Dr Goon

I have been told that the alternator on my 300Tdi Defender is only just putting out enough to keep everything running and the twin batteries charged. I have had repeated problems with my main battery (red Top Optima) going flat. I have now fitted a battery cut off switch to stop any possibility of drain while the thing is parked up. As far as I am aware it is a standard alternator for a 300 and has not been uprated at any stage. Is there an easy upgrade without going down the 'twin alternators' route? Does the alternator off a Discovery have a higher output?

Be careful with that Hi-Lift jack Will - they bite as you may recall

Chris, Subject to confirmation from SWMBO, count me in for marshalling if needed.

That 110 is mine Steve. Any chance of posting the pic you have? The truck got a bit warm on the way home (don't worry Les I haven't cooked the engine!) and the rad was pretty full of gloop. The problem with mine is that, in front of the main rad I have got the air-con rad. When that blocks, it is like having a wattle and daub wall in front of the main radiator, which does not get any airflow through it. I can see your point about the course getting a bit repetitive. I have been every year they have run the event and, although bits of it are different each year, there is a limit to what they can fit in. I think this year they have pretty much hit that limit as a lot of the turns on the course were too tight for a 110 to get round without a reverse shunt or two. It will not stop me going though, even if they don't change it much as it is a fun couple of days, local to home, for a good charitable cause.

Mine was 17,747.

Excellent weekend. Saturday was dry but yesterday was so wet that many were struggling. Eventually they had to close off bits of the course to avoid accidents. Hopefully the organisers made a fair bit of cash for the charities they support. Boatbuoy, you have a pm

Just bumping this one to the top to remind everyone that Abingdon is this weekend. It is raining steadily here in Chippenham at the moment so I am hopeful that the course will be good and muddy

Thanks for posting it over here as well Tony - I was planning to do so but got sidetracked....... I will be the the 'Red Heap' - now starring in a couple of Uncle Les' technical threads - a red 110CSW with white roof/full roofrack/orange beacon.

Excellent rant Charles - 10/10

Not sure if this is the right place to post this or whether it should only be in the "Getting Out There" forum, but the next Abingdon 4x4 Festival is on the weekend of 23rd and 24th September. Further information here http://www.abingdon4x4festival.com/default.asp Anyone on here going to be there? It is an excellent weekend of off-roading - maybe not the most challenging for experienced mud fans but fun nonetheless.

Sounds good to me - I am sure we can agree a price

What did it fail on Les - anything unexpected?

I've probably got none at all - let's have a look......... Two! H'mmm how did that happen. Still I suppose it proves that it is not a 'number of mates' counter - I have never had that many!

Our own Les Henson is now somthing of an expert on P38A Range Rovers.

Nothing Land Rover based but as I was allowed by SWMBO to have a weekend to do whatever I wanted to, I decided to take the bike up to Scotland. We are going away on it next month and it needs to be serviced before we go and it will also need new tyres ('cos otherwise it will have to be done while we are away). As I was quite a few miles off the correct mileage for the service I needed to add some miles. 0900hrs Saturday I left home and headed North, having booked a B&B in Grantown-on-Spey. 510 miles later I arrived just as it started raining. Weather beautiful up to that point. Yesterday I left the B&B at 0915hrs and rode the A939 from Grantown down via Tomintoul to Ballater, then on to Braemar and Blairgowrie on the A93. What a road! Got home at 2000hrs last night having covered 1035 miles in 2 days. I had a fantastic time, excellent roads, reasonably good weather and spectacular scenery. Can't wait to go back sometime.

If I had the spare cash I would love the Daytona. Fancy a straight swap with a 1990 BMW R80RT?

I went to the viewing day as a mate was interested in one of the cars they were selling. That one is definately from Gaydon. Can't recall what it eventually sold for but most things went for ridiculously high amounts.

I too am a biker and I am running a defence for a client at the moment based on the inaccuracy of the LTI20-20 when used on bikes. It may end up as a test case. I will post the result (if I remember!) although I suspect that the Magistrates will convict at first instance. If you are flashed by several cameras during one continuous journey along a stretch of road such as the M25, you can argue for it to be treated as one offence, rather than a number of separate offences. Again the success of that argument will depend to an extent on the attitude of the local bench. Some are understanding but others are more inclined to try and treat it as separate offences. The technically correct answer is that it is one continuing offence and I have successfully argued that for a client at least once. Simonr, I see what you say about the letter you had, implying that if you did not hold your hands up and admit the offence but it is simply wrong to imply that, by pleading not guilty, you are risking double the points if convicted. If that is what the letter says, or clearly implies, then something ought to be done about it. Which Court did that letter come from? I know the Wiltshire letters do not imply that but each Court area's letter is slightly different.

I'm still around, albeit not very active these days

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/head...ry_hit_list.php ...but Swindon is supposed to be reasonably safe so they have probably forgotten what they should do when someone gets burgled... I could have a word with someone if you want Les.......(and I don't mean a client either... )

If it is a speeding matter you would get 3 for failing to return the s172 notice but you would NOT then get 3 for a speeding offence as well. It is one or the other. It is the same if you were convicted of, say, speeding and driving without insurance - two offences committed on the same occasion does not mean that you get two sets of points, you simply get the points for the most serious offence and your licence is endorsed with the other matter(s) but no more points are added. A conviction for failing to notify the identity of the driver will not mean that you get fined for that offence AND for the sppeding offence either. It is one offence or the other. I have now had a look at the link referred to in the original post and I cannot at this stage comment on the suggested technique.

If you plead Not Guilty to an endorseable traffic offence, take the matter to trial and are convicted you will have lost sentencing credit, which is a technical term for a discount for pleading guilty. This can, at most, amount to one third off any penalty and does NOT apply to penalty points. If you are convicted you will have to pay a contribution to Prosecution costs and your own legal fees if you instruct a Solicitor to act for you. The contribution to Prosecution costs could run into hundreds of £ but the amount of the fine and order for costs, and the rate at which the Court will expect you to pay will depend on your financial circumstances. So by taking the matter to trial, you do not risk getting more penalty points than you would had you pleaded guilty. There is always a risk involved in taking a matter to trial but, if you feel you have a good case, then do it, especially if the Prosecution evidence actually supports your defence!

Would a 300Tdi need any sort of modification to run on the stuff? How much is the bloke in Highworth charging for it, because if it isn't too much more expensive and the truck would not need modifications, I would be interested, especially as Highworth is only 10 minutes away from home.

Yesterday morning I retaxed the bike using the online service for the first time - seems like I saved myself £2 as well as not having all the hassle of queueing up in the post office On the 110 I lose out by £5 it seems but on the Mercedes, VEL goes down from £85 a year to £50 as far as I can tell Must get round to getting a dating certificate for the Stag as it qualifies for free VEL as it was constructed in 1972 but not registered until 1973. Has anyone got experience in getting hold of proof of build date? I think you can get something from Gaydon.

Pack of three for me as well please Les and a shirt if they make them big enough to get round the ever increasing beer gut!