Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 16 January 2012, 23:03:46
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...we all know about driving slowly and carefully in icy and snowy conditions but anyone got any hints or tips on what faults and problems the winter weather can cause to our cars and our engines?
:y
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Main one is to make sure you have current antifreeze to stop engine freezing.
Then of course with the reduced coeff of friction.................
have fun. :y
Ken
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Main one is to make sure you have current antifreeze to stop engine freezing.
Then of course with the reduced coeff of friction.................
have fun. :y
Ken
Definitely.
I recently did a coolant flush and change so touch wood should have no probs with that.
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Just basic ones that i know of, not an expert or an exhaustive list by any means. Some obvious
Cold drains the battery more, choke is on more so higher fuel consumption (worse as usual on short journeys), locks freeze, entire door freezes shut (smear rubber with some sort of silicone spray to prevent), might be in my mind but suspension seems harder in colder weather, I've had all my tyres resealed and they leak more in the cold weather (might just be lazy tyre fitter baaaastards).
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Oh yeah, i get a cold arse :y
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Don't bother with de-icer.
Just chuck some tepid water over your iced up windows.
Use your heated seats. :P
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Just basic ones that i know of, not an expert or an exhaustive list by any means. Some obvious
Cold drains the battery more, choke is on more so higher fuel consumption (worse as usual on short journeys), locks freeze, entire door freezes shut (smear rubber with some sort of silicone spray to prevent), might be in my mind but suspension seems harder in colder weather, I've had all my tyres resealed and they leak more in the cold weather (might just be lazy tyre fitter baaaastards).
Good points Geoff. i had to note that i did a 400 mile round trip sunday but temp wouldnt go above 85oC. presuming this was cos of the cold. also noticed wasnt as economical that it should be for a long run.
doors freezing shut is easily solved with luke warm water... but then does that damage it long term? :-\
:y :y :y :y
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Don't bother with de-icer.
Just chuck some tepid water over your iced up windows.
Use your heated seats. :P
webby, make sure it's tepid not boiling straight from the kettle or anything, it can break your glass (sudden temp change)
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
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Doors freezing shut can usually be resolved by wiping the rubbers with some silicone spray to remove any moisture from the seal :y
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to move the car on snow/ice
if its auto use snow button and if its manual use 2nd..
and if you are stuck close the traction control !!
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
my neighbour does that. very tempted to jump in and park it round the corner one day ;D
not sure why peeps would do that. stick the car on, heaters on full and then scrape ice while the car warms then its never left unattended :y
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Just basic ones that i know of, not an expert or an exhaustive list by any means. Some obvious
Cold drains the battery more, choke is on more so higher fuel consumption (worse as usual on short journeys), locks freeze, entire door freezes shut (smear rubber with some sort of silicone spray to prevent), might be in my mind but suspension seems harder in colder weather, I've had all my tyres resealed and they leak more in the cold weather (might just be lazy tyre fitter baaaastards).
Good points Geoff. i had to note that i did a 400 mile round trip sunday but temp wouldnt go above 85oC. presuming this was cos of the cold. also noticed wasnt as economical that it should be for a long run.
doors freezing shut is easily solved with luke warm water... but then does that damage it long term? :-\
:y :y :y :y
Could be, it'd use more fuel if it's running cold for any reason. Although I don't really know where my needle is meant to be, I just look at it and as long as it's in the same place after 15 mins it's ok for me
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Don't bother with de-icer.
Just chuck some tepid water over your iced up windows.
Use your heated seats. :P
webby, make sure it's tepid not boiling straight from the kettle or anything, it can break your glass (sudden temp change)
i do mate. luke warm for me (same as tepid i think ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Oh yeah, if an auto and you're still stuck in snow mode, you can rock it out by popping in d and r gently on gas and build up as you go until shazzam!
