Ooopps, next time I'll mind my own business

[Jim Shaw]

how to create a crisis, and waste the time of emergency services Mr Shaw style

20 minutes ago, I was joining the M1 and as I was going down the slip road, a Land Rover Discovery, was going along in the middle lane, with loads of smoke coming out of the nearside front wheel arch

Thinking the engine was on fire, I chased him ( 100 MPH your honour, but I've got an excuse ) and caught up with him, flashing my lights and tooting the horn, I got him to pull over onto the hard shoulder, where he then noticed all the smoke, and jumped out of the car and got away to a safe distance.

I took him into my van and let him use the phone to call the Fire brigade, still with loads of dark smoke coming from the engine, He told me that his power steering had "gone heavy" about 100 miles ago, but he's just ignored it.
by the time the fire brigade got there ( 3-5 mins, good work guys ) the car still had'nt gone up in flames, and there was virtually no smoke at all now

So now on the hard shouder, I've got a fire engine with a full crew, who have been called out, because I'm a moron, who can't tell the difference between an overheated engine and a fire

but in my defence, the guy shook my hand 4 times and thanked me, and the fire brigade were ok about it too,

I kind of know I did the right thing, better safe than sorry and all that, But I still feel a moron

[Scuttler]

Of course you do...and are but hey.....they'd rather get a call out to a false alarm than not get a call out to a real emergency....or get a call out to an emergency involving casualties.

And they like the practice sometimes ....especially on a lovely sunny day

[NotDeadYet]

The guy got off quite lightly.

A few years ago I had a bit of oil dripping on to the exhaust manifold on my car when I pulled into the services on the M74. Loads of smoke though nothing serious but someone phoned the fire brigade. They came out, I explained it was alright and there was no fire but they insisted on hosing down the engine and cutting the electrics. I'd just done about 200miles without a break so everything was very hot, when the water hit the engine you could almost here the cylinder head cracking. They leave, I am now the proud owner of one knackered 2.5L Subaru engine.

Originally Posted by Jim Shaw

So now on the hard shouder, I've got a fire engine with a full crew, who have been called out, because I'm a moron, who can't tell the difference between an overheated engine and a fire

To be fair, an overheated engine is bloody dangerous! My car overheated many times last year and it scared the shit out of me. I had to wait at the side of the A43 for 6 hours once because it was too hot to put any water in it and then when I did put water in it, I found a hole in my engine and had to get a friend to bring me radweld and some putty to fix it. Good old radweld! Its been fine since now.

Good job though Jim, better safe than sorry!

Ax

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by amy-ward

I found a hole in my engine and had to get a friend to bring me radweld and some putty to fix it. Good old radweld! Its been fine since now.

Me thinks it was the rad with the hole....not the engine

[Ding Dang Doo]

Jim,

you did the right thing.

Pete

(now, about this 100 miles an hour, sir?!!!)

[Jim Shaw]

Originally Posted by Ding Dang Doo

(now, about this 100 miles an hour, sir?!!!)

I Know and it was in a Astra van, with 114,000 miles on the clock, I almost took out my phone to take a photo of the speedometer !!!

Originally Posted by Scuttler

Me thinks it was the rad with the hole....not the engine

No it was one of the core plugs in my engine that had a hole, I couldnt even see it. Had to fix it without even being able to see it.

Ax

[IanD]

Originally Posted by Jim Shaw

I Know and it was in a Astra van, with 114,000 miles on the clock, I almost took out my phone to take a photo of the speedometer !!!

Two crimes for the price of one

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by amy-ward

No it was one of the core plugs in my engine that had a hole, I couldnt even see it. Had to fix it without even being able to see it.

Ax

Remind me never to buy a used car from you!!!