Ask a Shiter

[drum]

I'm going to replace the clutch fluid on my Santa Fe.

 

Is it just a case of opening the bleed screw and pumping out the old, then refilling the reservoir and bleeding it?

Or should I keep the reservoir topped up until the new fluid runs through?

[gordonbennet]

I usually use a small bore pipe such as screen washer pipe, transparent for obvious reasons, to siphon the reservoir, then top up with fresh fluid and then bleed it out, you end up with a tiny amount of the old in the bottom of the resy but nothing to worry about.

[egg]

Because the hot/cold flap is now worked automatically.

 

 

They've also got a more sophisticated system of being able to adjust fuelling etc based on the ambient air temp

 

Obvious now. Thanks,

 

Google should have been my friend - good summary of it here; http://www.aa1car.com/library/air_temp_sensors.htm 

 

I'm off to clean my MAF out

[Tickman]

On SIC's thread it was mentioned that if you have an exhaust leak it can screw up the emissions on the MOT test.

I am just wondering how, is it only if the car has its own Lambda sensor and it gets confused?

My simple view seems to be if you have a leak then less bad stuff can make it to the end of the exhaust which should be better!

[sierraman]

No some cars have a pre and post o2 sensor. Discrepancies between these causes a problem

[Tickman]

So is it just on cars with O2 sensors?

If it is then that makes actual sense!

[scaryoldcortina]

No, it's because the MOT lambda sensor is in the probe. Exhaust leaks let extra oxygen into the exhaust gas and mess up the measured ratio.

[Tickman]

I always just assumed that all the leak was leaking out.

 

Thank you for explaining such a simple thing

[twosmoke300]

You definitely can't get a friendly mot tester to slightly pressurise the exhaust with a rag during the test to help bring the lambda into line 😜

[steveo3002]

I'm going to replace the clutch fluid on my Santa Fe.

 

Is it just a case of opening the bleed screw and pumping out the old, then refilling the reservoir and bleeding it?

Or should I keep the reservoir topped up until the new fluid runs through?

a trick that works very well is to lower the level in the res , then use a large syringe or new oil can and length of hose to pump the fluid backwards 

[sierraman]

I think I'll have that problem with the Focus at MOT time, EML is on due to a slight exhaust blow, the blow itself shouldn't cause a fail but the emissions might be high as a result. If it's a small hole a tickle with the welder might be in order. Knocked the light out though weeks ago and it hasn't come back on.

[twosmoke300]

Blowing exh shouldn't bring the mil on unless it's manifold or between the two oxygen sensors

[sierraman]

It's between the sensors, possibly the gasket between the cat and manifold. I've a concern the Cat is goosed anyway as it feels a lot slower than the old Focus despite it being the same engine. Could be blocked in addition to having a hole in it. It had a new manifold before I bought it. As you say at the back it would make no difference. Trying to avoid the exhaust replacement, did that on the driveway on the old one, right pain, on a ramp it's a piece of cake.

[dave21478]

What do we know about Mercedes ML320s? yeah, no, apart from them being wanker wagons.

 

Full time 4WD or selectable?

low ratio box or not?

centre diff or a viscous coupling or haldex?

do they need all 4 tyres exactly the same like freelanders or are they more robust? 

Lockable diffs or electronic traction control?

Structural rot issues?

Anything else explodey to watch out for?

 

What sort of MPGs would one expect in normal use from an auto box?

 

 

Permanent four wheel drive.

 

Aye. I have been googling.

Internet sez.....

 

Full time 4wd with open diffs all round. non lockable, but uses traction control to direct power to wheels that have the grip.

They have a low ratio, push-button selector to engage it.

open diffs means tyre size isnt super critical and no VCU to burn out.

No major rot problems, cosmetic rust to door bottoms, rear arches etc. Panel fit is apparently shit as standard.

Relatively simple and possible to keep going with DIY maintenance.

Torsion bars on the front, coils on the rear.

MPGs seem to average mid to high 20s, with more possible on a long run.

 

Im tempted.

[scaryoldcortina]

It's between the sensors, possibly the gasket between the cat and manifold. I've a concern the Cat is goosed anyway as it feels a lot slower than the old Focus despite it being the same engine. Could be blocked in addition to having a hole in it. It had a new manifold before I bought it. As you say at the back it would make no difference. Trying to avoid the exhaust replacement, did that on the driveway on the old one, right pain, on a ramp it's a piece of cake.

