell Norfolk. Glad you are safe. You must have had some very brown trousers after that

[wuvvum]

Just spoken to the abandoned vehicles bloke at the council.  Apparently it's not the neighbour who has complained - the complaint has come direct from the housing association themselves.  Reading between the lines, it appears that the HA's property dept has a new person on board who is, shall we say, something of a jobsworth (presumably the same twat who stuck a note through my letterbox threatening to involve the police in a parking issue on private land) and has decided - after over 10 years - that he is going to enforce the car park as "HA tenants only", rather than tolerating "residents only" parking as previously.

 

What this means is that I am going to have to move all my cars out onto the road, which the neighbours are going to love*.  Well maybe not all - the Perodua didn't get a ticket on it for some reason (council couldn't elaborate as to why that one wasn't reported), the Toyota didn't get a ticket as it was at work, and whichever car I'm using as a daily (probably the 205 for the next few weeks) can be parked on there overnight.  That leaves the Jag and the Rover of Doom to shift, plus the Transit and the other 205, which are parked on what I thought was public highway but council man tells me he's checked the land registry and it's actually HA land as well.

 

Methinks I'm going to have to step up the selling efforts.