Has anyone else noticed the increasing number of vehicles on the roads with faulty lights? I'd estimate that a good five per cent have only one headlight working, quite a few more only one rear light, and perhaps ten per cent have faulty brake lights.
Add to this the drivers who think that side lights (or as the Americans more accurately call them, parking lights) are sufficient illumination in rainy conditions or on floodlit roads, the ones who go the other way by leaving front and rear fog lamps on when visibility is clear, and those dopey few who think that metallic paint is also fluorescent so they don't need lights at all, and it's a wonder we don't get even more accidents!
In this age of relentless prosecutions for speeding, using mobiles at the wheel and throwing fag-ends out of the window, aren't the police missing out on a major source of easy revenue?
Correct me please if I'm mistaken, but in some European countries is it not mandatory to carry spare bulbs? I know Renault dealers sold them years ago, so why has this one excellent European initiative not been pursued?
Question; how many of you check your lights on a regular basis?
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Yes I do check my lights from time to time. Spare bulbs may be a legal requirement but when changing a bulb can involve the removal of the front bumper (some Mondeos?) they aren't much practical use. These things might be a source of revenue and it would be great to see them chased up but if they can't be caught on a camera and/or unless someone is killed there isn't going to be any police involvement - there is so little manpower to deal with this sort of thing.
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> Add to this the drivers who think that side lights (or as the Americans more accurately call them, parking lights) are sufficient illumination in rainy conditions or on floodlit roads
They are, legally and practically.
It wasn't that long ago that sidelights were the norm at night in cities. And I bet cities are more brightly lit now at night than ever. However I generally wouldn't use them due to the fact that everyone else's dipped beams would now obscure them.
And in the rain (assuming you mean daylight), I find the glare from oncoming headlights more annoying than useful - unless it's particularly dismal conditions, sidelights are quite adequate to help pick out other vehicles, and they're not actually adding any significant extra light for the user.
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In slow-moving city traffic, perhaps I'd agree. At 70mph on a motorway I'm not convinced. Modern lens design means that the light from side-lights is extremely diffused, giving a very weak light compared to the distinct side-lights on older cars and making the judgement of distance and speed difficult; furthermore in rainy conditions on motorways I find that the effect of front side-lights is cancelled out by spray.
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 12/12/2007 at 21:57
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I think you are confusing types of side lights. Some are headlights with a low wattage bulb in them, yes you can see with them. But, some cars just have a 5w bulb stuck on the edge of the car. You CANNOT see with them, can't be seen very well , either. Also, new parking lights are not at the edge of the the car, they are inboard.
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Question; how many of you check your lights on a regular basis?
i usually check my fronts when im stuck in traffic and im behind a nice shiny van , and i check my rears by looking at the reflection in shop windows as i go down the local high street both sides obviously....lazy but effective !!
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Like many motoring "enthusiasts" I fear that I may be verging on the obsessive when it comes to things like this !
I am an early riser, and every Saturday morning, ( as early as 6.00 in summer ) , I give my cars a thorough once over. ( neighbours just love me ! )
I check -
All lights, including front and rear fogs even though I never normally use them !
All fluids
Tyres, condition, tread depth and pressure
I even have a quick look underneath to see if the condition of exhaust has changed since last week !
Then there is the cleaning routine -
Rinse off whole car with hose to loosen dirt
Wash with wax based shampoo, rinsing each panel as it's done
Clean wheels including fiddly bits with an old toothbrush
Rinse whole car again and also hose under wheelarches etc.
Chamois whole car until dry
Vacuum out interior
Use anti-static wipes on all interior trim
Polish leather seats with leather feed
Wash and dry inside window glass
Usually finished by 9.30
I will even clear snow off the car to do this, how sad is that ? ! Is it just me ? Do I need therapy ? Or are there others out there ????
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Shoespy, yes you are a seriously sad man or just have too much time on your hands but if it makes you happy why not; however you are not alone. I saw my next door neighbour washing and polishing his company car inside and out including the door frames and the underside of the bonnet and bootlid on the day it was being replaced by a new one.
I wash my car once a year whether it needs it or not...:)
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> am an early riser, and every Saturday morning
My saturday morning routine is
Sleep till 09:30
Have breakfast, read the paper, watch saturday kitchen,
11:30 Dog takes me for a walk, Visit costa coffee for sticky bun and a double shot.
Since my new car arrived two months ago its had
Washes, None
Oil check, once
Lights cleaned - when they get a bit dim
Washer bottle topped up once (It blew bubbles rather than water, so I checked the oil at the same time)
The Tyres get a look over once a week or so.
Yes shoespy you are sad and I think therapy is too late.