 

Partly blocked cats have a habit of causing exhaust blows due to the excess pressure. I even saw one that cracked the weld around the front of the cat!

[forddeliveryboy]

Aye. I have been googling.

Internet sez.....

 

Full time 4wd with open diffs all round. non lockable, but uses traction control to direct power to wheels that have the grip.

They have a low ratio, push-button selector to engage it.

open diffs means tyre size isnt super critical and no VCU to burn out.

No major rot problems, cosmetic rust to door bottoms, rear arches etc. Panel fit is apparently shit as standard.

Relatively simple and possible to keep going with DIY maintenance.

Torsion bars on the front, coils on the rear.

MPGs seem to average mid to high 20s, with more possible on a long run.

 

Im tempted.

 

 

Even my MoT man reckons they're reasonable and there aren't many modern machines he's got a decent word for.

[sierraman]

Partly blocked cats have a habit of causing exhaust blows due to the excess pressure. I even saw one that cracked the weld around the front of the cat!

Could want a new cat then. Fortunately last one I bought was only £45.

[Supernaut]

What national chains that are open on a Saturday do MOTs?

 

Would you trust them?

 

The Bavarian Misery Wagon runs out of MOT on Friday the 9th, I'll be able to take it somewhere on Saturday the 10th...

[Richard]

Most MOT stations are open on Saturday mornings.

 

You can't really say you trust a chain, it all comes down to the individual branch or even tester. Having said that, Lacquer Peel has had good experiences with Halfords.

[The Moog]

My local halfords autocentre are good blokes. They do Saturday MOT and you can book online for £30

[sierraman]

By the same context a lot of independent outfits are cowboys. I think Halfords etc gets its reputation from Kwik Fit etc of the popular image of a greasy looking teenager giving the customer a load of bull shit in the hope of upselling. In Kwik Fit are they actually properly qualified Mechanics or are they tyre fitters?

[Supernaut]

Halfords, of course! There's one nearby. I may see about booking it in ASAP. See if they can do something about the exhaust leak too, or is that a bit ambitious?

 

Bloody ECP quality* back box just won't quite seal properly onto the middle section.

 

 

EDIT: Fuck it. Booked in for 10am this Saturday, with a note asking them to have a wee look at the exhaust leak while they're at it.

[castros_bro]

Rover 25 in turbo diesel flavour looming out of the dawn's pale glow covered in the first frost of winter refused to start. 

 

How much a pain is it to swap all 4 glow plugs assuming their threads were dipped in coppraslip when fitted last?  Is it a lunchtime job or a day off job?   HBOL ordered but not arrived yet.

[sierraman]

Depends on access, should be as easy as doing some plugs. Unless they snap.

[scaryoldcortina]

Access is the issue, no1 glowplug is obscured by the pump and an absolute arse to change.

[Richard]

My experience of glowplugs is that you don't notice when one fails but when a second one goes it's like having a Ford in the 70s.

[Richard]

The one off Wellington Road does, is that your local?

[stephen01]

TITAN SSYN F ECO DT5W-30 - I'm assuming this is a fully synthetic oil, National tyres are doing a oil and filter for my Honda for 45 quid (10% off) as the Honda takes 6 litres and a new filter is 8 quid this seems like a bargain..  

[cort1977]

Even my MoT man reckons they're reasonable and there aren't many modern machines he's got a decent word for.

 

Wife's uncle in Ireland has had one for about 10 years, uses it for all sorts, dragging horse boxes, trailers full of blocks, etc.   It looks knackered but every time I go over there it's still chugging away so think they are pretty tough if you get a good one.   Panel gaps is just US build quality.

[Snipes]

By the same context a lot of independent outfits are cowboys. I think Halfords etc gets its reputation from Kwik Fit etc of the popular image of a greasy looking teenager giving the customer a load of bull shit in the hope of upselling. In Kwik Fit are they actually properly qualified Mechanics or are they tyre fitters?

Depends on the specific circumstances. I worked there years ago and the centre had 3 career k/f blokes, 3 ex-main dealer career mechs and me. That was a good place to work actually.

 

K/f actually have a very decent training programme with a specialist training centre in Derby. I was sent there a couple of times, still on full pay and put up in a local travelodge (or whatever it was).

Can't say from experience but I'd expect any large franchised garage to be no better or worse.

 

What is a rip-off is being quoted £80-per HALFhour for a plumber to fix a leak only to call them back the next day because your bathroom still has a leak!