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Wiper blades are quite possible one of the most easiest things to overlook on your vehicle, despite being a very crucial safety feature as it allows you to quite simply see the road ahead in unfavourable conditions. The importance with regards to the appearance, functionality and ultimately safety of your car should not be underestimated.
Yet so many do leave it to long to replace the wiper blades, how long is too long?
Of all the parts of a car which are subject to wear and tear, windscreen wipers are perhaps the most fragile. Manufactured from thin rubber, they are designed to operate smoothly on the windscreen without damaging the surface of the glass, yet despite their fragility they are often required on a daily basis, possibly for long periods of time, during wet weather. In winter they become frozen to the glass and in summer they are used to help to clean the windscreen, while being subjected to high temperatures. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that windscreen wipers do not last indefinitely and require regular replacement. There is no set time frame as harsh weather conditions can cause the wiper blade to wear sooner than others, ideally you do not want to put your wipers on to clear the ice from a windscreen as the ice acts as razor blades and cuts the rubber on the blade which then in turn ruins the blades and leaves you with streaks when trying to clear the glass of water. By lifting the arms of the wipers away from the windscreen, you can quickly assess the condition of the rubber. Ragged, jagged or distorted edges, where the blade makes contact with the glass, should prompt you to replace them immediately. Three Key Points To Remember:
Windscreen wipers failing to fully clear the windscreen
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The last few weeks have been HOT!
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Large crack extending from a windscreen chip, now unrepairable and requires new windscreen
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A chip like this is repairable as shown with a penny, until a crack appears like one above which is now grown beyond repair.
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If your car windscreen is already damaged, the hot weather can make it worse. The heat from the dashboard will cause the inside layer of the laminated glass to get up to 20 degrees warmer than the outside layer. This can potentially exacerbate the problem, requiring a repair or even a replacement windscreen. As this can be the same for extreme cold.
top-tips-for-windscreen-safety.html |
A repairable stone chip called a Bullseye
As temperatures soar, even the smallest chip or crack in your windscreen can become worse due to speed at which the laminated glass and surrounding metal frame expands. Switching on the air conditioning inside your car can elevate the stress level of your windscreen. This could result in a sudden crack due to the large difference in temperature between the cool inner glass and warm outside air.
A tiny stone chip on your windscreen can become a much bigger problem.
When the weather is hot the glass temperature rises, reducing the strength, durability and safety of the windscreen.
Windows without a chip can not crack just do to direct sunlight. When you have minor crack it can spread due to the high temperature. If you were running the A/C really cold and parked it in direct sunlight at high temps it can cause it to start cracking from a small chip or crack.
A tiny stone chip on your windscreen can become a much bigger problem.
When the weather is hot the glass temperature rises, reducing the strength, durability and safety of the windscreen.
Windows without a chip can not crack just do to direct sunlight. When you have minor crack it can spread due to the high temperature. If you were running the A/C really cold and parked it in direct sunlight at high temps it can cause it to start cracking from a small chip or crack.
- If possible try to park away from direct sunlight and use a windscreen shade until you can get your windscreen repaired.
- Keep your window cracked, as long as your car is in a safe location
- In the mean time, make sure you keep out of your car things like canned drink or anything that can explode. Nothing is worse than a long hot day and sticky drinks all over the inside of your car!
With the big push for Electric Vehicles (EV) by the government I thought I would spend some time doing some research and testing a few cars for myself.
First up was the KIA Soul, KIA are growing as a strong brand offering 7 year warranty for the cars and having peter Schreyer who is a German automobile designer, widely known for his design contributions to the Audi TT. He has been the chief design officer at KIA Motors since 2006 and on 28 December 2012, was named one of three presidents of the company. Now the brief background is out the way, back to the Soul, I decided that I would really put this car to the test.
