Hi,
Was it (and is it still) an offense to have an empty washer bottle?
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No, it is an offence though and has been for many years.
Edited by Pugugly on 14/04/2008 at 08:45
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I think if the washer bottle were empty, but the screen washers still worked (for example routed to a hidden tank) there would be no problem.
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Reg 34 MV (Con and Use) Regs, 1986
Motor vehicles to be fitted with wipers and washers ( certain exemptions - not cars).
34(6) Every wiper/washer fitted shall at all times while a vehicle is being used on a road be maintained in efficient working order and properly adjusted.
£1,000 fine - no points.
An empty bottle will offender 34(6)
dvd
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Actually, there is a car exemption - but with a very few exceptions, I'd not advise using it.
There is no requirement to have a windscreen, and aero type screens are permitted, providing adequate forward visibility can be maintained (without washers and wipers). Means it needs to be an open car, Morgans and Westfields being about the most common to take advantage but a lot of Brighton cars, other veterans and quite a few vintage cars are in this group as well.
Generally, if fitted, it has to work. You won't go far wrong if you make that assumption.
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DVD does this also apply to rear wipers/washers?
Looks from that wording as if it does
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No
Regs specifically mentions ......that driver has an adequate view of the road in FRONT
of bothe sides of the vehicle and to the front of the vehicle.
But there is a requirement that all parts and accessories shall at all times be in such condition that no danger is caused or likely to be caused to any other person using the road (reg 100).
Whether one could bend to cover a mucked up rear screen so that rearwards view could not be obtained no doubt would be a good payday for PU.
dvd
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Especially if I go freelance next year.
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Thanks to all...
I thought it was, but did not remember the specific Regs.
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Strange but true anecdote here.
My cousin once took a taxi from Durban airport in the middle of a torrential rainstorm. The taxi had no working wipers or washers. The extremely tall and lanky driver, utterly undaunted, sat barely an inch from the screen and drove all the way to the hotel with his arm right outside, and wiped the screen at a furious pace with his bare hand. Almost faultless clutchless gear changes to boot.
He earned his tip.
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Just wonder where do we stand in the winter months. This applies to cars which have the washer bottle located in the inner wing outside the engine compartment. As you know in the cold winter months the fluid freezes up in the bottle or the pipe to the nozzle. Even if you use the screenwash solution. So when you are driving you can't get any water to clear the dirty screen. What happens if the police stops you?
i normally carry an water bbottle in the car which i pour on the screen if it gets really filthy.
never had that problem for long when the washer bottle used to be in the engine bay
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Never had this problem (apart from the Landie) until I got the Skoda. (when the use of the frozen washers blew a pressure relief thingy - fixed for nothing by Skoda, but still). Even the most humble office Vauxhall never froze their washers !
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wazza and PU, if you've had frozen washer systems you are simply using weedy solution.
I've never had frozen washers even here in Estonia and our Subaru is parked outside all year round. It gets pretty cold here sometimes (-27 deg C is the lowest I've experienced). The screenwash concentrate that I bought in the local petrol station comes from Kemetyl of Sweden. When diluted 1:1 with tap water it is good to -30 deg C. It is 75% - 85% denatured ethanol and the rest is made up of isopropanol. No adverse effects on paintwork etc noticed.
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Rather surprisingly, the soapy stuff you can buy from a VW garage - presumably the same for Skoda and other VAG dealers - is both cheap and excellent. The Golf washer bottle is in the front wing, and I've never had a problem with freezing. You just put a stronger mixture in when it's cold.
Edited by Avant on 18/04/2008 at 13:26
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Due to the unexpectedally normal winter here, there appeared to be a shortage of washer fluid at one point. I was reduced to buying some wonderful own brand carp from a well known supermarket, It was pink, it smelt nice and had a picture of a heart on the front. No good at cleaning windows though, shame really as the packaging was really attractive.
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I have got into the habit of buying 3 of the 5 litre containers of Winter screenwash every Summer when it goes out at a sale price. Usually sees me through to the next year. ..................................Aye ! ( touches nose in a Pvt. Fraser impression )
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The NOT includes a check that the wiper blades are in good order and the washers working correctly.
More than once in the past, years ago, I've reverted to the cut potato wiped across the windscreen when the wipers have packed up.
On one occasion we were in the Trough of Bowland, miles from anywhere, and knocked on the door of the first property we managed to find.
The request for a potato proved a considerable surprise for the occupants....
Edited by Stuartli on 18/04/2008 at 20:05
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I usually buy 3 x 5 litre cans for the price of 2 of concentrated wash. I can't understand people buying ready-mix as you are paying for a lot of water and a little real stuff. A garage near me which sells pies and porn, with fuel as a sideline, has 500 cc of concentrate @ £5.99 which seems pricey.
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A
I'd like to see the Python sketch that goes with that description :-)
JH
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