Scary lack of knowledge and responsibility !
Discussion
Every car I've ever owned has had a dipstick in the engine and sometimes in the gearbox.
Now it seems the dipsticks are in the driving seat.
If hands-on car maintenance were part of the test, it would certainly make the roads less crowded.
When OH has a new car - the word 'new' does not mean new - she has to practice a wheel change, in addition to all the fluidy stuff.
Fortunately, she doesn't insist I do the same when we have a new washing machine.
V8
Now it seems the dipsticks are in the driving seat.
If hands-on car maintenance were part of the test, it would certainly make the roads less crowded.
When OH has a new car - the word 'new' does not mean new - she has to practice a wheel change, in addition to all the fluidy stuff.
Fortunately, she doesn't insist I do the same when we have a new washing machine.
V8
J4CKO said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
motco said:
... still thinks, despite my pointing out the error of his ways, that the oil warning light coming on means top-up needed.
Isn't that exactly what it means? 
So, the imminent danger of a five grand bill is what it should be called but it looks like a gravy boat, what did she think a gravy light would signify, in what context do cars need or care about meat juice based sauces ?
My dad always taught and showed me some basic stuff with cars. I've always been into my cars but i know that he would have done the same thing even if i wasn't. I do think it's important to learn and know the basics just in case.
Just stuff like checking the oil and tyre pressures regularly, changing a tyre, checking oil and coolant levels etc.
Problem is alot of new cars will pretty much do all this for you. That's fine if you have a new car but you're a bit snookered if not.
Just stuff like checking the oil and tyre pressures regularly, changing a tyre, checking oil and coolant levels etc.
Problem is alot of new cars will pretty much do all this for you. That's fine if you have a new car but you're a bit snookered if not.
Valgar said:
Now days in the test the very first section is "show me tell me" where you are expected to show them where to fill up oil and check tyre tread etc.
Well, I got through the "show me tell me" section without needing to know anything about maintenance of the car.I had my two questions:
1st - "Show me how you would clear the windscreen of dirt while on the move" - Answer: demonstrate operating the windscreen washers.
2nd - "Tell me how you would ensure all lights are working" - Answer: "Turn them all on, then walk around the car checking they're functioning as intended. Get someone to stand behind the car while I press the brake pedal to check that the brake lights are working".
Thankfully, I'm into my cars so I do understand the point of checking your oil and coolant levels and I know how to change a wheel etc, but this alarms me as I have friends who are learning to drive, and have another friend who has her own car, and none of them have the first idea what they should do if their car needed topping up!
Few years ago I got approached in a m4 services by some uni professor looking chap. Seemed nervous and a little rattled, ushered me toward his car, pug of some sort, doors open on both sides. Seemed odd situation and being a suspicious sort of chap I thought he was going to abduct me or something. Anyway as I'm clenching my fists ready to belt him one as we approach the car he says "that triangle has been flashing since London and I don't know how to turn it off". Asked him if he tried pressing it? No. Jebus Christmas. Asked him if he had a license and he seems shocked that I asked. I walked off shaking my head wondering if I'd done the right thing by turning off the hazards or not.
bmwmike said:
Few years ago I got approached in a m4 services by some uni professor looking chap. Seemed nervous and a little rattled, ushered me toward his car, pug of some sort, doors open on both sides. Seemed odd situation and being a suspicious sort of chap I thought he was going to abduct me or something. Anyway as I'm clenching my fists ready to belt him one as we approach the car he says "that triangle has been flashing since London and I don't know how to turn it off". Asked him if he tried pressing it? No. Jebus Christmas. Asked him if he had a license and he seems shocked that I asked. I walked off shaking my head wondering if I'd done the right thing by turning off the hazards or not.
Should have left them on 
J4CKO said:
My mates daughter posted this on Facebook, she is a lovely girl but it does worry me a little !
"Actually proud of me and (her mate, name removed) for managing to put windscreen wash in my car!! Don't think I'll remember how to open the bonnet though..."
I suggested perhaps a little bit of instruction on how to do the basics and she posted,
"That's what dad's are for!"
Jesus, I see Feminism is selective and doesn't cover mundane jobs to keep your car roadworthy, she did have a bad accident the other week where she ended up with the car on its roof,
Regarding the accident, she said
"The road was extremely wet when it happened and the police said that it was solely down to the weather conditions"
Er, do the Police tell people that ? cars do not throw themselves off the road, how come every other car didn't leave the road ? perhaps they werent going too fast in an old banger on bald/under inflated ditchfinders ? ok anyone can have an accident but sometimes you need to hold your hand up.
I wrote a load of notes for my eldest when he started driving, I showed him stuff, made him do an oil change, showed him a brake change, lads are generally a little more interested but it scares me that the "dad will do it" attitude prevails.
I will try and post my notes up if anyone is interested, I did it in case I forgot to tell him anything, the stuff you dont get told about driving.