The car itself is spacious and roomy, the driving position I would say was ok, not the most comfy, no option for lumbar support which you may want on longer journeys or sitting for long periods sitting in the London traffic. The Model I drove was the first release of Kia soul, so there is no options for spec, what you see is what you get which is a shame. It comes with some gimmicks on the car like mood lighting govern by music being played and lights up around the music speakers in doors, which on first look though was cool some may like it (more on the mood lighting later).
The car itself is spacious and roomy, the driving position I would say was ok, not the most comfy, no option for lumbar support which you may want on longer journeys or sitting for long periods sitting in the London traffic. The Model I drove was the first release of Kia soul, so there is no options for spec, what you see is what you get which is a shame. It comes with some gimmicks on the car like mood lighting govern by music being played and lights up around the music speakers in doors, which on first look though was cool some may like it (more on the mood lighting later).
Charing Station on the M1
Officially figures for the Soul estimate a range of up to 132 miles dependent on driving style, picked the car up with 110 miles worth of range on the car, first journey was to help a friend move home locally to picking up car and moving home with in less that 5 miles of the two locations which involved 5 back and fourth trips the range had dropped to 85 miles, now I never had the heating on just the radio so minimal electricity being used.
Next planned journey was Croydon to Birmingham with 3 people including myself and no luggage, one thing I should explain, if you decide to buy an EV you really need to plan your journey well regarding your charge points. On collecting the car I asked the sales man for the Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and was told not needed and you can tap your debit or credit card on any point to charge, I was given the fast charge plug with the car which is standard when purchasing unlike the BMW i3 in which i will get into later. The route to Birmingham is advisable to go via the M1 as the M40 has mainly Tesla charge point which are not compatible with other manufactures, so that limited the route in trying to avoid traffic.
So with 80 miles range we set off to Birmingham thinking I can just charge on the way, with any charge point as advised by salesman. Well this soon came to light to find out you cannot use any charge point and you have to register with each different companies and await for your RFID card to arrive in the post so had to keep going and see how i got on with the motorway stops as thought surely there is away for emergency charge.
With 4 stops to charge and 7 hours later arrived in Birmingham, the charge points on the motorway are run by a company called ECOTRICTY which offer a app download or via phone at pump to pay. The good thing about these pumps are sometimes you get free electricity if they go offline and go into free mode, you can tell his by the missing WiFi symbol in the top right hand corner or a red line though the greyed out WiFi lines.
The trip to Birmingham (Approximately 153 miles) was to visit some friends and spend some time with them, unfortunately I didn't arrive until 11pm due to the stopping for charging which takes 30 minutes for a fast charge then the car automatically stops the charge, as after that it needs to be trickle charged which the fast charger at the motorway will not do, and every time you plug in it is a £3 connection charge plus your cost for charging.
30 minutes charge gives you 80 miles roughly give or take few miles, after arriving in b-ham so late with 13 miles range left the panic was on, it was looking like I would be getting recovered back to London, that would have been an interesting call "Hi yes I have run out of electricity please could recovery me"
The satnav has a list of charge points you can use, but it list ones you cant use for example ones at dealerships which are locked up at night and some supermarkets in which you need your RFID card relevant to that charge point.
There are a few apps which you can download to see if the charge points are in use or broken of even compatible with your car. Thankfully IKEA use ECOTRCITY charge network and as a side point if you charge with IKEA during normal hours and spend over £10 in store IKEA give you £6 back, so in effect your charge is free.
Next planned journey was Croydon to Birmingham with 3 people including myself and no luggage, one thing I should explain, if you decide to buy an EV you really need to plan your journey well regarding your charge points. On collecting the car I asked the sales man for the Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and was told not needed and you can tap your debit or credit card on any point to charge, I was given the fast charge plug with the car which is standard when purchasing unlike the BMW i3 in which i will get into later. The route to Birmingham is advisable to go via the M1 as the M40 has mainly Tesla charge point which are not compatible with other manufactures, so that limited the route in trying to avoid traffic.
So with 80 miles range we set off to Birmingham thinking I can just charge on the way, with any charge point as advised by salesman. Well this soon came to light to find out you cannot use any charge point and you have to register with each different companies and await for your RFID card to arrive in the post so had to keep going and see how i got on with the motorway stops as thought surely there is away for emergency charge.