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Handbrakes have a whole new use :D
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and best thing to do , night time have the car washed underneath with pressurized water , around the tires and apply hand brake when you park ;D
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Handbrakes have a whole new use :D
;D ;D ;D
i was in my mate's big 4 wheel drive thing (no idea what it was) a couple of winters ago. we were egging him on to get the back end out. he did it and cracked the kerb. my neck killed for a week after. no damage to't car though! :o
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and best thing to do , night time have the car washed underneath with pressurized water , around the tires and apply hand brake when you park ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
Indeed they do, my Sister in Law had her 4x4 stolen off the drive last winter and the insurance company have refused to pay out, despite much fighting, on the wall of their factory unit are 2 doors, the only parts recovered from the theft.....Be warned, as it was something i did all the time....... ::) ::) ::)
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
Oh and salt, I forgot about that, oh and a triangle, and other stuff, oh yeah, a paper clip, a list of fault codes, and the elite seat winding tool, and a gold sovereign...no not really ;D
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
one trusts one is being jocular? :-\ :D ;D
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and best thing to do , night time have the car washed underneath with pressurized water , around the tires and apply hand brake when you park ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
been there done that, many years ago.. ;D
and the next day , car decided that I walk ;D
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
In Sunderland........ :D :D :D
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
one trusts one is being jocular? :-\ :D ;D
Am I joking? I don't know what jocular means :-\ No! I have every faith in Vauxhalls joint finest, despite the ridicule of our beloved cars from ignorant baffoons who don't love them. But prior planning and preperation prevents piss poor performance! Also, it could help get someone else shifted who is in my way, and I could go anywhere ate anytime so it pays to have all this and not have to waste time loading up.
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
In Sunderland........ :D :D :D
It's like the wild west up here I'll have you know!
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
one trusts one is being jocular? :-\ :D ;D
lol i thought you were joking when you said in case you get lost from the shops ;D :y
Am I joking? I don't know what jocular means :-\ No! I have every faith in Vauxhalls joint finest, despite the ridicule of our beloved cars from ignorant baffoons who don't love them. But prior planning and preperation prevents piss poor performance! Also, it could help get someone else shifted who is in my way, and I could go anywhere ate anytime so it pays to have all this and not have to waste time loading up.
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i thought you were joking when you said in case you get lost from the shops
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i thought you were joking when you said in case you get lost from the shops
Oh yeah, sorry I'm being a gimp, yeah, just joking about that bit! I keep all that stuff though, it doesn't take up much space in one of those boot organiser things
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
In Sunderland........ :D :D :D
It's like the wild west up here I'll have you know!
Believe me, I know......swmbo is a Makem....... ::) ::) ::)
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i thought you were joking when you said in case you get lost from the shops
Oh yeah, sorry I'm being a gimp, yeah, just joking about that bit! I keep all that stuff though, it doesn't take up much space in one of those boot organiser things
Fair play mate.
you are definitely our winter driving expert!!! :y :y :y
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
In Sunderland........ :D :D :D
It's like the wild west up here I'll have you know!
Believe me, I know......swmbo is a Makem....... ::) ::) ::)
There's better places!
Did you know - Makem comes from the ship yards where they use to make them and take them, makem and takem (what I don't know, obvioulsy not a ship, you couldn't fit that in your back pocket or your lunch box!), hence 'Makem', apparently!
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i thought you were joking when you said in case you get lost from the shops
Oh yeah, sorry I'm being a gimp, yeah, just joking about that bit! I keep all that stuff though, it doesn't take up much space in one of those boot organiser things
Fair play mate.
you are definitely our winter driving expert!!! :y :y :y
That's the first time I've been called an expert! I don't get stuck anywhere in the snow though, not even on those big ice ridges that have melted and refrozen. They're treacherous they are
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I keep all sorts of useful stuff in my cavernous boot, like shovel, blanket, water, coolant, food, maps, jump leads, cones, toolkit, tow rope, hi vis, spare bulbs, fuses, inspection light, first aid kit, compressor, tyre repair kit, fire extinguisher, soap, toothbrush, spare clothes, etc etc Just in case i get lost on my way back from the shops
In Sunderland........ :D :D :D
It's like the wild west up here I'll have you know!
