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An excuse to say 'Car-ma' ;D
Got home from work last night and a person I'd never met but lives was working on his 306 D-Turbo.. Thought nothing of it and went out again.
Four hours later (at 21.30), he was still there, car in a similar position, him looking perplexed. Turns out he'd fixed some connections on the drivers door electrical loom and then went and chucked 10 litres of unleaded in it. He decided to drive it home as it was only half a mile.. After introductions and an offer of help, there was me, his brother in law and him syphoning out the petrol from an access panel below the rear seat.. and then put 20 litres of derv in it and all was well.. We disturbed the silt at the bottom of the tank so it didn't start first time but it went with a squeeze of the priming pump squeezy ball thing that someone had previously fit. Not an interesting story really, but I met a neighbour that I like, got a mouth full of petrol/diesel and hopefully it will bring good 'car-ma' my way in the future!
Any stories to share?
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...proper medallion man chest wig motoring. |
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Joe T
Part of things
Posts: 711
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Well done - nice story  |
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I was in a BP forecourt walking back to the car late one evening after filling up, There was a guy with a late-ish Vectra Mk1 with his bonnet up so I swung over to ask if there was anything amiss and if I could help. "I can't get the light bulb in" he says. Thinking "how hard could that be" I thought I'd lend a hand - it looked an awkward squeeze and it was with various ECU box things hard up against the headlight rear and IIRC, a weird access panel orientation. So there was i contorted like a spazz, trying to change a headlight bulb in a BP on a Vectroid. Things were not going well.
Because it was 'just a bloomin headlight bulb' I refused to be defeated - especially in front of people! I pressed on cutting bits of my arm and skinning my knuckles successively - the thing just wouldn't fit!!
About 40 minutes passed! and by now the guy and his young son were saying "thanks so much for helping but we'll just leave it.." for the umpteenth time.. Finally, I listened to them- I called it a night..
I always lend a car-related hand to someone where I can but this incident was just embarrassing!
Also I hate Vectras
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Graeme M
1993 Citroen Xantia TD VSX 'Auld Katy'
1968 Future arrival..
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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I do it all the time, the amount of times i've pulled over in me recovery truck to help jump start somone or even on the odd occasion give them a recovery home if it's on the way, even tow started a ford cargo one time ! I've tried the vectra headlight bulb before, the one behind the battery/ECUs is a curse word ! you need an anorexic contortionist handy to do the Bstds |
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R.I.P photobucket
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oh how many stories do you want lol
if I'm not in a hurry and i see someone broken down ill always stop to see if i can help stopped recently to change a flat for a woman with her kids in the car turned out she was deaf and knew how to do it but didnt have the strength to unto the whel nuts changed it for her and she tried to give me £50 ..... i politely refused to take any money and went on my way
stopped on the north circ because there was a guy in an e30 broken down in the middle lane about to cause an accident pushed him to the side only to discover he was on the way to an e30 meet at the ace (just round the corner) so i towed him there and his car got fixed i let him buy me dinner at the ace lol
woman in a freelander that had curse word out all its water but it wa sa split low pressure hose and i happened to have damp proof course cable ties instant gasket and duct tape ... instant gasket dpc cable ties either end and duct tape round the whole thing filled her back up with water (that i also happened to have) then found out she lived just round the corner form me this was a year and a half ago and the repair is still going strong.
towed an (empty) arctic off a roundabout in my landy (in low range with a really strong rope)
an accident on the a1 going north just before stevenage and i was going south but the accident had nocked a big motorway sign over into the southbound carrigeway meaning ppl had to go round it on the hard shoulder i got to the front of the queue caused by this and stopped blocking the only way through dragged the sign off the road whilt getting beeped and sworn at and got a thumbs up from the coppers on the other side sorting the accident and then voila the a1 was traffic jam free heading south and then on my way back from work that night got pulled over py the cops thinking curse word as i had been speeding and they just wanted to say thanks for sorting it out in the morning lol
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Retrojunkie
Part of things
The drinking team with a racing problem!
