michael Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 What happened? Why is that when you visit a garage forecourt these days you either have to pay for air (and I don't mind if it's a nominal amount) or you find the machine isn't working. Should all garages have a duty to provide this service to the public for safety reasons? My car felt a little odd on a trip out the other day, this sometimes means I'm a couple of psi out somewhere so I pulled in to check pressures - air line out of order. I went to the next garage, the same. The next one didn't have an air line so I carried on to one that only took 20p pieces, the chap on the till couldn't / wouldn't give me change unless I bought something that allowed him to open his till. The next one was 50p for 5 minutes use... who needs 5 minutes of air? Ultimately I ended up at a supermarket garage, free air, working water - and 4 tyres that were already at the right pressure, damn you odd road surface! Damn you! So... "free air" - should it go back to being free? Should all garages have a duty to provide and should all machines have to be checked for accuracy on a regular basis? Or should we all just invest in a compressor at home? NB: Elements of this post have added drama, the reality is that I have a pressure gauge in the car along with a foot pump so it was never going to be a disaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 they call it maintainance costs michael , texaco garage near me wanted 50p , but didnt do a good job so i asked for my money back . sainsburys is free, but they use the retractable type which is a pita , as the spring is quite strong , and you have to watch the bodywork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_have Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 NB: Elements of this post have added drama, the reality is that I have a pressure gauge in the car along with a foot pump so it was never going to be a disaster You carry a footpump in your car? Do you also bulk buy screenwash?Think that deserves another infraction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lui Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Me I got mini air compressor at home along with accurate digital pressure gauge don't trust pump gauges at forecourts as they get abused a lot / or just take your own pressure gauge to double check, never rely on there gauge pressures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Pah, my tires get check when i change rubber. As long at they have some air in them im sure they will be fine, i aint payin 50p for nufin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 You carry a footpump in your car? Do you also bulk buy screenwash?Think that deserves another infraction. Is it unusual to have a footpump? I think it harks back to when I did trackdays and was constantly messing with pressures. These days it just sits in the rear footwell tucked under the passenger seat just in case... I do buy screenwash in bulk I wasn't aware it was a punishable offence, bugger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I was very lucky a couple of weeks ago, where I felt the tyre go down just as I was about 50 yards from a Texaco station. Luckily the machine worked and it only cost 20p. Pumped up the tyre and it's been ok ever since! Weird.... Granted though Michael, the majority are not working!! Might start my own compressor repair business as the world seems full of broken ones!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I carry a foot pump and I say that with pride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 the ones round me are all 50p for 5 mins. but you need to put in a quid as it takes for ever,only pumps air for a few seconds then builds up again before doing another pump. i remember the old style ones where you put on the nozle and pressed the button and it went forever or untill ya tyre blew up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 The free air ones round here usually leak and are crap. The ones I pay a measly 20p for work properly. My hatred of these things isn't the charge, it's the fact the ONLY take 20p and I never have 20ps in my pocket when I want to use one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 They're usually broken for a simple reason: Our vandalising criminal thieving scumbag youths were bored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Last time I stopped at a garage in the middle of nowhere, I asked the guy behind the counter if they had an airline he said 'piss off, we don't even have a bus station' Seriously though, they are a pain - you never have 20p when you need one and you can never be sure how accurate they are. Much better to have a decent gauge & compressor @ home and always check regularly/before long trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 Our vandalising criminal thieving scumbag youths were bored. Or an OAP / Female ran over it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Or an OAP / Female ran over it There is that I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I carry a mini compressor in my car made by michelin. Lightweight and very accurate. I got sick of driving around looking for one that wasn't broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I had a cheap foot pump - the cylinder burst when I stepped on it too hard once. Made quite a bang, I can tell you. Now I have a cheap compressor from Halfords. Never used a forecourt since. It doesn't matter whether the pressure gauge is slightly wrong, because when you always use the same gauge, it is consistently wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 It doesn't matter whether the pressure gauge is slightly wrong, because when you always use the same gauge, it is consistently wrong. Yeah. It's kind of like Thor's dyno in a way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Last time I stopped at a garage in the middle of nowhere, I asked the guy behind the counter if they had an airline he said 'piss off, we don't even have a bus station' pmsl:rlol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I bought a halfords compressor, it was about 15 quid and has lasted nearly 5 years so far, very accurate and very quickly gets the tyre to the pressure I set beforehand. I had split rims once that used to lead, I set the pressure, went inside and finished my tea, came out and it was done. Cracking piece of kit (which neatly fits into one of the supra pre-cut areas of the boot). Bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I bought a halfords compressor, it was about 15 quid and has lasted nearly 5 years so far, very accurate and very quickly gets the tyre to the pressure I set beforehand. I had split rims once that used to lead, I set the pressure, went inside and finished my tea, came out and it was done. Cracking piece of kit (which neatly fits into one of the supra pre-cut areas of the boot). Bargain. Amazingly, exactly that for me as well. Type, cost, timespan, and reason -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I can understand them charging for the use of the machine, but they are so badly maintainted it annoys me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Amazingly, exactly that for me as well. Type, cost, timespan, and reason -Ian I bought one a couple of years ago - it worked once and never again. I concluded that it was total crap, and wouldn't waste my money again. You two have convinced me that I was just unlucky, so I guess I'll pick another one up over the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_y3k Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 i find that the mini compressors are a great way to shatter the silence of a Sunday afternoon when every one is sleeping off the sunday roast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I'm lucky to live next to BP station with fully automated free air machine You just need to set desired pressure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 I've also had one of those Michelin compressors for the last few years. Had to - all the garage ones were foobar'd. Why is it the only air machines that work are the supermarket ones? I thought Shell, BP etc were supposed to be big responsible companies. How come they don't keep better tabs on their forecourts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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