Believe me, I know......swmbo is a Makem....... ::) ::) ::)
There's better places!
Did you know - Makem comes from the ship yards where they use to make them and take them, makem and takem (what I don't know, obvioulsy not a ship, you couldn't fit that in your back pocket or your lunch box!), hence 'Makem', apparently!
Yes, I am a Takem...... :D :D :D
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i thought you were joking when you said in case you get lost from the shops
Oh yeah, sorry I'm being a gimp, yeah, just joking about that bit! I keep all that stuff though, it doesn't take up much space in one of those boot organiser things
Fair play mate.
you are definitely our winter driving expert!!! :y :y :y
That's the first time I've been called an expert! I don't get stuck anywhere in the snow though, not even on those big ice ridges that have melted and refrozen. They're treacherous they are
it's bad when you come out of your drive on to the main road... sideways :-[
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By far the best car I've had in cold weather was a Volvo 960 estate, the engine would be up temperature in under a mile, with a hot heater, demisting was great. The seats were also the most comfortable I ever had in a car and the boot was much bigger than the miggy. Rust was also not an issue as the bodies were hot dipped galvanized.
But it made the miggy look like the most reliable car on the planet, you name it it went wrong. New engine at 27,000 miles due to an engine block casting fault, but Volvo did supply it FOC and all I had to pay 25% of the engine change labour cost, just about every sensor and engine management valve over the next 71,000 miles, head gasket failure at 87,000 miles (common fault) and a new head due to disintegration of brittle alloy head casting (another common fault) and it handled like a camel with attitude.
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Is it bad when you come out of your drive on to the main road... sideways?
In a word, No ::). As long as no one is going past when you do :y
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
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Mrs TB's K series warms up in less than 2 mins, even at idle, so sometimes, my laziness makes me use that ::)
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
What's your address? ;D
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
What's your address? ;D
TheBoy's House
omegaowners.com
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Ensure you have a full tank of traction control fluid.....
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
What's your address? ;D
TheBoy's House
omegaowners.com
Wasn't asking cos I want to steal your car.... I just like ironing :P ;)
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Ensure you have a full tank of traction control fluid.....
And Fart gas. And, if you have one spare, a TD engine block ::)
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
What's your address? ;D
TheBoy's House
omegaowners.com
Wasn't asking cos I want to steal your car.... I just like ironing :P ;)
In which case, write to
Mrs TheBoy
omegaowners.com
she will be delighted to hear from you....
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
Last year when Heathrow got closed I was already mid-way to collect my parents from the airport in the superbarge, and when I got to HR it was closed, so I drove round and made it to terminal 4. 3ft deep snow on the roof of the car park was the most accidental fun I'd had in the car yet. Although, the sheet ice along steeply banked parts of the thames near the grandparents had me clenching a bit as two cars infront of me started to slip towards the waters edge!
Also saw an old girl this time last year when it got to -7 or more here use a kettle on her old fiesta's windscreen before I could shout stop! It snowed glass!
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Don't leave the car ticking over to de-ice it and go back into the house...... ::)
Lots of people lose their cars this way every year despite being warned :'(
I walk out in my dressing gown, fire her up, go in and do my ironing for the day, get dressed, then go to work. All nicely defrosted, and toasty :)
Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
Last year when Heathrow got closed I was already mid-way to collect my parents from the airport in the superbarge, and when I got to HR it was closed, so I drove round and made it to terminal 4. 3ft deep snow on the roof of the car park was the most accidental fun I'd had in the car yet. Although, the sheet ice along steeply banked parts of the thames near the grandparents had me clenching a bit as two cars infront of me started to slip towards the waters edge!
Also saw an old girl this time last year when it got to -7 or more here use a kettle on her old fiesta's windscreen before I could shout stop! It snowed glass!
