Breaking down in the middle of the road - wheel/suspension
Discussion
Broke down on a single carriageway without time to get the car far enough over as I would have liked - cue much hurling of abuse, especially to move the car over. As the rear nearside arch is sat on the tyre, moving the car by myself is night on impossible, and my scissor jack decides to pack up. There is plenty of room for traffic to move around me but abuse is hurled and shouts and gestures to move the car over are aplenty, especially from one motorcyclist that saw fit to try making an example of me without letting me even suggest that instead of getting angry, perhaps he'd like to realise the situation and help me move the car.
Anyway, lack of understanding or help from fellow motorists aside, Paul from the AA was an angel and everything is fine and dandy again after I spent a few hours fixing the problem.
I've never broken down before and again it's just one of those situations where road users tunnel vision and lack of understanding just makes an inconvenient and stressful situation much worse.
I don't expect any sympathy on PH, and I do expect a lot of conjecture that tells me I'm in the wrong, but please god someone realise that you don't just break down on purpose
Anyway, lack of understanding or help from fellow motorists aside, Paul from the AA was an angel and everything is fine and dandy again after I spent a few hours fixing the problem.
I've never broken down before and again it's just one of those situations where road users tunnel vision and lack of understanding just makes an inconvenient and stressful situation much worse.
I don't expect any sympathy on PH, and I do expect a lot of conjecture that tells me I'm in the wrong, but please god someone realise that you don't just break down on purpose
No slating from this direction. If the car is immobile it's immobile. Had I been around I would have helped out if I could. I usually have a meaty tow rope in the car and some D shackles.
If the road was blocked then they could have called the police. Simply no need to stress you out and be w
kers about it.
If the road was blocked then they could have called the police. Simply no need to stress you out and be w
kers about it. People gonna people.
My dad came across a similar situation a few years back, where a young woman had broken down in the road. He, and I think he said one other guy got out and helped her to push it out of the way. Apparently some complete twunt started using the horn so dad dutifully went and gave him an an earful.
Really can't understand the mentality of some people. The situation cant be helped so you have either two choices:
A) Sit there on your horn and be abusive, all the while being held up, or
B) Get out and help the poor sod clear the obstruction so you can be on your way.
It's sad that so many people would readily choose option A.
My dad came across a similar situation a few years back, where a young woman had broken down in the road. He, and I think he said one other guy got out and helped her to push it out of the way. Apparently some complete twunt started using the horn so dad dutifully went and gave him an an earful.
Really can't understand the mentality of some people. The situation cant be helped so you have either two choices:
A) Sit there on your horn and be abusive, all the while being held up, or
B) Get out and help the poor sod clear the obstruction so you can be on your way.
It's sad that so many people would readily choose option A.
Be thankful abuse was all you got - I broke down in my old Evo a few years back, pulled it over to the side of the road out of everyone's way and some idiots decided it would be fun to throw a beer bottle at it.
So, not only did I have a broken down car, but now I had a broken down car with a dent in it.
So, not only did I have a broken down car, but now I had a broken down car with a dent in it.
Thanks, it's good to know that some would help as I like to think I would 
This had made me think about getting a more portable trolley jack - although even the smaller ones I've seen are still quite heavy, should anything happen in future - not that it would have got me mobile again this time but I've just about had it with scissor jacks.
This had made me think about getting a more portable trolley jack - although even the smaller ones I've seen are still quite heavy, should anything happen in future - not that it would have got me mobile again this time but I've just about had it with scissor jacks.youngsyr said:
Be thankful abuse was all you got - I broke down in my old Evo a few years back, pulled it over to the side of the road out of everyone's way and some idiots decided it would be fun to throw a beer bottle at it.
So, not only did I have a broken down car, but now I had a broken down car with a dent in it.
oh cripes - you get the plate? that really is dangerous. some guy in an audi tried spitting on my car but missed So, not only did I have a broken down car, but now I had a broken down car with a dent in it.
Oh dear, what a horrible situation. I once stalled my girlfriend's car on the North Circular in London. We were at a set of traffic lights on the huge multiple lane section. Turns out there was something up with the battery too as it wouldn't restart. The guy behind had pulled up so close he couldn't get around me and started hurling abuse at me from behind.
Reminds me of the time some poor bugger broke down smack centre of a busy cross junction, traffic light controlled with two lanes on each exit, that sort of busy.
Every second car was leaning on their horn and trying to squeeze past rather than giving him the oppurtunity to move the car.
Every second car was leaning on their horn and trying to squeeze past rather than giving him the oppurtunity to move the car.
mr2j said:
youngsyr said:
Be thankful abuse was all you got - I broke down in my old Evo a few years back, pulled it over to the side of the road out of everyone's way and some idiots decided it would be fun to throw a beer bottle at it.
So, not only did I have a broken down car, but now I had a broken down car with a dent in it.
oh cripes - you get the plate? that really is dangerous. some guy in an audi tried spitting on my car but missed So, not only did I have a broken down car, but now I had a broken down car with a dent in it.
About 4 years ago, smoke started pouring out from my dashboard.
Stopped the car A.S.A.P., got my wife and baby daughter out.
The car is sat in the middle of our lane, (didn't have time to pull over) on the A60 near Warsop, smoke coming out of both front winows.
People were honking, shouting, and one idiot even told me to get back in and move it.
They then shouted even more abuse, when the fire brigade arrived, and blocked the road.
Stopped the car A.S.A.P., got my wife and baby daughter out.
