I can’t drive to work straight away today, can I?

[OrangeDuvet]

Work is 30 miles away via a motorway.

My car model is known for the front bonnet getting stuck so that it can’t be opened. When I need to top up my washer fluid I go somewhere like Halfords where one of the lads does some wizardry to open it. It takes two people to do so.

(I’ve tried three garages including the official one for the car - all they do is add some grease even though I ask them to replace the faulty mechanism e.g. during services. I guess I will really have to put my foot down with one of them now!)

Anyway to my point. I’m exceptionally low on washer fluid but it has snowed overnight so the roads will be very salty. DH and I were outside for an hour late last night trying to open the bonnet but to no avail.

DH says I shouldn’t drive to work and I need to go to a garage to get the bonnet opened and the fluid topped up. But this would mean cancelling a meeting. I know he’s right but it seems a bit excessive!

The car isn’t safe to drive in the circumstances, so no I wouldn’t go. But this makes you unreliable, so you should be looking at swapping the car for one you can maintain yourself.

I just need to put my foot down and not get fobbed off at the garage. I’ll take it in and ask for a quote to replace the mechanism while I’m there (again! But make sure I get one this time!)

Can you swap cars with your DH so he uses yours and sorts whilst you go straight to work and not miss meeting?

He's right. I don't know if it's the salt on the roads but one winter it happened to me and window completely covered in white residue. It was terrifying had to stick an arm out of the window with a bottle of water! Don't do it In this weather. If it was a spring day I'd probably risk it.

It's just a meeting, you have car trouble :)

You need to get your car sorted, with a 30 mile commute you need to access the engine in an emergency.

No, unfortunately while we are insured for commuting, I’m not insured for ‘business travel’ on his car (travelling between different locations).

What model of car? I had the same issue.

Oh crumbs that sounds scary.

yes you are all right, I do indeed have car trouble. (I like that line, thank you!) Don’t worry, the only place I’ll be driving is to the garage!

I ran out of washer once on the motorway it was bloody scary how quickly the screen was covered in crap and I couldn’t see.

The next service start seemed like a lifetime away. Don’t do it, your DH is right. Cancel the meeting, your safety is more important

No, unfortunately while we are insured for commuting, I’m not insured for ‘business travel’ on his car (travelling between different locations).

What does that mean? It doesn't sling right.

sound

Have you tried a YouTube search ?

I don't know about the salt but if your indicator has only come on, you'll be fine. There's still enough for you to drive today.

But yes, you need to sort the bonnet issue asap.

@EarringsandLipstick there are usually three levels of insurance: social, commuting and business use.

This is normal on some policies. I have this on my car insurance. I alone am insured for business use on my car, but my named drivers.

Named drivers aren't insured .....posted too soon oops.

commuting is for travel to one fixed place of work - you can’t drive to a client meeting at their office then drive to your office for example - that would be business use.

What model of car do you have?

As someone else asked , what make car is it ? Someone here might have the ' nack ' to pass on of getting it open for you ?

Ah that's interesting - I've never come across that here in Ireland (maybe just the policies I've taken out, though I've never heard anyone refer to those categories either).

If it’s a Ford fiesta, get DH to pull the trigger for the bonnet and you try digging your fingers underneath to raise it slightly. Then get a flat blade screwdriver slightly to the left of the bonnet release catch and pull the wire across. This should allow it to open. (Mechanic constantly being called out to Ford fiestas with stuck bonnets). A new mechanism is around £50

To close it you’ll need to do the same thing, use the screwdriver to push the wire back across to the left, and then close it. It takes patience though!

That's interesting, I've never seen a policy like that, that's so restrictive. (Business use in policies I've seen refers to using the vehicle specifically & primarily for business purposes ie connected with your business, not travelling between sites).

I have learned something today!

My fiat had this, needed someone to press down on the bonnet as lever pulled.

It would take two minutes on the phone to update your dh's insurance to allow you to use his car, might be worth doing in future?