Ask a Shiter

[Stanky]

OMG mintola with a hole?

 

[DSdriver]

Is this likely to work or burst into flames  

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Battery-Charging-System-Digital-Tester-Load-Drop-Van-Auto-Voltage-100Amp-12V-/262305282267?

Do they do one for cretins like me that just says "Your battery is shagged, get a new one" or "Yup, that's fine  but needs charging"

[The Moog]

Zooming into picture I think it is just funky meter. I was looking for a drop tester, to test couple of the more elderly batteries I have  around 

[Des]

Is this likely to work or burst into flames  

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Battery-Charging-System-Digital-Tester-Load-Drop-Van-Auto-Voltage-100Amp-12V-/262305282267?

 

I recently bought the analogue version of that, does what it oughta, it even stood up to some abuse 'exercising' a couple of batteries, smoked a bit, switch became sticky, the coil distorted and the cables warmed up as they're a bit skinny with thick insulation like petrol station jump leads. Should be a perfectly durable tool if treated respectfully. I've also been impressed lately with a small digital tester that checks capacity by spiritualism, using both tools gives a good indication of bad juju levels.

[Crusty Sills]

I have a problem starting my Beetle. I have a new starter which i have tested and fitted. The problem is it's not starting! I have power from the ignition when tested and power from the battery. I tested it off of the battery in the car with jump leads and it worked but nothing when connected. Any ideas? Could it be an earth issue? Not sure how i check for a bad earth?

[NorthernMonkey]

Is this likely to work or burst into flames

 

 

+

 

 

= It'll be fine. I think.

[andy18s]

I have a problem starting my Beetle. I have a new starter which i have tested and fitted. The problem is it's not starting! I have power from the ignition when tested and power from the battery. I tested it off of the battery in the car with jump leads and it worked but nothing when connected. Any ideas? Could it be an earth issue? Not sure how i check for a bad earth?

Run a jump lead from the battery neg to somewhere on the block as close to the starter as practical....

[Crusty Sills]

After having a play, i can get the starter going by jumping the the constant feed to the ignition terminal. After this I can put the ignition lead on and the starter will start off of the key once or twice then nothing. All this was done with starter dropped off the car and a lead from body of the starter to the floor pan. I iz confused!

[sierraman]

Flashing mil on a diesel is an emission related fault . Usually an egr fault or map/ maf sensor issue . Boost leak maybe ? They love to split a boost hose those

Funnily enough mine threw up the Coil light flashing today then went in LOS. Scanned it and it came up with P0401. EGR was thick with oily shit. Cleaned it out and it's fine again. I wouldn't mind but I only did all this not six months back... it's like going back to the 1950's decoking the fucker every 6 months.

[Frogchod]

Brother in laws wedding or Practical Classics show ?

 

I think I know the answer....

[AlabamaShrimp]

OK so the mobile mechanic came today and thinks my Fiesta over heating issue isn't the head gasket or the water pump as with it all running everything got hot and the can came on but, the heater still blew cold so he thinks blocked heater matrix.

 

We changed the thermostat just in case (tested the old one, works fine) and later I took it out for a drive. Got red hot within a mile, to just under red on the gauge, then dropped down just as before. Heater s ill blew cold till I was almost home when it was warm. That might have been though as the warm water one side of the potential blocked just warmed the rest.

 

So the question is. Could it be the heater blocked? And if it is why is it getting so hot then not? (don't think I have an air lock)

[Guest Hooli]

Heaters can block, I can't see why it'd make the engine overheat though. As far as I know it's not required for the flow around the block/rad. Seen enough cars with a leaky heater bypassed to make me doubt it too.

[twosmoke300]

What shape fiesta ? The sad fish faced one ? If so it's the heater valve on the bulkhead causing the lack of heater but this wouldn't cause overheating . Also if your mobile man didn't know that then get another

[AlabamaShrimp]

You can see the two pipes that come off for the heater and they don't stop the main flow round the engine.

 

Just going to take all the pipes off and stick the hose in and see what comes out.

[Frogchod]

Second time for BIL, this time a russian girl he met on the web......

[AMC Rebel]

Second time for BIL, this time a russian girl he met on the web......

Deffo the wedding then sounds more entertainment potential than paying a stack to look at a few E-Types and polish salesmen.

[AMC Rebel]

Do they do one for cretins like me that just says "Your battery is shagged, get a new one" or "Yup, that's fine  but needs charging"

 

That one has three lights that are marked OK, Weak and Bad - how much more simple do you need ?

 

Zooming into picture I think it is just funky meter. I was looking for a drop tester, to test couple of the more elderly batteries I have  around 

 

I am guessing the air holes are ventilation for a BFO resistor that is there to apply a load - hence it is a drop tester I reckon.

