Buster

Just needed car sorting, so new alternator, belt and battery £360 all in. They worked out why the battery was throwing out low voltage even with new battery and alternator fitted and the garage knew a Skoda tech who suggested that the wire from DF plug (?) near the gearbox might have broken. They looked, and hence it has! Common fault with the Fabia apparently, so they have done a temporary fix, and I'll get a kit to fix the broken wire. Not what I was planning on spending on a big red thing on Valentines day!

Garage had to try 3 alternators, got one working, but when they charged to battery, they had to stop charging after 20 mins as battery got too hot. They reckon the alternator going cooked the battery, new one £105! They then spoke to Skoda technicians at the local Skoda garage, who said to check all wiring and the found the wire connected to the gearbox had snapped off, which they say would explain why the circuit wasn't completing and why the battery could have been giving off a low voltage output. Would jumpstarting another car from mine (the other was a knackered petrol Rover) cook the battery? Although he got the wrong terminals on mine first-time round (sparks!), mine started ok, and ran fine with no faults coming up - the alternator belt prob started about a week later. Advice???

In local garage, couldn't get it to awesome, not enough juice in the battery. Quoted £258 for belt, alternator, labour and vat Spoke to Awesome and they quoted roughly same ballpark, and they said would need new alternator as they come as one unit :'(

Great to hear and hope they catch the culprit! Maybe Buster wants some fresh meat?! :p

Had a really squally alternator belt, was goign to get it into the garage this week to look at. Driving tonight sounded really suqally and a big whine under acceleration, then the ASR light came on. Parked up at training, then when I re-started a couple of hours later, no squeal, a bit of whine tho (have been having suspected whine from the power steering), then couple of miles down the road, ASR light comes on again, and dashboard lighting seems dim. Pulled into Sainsbury's car park, popped the bonnet and the belt was hanging off the alternator pulley, and pretty shredded. RAC reckon pulley bearings have gone, and there are some small slivers of metal in the engine bay, which RAC man reckons came from the pulley wearing on the alternator casing. RAC prognosis - new alternator. I live too far from Awesome to get it there and RAC have recovered me to home, but would charge me £85 to recover me again tomorrow to Awesome. So I think try a more local garage. Anyone had any experience of these belts and alternators? Do you have to buy pulley and alternator as one, or are there separate bits? Costs? Any advice gratefully received. Cheers

Good work Cuthbert and Halfpenny, hope North is fit to smash England in 2 weeks!

There was another cracking case on the BBC news this morning - on benefits, but big house, with flash laptop, flatscreen tv etc. I've been on benefits before and it it tough finding a job, ended up with one paying not much more than what I got on unemployment benefit. I agree that people should be helped, but vouchers for food and travel, no contribution towards sky tv, booze and fags!

It should cost you 12 points! The amount of Darwin Awards nominees I see on my walk from the station to the office, espeicially concentrating on their phones (which if that isn't an invitation to a mugger, I don't know what is). No wonder these same people probably would chance their arm at a level crossing.

What a game! Should have been home and dry had Priestland brought his kicking boots! Davies is improving game by game and North, what a monster! I think North a shoe-in for the 2013 Lions...

No sympathy and it's not like he grew his own business from the grassroots up. I say tax the bankers and if they want to upsticks and leave, I'll gladly help them pack! Think how many graduates etc are trying to get into banking, but can't due to lack of jobs - this would clear the way at least partially and bring unemployment numbers down and have more people earning, thus paying tax, and bringing down the deficit.

Be interesting to see what he says when they lose against Wales.... mwahahahaha!

Bread of heaven, BREAD OF HEAVEN...

I live not too far from there, so not sure if it was icy, but the roads round there are pretty shockingly bad with potholes and the railway tracks crossing the roads, plus the grooves in the roads caused by the lorries. Not surprised and accident happened, and not doubt a greasy road. I think the companies round there that have all the lorries coming and going to should be taxed heavier to pay for the repairs to these roads!

A sore point? Well, certainly the one if not 3 you thought were in the bag!

A slapped ar$e, he he!

Good luck!

Caught 2 mins tonight - the barmaid is a big improvement over Debbie Dingle (seriously, she always looks as thought someone has pi&*ed on her chips!) Barmaid

I've known a couple, but will keep my own counsel. Just want someone normal!!!

She's in the new Sherlock Holmes movie - and damn fine in it she is too!

I would run the other way if I were you, do you really want to get involved in such issues?!

If I was the son, I would find it a bit disturbing tbh if it was one of my female mates, especially if she was my ex!!! if I didn't know her before, then maybe a different story...

So, what do folks think??? Very interesting discussion on Radio 2 this lunchtime about it...

With those teeth, I'm not sure the Bee Gees could give proper mouth to mouth! On a more serious note, I seem to remember that there is still a reasonable amount of oxygen left in the body when someone stops breathing, but if someone's heart has stopped, then mouth to mouth isn't going to be much use as you need a pumping heart to get the air around the body.

Good luck!

I like it, especially the way they deliver the "casualty". I'm trained in CPR, but I do wish they would stop changing their minds about what to do, as on it changes from first aid course to first aid course every couple of years - no wonder people are confused!