Page 23
Call Sign October 2011
Dac driver: "The whole
cab filled with smoke!"
We think George is trying to make a
point!
"It was all pretty scary," George Davidson
(O33) told Call Sign, "I thought at first that
the cab had caught fire! There was just so
much smoke from beneath the cab and it was
drifting into my cabin and also the rear car-
riage. The passengers thought their luggage
had ignited! The whole cab was filling with
smoke."
Realising that we weren't there at the time,
George went back to the beginning...
For those who don't know where the gearbox dipstick is housed
"I was doing about 60mph along the M4 out
pressure builds up within the gearbox, partic-
oughly warmed up and is standing on level
to Heathrow when I was suddenly engulfed by
ularly - although not exclusively - at sustained
ground," he advised.
acrid smelling smoke that was starting to make
high speeds.
The mechanic continued: "Keep the engine
driving the taxi difficult, so I pulled onto the
running at idling speed, while ensuring the
"Problem is," Stan explained, "the evacua-
hard shoulder to investigate. Satisfied there
handbrake is firmly applied before moving
tion pipe runs up the top of the gearbox and
was no immediate danger, I plodded on at a
the gear selection lever slowly through each
winds its way between the engine bay bulk-
more sedate pace and things seemed better."
gear position, pausing a while before going
head and the rear of the engine itself, before
With something of a grin and feeling
into the next gear position and then back
then turning downwards and spilling excess
much calmer having since become aware
again so that you end up returning to Park.
fluid directly onto the exhaust pipe - hence
of the cause of his earlier panic, George
Wipe the gearbox dipstick clean as you
making a lot of smoke and that must really
continued his story.
remove it from its tube with a clean, non-fluffy
frays driver's nerves when it happens!"
"I had recently had the cab serviced and it
material such as kitchen roll paper and push
Call Sign suggested that the experience
seems that the automatic gearbox was acci-
the stick all the way home when you return it
could more than fray nerves and that perhaps
dentally over-filled causing pressure to build
into the dipstick tube. Pull it out after a
it could actually scare the hell out of a driver
up internally, which led to excess fluid being
moment and carefully inspect the fluid level
who was unaware of this phenomenon and
leaked out onto the hot exhaust system, hence
on the `hatched' area of the dipstick."
Stan, with something approaching a smile,
the smoke!"
Ending with the obvious, Stan cheerily
readily agreed!
To check things out for the benefit of our
added: "Anyway, it's all on page 59 in the
"The answer is to check the gearbox fluid
readers, Call Sign spoke to Stan, the auto
TX11 Owners Handbook!"
level yourself very carefully indeed, even after
gearbox specialist at Cricklewood Carriers
With grateful thanks to Sheldon Posner and
servicing, although I would expect that the
in NW2. He was familiar with the problem,
Stan at Cricklewood Carriers Ltd
service agent would know what they were
which is apparently peculiar to the TX11. He
doing," he added sombrely, "and always make
explained that the gearbox has a vent pipe
© Call Sign Magazine MM11
sure to check the level when the cab has thor-
that allows excess gear oil to escape when
London taxis voted best in the
world...again!
London's iconic licensed taxis were rated the best (albeit most expensive)
in the world for the fourth year running. They took three times as many
votes as second placed Yellow cabs of New York. The annual survey is
from Hotels.com.
London was placed top in five out of the seven categories including safe-
ty, friendliness, cleanliness, quality of driving and knowledge of the area.
Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore completed the top five cities but
none came anywhere close to London's famous `black' cabs. The sur-
vey showed that although London's taxis are the most expensive,
they're thought to be the best anywhere and that it was our person-
ability and knowledge of London that gave us the edge.
Americans and especially Koreans were our biggest fans with 37% F
or the fo
urth year
of Koreans surveyed voting in favour of talkative, friendly London
running -
we are th
taxi drivers.
e best!
What perhaps the survey doesn't point out is that it costs to be the best...!