With 4 stops to charge and 7 hours later arrived in Birmingham, the charge points on the motorway are run by a company called ECOTRICTY which offer a app download or via phone at pump to pay. The good thing about these pumps are sometimes you get free electricity if they go offline and go into free mode, you can tell his by the missing WiFi symbol in the top right hand corner or a red line though the greyed out WiFi lines.
The trip to Birmingham (Approximately 153 miles) was to visit some friends and spend some time with them, unfortunately I didn't arrive until 11pm due to the stopping for charging which takes 30 minutes for a fast charge then the car automatically stops the charge, as after that it needs to be trickle charged which the fast charger at the motorway will not do, and every time you plug in it is a £3 connection charge plus your cost for charging.
30 minutes charge gives you 80 miles roughly give or take few miles, after arriving in b-ham so late with 13 miles range left the panic was on, it was looking like I would be getting recovered back to London, that would have been an interesting call "Hi yes I have run out of electricity please could recovery me"
The satnav has a list of charge points you can use, but it list ones you cant use for example ones at dealerships which are locked up at night and some supermarkets in which you need your RFID card relevant to that charge point.
There are a few apps which you can download to see if the charge points are in use or broken of even compatible with your car. Thankfully IKEA use ECOTRCITY charge network and as a side point if you charge with IKEA during normal hours and spend over £10 in store IKEA give you £6 back, so in effect your charge is free.
With my charge back to 80 miles max charge range setting off at midnight to head back to London via the M1, only to find that the M1 was partly closed due to road works which I would never had thought to factor that in with a EV car. As it was dark needed headlights on and raining, so wipers and heater to stop the car misting up the rate the electricity fell was astonishing. Earlier in mentioned about the mood lighting, now why on earth would you want something in the car that is going to sap the life out of your battery, flashing these lights to set the mood in the car. The mood in the car was we want heat but we couldn't because of the lack of electricity available in the car.
6 charges 5 hours later arrive back in London, as soon as we set off from the last charge point we needed to start planning the next charge stop, we arrived back to London with 9 miles left of range.
Would I buy this car, no! The new model seems to have a better claimed range but at nearly £30k for the Soul, even with £4,500 grant from government still a lot of money for not getting anywhere very far.
The infrastructure is not ready yet and the charge points need to be universal to allow you to charge with your debit car just like an Oyster card for TFL.
6 charges 5 hours later arrive back in London, as soon as we set off from the last charge point we needed to start planning the next charge stop, we arrived back to London with 9 miles left of range.
Would I buy this car, no! The new model seems to have a better claimed range but at nearly £30k for the Soul, even with £4,500 grant from government still a lot of money for not getting anywhere very far.
The infrastructure is not ready yet and the charge points need to be universal to allow you to charge with your debit car just like an Oyster card for TFL.
BMW i3 With Range Extender
What you need to know
Windscreens are being used to support new advanced driver safety technologies accounting for 36% of a vehicle shell’s overall strength. Advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, are systems to help the driver in the driving process. They are designed for optimum safety should an accident happen.
When designed with a safe human-machine interface, they should increase car safety and more generally road safety.
This can include everything from lane departure and automated braking. Such technologies usually rely upon sensors and cameras mounted on a vehicle’s windscreen.
Drivers really only need to be concerned about ADAS if they need a windscreen replacement, not a chip repair. When a new windscreen is fitted, the cameras and sensors could be left misaligned during the fitting of the glass.
Just a millimetre change in glass positioning can have a huge impact on how the technology works in a crash. It is so important that a vehicle is re-calibrated once a new windscreen has been fitted. It ensures the safety of any vehicle by making sure all the technologies are working correctly, as they did when they left the assembly line.
Windscreen replacement companies either re-calibrate the vehicle themselves having invested in calibration equipment or use the services of the main dealer who will carry out the re-calibration on behalf of the windscreen company, either way means more time your vehicle is off the road.