Posts: 603
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I was lol-ing as soon as you said Vectra and bulb....right git to do them! I always help out randoms with cars, partly because I actually DO believe in Karma (Car-ma lol) and partly because I like to talk cars...and if I am fixing yours then you have to stand there and listen to me chat wibblepoo about them whilst I fix ur car Just recently, 2 bumpers on a E320. Brakes on a Suzuki Swift. I welded up a Mk1 bottom arm that had ripped off. Towed a Mk1 Golf with an old lady and her daughter in it back to their house because they'd broke down in a dodgy area, then fixed it with the right bits. |
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 '84 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabby '99 Saab 9-5 Estate (lpg) 2.3 Turbo |
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I have given quite a few jump starts, push starts etc, and have generally received them in return if I have ever been in need. (ever tried push-starting a merc on your own in a carpark that is perfectly level? its not easy) I am wary of towing randoms though if only a rope or strap is available, as its surprising how many people don't have the slightest idead what to do when being towed and I don't fancy the hassles of a rear-ender whilst trying to help someone. I once changed a tyre for a very attractive woman in full eveningwear who was stuck by a roundabout with people filtering past her cursing her for stopping there but doing nothing to help her move. She pleasured me orally wrote a letter of thanks to my boss, as I had mentioned where I worked in the conversation. My sister got a flat tyre whilst heavilly pregnant 5 years ago. It was curse word rain on a wee narrow back road. She knows the theory but just wasnt capable of getting the wheelnuts off. A car pulled up next to her and she assumed some chap was about to offer help. He asked directions, then drove off, leaving her stranded, alone in the rain.  A few minutes later, the next car along was full of 4 rudeboy/chav/wigga types. The proper deal with brilliantly white sportswear, obnoxious jewelry, lines shaved into eyebrows etc, innit? who contrary to the stereotype, couldnt have been more helpfull. They let her sit in their car to warm up while they set about changing the wheel for her, and refused all offers of payment as thanks. |
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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As I stood at the kitchen sink a couple of years ago I noticed a guy over the road struggling to start his motor. I got out with the Jump Start pack just in time for his immediate neighbour - he looked mighty relieved that he wasn't going to have to lend his car's battery for the job! Still only on nodding terms with the pair of them though I'm afraid. Recently changed a wheel for a woman at the roadside on the way to work. Drove past initially but then swiftly turned round as I thought that was a bit off. She was very grateful but not grateful like you see in those films!  Then again, probably ruined that bit when I said to her 'I'd hate to think of my wife at the roadside and no-one stopping to help.' Doh! |
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@pistonbroker on Twitter
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When I was broke down and stuck in the middle of the dual carraigway, 3 mates AND MY DAD drove past and nobody helped. My dad even laughed!
In the end, the RAC weren't a lot of help either. All I needed was a hacksaw blade!
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When I was broke down and stuck in the middle of the dual carraigway, 3 mates AND MY DAD drove past and nobody helped. My dad even laughed! In the end, the RAC weren't a lot of help either. All I needed was a hacksaw blade! even your dad didnt help  |
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I did my first 12-car rally last year (navigating), out in the middle of nowhere in Hampshire. As we came down one little lane there was a car at the side of the road, front stoved in, occupants standing all around it, where the driver had smashed it into a grass bank at the roadside. So we slowed down, wound down the window, and asked if they were alright. The driver replied, slightly exasperated, yes they were all fine and help was coming soon.
The driver was slightly exasperated from explaining to the several other competitors that had already passed that way and stopped to ask if they were alright. Out in the middle of nowhere and he'd chosen the busiest night of the year to crash ;D
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1989 Peugeot 205. You know, the one that was parked in a ditch on the campsite at RRG'17... the glass is always full. but the ratio of air to water may vary. |
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I always stop to offer help unless I'm running late to work or something similar, but I've had mixed experiences with getting help when stuck.
I was once stuck with a completely flat battery after a "carols by candlelight" night in the city and needed to get to work immediately. Battery was so flat that I couldn't even put the hazard lights on. There was a constant stream/traffic jam of cars slowly crawling past on their way home, presumably none of which had anywhere urgent to be. Yet, even with me waving and trying to flag someone down, not a single soul would stop to help! So much for the Christmas spirit! All I needed was a push-start, so I attempted to do it myself, but the road was slightly uphill. Didn't matter though, because I managed to push myself out into the middle of the road, so then magically, some people were willing to help get me going! Got push-started in 2 metres by the occupants of the next car and was happily on my way. How hard is it really?!
Having said that, on my second week of driving to school after just getting my licence, the top radiator hose blew off in morning rush hour traffic. A heavy-metal dude in a black band t-shirt, piercings and tattoos got out of his car and was as nice as anyone could possibly be. Helped me push the car into a side street, then lent me his mobile phone to call roadside assist as I didn't have a phone then. When I got through to the Nissan 24 hour roadside assist, I asked when they could get to me, and they unhelpfully said "No, we can't get to you at all"!! Their assist card was apparently a serious waste of the paper it was printed on, so the metal guy (who had waited while I was on hold on his phone) drove me the rest of the way to school in his cool little KE70 Corolla! What an absolute champion, he helped me so much that day and even saved me from being late. Thanks a lot, whoever you are.
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stwat
Part of things
Posts: 546
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I once pulled over to help a young lady at the side of the road in a MK2 polo who had the bonnet up. I pulled over and got out to ask if i could help. She looked at me like i was going to rape her and told me to F**ck Off!!!
I told her i was only trying to help FFS!! She just scowled at me and said, 'i don't need your f***ing help, alright!? So i just got in my car and left and felt like a right curse word. I have never bothered since.