I think driving feels all nice and easy after the initial learning curve but there is so much additional stuff people should know, for when it doesn't go as planned.
Please do try to post your notes up, I'd be very interested - I might even use them in a book I'm writing , but only with your permission of course, I wouldn't want to infringe copyright or anything like that."Actually proud of me and (her mate, name removed) for managing to put windscreen wash in my car!! Don't think I'll remember how to open the bonnet though..."
I suggested perhaps a little bit of instruction on how to do the basics and she posted,
"That's what dad's are for!"
Jesus, I see Feminism is selective and doesn't cover mundane jobs to keep your car roadworthy, she did have a bad accident the other week where she ended up with the car on its roof,
Regarding the accident, she said
"The road was extremely wet when it happened and the police said that it was solely down to the weather conditions"
Er, do the Police tell people that ? cars do not throw themselves off the road, how come every other car didn't leave the road ? perhaps they werent going too fast in an old banger on bald/under inflated ditchfinders ? ok anyone can have an accident but sometimes you need to hold your hand up.
I wrote a load of notes for my eldest when he started driving, I showed him stuff, made him do an oil change, showed him a brake change, lads are generally a little more interested but it scares me that the "dad will do it" attitude prevails.
I will try and post my notes up if anyone is interested, I did it in case I forgot to tell him anything, the stuff you dont get told about driving.
I think driving feels all nice and easy after the initial learning curve but there is so much additional stuff people should know, for when it doesn't go as planned.
chrisb92 said:
What exactly should people know about their cars? I know the phone number for my break down company and that is good enough for me? In fact, I bought a new car yesterday and Audi have stuck something on the windscreen with a number for me to call should I break down in the next 2 years that my car is in warranty. My girlfriends Mercedes has a similar number to call and they come and fix your car.
They won't come out to fill your washer bottle.Pothole said:
chrisb92 said:
What exactly should people know about their cars? I know the phone number for my break down company and that is good enough for me? In fact, I bought a new car yesterday and Audi have stuck something on the windscreen with a number for me to call should I break down in the next 2 years that my car is in warranty. My girlfriends Mercedes has a similar number to call and they come and fix your car.
They won't come out to fill your washer bottle.If you're driving 1.5 tons of metal about at potentially lethal speeds it should be a mandatory requirement that you have at least some knowledge as to how to basically maintain it. If for no other reason that to remind yourself once in awhile of what it actually is, so you take some responsibility for it.
Largely a generational thing and not neccessrily a gender thing.
When I learned to drive. You were replacing a rotor arm or setting points gap almost as often as you'd fill a washer bottle. Ok, this is a slight exaggeration, but running cheap old cars in the 1990's and you had to spend time under the bonnet else you were never getting far.
Even relatively old cars now require far, far less attention to keep them running and need more specialist attention more often when a fault does occur. This means the vast majority of people never go under a bonnet.
The younger people I know tend to like cars, but very few are into cars in the way I was as a 20 year old. I don't know what is behind it, but cars don't seem to carry the same appeal to younger chaps today (certainly far fewer lads are as interested). To make this a bigger surprise, the majority I know work in engineering in automotive. And, the most shocking bit.... They all drive extremely well and extremely carefully, none of them have put a car through a hedge or wheelied off the back of a motorbike - all of my friends back in the day did.
When I learned to drive. You were replacing a rotor arm or setting points gap almost as often as you'd fill a washer bottle. Ok, this is a slight exaggeration, but running cheap old cars in the 1990's and you had to spend time under the bonnet else you were never getting far.
Even relatively old cars now require far, far less attention to keep them running and need more specialist attention more often when a fault does occur. This means the vast majority of people never go under a bonnet.
The younger people I know tend to like cars, but very few are into cars in the way I was as a 20 year old. I don't know what is behind it, but cars don't seem to carry the same appeal to younger chaps today (certainly far fewer lads are as interested). To make this a bigger surprise, the majority I know work in engineering in automotive. And, the most shocking bit.... They all drive extremely well and extremely carefully, none of them have put a car through a hedge or wheelied off the back of a motorbike - all of my friends back in the day did.
jamieduff1981 said:
Going back to the OP and the young girl's assertion that the rain was the cause of her crashing - I believe that is something psychologists call an "external locust of control" whereby people prefer to attach all influence and responsibility to external factors.
External locust of control
Or locus?
(NB, not my photoshop skillz above!)
Evanivitch said:
ambuletz said:
How did you pass your test? This basic things you need is everything covered in the "show me tell me" part of the test
Like most people, learnt, passed, forgot.chrisb92 said:
What exactly should people know about their cars? I know the phone number for my break down company and that is good enough for me? In fact, I bought a new car yesterday and Audi have stuck something on the windscreen with a number for me to call should I break down in the next 2 years that my car is in warranty. My girlfriends Mercedes has a similar number to call and they come and fix your car.