When designed with a safe human-machine interface, they should increase car safety and more generally road safety.
This can include everything from lane departure and automated braking. Such technologies usually rely upon sensors and cameras mounted on a vehicle’s windscreen.
Drivers really only need to be concerned about ADAS if they need a windscreen replacement, not a chip repair. When a new windscreen is fitted, the cameras and sensors could be left misaligned during the fitting of the glass.
Just a millimetre change in glass positioning can have a huge impact on how the technology works in a crash. It is so important that a vehicle is re-calibrated once a new windscreen has been fitted. It ensures the safety of any vehicle by making sure all the technologies are working correctly, as they did when they left the assembly line.
Windscreen replacement companies either re-calibrate the vehicle themselves having invested in calibration equipment or use the services of the main dealer who will carry out the re-calibration on behalf of the windscreen company, either way means more time your vehicle is off the road.
What impact does this have on windscreen repair?
With ADAS being such a crucial safety feature of a vehicles safety a windscreen replacement should always be a last resort. Windscreen repairs which could be deemed as unrepairable or unsuccessful with certain windscreen repair kits and resins could be repaired with better, higher quality repair products.
Quite simply, by using high quality stainless steel injectors which do not leak, vacuum and pressure systems and variation of resins to match the resin viscosity to the type of damage you are trying to repair successful outcomes of repairs could be vastly increased like they system we use being Delta kits.
Lots of talk and investment with ADAS, replacements, re-calibration, safety, technology, new drive away times and very little effort in how to avoid ADAS disturbance.
Windscreen Top Tips
Quite simply, by using high quality stainless steel injectors which do not leak, vacuum and pressure systems and variation of resins to match the resin viscosity to the type of damage you are trying to repair successful outcomes of repairs could be vastly increased like they system we use being Delta kits.
Lots of talk and investment with ADAS, replacements, re-calibration, safety, technology, new drive away times and very little effort in how to avoid ADAS disturbance.
Windscreen Top Tips
Below is a animation example of a ADAS system in operation by Honda
Motoring enthusiast heading in for a great day Its back, car manufactures around the world will descend on Battersea park to display their wonders of the world displaying over 130 vehicles on the 4th-7th May.
This also makes as a great family day out with a whole host of exciting and educational activities on offer, there is truly something for everyone. From sitting in your dream car, to meeting your motoring heroes, experiencing the drive of your life in one of three simulators, learning about the latest technology and taking to the driving seat in a range of virtual reality racing experiences. The beautiful leafy surroundings of battersea park with its myriad of family activities and seemingly endless green spaces, fountains and hidden gems add to the appeal of a fun good value family day out.
What are you looking forward to seeing this year at the show?
Leave your comments below
You can purchase your tickets here www.londonmotorshow.seetickets.com/tour/london-motor-show/
See you there!
This also makes as a great family day out with a whole host of exciting and educational activities on offer, there is truly something for everyone. From sitting in your dream car, to meeting your motoring heroes, experiencing the drive of your life in one of three simulators, learning about the latest technology and taking to the driving seat in a range of virtual reality racing experiences. The beautiful leafy surroundings of battersea park with its myriad of family activities and seemingly endless green spaces, fountains and hidden gems add to the appeal of a fun good value family day out.
What are you looking forward to seeing this year at the show?
Leave your comments below
You can purchase your tickets here www.londonmotorshow.seetickets.com/tour/london-motor-show/
See you there!
1/3/2017 0 Comments
The law on using a mobile phone while driving has changed: what you need to know
Motorist using a phone while driving.
From today, motorists using a phone while driving will receive six points on their licence and a £200 fine (up from the previous three points and £100 penalty), while new drivers face losing their licence.
It has been illegal to wield your mobile behind the wheel since 2003, but many motorists flout the law and the Government wants to toughen up.
It has been illegal to wield your mobile behind the wheel since 2003, but many motorists flout the law and the Government wants to toughen up.
