1 hour ago, J.R. said:

 

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Well this non sensible but also non judgemental person is someone that takes responsability for his own actions and would rather risk his own life than that of someone else, be it the breakdown operative or the innocents that might be involved in the accident that may happen while the car remains in a dangerous position for much longer than it may be while I paint my nails.

 

The difference is that the AA drive big bright yellow vans lit up like a christmas tree and sited many yards up traffic from the broken down vehicle so easily seen by other drivers. You are changing your wheel in a smallish vehicle with just the indicator lights blinking and no warning to approaching vehicles that there is someone in the road. Even worse at night.

Advice from Police if you break down for any reason on motorways - get everyone out and onto the safe side of the barrier and await help. Just look at the many deaths reported of drivers and passengers being crushed by vehicles ploughing into broken down vehicles on motorway hard shoulders. It’s not a matter of painting one’s nails it is simply one of recognising risks and avoiding those that have been proven to be deadly. Not judgemental just sensible.

 

On 29/03/2019 at 08:51, Robjon said:

 

If you have one, it will be stored behind a small drop-down lid under the front of the passenger seat.

My small collapsible brolly came in the boot, near the torch. So there.

Oh oh oh.......and will the spare from the 4x4 Monte diesel DSG fit an Outdoor EL?  As you have already gathered, I know little about cars!!  Rely on you all on here - superb knowledge!!!

Should do. The wheels and floorpan etc are all the same, just different trim and spec really.

On 30/03/2019 at 08:13, J.R. said:

You are changing your wheel in a smallish vehicle with just the indicator lights blinking and no warning to approaching vehicles that there is someone in the road. Even worse at night.

 

You are recommended to carry a warning triangle as well - and it's compulsory in some countries.

 

However, I discovered somewhat to my surprise just now that you are not supposed to use a warning triangle on a motorway (Highway Code Rule 274).  That might seem rather to defeat the object of carrying one, but on reflection it's probably sensible advice if it dissuades people from wandering about on the hard shoulder.  On motorways, in theory, you should never be too far from an emergency phone anyway (which does mean the risk of being without a mobile signal also shouldn't be a consideration in such circumstances).

 

That Highway Code rule also says "or use other permitted warning devices if you have them".  It doesn't say what other warning devices are permitted, though, and it doesn't appear to be straightforward to find out.  An illuminated, flashing something-or-other might seem like a cunning idea - something like these or this - but I can think of a number of reasons why those particular items might not be legal to use in the UK (light colour, intensity, flash rate etc).  Plus, being battery powered, there would be a strong likelihood that the batteries would turn out to be flat on the one occasion you try to use the thing(s).  And you still wouldn't want to be wandering about on the hard shoulder setting them up.

 

Maybe one of those flashing yellow lights that argicultural vehicles carry could be used to augment to hazard flashers?  I remember passing a stall at the Royal Highland Show which was selling more different kinds of flashing yellow lights than I ever imagined existed.  When I say "stall", it was an artic trailer with a fold-out awning and shop counter with display stands and the lot.  Not just a bloke with a barrow!

5 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

 

You are recommended to carry a warning triangle as well - and it's compulsory in some countries.

 

 

Seriously do you think anyone will see a small warning triangle compared with a BIG Yellow Van with bright flashing lights all over it! 

5 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

but on reflection

 

17 hours ago, Expatman said:

Seriously do you think anyone will see a small warning triangle compared with a BIG Yellow Van with bright flashing lights all over it! 

 

If comparing the two then obviously not, no.   But I was actually responding to J.R's comment that you would have "just the indicator lights blinking" (my emphasis).  Hence why that was the bit of their post that I actually quoted.  Hence also why I then burbled on about the HC's reference to "other permitted warning devices", and what those might be.  Such as, perhaps, some additional bright flashing lights...

 

Or did you just read the first line of my post and knee-jerked a snidy response?

 

17 hours ago, freedie said:

 

 

Er, thanks.  Didn't see what I'd done there!

J.R. did not say those words attributed to him.

 

I have avoided quoting you as that is how the error may have been caused in the first place.

