BobMurphy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2010
- Messages
- 1,958
- Country Flag
No.1 daughter & wife were out with the '100' yesterday - towing two horses to a competition. Daughter (Joanna) was driving - she is a Police Traffic Officer who has passed all the Police driving courses.
Then my 'phone went:
"There's a smell of burning and a funny noise from the engine. We've pulled over and there's smoke coming from under the bonnet".
So, where to start.
"Is the temperature gauge high" - "No"; "Have a look at the radiator overflow bottle it should be half full of red liquid" - "It is"; Does the engine feel excessively hot?" - "No"; are there any warning lights lit on the dash?" - "No"; "Is the engine ticking over normally?" - "YES"; "How far have you got to go?" - "Just a couple of miles"; "OK, carry on and I'll think about it".
Then it dawned on me and I tried to make contact. Eventually Joanna 'phoned back.
"Were you running with the Air-con on?" - "Yes"; "OK, turn it off and see if the noise stops".
I didn't hear any more and eventually they arrived home, all sounding fine.
"We turned off the Air-con and it went quiet".
I opened the bonnet . . . . "That'll be because the belt has disappeared then .
With hindsight its obvious, she was using the Air-Con and the pump seized. The belt continued to turn (it also drives the Power Heater) and eventually burned out and fell off. Ho hum, I don't suppose a pump can be repaired so it will be a call to Karl.
If I'd been there I'd have known immediately what the problem was but analysis over the 'phone - with two people who haven't a clue what they're looking at - isn't easy. I should have been sharper though .
I guess I'm not alone in getting these sort of calls.
Bob.
Then my 'phone went:
"There's a smell of burning and a funny noise from the engine. We've pulled over and there's smoke coming from under the bonnet".
So, where to start.
"Is the temperature gauge high" - "No"; "Have a look at the radiator overflow bottle it should be half full of red liquid" - "It is"; Does the engine feel excessively hot?" - "No"; are there any warning lights lit on the dash?" - "No"; "Is the engine ticking over normally?" - "YES"; "How far have you got to go?" - "Just a couple of miles"; "OK, carry on and I'll think about it".
Then it dawned on me and I tried to make contact. Eventually Joanna 'phoned back.
"Were you running with the Air-con on?" - "Yes"; "OK, turn it off and see if the noise stops".
I didn't hear any more and eventually they arrived home, all sounding fine.
"We turned off the Air-con and it went quiet".
I opened the bonnet . . . . "That'll be because the belt has disappeared then .
With hindsight its obvious, she was using the Air-Con and the pump seized. The belt continued to turn (it also drives the Power Heater) and eventually burned out and fell off. Ho hum, I don't suppose a pump can be repaired so it will be a call to Karl.
If I'd been there I'd have known immediately what the problem was but analysis over the 'phone - with two people who haven't a clue what they're looking at - isn't easy. I should have been sharper though .
I guess I'm not alone in getting these sort of calls.
Bob.