[DSdriver]

I have a problem starting my Beetle. I have a new starter which i have tested and fitted. The problem is it's not starting! I have power from the ignition when tested and power from the battery. I tested it off of the battery in the car with jump leads and it worked but nothing when connected. Any ideas? Could it be an earth issue? Not sure how i check for a bad earth?

Starter solenoid? Old cars tended to have these separate from the starter motor. The solenoid sometimes has a button on the end so you can operate it with a finger.

But on the beetle it looks as though you have to short across the two big terminals with a spanner (held with a rubber glove)

[DSdriver]

That one has three lights that are marked OK, Weak and Bad - how much more simple do you need ?

 

I have a Halfrauds battery charger that has an option switch for sealed or trad batteries. I got that wrong and fused the bloody thing.

[AMC Rebel]

is it legal and or sensible to replace the run flats (205/55/16) on rear of Mrs 95 quids Z4 with normal Michelin pilots i have kicking around 

 

https://www.national.co.uk/information/run-flat-tyres

 

Not illegal as far as I can see - presumably Insurers would want to know, although I also suspect the Z4 was available OEM with conventional tyres.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Help! This stupid Fiesta is driving me mad!

 

In follow up to yesterdays advice that the heater matrix might be blocked I undid the two hoses circled red

 

 

Stuck the water hose in and ran it until clearish

 

Initial water out was a bit browner than the stuff that had come out of the car end of the pipes and had a few, but not loads of these small bits in

 

So water going through, I reattached everything, refilled with antifreeze and went for a drive. Five minutes later and the temp gauge is going up to the N on norm and then drops to just above where it is here

 

All seems good but the inside heater still isn't getting even warm! Water must be going round the system somewhere.

 

Is it the head gasket? But there's no oil in water, water in oil.

Is it the water pump? Relatively new but one of the bolts won't come out and I think it's going to snap. What the he'll is wrong with it?

[dave21478]

I dunno what you disconnected, but you need to undo those two circled yellow to flush out the matrix.

 

[dave21478]

Also, I cant remember how foosties are rigged, but there are two basic systems for hot n cold from a heater.

 

First is two air passages from outside, one straight to the vents and one through the matrix to the vents. Your temperature control on the dash just works a flap which changes between the two. In this system the matrix is always flowing hot water.

 

Second is one air passage through the matrix to the vents and the hot cold control works a tap that shuts off the flow of hot water through the matrix. If its this system, these taps often give grief.

 

Im thinking Fiestas are the first system though.

[dave21478]

Also also, I am retarded, it looks like you undid the right hoses, just further away from the matrix rather than at the bulkhead connections - should be fine.

[omegod]

Any reccomedations for a decent CHEAP battery charger, pref one that can recover fucked batteries, my £9.99 Hilka special has died after 10 yrs of service

[Timewaster]

Maybe try disconnecting those heater hoses again and start the engine.

One side should pump water out to prove that the water is flowing. No?

[AlabamaShrimp]

Also, I cant remember how foosties are rigged, but there are two basic systems for hot n cold from a heater.

 

First is two air passages from outside, one straight to the vents and one through the matrix to the vents. Your temperature control on the dash just works a flap which changes between the two. In this system the matrix is always flowing hot water.

 

Second is one air passage through the matrix to the vents and the hot cold control works a tap that shuts off the flow of hot water through the matrix. If its this system, these taps often give grief.

 

Im thinking Fiestas are the first system though.

Yeah think Mines the first one and the as you can get your hand in I've checked and all the entire stuff is moving as it should.

 

You're right in the first picture but as you guessed I too them off further away as they were easier to reach.

 

Went to the local garage to ask what they thought and he says the header tank on the heater has both he inlet and outlet right next to each other so you don't flush out the actual channels when they're blocked.

He also gave me the number of a bloke that can get the bolt out of the water pump if it snaps.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Maybe try disconnecting those heater hoses again and start the engine.

One side should pump water out to prove that the water is flowing. No?

I might have to if I can't get the water pump out. I'd be worried about running it without the thermostat open so it doesn't run dry.

[DodgeRover]

What about fitting an auxiliary water pump to push water through the heater matrix.

[dave21478]

Yeah think Mines the first one and the as you can get your hand in I've checked and all the entire stuff is moving as it should.

 

You're right in the first picture but as you guessed I too them off further away as they were easier to reach.

 

Went to the local garage to ask what they thought and he says the header tank on the heater has both he inlet and outlet right next to each other so you don't flush out the actual channels when they're blocked.

He also gave me the number of a bloke that can get the bolt out of the water pump if it snaps.

 

Get a bit of pipe and connect the two hoses that go to the matrix together, bypassing it entirely. If this bit of pipe gets hot, your problem is likely the matrix.