Driving With The Bonnet Up
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-243...
BBC Said said:
A man has been caught on camera driving with his car bonnet up on a busy dual carriageway.
He was spotted on a 50mph stretch of the A31 near Cadnam in Hampshire with what appeared to be a battery charger attached to his car's engine.
The driver, who was in a Mercedes, was filmed by BBC presenter Jon Cuthill who was a passenger in a passing car.
A spokesman for the AA said: "It's mind-boggling and obviously very dangerous."
Hampshire Constabulary said it was investigating.
'It's crazy'
Mr Cuthill, a presenter on Inside Out, said: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"Why would anyone think driving along a public highway with your bonnet up was a good idea?
"The bonnet obviously hadn't just sprung open accidentally.
"I just think it's crazy that someone would drive along a dual carriageway stretch of road without being able to see through the windscreen."
The AA spokesman said: "It's someone who clearly didn't give a thought to other road users.
"It highlights there are drivers out there outside the mould of normality
Crazy thing to do. I wonder what they were thinking.He was spotted on a 50mph stretch of the A31 near Cadnam in Hampshire with what appeared to be a battery charger attached to his car's engine.
The driver, who was in a Mercedes, was filmed by BBC presenter Jon Cuthill who was a passenger in a passing car.
A spokesman for the AA said: "It's mind-boggling and obviously very dangerous."
Hampshire Constabulary said it was investigating.
'It's crazy'
Mr Cuthill, a presenter on Inside Out, said: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"Why would anyone think driving along a public highway with your bonnet up was a good idea?
"The bonnet obviously hadn't just sprung open accidentally.
"I just think it's crazy that someone would drive along a dual carriageway stretch of road without being able to see through the windscreen."
The AA spokesman said: "It's someone who clearly didn't give a thought to other road users.
"It highlights there are drivers out there outside the mould of normality
Crusoe said:
broken alternator and driving to the garage with a charge pack on it? Some curved screens give quite a nice view under the open bonnet but it must be easer to just remove the pins and lift it off?
I maybe wrong but I thought on most modern Mercs the battery is located in the boot? Crusoe said:
broken alternator and driving to the garage with a charge pack on it? Some curved screens give quite a nice view under the open bonnet but it must be easer to just remove the pins and lift it off?
Even with a duff alternator it should still drive so long as you keep the revs up?Shouldn't it?
I know you can drive with a 100% dead battery once it's started.
plasticpig said:
Crusoe said:
broken alternator and driving to the garage with a charge pack on it? Some curved screens give quite a nice view under the open bonnet but it must be easer to just remove the pins and lift it off?
I maybe wrong but I thought on most modern Mercs the battery is located in the boot? 
Snowboy said:
Even with a duff alternator it should still drive so long as you keep the revs up?
Shouldn't it?
I know you can drive with a 100% dead battery once it's started.
Not sure if you can on the more modern cars with lots of electronics and linked systems, even having low voltage in the battery can strand most modern stuff. ECU, high pressure fuel pump, electronic injectors, electric water pump etc. Would think no battery power and no alternator and you would come to a quick stop?Shouldn't it?
I know you can drive with a 100% dead battery once it's started.
Snowboy said:
Crusoe said:
broken alternator and driving to the garage with a charge pack on it? Some curved screens give quite a nice view under the open bonnet but it must be easer to just remove the pins and lift it off?
Even with a duff alternator it should still drive so long as you keep the revs up?Shouldn't it?
I know you can drive with a 100% dead battery once it's started.
trashbat said:
Ha. Normally this involves a broken windscreen and bent roof (Alfa 156, Renault Clio, I'm looking at you). However, I suppose if you set off with it already up, this might not happen. Defensive driving? 
Alfa 156 you say? Interesting, as this happened a buddy of mine in his. The useful piece of info he gave me if it ever happens is that there's usually still a gap at the base of the windscreen, where a bonnet curves to allow room for the wipers, and he managed to see through this and pull up safelyThe worrying thing is that it was someone else he knew with a 156 that told him this beforehand!
Safer just to drive a Saab 900 or BMW E30 with a front-hinged bonnet I think
k I want with these on) lights goingLeins said:
Alfa 156 you say? Interesting, as this happened a buddy of mine in his. The useful piece of info he gave me if it ever happens is that there's usually still a gap at the base of the windscreen, where a bonnet curves to allow room for the wipers, and he managed to see through this and pull up safely
The worrying thing is that it was someone else he knew with a 156 that told him this beforehand!
Common fault - Googling and looking on Alfaowner will reveal more. Lube both the main and safety catches so that they don't stick. That was all the official recall did. Also don't push the bonnet closed, drop it from a foot or so, and pull up to ensure it's really shut fast.The worrying thing is that it was someone else he knew with a 156 that told him this beforehand!
Leins said:
The worrying thing is that it was someone else he knew with a 156 that told him this beforehand!
Safer just to drive a Saab 900 or BMW E30 with a front-hinged bonnet I think
Regarding the 156 bonnet, you can probably find images online by searching. I agree with you on the front hinged bonnet.Safer just to drive a Saab 900 or BMW E30 with a front-hinged bonnet I think
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