Ask a Shiter

[sierraman]

Thought Barum were owned by Continental?

[SiC]

You are correct! A mistake on my part.

[jakebullet]

Where do disco TD5's like to leak coolant from? Bastard thing is pissing me off now. I had an obvious pissing out leak from the gasket on the cylinder head outlet. Fixed that. Then discovered fuel cooler drips under certain conditions, fixed that. Just been on a 400 mile dismal holiday, and the levels gone down an inch. When I stopped at the services and came back it was emitting that hot coolant smell, but no obvious leak. I don't think it's head gasket, or it wouldn't smell?

 

Should I a) snake oil it with k seal, b ) keep driving & hope it gets worse enough to spot, c) replace every bloody pipe and gasket in the hope of fixing it?

[Guest Hooli]

Water pumps were always a favourite on older Discos, I don't know if they carried that heritage* over though.

[M'coli]

Not an actual admission of 'detailing' from me, but it might be an idea to clean two years worth of dead insects off of our motorhome, in particular the "quiff" above the cab. I'm thinking that it will probably need a bit of a steep to soften them up first. What's that stuff that looks like Randy Marsh had just come his mutton over a car and how is it applied?

[mitsisigma01]

Snowfoam ? When I used to do my van once in a blue moon or less I used to soak a towel in a bucket of hot soapy water and spread it over the insect graveyard and let it steep for a while.

[Jazoli]

You can get snowfoam lances off eBay in various configs to fit whatever jetwasher you have, they are 13 quid or so, or 24 with 1 litre of jizz.

[M'coli]

Ah. I don't have a jet washer, we don't even have an outside tap. Snowfoam was the stuff I was thinking of, too, but just couldn't remember the name.

It's not so easy to get a towel to stick to the underside of the quiff either!

[sierraman]

Jetwashers are £39 in lidl at moment.

[mitsisigma01]

And a kitchen tap to hosepipe adapter probably about a fiver ish from homebase

[M'coli]

Spen... spending money...? "Nurse! Nurse! Close the screens, he's having another episode!"

[320touring]

Spen... spending money...? "Nurse! Nurse! Close the screens, he's having another episode!"

Obviously unaware he was suggesting it to a Scot who had moved to Yorkshire, as he felt Scotland was a touch frivolous in the spending dept

[oldcars]

Not an actual admission of 'detailing' from me, but it might be an idea to clean two years worth of dead insects off of our motorhome, in particular the "quiff" above the cab. I'm thinking that it will probably need a bit of a steep to soften them up first. What's that stuff that looks like Randy Marsh had just come his mutton over a car and how is it applied?

I use a pump sprayer for snowfoam. You could also get something like this for doing it.

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/p/-/-/-/-/?553772920&0&cc5_1051&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_7-Czuel3AIVEGwbCh0dVAFsEAQYBCABEgKx8fD_BwE

Connects to OMG HOSEPIPE BAN.

 

This is what i use, had it for years and paid no where near this price for it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PROFESSIONAL-TRADESPRAY-1-5L-PRESSURE-SPRAYER-FOR-CHEMICAL-OILS-W-VITON-SEALS/371296923942?epid=1663417918&hash=item5673057126%3Ag%3ADU4AAOSweW5VUdhc&_sacat=0&_nkw=pump+sprayer+with+viton+seals&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

[davehedgehog31]

I've used the Rovellos before, good tyre.

The tightarse in me settled for these, £150 for four tyres and front wheel alignment, some not too disparaging reviews online. We'll see what they're like... 

 

Still probably over half the car's value. The 405 has good Bridgestone All Season ones, it would be the bad weather steed of choice anyway. 

[Talbot]

Where do disco TD5's like to leak coolant from?

Water pumps are a prime spot, and are a twat to fit (they go in "from the back") Also, have you checked your radiator recently? The shite that buulds up between the aircon condenser and the rad can often cause corrosion pinholes in the front of the rad, which then leak into the built-up shite, so there's no obvious leak.

 

Also, the top hose bleed point is shit (I changed mine for a metal housing) and the two hoses that go off to the heater matrix often chafe on things and have tiny weeps down the back of the block which you can't see.

 

Thankfully, most of these are accessable. The lower hoses (bottom hose, thermostat housing etc) don't tend to leak.

[Eddie Honda]

Spen... spending money...?

You are Arkwright AICMFP.

 

[jakebullet]

Water pumps are a prime spot, and are a twat to fit (they go in "from the back") Also, have you checked your radiator recently? The shite that buulds up between the aircon condenser and the rad can often cause corrosion pinholes in the front of the rad, which then leak into the built-up shite, so there's no obvious leak.

 

Also, the top hose bleed point is shit (I changed mine for a metal housing) and the two hoses that go off to the heater matrix often chafe on things and have tiny weeps down the back of the block which you can't see.

 

Thankfully, most of these are accessable. The lower hoses (bottom hose, thermostat housing etc) don't tend to leak.

 

I've ordered some UV dye and will check these bits thanks. No aircon, so rad should be ok.

