Advice sought

alltetic

Hey everyone, I'm a long time lurker but this is my first post, I'm hoping some of you might be able to offer some advice. I have a bit of an awkward question...

My car has been parked on the street just up the road from my house for nearly a month and hasn't been moved. In that time the insurance has expired, and I havent renewed it because I've been out of country. Also in that time, someone has crashed into the front wing of it and taken off without leaving any details.

When I first noticed it when I came back, I thought the damage was cosmetic, but on closer inspection I fear something is majorly wrong. Apart from some fluid on the road underneath it, the engine seems ok, and when I let the clutch out, the car "lifts", as if I'm trying to take off with the handbrake on. The problem is the handbrake is off, so it's like the wheels are seized or something. Any ideas?

While I'm at it, any advice what I should do next? Some neighbours saw the accident but can't recall the exact day, or type of car... I havent talked to the guards or the insurance company since I noticed it. I'm thinking I'll have to just stomach the cost of repairing what ever might be wrong and chalk it down to stupidity for not organising to renew before I left!
Thanks for taking the time to read through this anyway, and I hope someone might be able to help!

Special Circumstances

Where is the fluid?

Handbrake can seize if left on for a long time. Never happened me really so I can't say how much resistance is normal handbrake seize or "yikes something more serious has happpened here)

Cee-Jay-Cee

The rear brakes are more than likely seized a bit. If it's only been s month it'll not be anything too serious. Just drive off slowly, it shoukd free itself within a very short distance. If not try reversing back a bit. If it still doesn't free, jack car up, remove rear wheel(s) and whack the calipers a few times with a hammer. If the car has rear drum brakes then whack all round the edge of the drum to free the brake shoes inside it.

Alanstrainor

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Where is the fluid?

Handbrake can seize if left on for a long time. Never happened me really so I can't say how much resistance is normal handbrake seize or "yikes something more serious has happpened here)

Yup, handbrake seize is likely.

Are the any paint marks? Other crashed cars in the estate?

alltetic

Never thought of the brakes seizing, I'd be absolutely thrilled if that's all it turns out to be! I just assumed worst case scenario; it wasn't moving because of the smash.
It has always leaked a tiny amount of steering fluid, but thinking about it, the amount on the ground is not excessive for the length of time it's been laid up, so fingers crossed that's all it is.
No sign of any other cars around with corresponding scrapes but I have my eyes peeled for them!
Thank you all for the help, I'll have a go at a bit of rocking / hammering this eve and see if I can get her moving. I'll let you know!

bazz26

Not a good idea having an uninsured car parked on the street. It could be vandalized or the Gardai seize it. Better off having it moved to private property.

punisher5112

Is the rad burst? Or possible the washer bottle for wipers is cracked.

If car is left with no tax insurance nct car could possibly be lifted or at least get tickets.


If handbrake was on then car will need to be driven to get wheels to free up.

This will possibly mean having to rev a bit higher and tyre screaching as locked brakes.

CiniO

alltetic wrote: »

Never thought of the brakes seizing, I'd be absolutely thrilled if that's all it turns out to be! I just assumed worst case scenario; it wasn't moving because of the smash.
It has always leaked a tiny amount of steering fluid, but thinking about it, the amount on the ground is not excessive for the length of time it's been laid up, so fingers crossed that's all it is.
No sign of any other cars around with corresponding scrapes but I have my eyes peeled for them!
Thank you all for the help, I'll have a go at a bit of rocking / hammering this eve and see if I can get her moving. I'll let you know!

If you see some fluid on the ground, just check levels of all fluids in your car before starting the engine.
Engine oil, coolant, braking fluid, power steering fluid, hydraulic clutch fluid...

CiniO

bazz26 wrote: »

Not a good idea having an uninsured car parked on the street. It could be vandalized or the Gardai seize it. Better off having it moved to private property.

I though it was the same grade of offence to have parked car in public without insurance, as well as driving it.
Is it not?

Special Circumstances

CiniO wrote: »

I though it was the same grade of offence to have parked car in public without insurance, as well as driving it.
Is it not?

"failure to display" and "driving uninsured" are two separate offences with differing grades of "punishment" afaik.

yeah - have a look here - http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/appendix_4.pdf

Not the statute book but that's a pain to navigate.

Del2005

If the fluid is still wet stick a gloved hand in and have a smell and look, you should be able to figure out what it is by taking the lids off the containers under the bonnet and sticking a clean part of the glove in, can be done without gloves but have health and safety drilled into me.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

If the fluid is still wet stick a gloved hand in and have a smell and look, you should be able to figure out what it is by taking the lids off the containers under the bonnet and sticking a clean part of the glove in, can be done without gloves but have health and safety drilled into me.

So I suppose you don't also take a bit of taste on you tongue to see if it's a braking fluid or coolant
I always do it, as it's the easiest way to distinguish

CiniO

Special Circumstances wrote: »

"failure to display" and "driving uninsured" are two separate offences with differing grades of "punishment" afaik.

yeah - have a look here - http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/appendix_4.pdf

Not the statute book but that's a pain to navigate.

Hmmm.

56.—(1) A person (in this subsection referred to as the user) shall not use in a public place a mechanically propelled vehicle unless either a vehicle insurer, a vehicle guarantor or an exempted person would be liable for injury caused by the negligent use of the vehicle by him at that time or there is in force at that time either—

(a) an approved policy of insurance whereby the user or some other person who would be liable for injury caused by the negligent use of the vehicle at that time by the user, is insured against all sums without limit (save as is hereinafter otherwise provided) which the user or his personal representative or such other person or his personal representative shall become liable to pay to any person (exclusive of the excepted persons) by way of damages or costs on account of injury to person or property caused by the negligent use of the vehicle at that time by the user, or

(b) an approved guarantee whereby there is guaranteed the payment by the user, or some other person who would be liable for injury caused by the negligent use of the vehicle at that time by the user, of all sums without limit (save as is hereinafter otherwise provided) which the user or his personal representative or such other person or his personal representative shall become liable to pay to any person (exclusive of the excepted persons) by way of damages or costs on account of injury to person or property caused by the negligent use of the vehicle at that time by the user.

So this is a requirement to have insurance when using (including parking) a car in public place.

And here's the offence.

(3) Where a person contravenes subsection (1) of this section, he and, if he is not the owner of the vehicle, such owner shall each be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1961/en/act/pub/0024/sec0056.html#sec56
This is an old act, and it was amended few times, but sense generally still stays the same. It's an offence to use a car in public without insurance, and that includes parking.
Shoulnd't be much different if you are driving or have car parked.

Failure to display is different thing.

bryaner

CiniO wrote: »

So I suppose you don't also take a bit of taste on you tongue to see if it's a braking fluid or coolant
I always do it, as it's the easiest way to distinguish

Crockett and Tubbs style.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

So I suppose you don't also take a bit of taste on you tongue to see if it's a braking fluid or coolant
I always do it, as it's the easiest way to distinguish

I try to avoid putting petroleum products in my mouth these days. The only good thing about belching petrol for days after syphoning it is that it wasn't diesel!

stefanovich

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

whack the calipers a few times with a hammer.

Del2005 wrote: »

stick a gloved hand in and have a smell

CiniO wrote: »

also take a bit of taste on you tongue

Sounds like sound advice

Bigus

Is it an Almera ? Sticky brakes on these need a sledge hammer?