Ask a Shiter

[red5]

Also wait an hour or two after charging as they give off hydrogen when charging and the drop testers spark a bit on contact

 

This. A lot.

 

Ask me how I know. Fairly close to losing sight.

[Dead_E23]

If they're bolts rather than nuts, then nut splitters won't do the job - a sharp chisel and a big hammer would probably be a better choice, or (if there's sufficient access) even the world's cheapest angle grinder would make quick work of a M6 bolt.   Grinders are useful and versatile (but dangerous) tools to have and well worth the money.

[egg]

Thanks, access to the lower one is pretty tight due to the radiator.

 

I might get one of these type of hack saws and slowly saw 'em off!  Conventional hack saw has access issues too.

 

[Rave]

I bought a pair of Toolstation's finest nut splitters for 6 quid or whatever they are a few weeks ago. They weren't advertised as such on the website but came in a Silverline branded packet. I thought the thread seemed a bit rough when I got it the larger one out so prior to use I wound it all the way out and greased it. It then made short work of the job I'd bought it for, a track rod end Nyloc nut. So I'd be inclined to give the cheap ones a go.

[Dead_E23]

Hope you have plenty of patience, as I suspect using a saw like that might take a little while and test it rather severely.   

 

I have an electric reciprocating saw which is quite good for that kind of job because you can get hacksaw blades for it that are flexible and quite long.  As long as you can get the blade into the space with a bit of pressure in the right direction, you just pull the trigger and wait for something to go clonk or the blade to jam and bend (either of which usually indicates some degree of success).   Mine cost £60 or so, but I've had it years and it has come in useful for all kinds of jobs on the house and car that would be a proper pita without it.

[Dave_Q]

Does anyone know the load bay dimensions of a Berlingo multispace with the rear seats removed?

 

Trying to figure out if I could fit my LML star in there without too much hassle

Don't know if anyone has answered this already but you will easily get the Lml in there, in fact you may just about be able to squeeze it in diagonally with the seats just folded and not removed.

 

With the seats removed I have transported a vfr750, fireblade and a bandit 600 in my old Berlingo, (not at the same time) this is with the rear seats removed and the front wheel jammed in the corner behind the passenger seat, bike diagonal.

 

The main watchout is that with no seats in the front wheel of the bike can drop down into the rear footwell and be v.hard to lift out on your own, I used to put a toolbox in the footwell which was just the right height for the wheel to roll on/off of.

[sierraman]

Don't know if anyone's suggested it egg but a imperial socket that's just a fraction smaller than the head hammered on over it.

[egg]

Don't know if anyone's suggested it egg but a imperial socket that's just a fraction smaller than the head hammered on over it.

 

Good idea, however the only imperial set I've got is my dad's precious* favourite set on loan, so better not!

[dozeydustman]

Insurance Black boxes for young drivers - Do they read info from the OBD port, or are they GPS & GSM based? Stepdaughter's theory and practical driving tests are due in the next couple of months, and we'd like to insure her on the Saab and the Corolla when she has. Nowhere will touch the Corolla (1999 model) even with her as a learner, as by all accounts a black box can't be fitted once she's passed her test.

[Shonky]

Insurance Black boxes for young drivers - Do they read info from the OBD port, or are they GPS & GSM based? Stepdaughter's theory and practical driving tests are due in the next couple of months, and we'd like to insure her on the Saab and the Corolla when she has. Nowhere will touch the Corolla (1999 model) even with her as a learner, as by all accounts a black box can't be fitted once she's passed her test.

I have a three-month black box from Admiral, and it just plugs into the cigarette lighter. The unit sits on the floor, under the passenger seat.

 

I'm sure they're GPS based.

[Cavcraft]

Insurance Black boxes for young drivers - Do they read info from the OBD port, or are they GPS & GSM based? Stepdaughter's theory and practical driving tests are due in the next couple of months, and we'd like to insure her on the Saab and the Corolla when she has. Nowhere will touch the Corolla (1999 model) even with her as a learner, as by all accounts a black box can't be fitted once she's passed her test.

 

Say what? My daughter has had one fitted to her Corsa after she passed her test, my son did the same.

[Guest VicN]

Insurance Black boxes for young drivers - Do they read info from the OBD port, or are they GPS & GSM based? Stepdaughter's theory and practical driving tests are due in the next couple of months, and we'd like to insure her on the Saab and the Corolla when she has. Nowhere will touch the Corolla (1999 model) even with her as a learner, as by all accounts a black box can't be fitted once she's passed her test.

My son had one in his 1996 Civic.

 

They just need a power connection.

[dozeydustman]

I have a three-month black box from Admiral, and it just plugs into the cigarette lighter. The unit sits on the floor, under the passenger seat.

 

I'm sure they're GPS based.

 

 

Say what? My daughter has had one fitted to her Corsa after she passed her test, my son did the same.