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< Ulla>
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You are probably right Altea. I couldn't read the "Dirty Plates" thread without getting a nervous tick ! ;-)
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Since my new car arrived two months ago its had Washes None Oil check once
But it's not your car, it belongs to a lease firm and is simply a white good - a tool to move you from A to B.
shoespy probably owns his own car, picked it becuase he likes it, and considers it to be more than simply a method of transport. He does if he's anything like me, anyway.
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Do I need therapy ? >>
In my opinion you certainly need looking at.
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Correct me please if I'm mistaken but in some European countries is it not mandatory to carry spare bulbs? I know Renault dealers sold them years ago
lol - the irony. There are many manufacturers who by design or accident makes it almost impossible to change headlight bulbs by the roadside, but Renault are one of the biggest culprits.
If it's to become mandatory to carry bulbs, it has to be mandatory for the car makers to design headlights where tool-free bulb changes are possible without any dismantling of the vehicle for access. Otherwise the law is completely pointless.
I check ours regularly. Worst case is they wait until the weekend when I have time in daylight to replace the bulbs.
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
Edited by DP on 13/12/2007 at 10:13
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Mondeo is easy peasy - OK you have to unclip the radiator grille and take out the headlamp unit but it can all be done and put back in the time it takes to boil a kettle. ( also provides another "cleaning opportunity" ! )
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>>Mondeo is easy peasy ......in the time it takes to boil a kettle.
>>
I assume this is a MK3, certainly not a MK2 unless of course you have a slow kettle.
( 3 second kettle is now on sale) ;-)
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Whatever happened to Dim-Dip headlights, were they a UK idea which was outlawed by the EU? I remember having 2 or 3 cars around D/E reg that automatically selected a reduced power dipped beam when you switched the parking lights on with engine running. I presume the idea was they allowed you to be seen when driving under bright street lighting without causing dazzle.
Edited by *Gongfarmer* on 13/12/2007 at 12:05
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With bulbs becoming more and more difficult to change (my megane is a nightmare) maybe people are putting it off!
I would be tempted to wait until the weekend to change a headlight bulb on mine - at least I would have some daylight to help me scrape the skin from my arm and knuckles
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Dim-dip was in fact outlawed by the EU, although there's nothing to stop a UK driver wiring it up again on a car post-purchase. Daytime running lights continue as before in Scandinavia; North American states variously permit or enforce a similar system but only for (half power) front lights. (Doh!) And finally, headlights on during the day is still obligatory in Italy, Austria, Baltics, central and eastern Europe but will NOT now be complusory across EU. Still enough for bulb manufacturers to be rubbing their hands in glee, though.
Anyone know why so many new cars and coaches and lorries have amber "side markers" (separate from indicators)? Is this a new requirement?
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Dim-dip wasn't outlawed as such - it's that the UK government was no longer allowed to require it of imported cars. Governments aren't allowed to have requirements more onerous than the EU-wide ones, as that would be a restraint of trade.
There's nothing stopping anyone producing cars with dim-dip; it's just that as soon as it wasn't compulsory for the UK, manufacturers saved a few pence by removing it.
Amber side markers have been permitted in Europe since the year dot. You may be seeing them more on cars because of increasing commonality between Europe and US versions. US cars are required to have amber and red side markers, and they get converted to the optional amber side markers in Europe.
And I've seen amber side markers on most lorries and coaches for as long as I can remember - I'd been under the impression that they were compulsory for those classes of vehicle, but I'm not sure.
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Shoespy - I was wrong - I think it is Audis which require major component removal to get at headlight bulbs, although somebody has mentioned early Mondeos
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I remember when I had my Espace ( the model before the current one ) ......hateful thing, but that's another story :-(
I went to the local Renault dealers' parts dept. to buy a headlamp bulb. I purchased the ( stupidly expensive ) thing and proceeded to try to fit it in their car park. Well after about half an hour I admitted defeat and went back in to ask advice. The upshot was that the service manager tried but couldn't do it either and he then called out a technician who rolled his eyes and tried for a while. Nope - he couldn't do it either ! Eventually they got a girl from the office who had daintier hands and somehow she managed to do it, albeit with significant collateral damage to her manicure.
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Ever since my Military Driving Course in the early '70s its been a routine to do the POWER checks before setting off...
P = petrol (fuel)
O = Oil
W = water Coolant & Washers
E = electrics (Inc. lights)
R = rubber (tyres)
Regards,
John R @ Work :¬)
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Nah get away, you dont really check all those things before you start every journey,
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< Ulla>
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No... life's too short, but I do do a quick walk around visual check b4 every trip.
Full POWER check is now relegated to weekends.
Regards,
John R @ Work :¬)
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