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- Michael Phelps
Re "Catnapped" I thought the next generation Jazz was to be all electric and therefore would not require a cat...
MP
- K99
Re Current affaires
Why do drivers panic and think their car has a fault when the stop/start stops working??
It’s only supposed to work when the battery has plenty of charge. Mine infrequently works during the winter months. They’re usually an inconvenience when they do work and apparently make very little or no difference to fuel consumption.
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 01-02-2020 Part 1 - hissingsid
Re Current affairs Why do drivers panic and think their car has a fault when the stop/start stops working?? It’s only supposed to work when the battery has plenty of charge. Mine infrequently works during the winter months. They’re usually an inconvenience when they do work and apparently make very little or no difference to fuel consumption.

I totally agree. The i-Stop function on my car works relentlessly in all conditions, but I have developed the habit of switching it off before every journey as naturally as putting on my seat belt. I only wish that there was some means of permanently deactivating it.

Those of us who cut their teeth on cars of the 1950's still find it unnerving when the engine stops unexpectedly.

Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 01-02-2020 Part 1 - DrTeeth

There are quite a few people who offer modified software/firmware do that stop/start can stay off.

Cheers

DrT

- St Eve
Lads and Lapses
"My 20-year old grandson, who has 3 years trouble-free motoring, has stupidly allowed his MoT and tax to lapse". Yes, stupid. Wasn't there a case like this a few weeks ago in this column. Young drivers really must take responsibility for their cars and the procedures that go with them.
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 01-02-2020 Part 1 - hissingsid
Lads and Lapses "My 20-year old grandson, who has 3 years trouble-free motoring, has stupidly allowed his MoT and tax to lapse". Yes, stupid. Wasn't there a case like this a few weeks ago in this column. Young drivers really must take responsibility for their cars and the procedures that go with them.
Lads and Lapses "My 20-year old grandson, who has 3 years trouble-free motoring, has stupidly allowed his MoT and tax to lapse". Yes, stupid. Wasn't there a case like this a few weeks ago in this column. Young drivers really must take responsibility for their cars and the procedures that go with them.

Since most 20 year old's live their lives on their smart phones, surely they could take a break from social media just long enough to set reminders for important things like car tax, MoT and insurance renewals.

- willboy
Fobbed Off

When we bought a new electric toothbrush I adapted old charging unit as a charger for my car key by placing a cut off plastic bottle bottom over it to provide a flat surface on which to leave the spare key.It seems to keep the key charged-I think by induction--or am I kidding myself?
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 01-02-2020 Part 1 - MoDo613

I'm afraid your kidding yourself. For induction charging to work there would need to be a corresponding coil inside the key to receive energy at the correct level of current and pass this to a RECHARGEABLE battery. They key has neither. I have a fairly cheap watch from Argos that I bought about 8 years ago with a digital display, analogue movement and backlight and the lithium battery is still going strong. So your key could continue for some time yet - albeit without it having benefited from a charge!

Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 01-02-2020 Part 1 - jchinuk

I think you are kidding yourself. I was clearing some of my late Father's junk and found a small novelty 'Millennium Countdown Clock', sealed, but it was still going after 20 years and accurate.

- Avant
Re Audi washer fluid: I've used the VW Group soapy stuff that you get from VAG dealers for about 20 years amd it's good stuff. It's not all that expensive, and you need less of it than you do of the cheaper stuff available in Halfords etc.

More to the point, I've never had a problem either with frozen jets or with smearing.
- DrTeeth
HJ is totally wrong about the cherished number plate situation. I have just changed my number on my compliant vehicle and IMMEDIATELY it was recognised as such. In any case, I would not have played with TfL is HJ had been correct. I would keep both V5s (old and new number) and a screenshot showing the old number as exempt. I am sure that would be enough proof in court.