Sirbendy

I doubt it...heh.

you'll be gald to know the fuel relays can still give issue even on MK4 Astras...haha!

Ha, we have a science head here who has an MG, whho had to go to the garage last week because it did exactly this, and the garage couldn't get it running... First - hammer. Whack starter/solenoid a few times, see what happens. I've known them jam in the gear, needing the car to be rocked in gear to free. Also known non-engaged starters to stick on their pinions (good fun). If the solenoid clicks, check it can pass voltage out to the starter. Burned contacts might cause it. Check your wiring and especially your earths - starters like a good, fat earth in good nick. If in doubt, add another braided earth strap from the engine block. In fact, if you have jumpleads...next time it does it, use the jumplead to earth the block as a test. Worst case, you've got an iffy starter motor...not done much on repairs with them, but I'd imaging they have brushes that can be cleaned/checked/replaced...I KNOW the alternators of that period have..it may be a stuck carbon brush. Cutting out when running..hmm. You need to crack off a fuel fine and check for spurts of fuel on turnover..it'll be mechanical I'd think. I've had one fail and pump fuel all over the engine before on my Maestro..much cursing was had. If you have fuel delivery, crank it over a few times and pop a plug out and have a sniff/check - it should be damp and smell petrolesque. If it is, fuel is not your issue, probably. Grab a multimeter, check your wiring...it'll be a simple system. Check the coil isn't breaking down and going open circuit under heat/load - had that on the Reliant. Check your distributor - as I recall they had a suppressor/capacitor that was apt to go intermittent...but apart from that check your points, the rotor arm and the cap.contacts for damp/tracking/damage/wear. If you have any spare HT leads, you could try swapping them out...I'd suggest for a total stop cutout doing the king lead first (centre of the dizzy cap to coil). Is it a 1.8? The science guys is the 1275..heh..my Maestro had a 1.6, and the Reliants (god bless 'em) have an 848cc lump that's a clone of the A series..so I'm fairly used to these engines.

You see Cisco IP phones in "use" and think "now, I know you can't DO that with it..."..heh. Or hear one ring and smile in a shopping centre. You know you've spent too long with Vauxhalls when one goes past and you mutter "hydraulic lifters gummed up there, poor maintenance boyo..", or see the lights flicker in a certain way at lights etc, and think "Bingo, another AF13/13II/17/20 gearbox there..", or you hear a servo whine and think "Vauxhall" before you turn round..got to love the ePAS systems..heh.

Descent 3d. Yeehah. Concrete Donkey, double yeehah with a side order of laughing my bum off. Carmageddon...*evil laugh*

My first computer use was a Vic20, bought in..ooh..85/86 I reckon. About the time my co-ordination and motor issues were limiting handwriting, and this new fangled IT looked to offer a solution. Schoolwise, it was a BBC Model A - first SEN pupil on Roll, good reason to dip a toe in the water and get some IT. Spent most of my primary days showing staff how to use WordWise, feed the daisywheel (and rescue it from the inevitable cockups) and save. In hindsight, I may have brought about the demise of the school's spirit duplicator...haha! Those were just ace. So, yes..85/86 I reckon.

Laserdisc Players and the Domesday Project..'86ish? Memory of being ushered in to see this tech marvel, watching teachers handle these space-age looking disks with cotton gloves, lots of nerves and "now, how did this work again?", and the highest level of care I think I've ever seen of any equipment...which, given it's then cost, I can now understand..heh. I remember thinking at age 9, "that'll never catch on...". Oh look, it didn't. Mind you, we had a BetaMax toploader at home that you had to weigh down with tapes to use, as it was in a state of continual eject. BetaMax/VHS wars..haha! SP/LP recording duration extension on VHS machines...again, magic at the time..PLUScodes for setting recordings..oh dear, oh dear me...

We're paying £500+ a month for a 4 day week at Nursery for Isabel...when #2 comes along, after the first year maternity leave, we'll be paying near a grand a month on childcare. So, my wage gone instantly, effectively. By that point, Izz will be 3 and a half, so start getting free hours...but still, eye watering.

Ah, TV. How I fail to miss it. 2.5 years without licence, aerial or TV, and I've just bought the DVD set of Life on Mars..ha. Because I like the MK3 cortina.

Emulator? There are a few out there that might be useful in getting a head start...

That's an interesting viewpoint..I can see where you're coming from..and yes, it does all change so fast, it's a very good point! Definitely something to consider.. In terms of the originally posed question - I suppose "what sort of course" is probably the aspect, more than anything.