 

My son had one in his 1996 Civic.

 

They just need a power connection.

 

Wonder why they won't insure stepdaughter on an 18 y/o Corolla, but happy to do so on a 13 y/o Saab then. Thanks for the info though guys.

[rantingYoof]

Anyone else having trouble with the Uploader? It keeps freezing and crashing for every pic I upload; a bar appears at the top and I have to 'stop' the function before the page comes back.

 

Sorry if covered elsewhere!

[Eddie Honda]

Wonder why they won't insure stepdaughter on an 18 y/o Corolla, but happy to do so on a 13 y/o Saab then. Thanks for the info though guys.

 

Because the some insurance gods don't like anything over a certain age.

[clayts450]

Anyone else having trouble with the Uploader? It keeps freezing and crashing for every pic I upload; a bar appears at the top and I have to 'stop' the function before the page comes back.

 

Sorry if covered elsewhere!

 

[Guest Hooli]

Thanks, access to the lower one is pretty tight due to the radiator.

 

I might get one of these type of hack saws and slowly saw 'em off!  Conventional hack saw has access issues too.

 

 

I used a job like that as the perfect justification to buy a dremel.

[Simonsays]

Can any Volvo fan tell me what this switch does?

 

I'm guessing it's alarm related?

[The Moog]

Can any Volvo fan tell me what this switch does?

 

I'm guessing it's alarm related?

Turns off ultrasounics in car if leftdogs/old people inside

[Simonsays]

Turns off ultrasounics in car if leftdogs/old people inside

Cheers!

 

Ultrasonics off if the switch is illuminated?

[oldcars]

Can any Volvo fan tell me what this switch does?

 

I'm guessing it's alarm related?

Direct hotline to the SVM.

[Guest Hooli]

Can any Volvo fan tell me what this switch does?

 

I'm guessing it's alarm related?

 

Beam me up Scotchy

[Simonsays]

Beam me up Scotchy

I'll get Q to wire it to the ejector seat

[sierraman]

Can any Volvo fan tell me what this switch does?

 

I'm guessing it's alarm related?

It gets rid of smelly farts if you press it.

[loserone]

How closely related are the nubira and the cavelier?

[cort16]

My dad has a 2004 Toyota verso d4 diesel direct injection , which now won’t start . If he gives it a sniff of easy start then it’ll start up and run perfectly . He’s completed journeys of 30 miles miles with no issues once it’s running . Once hot it’ll start okay. It sounds like glow plugs to me any other opinions?

He says it’s got harder to start and now it won’t go at all .

 

He wants to change It in the next few months as they’ve had it for 12 years so doesn’t want to spend much on it.

I guess if they’ve never been changed they’d be a war to

Get out?

[dave21478]

My dad has a 2004 Toyota verso d4 diesel direct injection , which now won’t start . If he gives it a sniff of easy start then it’ll start up and run perfectly . He’s completed journeys of 30 miles miles with no issues once it’s running . Once hot it’ll start okay. It sounds like glow plugs to me any other opinions?

He says it’s got harder to start and now it won’t go at all .

 

He wants to change It in the next few months as they’ve had it for 12 years so doesn’t want to spend much on it.

I guess if they’ve never been changed they’d be a war to

Get out?

 

Direct injection should start without glow plugs at all, albeit with a little more cranking than usual.

 

Completely different engine etc, but the last diesel I had problems with needing easystart from cold but ok hot ultimately needed an injection pump rebuild.

 

Check the obvious/cheap stuff first - no harm having the plugs out and checking them with jump leads and a battery, but perhaps dont get your hopes up.

[dave21478]

How closely related are the nubira and the cavelier?

Not Very.

 

It was the Nexia that used mkII Astra shells with minor cosmetic differences and many parts were interchangeable, but I think the Nubira was only loosely based on the Cavalier platform and not much was swappable between them.

 

 

EDIT - CANCEL ALL THAT. The Nubira was their own build and nowt to do with the cav - it was the old Espero that was on the mkII cav platform.

[cort16]

Direct injection should start without glow plugs at all, albeit with a little more cranking than usual.

 

Completely different engine etc, but the last diesel I had problems with needing easystart from cold but ok hot ultimately needed an injection pump rebuild.

 

Check the obvious/cheap stuff first - no harm having the plugs out and checking them with jump leads and a battery, but perhaps dont get your hopes up.

Thanks. He has had it to a garage who told him they couldn’t find anything obvious and he was going have to start spending ££ to try to fix it hence why he’s living with easy start . It’s a shame as it’ll likely get binned when he gets a new car if it does need a pump. This is the first real problem they’ve had with it.

[Kiltox]

What’s the going rate to have a set of brake pads fitted at a garage?

 

For the van like. Parts are £22 from ECP so they’re not some unobtainium shit