2 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

 

If comparing the two then obviously not, no.   But I was actually responding to J.R's comment that you would have "just the indicator lights blinking" (my emphasis).  Hence why that was the bit of their post that I actually quoted.  Hence also why I then burbled on about the HC's reference to "other permitted warning devices", and what those might be.  Such as, perhaps, some additional bright flashing lights...

 

Or did you just read the first line of my post and knee-jerked a snidy response?

 

Not meant to be a snide response, hope we are better than that here. I was intending to emphasise that no matter what "normal" system a driver might use it would be useless in warning approaching drivers compared with the big yellow AA van with flashing lights all over it. Roadsides are dangerous places to loiter and motorway hard shoulders are bordering on suicidal.

Sorry if I offended you.

Next stoopid question.  Some of the boxes in question are secured by large rubber discs.  Can't make out how to loosen and remove these.  Help...again!!

 

They also want the wheel nut key.  Is this the long thingy stored with the jack?  Is the jack part of the kit or is there one in each car?

 

Thanks y'all.........

Not sure about the 'rubber discs' Are they double sided adhesive pads?

 

The wheel nut key is as circled in yellow on the attached pic - That needs to stay with the car so the new car owner can remove the wheels.

 

The jack (and wheel brace - the bent long shaft thingy) goes with the spare wheel (you don't get a jack if you don't have a spare wheel)

50 minutes ago, twoladies said:

Next stoopid question.  Some of the boxes in question are secured by large rubber discs.  Can't make out how to loosen and remove these.  Help...again!!

 

They also want the wheel nut key.  Is this the long thingy stored with the jack?  Is the jack part of the kit or is there one in each car?

 

Thanks y'all.........

If they are what I think they are, they screw onto the metal underneath them. You need a Torx driver to remove them (I think TX40 or something).

Rubber discs are holding it in position ..can't move the box.

 

Thanks for photo...now I know wheel nut key.

 

Great..I get the jack etc.

 

Just the rubber discs.

 

Thank you Gerrard uk. 

Edited 1 April, 20197 yr by twoladies

Rubber discs advice still needed....think I am almost there now.  Hope I don't fall at the last hurdle with these discs preventing me from removing the boxes.  Will try and take a piccie.

Edited 1 April, 20197 yr by twoladies

See GerrardUK's reply above. They screw into captive mountings underneath the foam. You need a Torx driver to unscrew them, or you might get away with Allen keys if you're careful

Thank you.  This gets more and more complicated.  Unfortunately, my local Skoda garage are not very obliging, even though they do the servicing.

 

Perhaps Halfords is the place to go?

@twoladies go to a good local independent garage instead of a Skoda main stealer for this sort of work.

11 hours ago, twoladies said:

Thank you.  This gets more and more complicated.  Unfortunately, my local Skoda garage are not very obliging, even though they do the servicing.

 

Perhaps Halfords is the place to go?

Am I right in think that you had a tow hitch fitted at GT Towing? They may  remove those boxes for you (they probably had to remove/refit them when you had the hitch fitted?)

Thank you . Gt towing is miles away.  In the spares is probably the key...but it doesn't fit.  Too small. Went into large tyre place opposite but they don't have a torx.

Will try skoda and costco.   

Losing the will to live......will probably have to leave the boxes and just take the spare just fixed with upright post.

Pop into Halfords and pick up a Torx set.

 

Or this...

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F201249234447

Or...pop into Halford and try for sympathy and assistance. Lititle old lady etc etc.

Halfords don't do that sort of stuff. If you're lucky they'll break something trying to get them out. If you're unlucky they'll break something, tell you it was already broken and it's your fault, and then charge you for the pleasure.

1 hour ago, twoladies said:

Or...pop into Halford and try for sympathy and assistance. Lititle old lady etc etc.

Absolutely not! Look for a garage near you that doesn't sell cars and has a name like "Ken O'Neill Motors". (not a mechanic and not in Herts)

3 hours ago, twoladies said:

Went into large tyre place opposite but they don't have a torx.

 

 

Seriously? They didn't have one torx set between them?

 

And the Skoda garage where you're buying a brand new car wouldn't/couldn't help?

 

I can't quite believe this story anymore.