Ask a Shiter

[HH-R]

What kind of car is it?

[Rusty_Rocket]

Mondeo TDCi I think? 

[Asimo]

Do Reliant three wheelers have a hub cap on the front wheel?

[bub2006]

No to question above

[rainagain]

Mondeo TDCi I think?

Yep, what's the likelihood of the pistons being undamaged? I can get a head for £60 from upullit.

[Pillock]

Might as well take the head off and see, it's not like you're devaluing it.

[cort16]

If it's marked the Pistons then I doubt it matters as long as the Conrod isn't bent and the bearings are okay .

[cort16]

On my panda after driving for a bit the clutch pedal starts to squeak snd creak, then the spring back on the pedal starts to slow down until it won't spring back without a flick from your toe . Once you flick it the clutch works fine.

 

This makes for interesting driving . I've greased the rod that goes from the pedal through the bulk head to the master cylinder .

Any ideas ? It works fine with no squeaking for 10 minutes or so . The fluid looks pretty horrible .

[dave21478]

Does the pedal have a return spring or does it rely on pressure from the clutch pushing back? is the spring missing or broken?

 

Is it a dick to remove the pedal? or at least disconnect the pushrod to the master cylinder to see if the pedal moves freely or if the pivot point binds up.

 

Changing the fluid will do no harm, but probably not much benefit either....it doesnt get heated up like brake components, so even if there is moisture in it, its not a major problem hydraulically. If it works fine otherwise there is probably not air in it.

Check online about bleeding procedures....some cars can be a real hassle.

 

Hydraulic clutches and internal slave cylinder / release bearing units are the work of the devil. What was wrong with a pull cable and a lever through the bellhousing?

[cort16]

Yes there's a big fuck off spring attached to it. I thought it was the spring that was creaking but it seems to be the pushrod going into the cylinder making the noise.

There's a circlip holding the rod to the pedal, which in principle should be easy to get off  but I need to get my fat arse in there first.

 

I'm hoping it's not an HP only component so I can lift one out a scrapper if need be.

[Guest Hooli]

Wild guess, crud in the master cylinder jamming that up as the heat from the engine warms it. That's one of the reasons it does matter if you don't change the clutch fluid. Moisture in the fluid makes the inside of the cylinders go rusty.

[Jerzy Woking]

Why have random keys on my 4 month old laptop stopped working? The g, h, ', @ keys, plus right click will not cut and paste. Do I now face a trip to PCWORLD?

[xtriple]

What's the best/easiest way to clean a fabric roof on the old MX5? It;s green and going... er... green in a few places!

[bub2006]

Does someone on here own a blue and white early sprinter? Looks like a camper conversion. I was passed by it on the a38 this afternoon.

[purplebargeken]

Xtriple, is it lined or is it just the same fabric as the outside.

 

If the same, you can take the floppytop roof off and just jetwash the bastard.

 

Then use Renovo stuff to recolour and waterproof it.

[Pillock]

Why have random keys on my 4 month old laptop stopped working? The g, h, ', @ keys, plus right click will not cut and paste. Do I now face a trip to PCWORLD?

 

You can go to PC World if you like, if it's 4 months old you can have a warranty repair unless you've done something like lob a can of lager on it.

Or, try turning the laptop off and just mashing all the keys as it sounds like you might have one stuck - especially since it's affecting the right click too, they're not related inside the laptop at all so I'm guessing a key being held down is stopping the menu from popping up.

 

(bonus tip: if you have actually spilt something on it, the first sign of that is when you press a key it goes "crunch". If you mash the keyboard first and stop the keys from crunching, they often can't tell......)

 

Given it's under warranty, I wouldn't go pulling the keycaps off to check stuff - the lever mechanisms can be quite fiddly, and if you bust or lose one they'll charge you for the fix. I used to do that, but then again I had a huge tote box full of keyboards to rob new bits off.

[Jerzy Woking]

Thanks Pillock - and I've spilt nothing on it. Switched it off then on again. It then did the "Windows Loading Updates" followed a minute later with the message "unable to install" and then restarting. Three times before it got to the welcome screen. Lucky then my password does not contain any of my missing keys.

 

In view of this I'll take it back as I now think something inside has gone tits up. Bollocks.

[Mike D]

I need to fit a different exhaust to the bug but need to fit a lambda sensor into it somewhere... is it ok to fit to just one header pipe or does it need to see the gas from all 4?

[spike60]

Crumbs are usually what make my laptop keypad go to ratshit. Try tipping it on various sides and running your fingers over the keys. This may no be the problem if you less of a slob than me though.

[Asimo]

Does someone on here own a blue and white early sprinter? Looks like a camper conversion. I was passed by it on the a38 this afternoon.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/24630-83cs-shite-esque-camper-thread-now-with-added-rover/

 

[Jerzy Woking]

Crumbs are usually what make my laptop keypad go to ratshit. Try tipping it on various sides and running your fingers over the keys. This may no be the problem if you less of a slob than me though.

 

Took it back-5 minutes later the know how expert came back and told me it was probably fucked. I will know the prognosis in a few days......

[maxpower]

Anyone know about these "regulatory changes" that prevent my insurance company from continuing to give me free breakdown cover automatically when my renewal is due?

or are they just trying to shaft more money out of me?

[warren t claim]

Anyone know about these "regulatory changes" that prevent my insurance company from continuing to give me free breakdown cover automatically when my renewal is due?

or are they just trying to shaft more money out of me?

I believe they're the next PPI with claim hungry companies.

[BorniteIdentity]

Dehumidifier in Car

 

Having driven the 343 back last week in the pissing rain with the sunroof open, and suspecting the car'd been parked outside for a few days prior to collection, the rear carpets were wet AF.

 

Not wanting to leave it, I parked the car in the garage and got the dehumidifier in it immediately.  It's made an incredible difference to not just the carpet but the whole feel of the car's interior.  The thing is, even a few days later it's still collecting water (approximately 1L every 24 hours at a guess).

 

Is this just moisture from the atmosphere, or is the car still damp? Whatdyafink?

[andy18s]

If the felt under the carpet gets soaking wet then it will need taking out of the car to get it fully dry.

You'll never get it properly dry whilst in the car unfortunately

[The Moog]

Taking the Alfa on track day on Sunday. Top wishbone bush is squeaky. I have a replacement, but will be trying to fit it at Moog in laws 250 miles away.

 

Little bit scared of taking it to bits and not being able to reassemble it in time.

 

If I was to ignore the squeak would kittens and nuns die on a track day?

[DSdriver]

Dehumidifier in Car

 

Having driven the 343 back last week in the pissing rain with the sunroof open, and suspecting the car'd been parked outside for a few days prior to collection, the rear carpets were wet AF.

 

Not wanting to leave it, I parked the car in the garage and got the dehumidifier in it immediately.  It's made an incredible difference to not just the carpet but the whole feel of the car's interior.  The thing is, even a few days later it's still collecting water (approximately 1L every 24 hours at a guess).

 

Is this just moisture from the atmosphere, or is the car still damp? Whatdyafink?

We've got one indoors, house is not called Spring Cottage for nowt. It regularly needs emptying at least once a day even though the walls are much drier. I think I am trying to dehumidify the whole world. A bit like running the aircon in a car with the windows open.

[Asimo]

For best results with dehumidifier in the car put the ventilator control to recirculate or mask off the fresh air inlet so that you are only drying the car and not the world.

The problem, as said above, is wet under the mats - often the carpet has a waterproof membrane on the back so you have got to lift the carpets to get air movement under there to take the moisture to the dehumidifier.

 

If we were having a heat wave the process of drying is much faster but we ain't. I would lift the carpets and this of course means out with the seats. But it is only work, not money, and the best way to inspect what you bought and clean it too.

[Kiltox]

Bottom right corner of this photo with the dodgy looking wires coming from it - what the fuck is it!?

 

[twosmoke300]

Thermocouples - basically glow plugs screwed into the coolant system to speed up warm up times to meet emission regulations .

Tend to only be found on di diesels as their thermal efficiency means they take an age to warm up unless under load