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Shit day so far
Aug. 16th, 2005 09:59 pmI'm perfectly fine before you read the next bit and start to worry.
I had a tire blow out on the motorway earlier. Well, to be less dramatic, it happened in stages. The M61 (just south of where it joins the M6) merges into 2 lanes, an around the same point I noticed the road noise getting louder. Often this can be due to a change in road surface, though I noticed no colour change. It got gradually louder over the course of 10 seconds or so. Then the steering started fighting me, so I pulled over. Just as I entered the hard shoulder there was a massive thud, and my tire shredded. Having pulled over, I got out my flourcescent jacket (hmm, maybe it was a bad idea picking it up as I left this morning) to make myself visible and then investigated. I wish I'd taken a photo of it, as it was quite impressive.
I was most impressed by how it failed gradually, as a sudden explosion could have been a lot more dangerous.
I was about to jack the car up to change the tire, and then noticed that it had wheel nuts with an alan ke. The tire kit had no such key. Pissed me right off, that did. I called the VW service number and someone was with me in about 30 mins. Turns out that the alan key caps are just that - flimy plastic caps and the wheel nuts are behind. Grrrrr. I would've been able to change the tyre myself, had I known. Obviously designed by someone who considered form over function, as it's an incredibly misleading visual cue. (Jeff Raskin would have a field day). The roadside assistant starts to change the tire and it's one of the Space Saver tyres, on which you shouldn't exceed 50mp/h. I'm going to Paisely. Sure, like I'm going to crawl along. To add to the annoyances the first 2 tyre places we went to didn't have the right kind. 3rd time lucky, thankfully. Back on the road after aobut 2 hours.
Just reached Carlisle, and then my oil light started flashing. It's a good thing I carry spare oil with me.
Let's hope this hasn't set a precedent.
On the topic of being prepared, I always try to carry the following items with me, because one never knows when they might come in useful: Spare oil, spare fuel, sleepig bag, blanket, change of clothes, water.
Hope your day is better than mine. I've now finished lunch and will drive the remaining 60 miles.
I had a tire blow out on the motorway earlier. Well, to be less dramatic, it happened in stages. The M61 (just south of where it joins the M6) merges into 2 lanes, an around the same point I noticed the road noise getting louder. Often this can be due to a change in road surface, though I noticed no colour change. It got gradually louder over the course of 10 seconds or so. Then the steering started fighting me, so I pulled over. Just as I entered the hard shoulder there was a massive thud, and my tire shredded. Having pulled over, I got out my flourcescent jacket (hmm, maybe it was a bad idea picking it up as I left this morning) to make myself visible and then investigated. I wish I'd taken a photo of it, as it was quite impressive.
I was most impressed by how it failed gradually, as a sudden explosion could have been a lot more dangerous.
I was about to jack the car up to change the tire, and then noticed that it had wheel nuts with an alan ke. The tire kit had no such key. Pissed me right off, that did. I called the VW service number and someone was with me in about 30 mins. Turns out that the alan key caps are just that - flimy plastic caps and the wheel nuts are behind. Grrrrr. I would've been able to change the tyre myself, had I known. Obviously designed by someone who considered form over function, as it's an incredibly misleading visual cue. (Jeff Raskin would have a field day). The roadside assistant starts to change the tire and it's one of the Space Saver tyres, on which you shouldn't exceed 50mp/h. I'm going to Paisely. Sure, like I'm going to crawl along. To add to the annoyances the first 2 tyre places we went to didn't have the right kind. 3rd time lucky, thankfully. Back on the road after aobut 2 hours.
Just reached Carlisle, and then my oil light started flashing. It's a good thing I carry spare oil with me.
Let's hope this hasn't set a precedent.
On the topic of being prepared, I always try to carry the following items with me, because one never knows when they might come in useful: Spare oil, spare fuel, sleepig bag, blanket, change of clothes, water.
Hope your day is better than mine. I've now finished lunch and will drive the remaining 60 miles.
