Just wondered really......wandered round my local shop last night and there was a car, no-one in it, engine running, probably with a turbo timer.

Years ago a policeman gave me rock all for leaving my engine running while I took money from a cash point machine saying it was illegal to leave my vehicle while the engine was running.......

So are these illegal?

Gary

 

Not sure if they are illegal, but most insurance company's don't like you having them fitted, I wanted to put one on mine and my insurance company said no.
Cheers
Colin

 

I always had peolple running upto me to inform me i had left my engine running

 

I guess there is a difference between being left running with the keys in, against without....?

 

it is illegal to leave a car running, unattended. i doubt however that a policeman will string you up for it. not like buggering a heron

 

In which case they are illegal then .....

 

There is no specific legislation banning the actual device therefore it is not illegal, however, leaving your car unattended with the engine running is an offence so you could get done for using one, if that makes sense.

 

So owning one isnt illegal, neither is sitting in the car while one works, but if you get out of the car and leave it then you break the law .....

Thanks thats cleared that up then ......

Gary

 

Correct

They are along similar lines to loads of car mods....

Buying, owning, selling certain items isn't an offence, such as illegal plates, neons, flamers etc, but as soon as you use them on the road or in public, you are open to committing certain offences.

HTH

 

while we on subject of turbo timers
got a toad alarm,lock car,and as soon as the turbo kills engine the doors unlock.
how do i get round that one ?

 

I never understood the point of a turbo timer. In the old days, when Impreza Turbos were reasonably rare, and few people were into modding them, we just sat in the car for a minute before switching off the ignition...

I'll bet those of you with a timer fitted usually stand around the car until the engine shuts down anyway - may as well be sitting inside it!

 

lol thats exactly what i have to do,so i can re-arm the alarm.

 

Your right about insurance. It can invalidate any Thatcham Cat1 and cat2 certification.

 

The only turbo timer I've had was fitted to my old MY00 classic back in 2001.

I'd leave the car with the timer counting down, and lock the door with the keys whilst the engine ran. Then a few minutes later from my house, I'd blip the alarm to arm the system once the timer had shut off. The sigma alarms couldn't be configured to work while the engine was timing down.

Worst case scenario, some chav may smash your windown, thinking your car is running, but as soon as the handbrake is released the engine died. (on the Blitz TT anyway)