Wouldn't it just be easier to not not breakdown in the first place?Friend trashed her engine after it lost all oil. When the garage asked her if she had seen any warning lights she told them she thought the light was faulty as the light was going on and off for a couple of days before it permanently stayed on. To this day she thinks she still thinks it was not her fault.
Rawwr said:
chrisb92 said:
What exactly should people know about their cars? I know the phone number for my break down company and that is good enough for me? In fact, I bought a new car yesterday and Audi have stuck something on the windscreen with a number for me to call should I break down in the next 2 years that my car is in warranty. My girlfriends Mercedes has a similar number to call and they come and fix your car.
Wouldn't it just be easier to not not breakdown in the first place?I have this routine where all my cars get checked over on Friday afternoon. That way they are 100% ready for the weekend and if there is an issue I can get a puncture repaired on Sat or Sun.
vikingaero said:
Rawwr said:
chrisb92 said:
What exactly should people know about their cars? I know the phone number for my break down company and that is good enough for me? In fact, I bought a new car yesterday and Audi have stuck something on the windscreen with a number for me to call should I break down in the next 2 years that my car is in warranty. My girlfriends Mercedes has a similar number to call and they come and fix your car.
Wouldn't it just be easier to not not breakdown in the first place?I have this routine where all my cars get checked over on Friday afternoon. That way they are 100% ready for the weekend and if there is an issue I can get a puncture repaired on Sat or Sun.
bmwmike said:
Few years ago I got approached in a m4 services by some uni professor looking chap. Seemed nervous and a little rattled, ushered me toward his car, pug of some sort, doors open on both sides. Seemed odd situation and being a suspicious sort of chap I thought he was going to abduct me or something. Anyway as I'm clenching my fists ready to belt him one as we approach the car he says "that triangle has been flashing since London and I don't know how to turn it off". Asked him if he tried pressing it? No. Jebus Christmas. Asked him if he had a license and he seems shocked that I asked. I walked off shaking my head wondering if I'd done the right thing by turning off the hazards or not.
This is easily done. Once I'd been washing my dad's car and had done a really thorough job, both inside and out, and was very pleased with myself until I noticed both indicators were flashing. I was terrified that the car was going to explode or something and my dad was going to kill me. I was only 11 but still.A couple of weeks ago my degree educated 25 years old nephew spent 3 hours waiting for the RAC when he got a flat tyre. Apparently even if he'd known how to change a wheel he couldn't have done it because it was too dark. The conversation that followed was something along the lines of:
Me: Don't you carry a torch in the car?
him: Why would I need to carry a torch?
Me: In case you get a flat tyre at night.
This is what it boils down to for me, calling the AA or RAC is just a last resort and if i can fix the thing myself, even a bodge to get me home, then why sit and wait for hours for someone to come out?
Probably as a result of track driving but I walk around the car for a quick visual check focusing on tyres before every single journey. Had quite a few slow punctures over the years, 4 tyres knackered sidewalls (all would have been MoT failures) and 2 fast punctures (not really full on blowout but went down in seconds).
I probably only check under the bonnet once a month or so at most, in about 400k miles of driving over multiple cars I have never lost an engine. Did crack a cylinder head once though and scarily the only warning sign was it seemed down a bit on power and didn't quite sound right. The HG had a nick in it causing one cylinder to overheat, couldn't extract the spark plug from the dead cylinder the end had come off the one on the next cylinder.
Every couple to few months one should really get down and check over the suspension and brakes. Honestly in my time on this earth I have picked up loads of things not right on our cars that way and not once found anything wrong with our cars from the simple under bonnet checks. Based on that evidence I think the advice to do under bonnet checks whilst, always sensible to do fluid checks is based on experience of old BL clunkers and Dagenham dustbins. Modern cars however are certainly not immune to knackered ARB links, bushes, brakes and picking up damage down there and personally I think in some cases suffer more wear down there than some old cars.
I probably only check under the bonnet once a month or so at most, in about 400k miles of driving over multiple cars I have never lost an engine. Did crack a cylinder head once though and scarily the only warning sign was it seemed down a bit on power and didn't quite sound right. The HG had a nick in it causing one cylinder to overheat, couldn't extract the spark plug from the dead cylinder the end had come off the one on the next cylinder.
Every couple to few months one should really get down and check over the suspension and brakes. Honestly in my time on this earth I have picked up loads of things not right on our cars that way and not once found anything wrong with our cars from the simple under bonnet checks. Based on that evidence I think the advice to do under bonnet checks whilst, always sensible to do fluid checks is based on experience of old BL clunkers and Dagenham dustbins. Modern cars however are certainly not immune to knackered ARB links, bushes, brakes and picking up damage down there and personally I think in some cases suffer more wear down there than some old cars.
amagawd said:
I've been driving for 5-6 years, owned more performance cars than I should in this period and I've never done anything to a car myself, not even a bulb. If something needs doing I pass the car to somebody else who takes care of it for me. I've never even cleaned my own car before...
Nothing wrong with that, but how have you known something needed doing...........Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff