Helped anyone lately?

[Tony]

Tomorrow morning i've got to go and pick up some kids from up the hill from us (everyone up there is getting stuck still) and drop them off in the village for the school bus. it got me thinking, how's your motor helped you help others over the past little while?
I've taken people shopping, towed people, gone for gas, given people lifts and even lent my landy out, it's been great.

We've been putting a big tarp over the whole lot (around the windows) so that we can get in and go if we want to, otherwise we spend 20 minutes scraping the ice off the inside.

One thing we have had problems with though is starting her, the booster pack has been used a few times now...Oh, and the door lock mechanisms have been freezing, we went out yesterday with bungees holding the door shut

 

[drewdunnrespect]

tony not had much luck with using my car to help people but i have helped more people get there cars out of the hotel (WORK) car park 19 and counting so far were there is six to ten inches of snow.
you know what tho it was the mostly the mercs, bmws, and other top end cars that got stuck.

drew

 

[Front Room Woodlander]

Similar on my sreet, the big heavy cars are getting stuck and the road is completely flat.
Sadly I gave my 4X4 to a person in need on another forum but I have really enjoyed walking in the snow.
Big lad that I am I have been able to give hefty help to many stuck motorists.

 

[Wayne]

I don't own a 4x4 but I helped a group of teenagers that were stuck late the another night. They had crashed their over loaded Lada and smashed the front wheel.

I dragged them out of a ditch and changed their wheel whilst treating the young people for shock and checking for any spinal injuries.

Once they were mobile my wife followed their car for a few miles to make sure they were OK.

 

[Tengu]

I was following a Learner on a motorbike, saw him skid a few times and asked him if it would be better if he left the bike behind the hedge and I take him to gis destination and bring him back.

He declined.

Some people are so crazy

 

[Cap'n Badger]

Well...........The last 6 weeks the vans been used t' help move 3 friends belongings from one house t' another, t' jump start 8 cars in the street, get shopping from the supermarket fer the old dear next door, t' sleep two mates after a booze up..(mad idiots -8 outside) they had the heater on ALL night!, A video camera mount (had tripod set up on the roof)....and a mobile tea room fer the council boyz clearin' the pavements in our street...lol....All that an' it ain't even 4x4!....

 

[86inch]

One thing we have had problems with though is starting her, the booster pack has been used a few times now...Oh, and the door lock mechanisms have been freezing, we went out yesterday with bungees holding the door shut

Check your heater plugs are operating properly, or just buy a new set - they are not expensive. Trouble is, TDI's will start without heat in all but the coldest weather so you don't notice that they are faulty until its really cold.
To keep door locks operating, just give them a good spray with GT85, or even WD40, this should stop them freezing. Works on my 110!

 

[Tony]

I'll try the GT85, WD40 hasn't worked.

When we cover the car with the tarp (which only covers the windows) the landy seems to start ok, saying that it might be that it was just a little warmer those days

Good stuff guys, there always seems to be the opportunity to help people out and the most important thing seems to be using your head, not the vehicle.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Helped out the pub delivery van the other day and received a crate of cider for it.
Happy days.

 

[Tadpole]

Last thursday I took out soup sandwiches and blankets/sleeping bags to the homeless of Bristol (well seven of us did.)

 

[Osprey]

Took an older neighbour into town last Thursday to get supplies, she had not been out since it had started snowing on December 18th !

 

[Landy_Dom]

Pulled a car out of a ditch with my 90 on tuesday night about 10pm - fella was very gateful - made me feel good for a long while

 

[Melonfish]

this morning i was taking bin bags to the collection point at the local pub. the council haven't emptied our bins in 4 weeks so everyone has stuff piling up. warrington borough haven't even bothered gritting most roads which is odd considering all our neighbouring boroughs have clear roads...

anyway they said it was too dangerous to get the trucks round so they setup "collection" points around the borough we had to take bags to them over the ice so they don't hurt their wickkle selves...

 

[_scorpio_]

yep we have been out at 5:30 am taking hospital staff in when they cant get there and some friends have been giving the police some help with accidents.

 

[forestwalker]

I'll try the GT85, WD40 hasn't worked.

One trick is using a Bic to heat the key, but a PTFE based lock lube before it freezes, and one of the "thawing" lock sprays for when it has foozen anyway is the way to go.

 

[Rory McCanuck]

I'll try the GT85, WD40 hasn't worked.

When we cover the car with the tarp (which only covers the windows) the landy seems to start ok, saying that it might be that it was just a little warmer those days

Don't use WD40 (in this instance). Normally, I swear by the stuff, but it doesn't work well in the cold. It tends to gel up somewhat like diesel fuel.
If you can find a source for it there, methyl-hydrate (alcohol) is the stuff you want.
It sucks up water like a camel, ice too. It will tend to dry out and ruin rubber seals, so be careful.

Covering any part of the vehicle helps. No more brushing snow, scraping windows (a bank card works well) and easier starting.
A tarp over the engine will help retain heat. An hibachi full of coals under the oil pan does help with starting, but be careful!!! I'm not responsible if your luxury land yacht goes up in flames!!
If your battery goes dead, remove it and bring it inside overnight. At -10 a battery has only about 50% the cranking power it does at 20 C. At -30 it goes down to about 20%
To prevent diesel fuel from gelling up a bit of kerosene mixed in the tank does the trick. It doesn't take much, 1% of kerosene is enough.