Maybe i shouldn't let that one experience jade me though. I may try and give help again some time soon.
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1992 190E 1.8 manual
1989 300SE Low mileage LuxoBarge
1988 190e 2.6. 1988 190 2.3-16 Cosworth
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billy
Part of things
Posts: 279
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I've helped with many jump or bump starts and I spotted a mini in a bad spot when I was on a mission on my way home I see the mini is still there so I stop to find the owner has put diesel in it Lol it had fouled the plugs so I shot home and grabbed some old plugs and a plug socket went back fitted them then followed the chap home to make sure he made it I have received a fair few bump starts and pushes over the years the most recent was about 3 years ago when I ran out of petrol on a main roundabout lol and some young yobo gave me a push to the petrol station  |
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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As a rule will try to stop to push whether to start the car, or get it to a safe position. Changed the odd tyre, given those who have run out of petrol a lift to the nearest petrol station a few times (saved one bloke a good 5 mile walk though!). Once 'lent' a bloke a fiver to a Lotus Europa owner who had gone out for a run without his wallet (well, probably ) - he gave me his name and address so he could repay it and take me out for a run if I wanted (for some reason never got around to it though). Do people accept money offered in return for there help? I always refuse if I can politely, and possibly say 'pass the favour on', but if they really insist and it isn't much (a fiver or something) I might take it say I'll treat my kids to an ice cream or something. I figure that when I have been in their position I feel better if somebody accepts. |
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention
'02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think
'03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic)
'09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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dubzi
Part of things
Posts: 711
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My sister got a flat tyre whilst heavilly pregnant 5 years ago. It was peeing rain on a wee narrow back road. She knows the theory but just wasnt capable of getting the wheelnuts off. A car pulled up next to her and she assumed some chap was about to offer help. He asked directions, then drove off, leaving her stranded, alone in the rain. I was once lying under my Bedford in a snow strom up on Exmoor trying to fix the electric fuel pump. A car pulled up and a guy shouts "I don't suppose you can help, I'm locked out of my car and thought you might have some tools you could use to let me in to it...."   Have helped people in the past, most payment I've had was a bottle of wine left by a woman whose tyre I changed outside our house. Mainly jump starts but once towed a Triumph Acclaim out of a ditch with my old Audo 80. |
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road. Happiness is the road.
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The only times I've ever had to help people out were my brother when his mini broke down in the Queensway tunnel in Birmingham city centre and my brothers girlfriend break into her Mk4 Fiesta when she locked her keys in.
When I went to pick up my motorbike in my Land Rover about 20miles from the guys house the fan belt snapped and we had nothing to fix it with. After trying to fabricate something from wire a guy pulled over on his way to his caravan for his holiday. Don't know where the luggage was as the boot was full of tools and spare parts! He pulled out about 5 fan belts and we found one that fitted and spent about 30mins in the pouring rain trying to get the winch off the gearbox to get the belt on. Got it sorted and tryed to give him some money for a few drinks but he declined and just said help someone out if you can do. Top bloke! So thanks who ever you were.
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v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,766
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Driving home from work on a saturday afternoon 25+ years ago, noticed a Grey Chopped 34 Hotrod Ford with the hood up, did a U turn and offered my assistance, the fella had the carb off and explained the carb was full of curse word, No worries, took him back to my workshop stripped the carb, cleaned out the carb, even had some spare holley gaskets in the cupboard, took him back to the car, and watched him dissapear down the road, with Ill buy you a beer when I see you at a show, Next week I bought my normal Custom Car, and the same 34 was on the cover, More surprisingly, I found out who the owner was, -- Jeff Beck, and I still havent got my beer!!!!!
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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When I had my Jeep I towed out two bogged down Transit vans on two separate occasions. One was a council one which had tried to cross a water logged football pitch, and another a builder who'd just popped round a clients to pick up a cheque.
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Try to help, but I'm not the best of samaritans Once we were all in the van heading to my brothers to get changed for his wedding. A woman in an Audi was sat right in the middle of the road looking a bit panicky. Stopped and turned out that the front suspension had collapsed We hooked up a rope and towed her into a side street, but couldn't do much more as my brother was starting to panic a bit A guy was putting his little kid into his car and when he closed the door, said kid leant over and locked himself and the keys in I ran him home at Mach 1 in the Scooby to get his spare keys and back to the car, by which time the kid had decided to finally let his Mum in! Think he tried to give us some money, but we said not to worry. Proof that Car-ma does work, about a week later I was sat in a bit of a jam in the Pug and it was getting a bit hot so I switched it off! Wouldn't bloomin start again but some random chap pulled up and gave me a push! It was raining too Always nice to hear stories that prove we're not all a load of miserable/rude sods and that some people really are still decent and helpful. |
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