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Post by aitch on Aug 8, 2024 14:22:44 GMT
I have noticed recently that most cars, even electric ones, have a little cover on the driver's side front, usually circular, like this one:
What does it cover? Machine gun? Harpoon gun? Smoke-screen outlet? Or something boring like a owing loop?
I have just clocked the number plate above, back in 1983 (?) the mother of a friend bought a new car the number assigned to it was A925NAG. That plate is still in their family passing down the female line for forty years. Funny thing is, back when I took the picture (April, 2019), the government site thought it was on a Mercedes, iirc. Just checked again - it's now on a LEXUS NX 350H TAKUMI CVT - since it was registered last December. It would appear the owner drives the number plate, the car is incidental.
ETA: A Google search suggests in 2006 it was on a Jag X-type estate!
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Post by dorsetmike on Aug 8, 2024 15:40:27 GMT
I recall a very apt one on an Escort Mexico APR4T driven by a young eejit; just checked it on DVLA, now carried by a newish Mercedes.
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Post by petrochemist on Aug 8, 2024 15:41:05 GMT
I have noticed recently that most cars, even electric ones, have a little cover on the driver's side front, usually circular, like this one:
What does it cover? Machine gun? Harpoon gun? Smoke-screen outlet? Or something boring like a owing loop?
It's the towing point, Steve.  Strangely cars with these often don't come with the towing eye that screws in behind it. I've bent the steering on one car when I had to find an alternative fixing to get the car home  |
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Post by zx9 on Aug 8, 2024 19:59:52 GMT
It's the towing point, Steve. Strangely cars with these often don't come with the towing eye that screws in behind it. I've bent the steering on one car when I had to find an alternative fixing to get the car home Don't come with or lost? It is usually in what counts as a tool kit, these days the towing eye, a reversible screwdriver wheel wrench and a plastic wheel stud to help align the wheel during replacement when the bolts are removed. Oh almost forgot the funny pot metal pliers and locking wheel nut / bolt key ( also lost ). |
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Post by willien on Aug 8, 2024 20:09:57 GMT
Strangely cars with these often don't come with the towing eye that screws in behind it. I've bent the steering on one car when I had to find an alternative fixing to get the car home Don't come with or lost? It is usually in what counts as a tool kit, these days the towing eye, a reversible screwdriver wheel wrench and a plastic wheel stud to help align the wheel during replacement when the bolts are removed. Oh almost forgot the funny pot metal pliers and locking wheel nut / bolt key ( also lost ). When I bought my last car, yeti, MOT and 4 new tyres were part of the deal seller was a car selling business no garage facilities at all. When I wanted to swap to winter wheels and tyres I found no locking nut adapter in tool kit. MOT garage in Ayr had obviously pinched it. Aerosole at the Edinburgh Skoda Dealer tried to get me to "book the car in because that would be the best way". Put the phone down on him and bought one off ebay.
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Post by don on Aug 8, 2024 21:14:58 GMT
It's the towing point, Steve. I thought it probably was.
Mind you, there are a few cars without an obvious one - hidden under the bumper, I suppose.
Almost 50 years ago before towing guys were invented I got towed out of a deep puddle by my alternator which cracked block of my company car .So I had to hire a Triumph Toledo for two weeks 🥲🥲 |
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Post by geoffr on Aug 8, 2024 21:15:30 GMT
Don't come with or lost? It is usually in what counts as a tool kit, these days the towing eye, a reversible screwdriver wheel wrench and a plastic wheel stud to help align the wheel during replacement when the bolts are removed. Oh almost forgot the funny pot metal pliers and locking wheel nut / bolt key ( also lost ). When I bought my last car, yeti, MOT and 4 new tyres were part of the deal seller was a car selling business no garage facilities at all. When I wanted to swap to winter wheels and tyres I found no locking nut adapter in tool kit. MOT garage in Ayr had obviously pinched it. Aerosole at the Edinburgh Skoda Dealer tried to get me to "book the car in because that would be the best way". Put the phone down on him and bought one off ebay.
