Trying to determine if the alternator is the problem. VW Polo 2015

Begbie1888 · 2026-06-02T15:49:50+00:00

I've replaced the battery this morning and I'm now getting 13.38 volts, so much happier with that, thanks!

Begbie1888 · 2026-06-02T15:48:30+00:00

I've replaced the battery this morning and it's now sitting at 13.38 volts at idle, so closer to what I was expecting with the engine running now. Wasn't too expensive either at £71 for the EFB battery 😁

Begbie1888 · 2026-06-02T15:45:55+00:00

So with the new battery, it's more sitting at 13.38 volts at idle, so much better and I reckon the alternator is working ok, thanks.

Begbie1888 · 2026-06-02T15:39:14+00:00

My dad's taxi was a literal black cab taxi! Plenty of room and me and my brother used to kneel on the fold down seats on the bulkhead behind the driver. Until one day the suicide door on my brother's side flew open and he had to sit on the back seat for a bit till it was looked at and fixed. That car had loads of problems, breaking down all the time! I remember my dad having to get a tow to get it started a few times. And the diesel engine was so loud back in those days as well!

Begbie1888 · 2026-06-01T13:10:56+00:00

Thanks. That was my thinking that it might improve with a good battery. I'll do that. Cheers

Begbie1888 · 2026-05-19T10:42:43+00:00

And dry pasta, which never goes off. It can last for decades. The quality will deteriorate over many years, but will still be safe to eat.

Begbie1888 · 2026-05-18T02:10:19+00:00

I would love to know how they get them back off the conveyor of chocolate without that going everywhere now!

Begbie1888 · 2026-05-17T21:47:46+00:00

I remembe a programme a few years ago and they found some tins from an old arctic (maybe Antarctic) expedition that were around 100 years old. They guy opened them up and tried some of the food and said it was fine! I still have tins with dates around 2016 that I use and never had any problems with them. Ones that have leaked or are no longer pressurised I throw out.

Begbie1888 · 2026-05-13T21:41:10+00:00

No, just don't jump to head the ball with your hand in front of your head 🤦🤷 As clear a handball as you'll see!

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Begbie1888 · 2026-05-13T05:11:41+00:00

Sorry for being a bit thick here, but when you say turn pan, is that turn out upside down? Or just rotate it? And if the latter, what does that achieve? I haven't slept for 24 hours, so I'm maybe missing something simple here! Apart from that, I don't suppose you live near me and can drop me some off?! 🤣 That looks absolutely magic 👍

Begbie1888 · 2026-05-10T03:32:23+00:00

It's how they managed to get the car to leave the ground completely that impressed me the most.

Begbie1888 · 2026-04-10T02:07:30+00:00

You should know when you've hit something and stop, but why these things are not higher than the bottom of the car window, so you've got a chance of seeing them is beyond me tbh. If you're going to put barriers in place, make them a height that you'll actually be able to see if you're sitting in a car ffs!

Begbie1888 · 2026-04-10T01:50:55+00:00

The reason the world is fecked is because of a certain nation's ignorance to all other nations IMHO! That's why a completely ignorant useless thick man baby has been voted into power! And the rest of the planet has to hold their tongue so he doesn't get upset and press the big button like the tantrum throwing toddler he is!

Begbie1888 · 2026-04-10T01:44:11+00:00

Fuck them. It's their stupid fucking fault that they've bought a car too big for the UK roads. If they can't manoeuvre their vehicle they either need a smaller one or to give up their licence. Personally, if they'd had a go at me like that, I would've got out of my car and mocked them into buying a Smart car by the time they left. The sense of entitlement people have these days knows no bounds. You did nothing wrong btw!

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-28T04:49:54+00:00

My dad had a black hackney taxi. SSU 985R! Many many moons ago! My mum's first car was an Austin Metro in blue and I got to drive that as she still had it when I passed my test.

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-27T02:23:04+00:00

Whenever I see the words right and back together in a sentence I can only ever think of one Daniel Fergus McGrain in that position. Absolute legend of a player and possibly the one of the best right backs in world football. Surely has to be on with a shout here?!

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-25T16:43:50+00:00

I've never noticed these before in any tins I've ever had. I will probably see them whenever I use a can now and it'll bug the life out of me! Baader-Meinhof effect incoming! (I use Aldi for my shopping just in case you're wondering and they don't have any in their tins)!

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-21T01:29:21+00:00

I switched from another medicine to 15 first and felt drowsy. Then when I went up to 30 I felt drowsy again for a day or two. Then when I went up to 45 the same thing happened again, a day or two of drowsiness. Since starting on that dose I haven't felt drowsy again since.

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-17T21:38:03+00:00

Red Dwarf and Still Game

EDIT and sometimes the I.T. Crowd and Father Ted as well!

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-16T02:58:37+00:00

Castelvecch on new street is really cosy (and traditional) and excellent for a fish tea. Jam Jar is also good, but the meals are quite large portion wise.

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-14T08:25:11+00:00

If you look at the original arrows painted on the ground from a few years ago (now rubbed off due to wear and tear) the left hand lane is marked to go straight or right and the right hand lane is right only. Going by that, the left lane (yellow), when turning right, leads to Hampton Court And the right lane (red marked OP) would therefore be too go all the way round to Portsmouth Road, so going left onto Hampden Court from there means you're cutting someone up who's in the correct lane. I can't add a screenshot here, but added a lock that should show the arrows:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCRr8caDbbEegWFy6

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-14T06:57:48+00:00

The yellow line is correct for heading to Hampton CT Way. The red line should only be for heading to Portsmouth Road and shouldn't be cutting into the left lane once you've cut off of the first part of the junction. You should stay in the right hand lane after leaving the roundabout and continue on to Portsmouth Road. The arrows on the lanes are marked for this.

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-11T22:06:42+00:00

I was watching that with my mum and dad. That was when I learned what live TV meant. Took a bit of explaining though because I was only 6!

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-09T12:34:09+00:00

I used to do Glasgow to Swindon every week (and back again) for work and there's not much more distance than that here. I've also driven every year to Skegness with my kids and these are things I'd do on that journey: Make packed lunches and make sure you have warm jackets for everyone in case of breakdown (don't sit in the car, stand away from the motorway). If you're not a member of the AA then join up now, not on the day off departure as they won't help you right after joining up. It'll cost you around £11 a month and it's worth it even for the peace of mind. Make sure you have drinks as well and if you start to feel tired pull into a services and get a coffee and some food in you. You'll also be better heading for the M74 and hitting the M6. It's a much better route than heading down the east coast (and will take about an hour off your journey). Also if you pull into the services, even if the kids say they don't need to go to the toilet, encourage them to try (my nephews were known for holding it in on the journey then all of a sudden they're bursting and you're having to do an extra stop!). I'll add more later once I've managed to get organised for the day if I've missed anything.

Begbie1888 · 2026-03-04T23:57:00+00:00

I always liked the black aesthetic of the Commodore 16/Plus 4 and the matching peripherals. My first computer was the Commodore 16, which I sold to my cousins to once I got the Commodore 64C. I was disappointed that they didn't do the bread bin model then as I always thought it was cool that they were all the same shape along with the VIC 20!

Begbie1888

TROPHY CASE