Ask a Shiter

[steve_earwig]

It's 7 degrees, according to a duck.. sorry, ADAC ect. This is a bit of a piece of string question - if you live out in the wilds and you need to get to work early in the morning then yes, as soon as. If you only do journeys that can be differed 'til later then meh, as and when.

 

Here in Croatia we have to have winter tyres from November 15th 'til April 15th, no matter how stupidly warm it gets in March.

[Asimo]

12v car bulbs and relays ....what sort of volts can they take until they dont like it?

 

got a add on relay set up for my vw headlights fed direct off the alternator post , popped both dip beams the other night and trying to suss why

Measure the volts at your alternator terminal and compare with voltage at the battery terminal.  

Some alternators sense the voltage at the battery terminal and regulate their output to keep that voltage constant. This means that the voltage at the alternator output terminal WILL be higher than the nominal voltage. How much higher will depend upon the resistance of the connections between the alternator and the battery AND how much electrical load the alternator is seeing.

 

So connect your light feed to the battery terminal, not the alternator terminal. And fit a fuse as close to the feed as possible!!

 

 

Although the bulbs are marked "12V" they are designed for the nominal vehicle voltage which is 13.5ish.

[rainagain]

Getting chilly out, so...

 

Winter tyres - bit early, or get 'em on (since I have them now) ?

 

Have a look at 'all season' tyres, almost as good as a pure winter tyre but can be used all year round. I think their better for our climate overall as they tend to be very good in the wet as well.

[TataBobu]

.. which is 13.5ish.

14.4

[anonymous user]

 

These, yes I know it's an overpriced Nissan something or other in a strange outfit, but I've always quite fancied one (no, I have no idea why either). Apart from the obvious, that they like to rot, are there any other major things to look out for?

[Kiltox]

Just noticed one of the front jacking points on my Tragic is a bit crusty - likely to be a MOT fail I assume?

[Barry Cade]

Just noticed one of the front jacking points on my Tragic is a bit crusty - likely to be a MOT fail I assume?

Only if it's within 30cm of a brake steering or seatbelt mounting point.

[twosmoke300]

Common rot point on tragivarostars ! Last one I did I used 3 sides out of a bit of box section and it fitted perfectly . Much stronger than std too

[twosmoke300]

Within 30cm of front subframe mount I think

[Kiltox]

It's a 53 plate on 206k miles so if that's all I need to deal with I can live with it

[stephen01]

why dress welds that are not being seen? assuming your welding is nice, why?

[steveo3002]

why dress welds that are not being seen? assuming your welding is nice, why?

invisible repair ?  looks like new with some carefull undersealing 

[steve_earwig]

Maybe it's something to do with a rough surface being harder to effectively paint, plus welding producing a small amount of oxidation that needs removing.

 

I often think of the medieval sculptor who didn't bother finishing the back of statues because nobody could see them. "Ah, but God can see everything" they said, before cutting his balls off.

[cort16]

I always think the books a crannies could trap moisture and are hard to get under seal into on an undressed weld. Also it looks cool.

[stephen01]

Airbag light on MOT fail?

[twosmoke300]

Yup

[Kiltox]

Anyone know anything about VW auto boxes?  My 1996 Golf MK3 1.8 auto could use a fluid change I think but doesn't appear to have a dipstick so I assume it's "sealed for life"

[worldofceri]

who came up with Autoshite's strapline 'your motoring is our concern'?

Presumably Autoshite founders and very very very occasional visitors Mr H Sceptre and Electric Leyland.

[scaryoldcortina]

airbag light mysteriously not working at all is only an advise.

[twosmoke300]

1/4 drill bit right through the clocks into the bulb?

[SiC]

Anyone know anything about VW auto boxes? My 1996 Golf MK3 1.8 auto could use a fluid change I think but doesn't appear to have a dipstick so I assume it's "sealed for life"

I don't know the specifics of your golfs auto box, but some autoboxes have their level set by a fill hole. Basically fill it up till it overflows. That Scenic you had was a combined drain and level bolt. Remove the inner part for level, remove the outer part to drain.

 

Given the age, it's probably a bit early for sealed for life nonsense.

[Kiltox]

It's an 01M which aparrently should be "sealed for life" but a lot of Americans change it every 30k.

 

Scared of getting the level wrong so I'm going to enquire at a local auto specialist about the cost first before I have a go

[castros_bro]

Last MK3 1.8 cabriolet auto I had was sealed for life box but the "sump" can be carefully removed and the internal filter changed and then refilled, slowly, via a small capped tube at the front.

 

Talk to these people who explained it all to me (no relation).

 

http://www.ctcarsltd.co.uk/

[Kiltox]

Thank you sir. It's a lovely little car and I'd like to keep it going as long as possible so I'll be very careful with any fluid change

 

At the moment when it is stone cold it will sometimes struggle when you slow down at a roundabout and then pull away again without a full stop - massive clunk back into first. Apart from that it drives great and it's literally only for the first few hundred metres when it's very cold

[DodgeRover]

Airbag light on MOT fail?

Failed bulb - pass and advise, insulation tape over the top might be a piss take though

[egg]

What year is this tyre?

[egg]

further investigation suggests the dates might have been printed on the inside? Similar Kumho powershift on the rear is 2008.

Change the front one on the Mondeo anyway before winter for new ditchfinder?

[DVee8]

In feb this year i fitted a pair of Osram night breaker unlimited to the x-trail.

This afternoon i noticed one had blown,lasting 8 month in normal usage.

Any of you lot had such a short lifespan out of these bulbs?

[Richard]

Yes, because they run quite hot.

[sierraman]

I'd just run those tyres till they are at the limit. So long as it isn't cracked etc wouldn't worry.