The car is sat in the middle of our lane, (didn't have time to pull over) on the A60 near Warsop, smoke coming out of both front winows.
People were honking, shouting, and one idiot even told me to get back in and move it.
They then shouted even more abuse, when the fire brigade arrived, and blocked the road.
Years ago, I had a 328 E36, the one time it let me down was when the water pump failed, I shut the car down before it cooked it, but there was no way you could escape the fact it had happened whilst driving past a real shot hole of an estate.
For the next hour the abuse I took was quite impressive, this was as I say years ago, I find it ironic that the chav junkie morons are around there are now the BMW driving wkers that they accused me of being.
For the next hour the abuse I took was quite impressive, this was as I say years ago, I find it ironic that the chav junkie morons are around there are now the BMW driving w
kers that they accused me of being.At a crossroads me and the wife were first on the scene of a motorcycle crash, bike had been T-boned, lad on the floor with compound leg fracture not pretty, some dicksplash in the other direction drove over what was left of the bike in order to get through.
I've fell off a bike myself and been laid out in the middle of a dual carriageway, I don't think anyone stopped they just drove around me.
I've fell off a bike myself and been laid out in the middle of a dual carriageway, I don't think anyone stopped they just drove around me.
I came across a Caddy van in the middle of the road one morning,going to first delivery in my lorry.
Realised they couldn't possibly move it as the NSF wheel was collapsed.
I just turned round and went round the other way into the road.
No abuse hurled,what's the point ?
I couldn't really help by pulling it out the way as there wasn't anywhere to pull it to.
Realised they couldn't possibly move it as the NSF wheel was collapsed.
I just turned round and went round the other way into the road.
No abuse hurled,what's the point ?
I couldn't really help by pulling it out the way as there wasn't anywhere to pull it to.
Playing Devils Advocate here but this sort of thing would not happen so often if the car was properly maintained.
OTOH our roads are now so potholed you would need to have your car in a garage every week to check for suspension damage.
I am concerned by the number of cars that rip the tyre to shreds when a spring breaks, broken springs are now so common it can't be long before there is a serious tragedy due to this problem.
OTOH our roads are now so potholed you would need to have your car in a garage every week to check for suspension damage.
I am concerned by the number of cars that rip the tyre to shreds when a spring breaks, broken springs are now so common it can't be long before there is a serious tragedy due to this problem.
last year i was sat in the 3rd lane of a dual carriage way waiting at traffic lights waiting to go onto the roundabout. then car stop and wont restart just as the lights turn green! there were alot of horn and abuse. in the end i push it across the lanes and off the 1st exit of the roundabout and into a layby. not one person helped or even offered they just sat in there cars shouting and horning. morons
Once came across a broken down Ford Fiesta which was stuck on the middle of a very busy roundabout just outside a retail park. Old boy inside was desperately trying to restart the car but it wouldn't go, nobody stopped to help but instead hurling abuse, honking horns and squeezing through any gap possible to get where they're going.
I was waiting to get onto the roundabout to go into the retail park and realized I wasn't going to get anywhere fast until the Fiesta was moved. I simply stuck my hazard lights on, still in the traffic queue to the roundabout and pushed the Fiesta out of the way with the help of a like-minded pedestrian.
When I returned to my car I then got abuse myself! I couldn't believe it. Everyone is out for themselves and they'll be damned to help anyone else.
I was waiting to get onto the roundabout to go into the retail park and realized I wasn't going to get anywhere fast until the Fiesta was moved. I simply stuck my hazard lights on, still in the traffic queue to the roundabout and pushed the Fiesta out of the way with the help of a like-minded pedestrian.
When I returned to my car I then got abuse myself! I couldn't believe it. Everyone is out for themselves and they'll be damned to help anyone else.
I’ve helped push many a broken down car out of the road over the years: some people will shout and scream and sound their horn in the belief that this will accomplish something. Others will do the right thing and help the driver of the stricken car out... you might need help yourself one day so it’s good motoring karma to assist if you can IMO.
One that sticks in the mind: few years ago I was walking back from work and spotted a broken down Mini (proper classic one, not the BMW monstrosity) parked up at the side of the road with a flustered young lad peering into the engine bay... I asked what had happened “it just stopped mate” was the reply (he wasn’t too clued up about older cars and had bought the Mini on a bit of a whim).
After making sure that there was fuel in the tank and that he had a nice fat spark at the plugs etc. I asked to borrow a spanner - of course, he didn’t have any tools with him... so one good tap on the carb's float chamber later with my Leatherman multitool (to free up the sticking float) and his car started.
He looked at me like I was God himself and kept offering me money as he didn’t have breakdown recovery – told him to save his cash and wandered off a happy chap as I had done my good deed for the day.
One that sticks in the mind: few years ago I was walking back from work and spotted a broken down Mini (proper classic one, not the BMW monstrosity) parked up at the side of the road with a flustered young lad peering into the engine bay... I asked what had happened “it just stopped mate” was the reply (he wasn’t too clued up about older cars and had bought the Mini on a bit of a whim).
After making sure that there was fuel in the tank and that he had a nice fat spark at the plugs etc. I asked to borrow a spanner - of course, he didn’t have any tools with him... so one good tap on the carb's float chamber later with my Leatherman multitool (to free up the sticking float) and his car started.
He looked at me like I was God himself and kept offering me money as he didn’t have breakdown recovery – told him to save his cash and wandered off a happy chap as I had done my good deed for the day.
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