For some reason I have two of them. |
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Post by don on Aug 8, 2024 21:16:20 GMT
Read eyes for guys on my last post
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Post by willien on Aug 8, 2024 21:19:09 GMT
Read eyes for guys on my last post Aww, and I was sure you pre-dated the AA and the RAC.  |
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Post by willien on Aug 8, 2024 21:20:19 GMT
When I bought my last car, yeti, MOT and 4 new tyres were part of the deal seller was a car selling business no garage facilities at all. When I wanted to swap to winter wheels and tyres I found no locking nut adapter in tool kit. MOT garage in Ayr had obviously pinched it. Aerosole at the Edinburgh Skoda Dealer tried to get me to "book the car in because that would be the best way". Put the phone down on him and bought one off ebay.
For some reason I have two of them. One in the car one in your garage. |
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Post by don on Aug 8, 2024 21:28:49 GMT
Read eyes for guys on my last post Aww, and I was sure you pre-dated the AA and the RAC. Almost but not quite. I’m sure they still had motorcycles 🏍️ and saluted 🤣 |
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Post by andy on Aug 8, 2024 22:02:05 GMT
The wheels on my commuting bike are quick release so I don't need tools to get them off and I certainly don't need a towing point.
Could go a new "gearbox" because the previous owner, I strongly suspect, didn't shift down when slowing down and lugged it in top gear but that's maybe £80 and half an hour of work with no risk of getting crushed to death if the bike falls on me. £25 of that £80 is making the gear ratios more appropriate for me and £30 of it I don't need to spend because I salvaged shiny parts off bikes that got very little use before being left outside to rust.
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Post by willien on Aug 8, 2024 22:37:21 GMT
The wheels on my commuting bike are quick release so I don't need tools to get them off and I certainly don't need a towing point. Could go a new "gearbox" because the previous owner, I strongly suspect, didn't shift down when slowing down and lugged it in top gear but that's maybe £80 and half an hour of work with no risk of getting crushed to death if the bike falls on me. £25 of that £80 is making the gear ratios more appropriate for me and £30 of it I don't need to spend because I salvaged shiny parts off bikes that got very little use before being left outside to rust. I was told a few years ago, back in my yeti days, by the local mobile wheels and tyres man, that fancy lock nuts were a waste of time because nobody steals car alloys these days - at least not in Edinburgh. |
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neilt3
Full Member
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Posts: 134
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Post by neilt3 on Aug 8, 2024 22:55:21 GMT
The wheels on my commuting bike are quick release so I don't need tools to get them off and I certainly don't need a towing point. Could go a new "gearbox" because the previous owner, I strongly suspect, didn't shift down when slowing down and lugged it in top gear but that's maybe £80 and half an hour of work with no risk of getting crushed to death if the bike falls on me. £25 of that £80 is making the gear ratios more appropriate for me and £30 of it I don't need to spend because I salvaged shiny parts off bikes that got very little use before being left outside to rust. I was told a few years ago, back in my yeti days, by the local mobile wheels and tyres man, that fancy lock nuts were a waste of time because nobody steals car alloys these days - at least not in Edinburgh. I think it's just the catalytic converters they want now . Glad my old bus doesn't have one ! Either that or they strip the parts that tend to get damaged in bumps and stick them on ebay . |
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Post by zx9 on Aug 9, 2024 7:27:12 GMT
When I bought my last car, yeti, MOT and 4 new tyres were part of the deal seller was a car selling business no garage facilities at all. When I wanted to swap to winter wheels and tyres I found no locking nut adapter in tool kit. MOT garage in Ayr had obviously pinched it. Aerosole at the Edinburgh Skoda Dealer tried to get me to "book the car in because that would be the best way". Put the phone down on him and bought one off ebay.
For some reason I have two of them. So that is where they go, they gather together for company ans warmth. |
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