 

To add to entertainment I think it's only leaking under certain conditions. Did 250 miles going there & local running about and it went down an inch. Topped it up before driving 150 miles back and it's down only a smidge. Must be when it's heating up or cooling down.

[Rave]

As mentioned on the pushbike thread, I've broken my right humerus and so made my right arm unusable for anything other than very light manipulation, which obviously prevents me from driving any of my cars, since they're all manuals (including the Clio Baccara, which I bought because it had had a manual box conversion!).

 

So since I have trade insurance now I'm wondering if I could buy a sensible badermatic runabout for a bit, with reference to the Indicator Stalk thread to make sure it's on the left. Something sensible like an X300 XJ6 with two months test remaining, perhaps.

 

Is it legal to drive a non-adapted auto with only one functioning arm?

[mitsisigma01]

Tint the windows so the rozzers can't see you driving with one arm

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Are these terrible?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7in-Bluetooth-2-DIN-In-dash-Car-Stereo-Radio-MP5-Player-Dual-Android-Remote-AUX/401552790267?hash=item5d7e6952fb%3Ag%3AwUMAAOSw3pZbA5oT&_sop=15&_sacat=0&_nkw=android+car+stereo&LH_BIN=1&LH_ItemCondition=1000&_from=R40&rt=nc

[rusty_vw_man]

I have water leaking in through the rear hatch seal on my caravelle. 

 

The seal is good (nice and springy and not ripped etc) and visually is making a good seal, but water is an arse and is creeping in anyway.

 

I've cleaned it as it was a bit minging, my head is saying smear Vaseline over the seal now, am I thinking along the right lines, or just being a pervert?? 

[oldcars]

I have water leaking in through the rear hatch seal on my caravelle. 

 

The seal is good (nice and springy and not ripped etc) and visually is making a good seal, but water is an arse and is creeping in anyway.

 

I've cleaned it as it was a bit minging, my head is saying smear Vaseline over the seal now, am I thinking along the right lines, or just being a pervert?? 

I used this stuff to feed the seals, seemed to work and if i apply it every few months stops the leak on the Reliant door.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Nextzett-91480615-Gummi-Pflege-Rubber-Care-Stick/1005414647

[Tickman]

As mentioned on the pushbike thread, I've broken my right humerus and so made my right arm unusable for anything other than very light manipulation, which obviously prevents me from driving any of my cars, since they're all manuals (including the Clio Baccara, which I bought because it had had a manual box conversion!).

 

So since I have trade insurance now I'm wondering if I could buy a sensible badermatic runabout for a bit, with reference to the Indicator Stalk thread to make sure it's on the left. Something sensible like an X300 XJ6 with two months test remaining, perhaps.

 

Is it legal to drive a non-adapted auto with only one functioning arm?

 

With one of these fitted you are in full control of the steering at all times.

 

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/interior-car-accessories/halfords-steering-wheel-handle-knob

 

I used to teach disabled people to drive in an automatic ZX (kind of fits the brief)

The only possible issue you have is the indicators but you could rig up a switch on a lead that you hold in your other hand while steering with the good one.

 

If you do the switch thing then add a horn button as well as that is all you really need in an emergency then you have full use of all required.

[andy18s]

I have water leaking in through the rear hatch seal on my caravelle.

 

The seal is good (nice and springy and not ripped etc) and visually is making a good seal, but water is an arse and is creeping in anyway.

 

I've cleaned it as it was a bit minging, my head is saying smear Vaseline over the seal now, am I thinking along the right lines, or just being a pervert??

There's some Coconut oil for sale over on the Grin thread,looks like it was being used for the same sort of jobs......

[rusty_vw_man]

I used this stuff to feed the seals, seemed to work and if i apply it every few months stops the leak on the Reliant door.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Nextzett-91480615-Gummi-Pflege-Rubber-Care-Stick/1005414647

 

Thanks, looks like the proper tool for the job... cheers

 

There's some Coconut oil for sale over on the Grin thread,looks like it was being used for the same sort of jobs......

 

That looks like a tool for a different job to what I had in mind.... Given they have only used a little though, I wonder if it may not be as an effective lubricant as they were initially hoping.

[kinkersaab]

What's this Princess Diana mobile worth? Out of MOT, the hood leaks a little, that interior. 1.8 20v, manual, drives fine.

It's near Aviemore if anyone wants it.

 

 

 

 

I'd have £150 for it?

[drum]

Polo handbrake adjusters. They're meant to be automatic, but how do they work?

 

I've replaced the cables and put new cylinders on while I was there. Cleaned up all the mechanism but I had to use most of the adjustment at the handle end of the cables to get a decent brake. One side is still pretty crap. I know I should just get new shoes, springs etc. But I'd still like to know how this is meant to self adjust.

[twosmoke300]

The little tapered wedge top right ish drops down and pushes the shoes out

[panhard65]

The little tapered wedge top right ish drops down and pushes the shoes out

It also looks like it is at the end of it's travel so time to replace the lot.

[twosmoke300]

You can get the whole lot , springs , adjusters etc all assembled from vw for not a huge amount of money. Saves so much time and effort.