Police forces across the country will be cracking down on mobile phone use at the wheel from today (March 1)
to March 7, as tougher penalties come into force. Motorists caught using their mobile twice or accruing 12 points on their licence will face magistrates’ court, being disqualified and fines of up to £1,000.
New drivers, within two years of passing their test, risk having their licence revoked and lorry or bus drivers can be suspended if caught.
to March 7, as tougher penalties come into force. Motorists caught using their mobile twice or accruing 12 points on their licence will face magistrates’ court, being disqualified and fines of up to £1,000.
New drivers, within two years of passing their test, risk having their licence revoked and lorry or bus drivers can be suspended if caught.
Everyone has a part to play in encouraging their family and friends not to use their phones while driving – it is as inexcusable as drink-driving
Mechanic carrying out checks on a vehicle
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is urging drivers to carry out regular, simple checks on their vehicles to avoid MOT fails and the accidents that defects cause.
Make sure that:
Make sure that:
- brakes work smoothly and that the vehicle doesn’t pull to one side
- tyres are correctly inflated, have no cuts or bulges, and that they all have at least 1.6mm of tread
- headlights and other lights work - give them a tap to check they’re not loose or damaged and check the colours are correct and match
- windscreen wipers and washers work
- the driver’s view of the road is clear of any obstruction, such as stickers, toys or air fresheners, stone chips or cracks repaired
Check that brakes work smoothly, tyres are legal, headlights and other lights work, windscreen wipers and washers work, and the driver’s view of the road is clear of any obstruction.
Car defects contributing to accidents
The 2015 road casualties report for Great Britain shows that car defects were a contributory factor in 1,131 accidents.
Over 75% of defects that contributed to accidents were either braking or tyre issues.
The MOT is there to help avoid this and help you keep your vehicle safe to drive. However, you need to follow the standard to pass the MOT all year round.
Remember an MOT is not the same as a service and don't replace each other.
test your knowledge of the MOT.
Over 75% of defects that contributed to accidents were either braking or tyre issues.
The MOT is there to help avoid this and help you keep your vehicle safe to drive. However, you need to follow the standard to pass the MOT all year round.
Remember an MOT is not the same as a service and don't replace each other.
test your knowledge of the MOT.
This is a brief overview on the understanding of the new road fund tax coming in to affect, the way vehicle tax is calculated will change for cars and some motor homes on April 1st 2017
Image of cars in a green environment to illustrate changes in new Tax
The change won’t affect any vehicles registered before April, but drivers can check the vehicle tax rates to make sure they know what they need to pay.
Frozen windscreen In a recent press release from the mighty Volkswagen, they are pushing technology with a updated version of a heated windscreen. Now heated windscreen is nothing new as they have been around for years, but this is not just for the cold winter months as every morning many motorist face the same problem: a frozen windscreen. Neither ice scraper nor de-icing spray provides the perfect solution.
Volkswagen is offering a genuine alternative with the climate windscreen. It heats up without the use of any filament wires, thus providing perfect visibility
In the summer, the thin layer of silver acts as a passive heat shield. As it reflects up to 60 per cent of the summer heat, it is able to reduce the inside temperature by up to 15 degrees more than conventional glass with green tinting. As a result, the air-conditioning system is able to cool a car that has been parked in the sun down to a comfortable temperature much more quickly.
The question is how much will it cost to replace these new silver windscreens?
Volkswagen is offering a genuine alternative with the climate windscreen. It heats up without the use of any filament wires, thus providing perfect visibility
In the summer, the thin layer of silver acts as a passive heat shield. As it reflects up to 60 per cent of the summer heat, it is able to reduce the inside temperature by up to 15 degrees more than conventional glass with green tinting. As a result, the air-conditioning system is able to cool a car that has been parked in the sun down to a comfortable temperature much more quickly.
The question is how much will it cost to replace these new silver windscreens?
Full Press release can be downloaded below
| 24.01.17_press_release.pdf |
Author
Joel Johnson, expert in windscreen chip repair.
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