Hoist by my own petard. (Excel misery)
Discussion
It's not often that I have to confess to a failure of the wedge, but here's one.
Pootling up the M1 & A1 from Luton yesterday evening, lovely clear weather all the way to Donington, where the snow finally caught us around 7:30 p.m. We carried on up to just past the A59 (York/Harrogate) junction and the wiper slipped on the spindle so it was doing a lovely job of wiping the passenger side and part of the bonnet. Visibility was already pretty poor - low cars and heavy snow make spotting the white lines rather difficult - driving by the feel of the rumble strips is an interesting experience.
Pulled over to try to fix it, and the car wouldn't restart. ( though it did a bit later, but the volts were reading a bit low even with all loads turned off and my main concern was to ensure that my passenger didn't succumb to hypolotusthermia).
Really annoying as the performance of the winter tyres in the uncleared lanes was fantastic. It felt perfectly safe passing things at rather surprising speeds (nothing above the limit though).
Ah well - there are worse places to spend the night than the Holiday Inn in Harrogate (40 miles from home, damnit!). Hoping we'll get it sorted this afternoon now the sun is shining again. I suspect the alternator is definitely on its last legs.
P.S. - to everyone on that stretch of the A1 who stopped to see if we needed help, thankyou - that's thanks to all NONE of you. NOT ONE PERSON STOPPED. I really learned to despise every lorry driver and modern car driver last night.
Pootling up the M1 & A1 from Luton yesterday evening, lovely clear weather all the way to Donington, where the snow finally caught us around 7:30 p.m. We carried on up to just past the A59 (York/Harrogate) junction and the wiper slipped on the spindle so it was doing a lovely job of wiping the passenger side and part of the bonnet. Visibility was already pretty poor - low cars and heavy snow make spotting the white lines rather difficult - driving by the feel of the rumble strips is an interesting experience.
Pulled over to try to fix it, and the car wouldn't restart. ( though it did a bit later, but the volts were reading a bit low even with all loads turned off and my main concern was to ensure that my passenger didn't succumb to hypolotusthermia).
Really annoying as the performance of the winter tyres in the uncleared lanes was fantastic. It felt perfectly safe passing things at rather surprising speeds (nothing above the limit though).
Ah well - there are worse places to spend the night than the Holiday Inn in Harrogate (40 miles from home, damnit!). Hoping we'll get it sorted this afternoon now the sun is shining again. I suspect the alternator is definitely on its last legs.
P.S. - to everyone on that stretch of the A1 who stopped to see if we needed help, thankyou - that's thanks to all NONE of you. NOT ONE PERSON STOPPED. I really learned to despise every lorry driver and modern car driver last night.
Indeed. Unfortunately, Jarvis had taken the weekend off so we had to resort to Brittania Rescue 
Their contractors (MPW) were very busy last night, but got to us pretty quickly (under 2 hours), huge thanks to them. In fact, they're still sorting out the mess from last night, so I won't be able to check the car over until after 2 p.m. today.
and thanks for the mental support, V8FOU. I'm assuming there were no PHers out and about on the A1 last night.
Their contractors (MPW) were very busy last night, but got to us pretty quickly (under 2 hours), huge thanks to them. In fact, they're still sorting out the mess from last night, so I won't be able to check the car over until after 2 p.m. today.
and thanks for the mental support, V8FOU. I'm assuming there were no PHers out and about on the A1 last night.
Edited by marshalla on Saturday 26th January 12:46
Sorry mate - I was heading back to Scotland yesterday from Sheffield (M1/A1M/A1) but was at the A59 junction about lunchtime. As I have done in the past for stranded Loti, be assured I would have stopped to help out.
Glad I was in the Volvo XC70 though. The weather further North deteriorated rapidly and there was a complete white out blizzard at Scotch Corner. We lost the outside lane at a few spots. Weirdly it improved the further North I went.
Glad I was in the Volvo XC70 though. The weather further North deteriorated rapidly and there was a complete white out blizzard at Scotch Corner. We lost the outside lane at a few spots. Weirdly it improved the further North I went.
Thanks Hedgerley, I know that a fellow Lotuser or PHer would at least stop to say "do you need help?" From past experience, we're a fairly humane bunch.
We hit trouble at just after 10 p.m.
and, as I say, the car was coping well with the snow under-wheel. It was just visibility and leaky electrons that let us down.
Still, home safe and sound (and warm !) now, but still appalled by the rest of that subset of mankind's lack of concern for their fellow man.
From past experience, we're a fairly humane bunch.We hit trouble at just after 10 p.m.
and, as I say, the car was coping well with the snow under-wheel. It was just visibility and leaky electrons that let us down.Still, home safe and sound (and warm !) now, but still appalled by the rest of that subset of mankind's lack of concern for their fellow man.
Edited by marshalla on Saturday 26th January 20:17
Angus
Read your post on the Excel site too.
Have to say that stopping on the A1M or whatever isn't the safest and having worked on it I wouldn't advise it unless like in your case its a breakdown.
Thst said:
Most people nowerdays are so wrapped up in their own little warm, music filled, know where they are going, don't see anyone else world, they cannot even indicate or slow to avoid a car coming the other way. They'd rather pull over onto your side of the road and have a head on than drive hrough a puddle or stop 'cos there's a car on their side.
Personally I tend to stop for a classic but wouldn't for a run of the mill car, unless they were in serious trouble (accident or in a dangerous place)
Last year I took my old mini for its first MoT in 5 years at Winston, broke down at the bottom of the hill bfore the village.
Head under bonnet I was passed by about 100 cars including someone who knew me (but not the car).
One guy in an old Ford Transit pick up stopped, offered help, told him I was waiting for the AA, he said ok if you need any help I live ....gave directions.
AA man arrived, it was the rotor arm, we went down to this guys farm where he gave us a new arm.
There are some out the with a sense of decency.
Read your post on the Excel site too.
Have to say that stopping on the A1M or whatever isn't the safest and having worked on it I wouldn't advise it unless like in your case its a breakdown.
Thst said:
Most people nowerdays are so wrapped up in their own little warm, music filled, know where they are going, don't see anyone else world, they cannot even indicate or slow to avoid a car coming the other way. They'd rather pull over onto your side of the road and have a head on than drive hrough a puddle or stop 'cos there's a car on their side.
Personally I tend to stop for a classic but wouldn't for a run of the mill car, unless they were in serious trouble (accident or in a dangerous place)
Last year I took my old mini for its first MoT in 5 years at Winston, broke down at the bottom of the hill bfore the village.
Head under bonnet I was passed by about 100 cars including someone who knew me (but not the car).
One guy in an old Ford Transit pick up stopped, offered help, told him I was waiting for the AA, he said ok if you need any help I live ....gave directions.
AA man arrived, it was the rotor arm, we went down to this guys farm where he gave us a new arm.
There are some out the with a sense of decency.
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