Nearly one less today...

[Pupp]

Got stranded on the side of the A14 east-bound near j13 after a fuel pump/circuit problem decided to make itself known this morning. Managed to get half onto the verge before coming to a stop; unfortunately on the apex of what is quite a left handed bend there. Out of the car, up the verge, and onto the blower for the police/AA (not the place to piss about), when a trucker who was clearly deep into a porn mag or over-concentrating on his Yorkie decides to look up long enough to *only* take the off-side mirror off (bless). Three inches to the left, would have been goodbye Chimaera

Bright side was I got to be the cause of an A14 jam while I was recovered, rather than be stuck in someone else's

Be careful out there guys (especially on that bloody road)!

[simonej]

It always amazes me the number of lorries you see drifting into the hard shoulder when driving on motorways. WTF are they doing? It's no wonder you're advised to get out of the car and behind the barriers with muppets like that around.

Glad you and the car are OK, maybe see it as an opportunity to upgrade the wing mirrors to the later Cerbera/Corrado jobbies?

[BliarOut]

I heard your jam on the radio

[miniman]

Heebee will be along in a minute to fill you in on why that was your own fault

[nawarne]

I have always advised my kids to stick the car in gear and 'drive' it on the starter motor up onto the verge - our out of harm's way in situations like that.

I know I'll probably be flamed - hammering the battery and stater motor - but at least you could avoid a much bigger cost/hassle by doing this.

My 2p's worth.
Nick

[Pupp]

BliarOut said:

I heard your jam on the radio

Fame at last!

[trashbat]

simonej said:

It always amazes me the number of lorries you see drifting into the hard shoulder when driving on motorways.

It is windy out. Always one to bear in mind!

[rb5er]

simonej said:

It always amazes me the number of lorries you see drifting into the hard shoulder when driving on motorways. WTF are they doing? It's no wonder you're advised to get out of the car and behind the barriers with muppets like that around.

It does happen, but car drivers are just as bad and without the excuses of spending 45hours a week at the wheel.

Last year whilst working on the M40, some guys were doing some fencing, closed hard shoulder with signs and cones etc when a woman manages to take out their pickup truck parked on the h/s bu driving straight into the back of it, luckily they were up the verge and she only injured herself.

A month later and a guy is changing his flat tyre on the h/s, luckily it was the n/s he was changing as again a woman managed to veer into the rear 3/4, rolling her car in the process and writing off his. She was pregnant. Possibly too busy with something else to stay in her lane.

I had worked on the motorway for a year until this put me off, i have friends that have worked there for years and thankfully nobody has yet experienced a truck hitting something on the h/s.

[Pupp]

So, do we assume from this that *my* trucker was likely a woman?

Have now confirmed that one of the infamous paired relays is u/s and this is hopefully all that was wrong. Anyone know any other numbers apart from:

Bosch 0332014112
Landrover AFU 2913L
BMW 12631729
Euro Car Parts 450110050 (Meyle part)

Last time I needed one, was about a fiver - now £19 seemes to be the going rate!

[Mark.]

Out of interest, did the driver stop? Or did you get a number/details?

[Pupp]

Mark. said:

Out of interest, did the driver stop? Or did you get a number/details?

(S)he did not stop but, in fairness, there wasn't really anywhere they could safely. I had no chance to see the number or even any livery on the wagon. TBH I'm just glad it wasn't a full-on pile up and have to say the BiB and the AA were very professional (and speedy) in closing the n/s lane and recovering the car. Horrible place for a breakdown.

[Mark.]

Pupp said:

(S)he did not stop but, in fairness, there wasn't really anywhere they could safely. I had no chance to see the number or even any livery on the wagon. TBH I'm just glad it wasn't a full-on pile up and have to say the BiB and the AA were very professional (and speedy) in closing the n/s lane and recovering the car. Horrible place for a breakdown.

Understand - must have been bit of a shock. Glad it was only the mirror!

[BliarOut]

Pupp said:

So, do we assume from this that *my* trucker was likely a woman?

Have now confirmed that one of the infamous paired relays is u/s and this is hopefully all that was wrong. Anyone know any other numbers apart from:

Bosch 0332014112
Landrover AFU 2913L
BMW 12631729
Euro Car Parts 450110050 (Meyle part)

Last time I needed one, was about a fiver - now £19 seemes to be the going rate!

Bosh ones are a brown plastic unit these days.

[Tyre Tread]

Bad road. One of the reasons I changed jobs was not to have to drive it every day.

Unlucky on the mirror but glad to hear you're OK.

[julianc]

simonej said:

It always amazes me the number of lorries you see drifting into the hard shoulder when driving on motorways. WTF are they doing?

Aren't they distracted because they are in the process of murdering the hitchhiker?

With credit to JC, of course

[Pupp]

Thanks all

New style Bosch relay found for £12 in Huntigdon, now for the mirror. Suspect that might not be so easy...

[nawarne]

Gary,
Long shot, but about 5 years ago I bought a complete Citroen CX mirror for my V8S from EuroCar Parts.

The service guys at my local branch advised that Euro had bought all of Citroen UK's old stock at that time.
IIRC, the complete mirror cost me about £75 - unpainted of course.

Might be worth 'phoning your local branch or their head office to see if the have any left?

Nick

[mep12345]

nawarne said:

Gary,
Long shot, but about 5 years ago I bought a complete Citroen CX mirror for my V8S from EuroCar Parts.

The service guys at my local branch advised that Euro had bought all of Citroen UK's old stock at that time.
IIRC, the complete mirror cost me about £75 - unpainted of course.

Might be worth 'phoning your local branch or their head office to see if the have any left?

Nick

I've used CX basis in Germany before - they were very good and quick to deliver and even have both side in stock (expensive though). Off-side one is here

HTH

Mark

ETA Offside mirror link

[Pupp]

Thanks guys; will follow up. Think I've bagged one from a breaker as a contingency (hate paying those buggers) but no harm in stocking up!