It's been something I've been pondering in the past, and it's just come up again. Distance learning, and qualifications. First, some history. I'm 34, I've been working with computers since I started at 17, both freelance and contracted within education. Primary and secondary, some infant school work. Everything from maintenance, to repair, to upgrades, software, deployment..and an enjoyable stint as a resource tech, repairing electronics and electricals. "Official" qualifications come down to a BTEC Nat in comp. Studies (at 17), and I did the A+ several years ago, but never actually sat the final exam..or actually, I may have...I certainly recall sitting an exam on a PC, in a crowded room...but never had anything come of it on paper..heyho. Now, my job as it stands is very wide-ranging..repair, maintenance, user support, deployment, IP phone management, and so on..and I feel it may be a good plan to "nail down" things a little in a more official way. And refresh that which I haven't used in a long time. However, I'm primary child transport, I have one toddler of 2 and a new arrival scheduled to arrive in 11 weeks, which limits my options (but family first, as always, no contest). Given that I already work a full week in addition to transport duties, distance learning appeals more - I can fit it in around the family easily. There is a Pearson-Vue/Prometric centre at Telford College that I can easily get to (3 minutes from the in-laws), so I could easily sit an evening exam there, with minimal inconvenience to the missus/childcare. What suggestions can anyone chuck in the ring? Hardware is..well..much of a muchness nowadays, yes? So possibly software..or customer support..argh, I have no idea if I'm honest, heh. Cost will be another factor - Missus will be on Mat.Leave, so money will be restricted (on purpose, not through need necessarily). Any suggestions or guidance much appreciated..

Nowt wrong with VAG..

I'm looking forward to one day having a car with that level of tech under the bonnet. Purely so I can turn it off. I don't want technology dictating anything, bar the autobox. The day I need a computer to tell me I'm traction challenged and need to cut the power, you can put me to bed with a shovel...tail-end drifting is half the fun.

I have cables for both my Astra and the VAG, combined with my netbook for things like this..it's seriously handy, especially when looking for spurious errors - set it to log all data, go for a drive, come back, drop it into excel or whatever, and go hunting... OPCOM software plus cable was £15 off the bay (bit iffy, but dead handy). VCDS (Was VAG-COM) is shareware for the VAG/Skoda, and I have another little app that I need to use to first interrogate the dash to get the SKC access code. Beats a dealership hands down.

I'm effectively running 4 part-worns on mine right now..I've retired my steelies with winter rubber for the year, and fitted my "new to me" Vx Alloys, that I picked up from a breakers with 4 virtually new tyres already on (still have the fitter/balance markings on!), for £40. No problems so far..not ditchfinder specials, but not as grippy as I like yet, due to being barely worn in. Although I addressed that partly earlier, ha. Nothing untoward with them at all. If they're in good nick, I say go for it. Even my Winter "Insa Turbo T2" studdable rubber was remould..

HOW could I have forgotten that...MCA, the white elephant..

Hell yes. I still have Blood 1 - my all time favourite game, aside from Carmageddon (which I also still have). MDK? And 3.5inch disks..heh..anyone remember the 3 inch Amstrad ones? Awkward. Hardware now, I wouldn't give you tuppence for it. Give me an IBM 5150, they'd take a nuclear hit and keep on running.

Ha, yes..the old RM Nimbus...I'd blanked those out. 286/6,8, 12 and 20Mhz..being allowed to borrow a PC from school for the Holidays, and the sheer terror of transporting it..yet now I just chuck them around. IBM PS/2 Model 55SX anyone? What a crock of...... Floppy disk to configure the EISA Bus (or was it VLB on those?) Mentioning the loading games from tape - did anyone else make up a patch to run from the old twin-decks of the time, and try loading the games in "Hi-Speed Dubbing" mode? That used to work brilliantly on Commodores!

Audio coupler modems and rotary dial phones. One knock and it's bye-bye data integrity. 8inch floppy disks and drives like twin tubs. Reel to Reel tape drives with the "suction tubes". Line at a time impact printers with acoustic shielding. ST-506 MFM/RLL drives with stepper motors that got out of alignment at certain temperatures leading to no boot. "Big red power switches" on IBMs. MDA/CGA/EGA adapter cards, full length ISA..haha...memories..RAM ISA expanders with individual 16 leg chips in banks... Oh dear, oh dear...I still have an MDA card in a cabinet somewhere..

It's something myself and the NM have pondered here - too many kids don't know the ins and outs of the PC itself, operation etc...they always look quite "wow" when we explain things, and as you say, if anything the girls are even more wowed than the lads. Lack of time I suspect will be our enemy..sigh. And this is why I take any time needed to teach my little girl about how things work - she's 2 and a bit, but she'll help with DIY, I've had her help when putting PCs together, she helps me with car DIY ("this is where the petrol comes out. Can you say "injector"? This is a fuel injector.")...if you don't teach them how it all works, what hope for the future, eh?

Ha, I drive an "old fogey" mobile..hehe. MK4 Astra. To be fair, our Dept head just asked me if I took the car mountaineering, as he followed me home last night, and was quite surprised when I booted the throttle and took off up a near vertical winding back road that is a "local" route to my house. Now I think on, I had noticed a MK5 behind..oops!

Word of advice, avoid the PT Cruiser..my ex landlord had one. Diesel. Drank the fuel, to the extent that a 3.something litre Gen3 Disco was actually more economical to run. SAAB, yep..GM underneath the skin pretty much. Zafira? Lots about.

Water leak in the office? Raining heavily and no coat? Or solar panel for water heating? Heh.

Congratulations indeed.. I have 3 and a bit months until my second is due, and we purposely have no idea what we're expecting...it's more fun to say "Names? For a ? Um..heck..we had some for , but..oh boy..erm..."..hehe.