:o :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
My old works tranny had a diesel heater on a programmable timer. I used to be laying in bed and hear it start up, ready to be lovely and warm by the time I feel out of my pit.
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Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
My old works tranny had a diesel heater on a programmable timer. I used to be laying in bed and hear it start up, ready to be lovely and warm by the time I feel out of my pit.
That's awesome!! Not a standard feature I presume! Mate has some gigantic literage perkins in his series one landy it seems to take forever to get warm!
My big mistake was being cocky and having it attempt to start 3 times (for no reason..It always started first time!) It dragged itself towards the door at 1ft every attempt and I couldn't find the key to cancel it!
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My old works tranny had a diesel heater on a programmable timer. I used to be laying in bed and hear it start up, ready to be lovely and warm by the time I feel out of my pit.
That's awesome!! Not a standard feature I presume! Mate has some gigantic literage perkins in his series one landy it seems to take forever to get warm!
This was probably 17 or 18 years ago, it was standard fit to our fleet, but suspect they were not a factory option, but retrofitted by Ford before delivery to us. Being a diesel heater, engine wasn't on, and tranny remained locked, so no theft issues. Flat batteries if you forgot to turn it off if you had a couple of weeks off ;D. Forgot to mention, it also turned on cabin fan as well, to help with defrost, and also meant the water tank was heated for the tap (water for the sink was heated by coolant).
Very good system in its time, but sure stuff must have progressed since.
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Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
My old works tranny had a diesel heater on a programmable timer. I used to be laying in bed and hear it start up, ready to be lovely and warm by the time I feel out of my pit.
That's awesome!! Not a standard feature I presume! Mate has some gigantic literage perkins in his series one landy it seems to take forever to get warm!
My big mistake was being cocky and having it attempt to start 3 times (for no reason..It always started first time!) It dragged itself towards the door at 1ft every attempt and I couldn't find the key to cancel it!
The Jeep, with a 2.7 Merc diesel is slow to warm, last couple of mornings sat on the drive for 10 minutes or so to defrost, thank goodness for heated seats as they are leather and a tad cold..... :D :D
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As a work colleague has told me on countless times :-X :-X, Saab used to have them fitted from the factory.
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Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
My old works tranny had a diesel heater on a programmable timer. I used to be laying in bed and hear it start up, ready to be lovely and warm by the time I feel out of my pit.
That's awesome!! Not a standard feature I presume! Mate has some gigantic literage perkins in his series one landy it seems to take forever to get warm!
My big mistake was being cocky and having it attempt to start 3 times (for no reason..It always started first time!) It dragged itself towards the door at 1ft every attempt and I couldn't find the key to cancel it!
The Jeep, with a 2.7 Merc diesel is slow to warm, last couple of mornings sat on the drive for 10 minutes or so to defrost, thank goodness for heated seats as they are leather and a tad cold..... :D :D
I thought Jeeps were specifically used in places like Utah because of it's winter beating performance?
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Used to remote start an old sri130 from the landing have breakfast and get in and it'd be all defrosted - although in my 21year old prime I'd fitted a switch to stop the car starting in 1st, but not reverse! Luckily it only knocked it off it's hinges, it was a brand new garage! Got it fixed before parents came home!
My old works tranny had a diesel heater on a programmable timer. I used to be laying in bed and hear it start up, ready to be lovely and warm by the time I feel out of my pit.
That's awesome!! Not a standard feature I presume! Mate has some gigantic literage perkins in his series one landy it seems to take forever to get warm!
My big mistake was being cocky and having it attempt to start 3 times (for no reason..It always started first time!) It dragged itself towards the door at 1ft every attempt and I couldn't find the key to cancel it!
The Jeep, with a 2.7 Merc diesel is slow to warm, last couple of mornings sat on the drive for 10 minutes or so to defrost, thank goodness for heated seats as they are leather and a tad cold..... :D :D
I thought Jeeps were specifically used in places like Utah because of it's winter beating performance?
;D ;D