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I have recently received a cautionary tale from a regular
contributor -
"I would like to warn women about the danger of giving their
car keys with their house keys attached to anyone.
A good friend's daughter went to a well-known tire (tyre)
company to have a flat repaired while she waited. Without thinking she handed
her key ring with all her house keys on to the serviceman and waited. What
she didn't know is that most of these places also have key cutting machines.
One of the servicemen copied her apartment key and two days later entered her apartment
late at night and raped her.
This was a business she frequented and they had all her
personal information on their computer.
The man was caught months later and the police found out
that he had done this before.
I have been contacted by Russell Parslow
who advises that this report is, in fact, untrue and suggest people visit the following
site for further explanation http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/housekey.htm
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It is important to use good quality tyres on caravans but
using 8 ply tyres instead of the usual 6 ply can give extra piece of mind.
It is not the tread which wears but the side walls and this is usually caused by
deterioration either by mistreatment or age. Taking the wheels off the van
and supporting on axle stands for the winter can also prolong tyre life.
Thanks to Mike
Cook for this advice
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To remove tar from your car, take baking
soda (bicarbonate of soda) and add enough water to make a paste, then rub on tar.
Works great!
Sent in by Theresa
Hamilton - thanks.
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Use baby wipes on car dashboards, they clean
like new and leave an anti-static layer.
Contribution
from David Barns.
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To remove surface rust from chrome bumpers and for those
people who have them on the overrider, crumple up some aluminium foil into a ball,
dip it in water and rub on the rust area, rinse with clean water. This does
not work on pitted rust areas.
Thanks to Krystal
G for this one.
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Another method of cleaning chrome is a little household
ammonia in water. Rinse and dry the chrome well afterwards to polish it up.
This also removes grease and insect marks. On really stubborn marks use a
little neat ammonia on a damp cloth.
If you don't have ammonia paraffin or toothpaste on a damp
cloth are quite good substitutes.
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One way to free rusted nuts and bolts, particularly on aluminium
parts, is to pour on a small amount of fizzy cola drink. The acids and carbon
dioxide in the drink will help to eat away the corrosion and release the hold on
the threads. Wait until dry before trying again to move the nut.
Cola is is ideal for loosening jammed parts but ensure it
is cleaned off properly as it can cause corrosion.
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Clean windscreens with a cloth dipped in a bucket of warm
water containing a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar. Polish with a clean,
dry cloth. Smears can be removed with a cloth moistened with methylated spirits.
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Don't be tempted to use washing-up (dishwashing) liquid
to wash your car. They can contain salt which corrodes metal. |
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Cat litter can be used for absorbing oil spills in garages
etc. Dilute any spills with paint thinner or white spirit, sprinkle with
cat litter and sweep up when the liquid has been absorbed.
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Never work on your car in a closed garage with the engine
running. The carbon monoxide fumes from the exhaust can kill. |
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Never wear loose clothing, ties, jewellery and keep long
hair tied back when working over a running engine. It is amazing how quickly
accidents can happen.
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If you get stuck in snow or on ice, don't spin the wheels
as this will melt the frozen surface making the problem worse.
Place gravel, an old sack, or twigs, etc. under the front
of the driving wheels, select second gear and let the clutch in slowly with minimum
acceleration.
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If you have trouble starting your car due to dampness on
winter mornings, try using a hair dryer (no, not to get to work on but to dry out
the engine!)
You could also lay a piece of old blanket or carpet under
the bonnet, over the engine but you must remember to remove it
before driving off as it could go up in flames with disastrous consequences.
If you use this method it is best to leave the bonnet (hood) slightly open with
the material hanging out to remind you to remove it.
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Broken fan belts on some cars can be replaced in an emergency
with tights (pantihose) or stockings. Simply put it around the pulleys on
the engine and fan (leaving out the dynamo is easiest). This will allow you
to travel further but the battery will not be charging. The belt must be replaced
quickly
This was also
sent in by Paul Pilbeam.
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To stop a radiator leak in an emergency, place a piece of
chewing gum over the hole. If the hole is in a hose you can wrap with insulating
tape, elastoplast or even sellotape to get you a little further.
Alternatively cracking open an egg and putting into the
boiling radiator will seal the hole on a short term basis.
Sent in by Paul
Pilbeam
(Be careful when opening a hot radiator
though!)
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Those are
good, but I have an even better solution: PLAIN BREAD……. Years ago, a rock
damaged the radiator in my car while I was enroute from Vancouver to Calgary Canada,
the great Rocky Mountains. It was about 9 pm on a Sunday night, at one of
the highest mountain passes, with a blizzard headed in my direction. This
was a recipe for disaster. I pulled into a gas station to find it closed.
I had no idea what to do till I went into a restaurant attached to the gas station
(it was closed as well, but a couple staff members where still there). I told
them my problem, and they gave me a piece of bread. Simply press the bread
onto the radiator, and you’re done. The flour plugs the hole, and the bread
toasts from the heat, and will stay there indefinitely. Worked like a charm.
I was able to drive the next 600 miles home, and missed the blizzard. (The
drove the car for a good 6 months with the bread in the radiator, because I was
young and broke and couldn’t afford a new radiator…. I wouldn’t recommend waiting
that long, but it still worked).
Steve Gould
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If windscreen wipers stop working and you happen to have
a potato handy!!!! cut the potato in half and rub the face up and down the
windscreen in front of the driver. For a short time, this prevents the pattern
of drops which is impossible to see through. Repeat the process if travelling
further.
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Small paint brushes or toothbrushes can be used to clean
the crevices on dashboards.
Thanks Krystal
G.
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If you get a hole in your petrol tank you
can fix the problem by sealing the hole with soap (carbolic is the best).
This can last up to three days.
Contributed
by Paul Pilbeam.
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