Ask a Shiter

[iainrcz]

Heatshrink, will a hair dryer work on it or am I hoping?

 

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[MorrisItalSLX]

Heatshrink, will a hair dryer work on it or am I hoping?

 

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Hairdryers don’t work from my experiences, I use a soldering iron or a lighter/match.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Can anyone identify this MG horn button?

 

 

Preferably provide a picture of the steering wheel it fits?

[bramz7]

Am guessing it's a vts code, I have had two, bought as a spares repair car, fixed it and thrashed it constantly for two years and sold it to someone I work with and still going strong. Issues are manual gearboxes are a bit fragile, and make sure it doesn't throw up abs fault, emissions etc on start up as it is usually related to the abs pump which is difficult and expensive to fix. Great fun though. Easy to work on. Recommended.

That's the one. Thanks for the advice there, being used to old stodge, the performance figures for these things look pretty decent.

[Guest Hooli]

Can anyone see what's wrong with this brake compensator valve? The Audi failed its MOT on "linkage defective and function impaired", so I was expecting to find something obviously broken, but the spring is all there and joined on at both ends, and the valve itself doesn't appear to be seized.

 

IMG_20180804_200219.jpg

 

Here's a picture with flash:

 

IMG_20180804_200316.jpg

 

Other than being rather muddy I couldn't see owt wrong with it. I must be missing something though.

 

 

Also, should this tyre have failed the MOT? Appreciate it's rather worn on the inside edge, but it looks to me like it's >1.6mm over 3/4 of the width of the tyre - unless they've changed the rules on tyres with the new test?

 

IMG_20180804_200751.jpg

Ask the MOT place. Anywhere I've taken cars has always been happy enough to explain the issue with bits. No guessing that way.

[wuvvum]

Aye, probably should have done that at the time - thought it'd be something obvious.  Doubt they'll remember exactly what the issue was now (MOT was a week ago tomorrow) - I can run it back in and ask them to show me but won't have time to do that for another couple of weeks, and if I then need to order bits for it that's going to take even longer.

 

Have the tyres worn unevenly across the circumferential? I.e. is it under 1.6mm elsewhere around it.

Not that I could see.  The car has ABS and I don't think the old boy I bought it off was much of a one for handbrake turns so I can't see why they would have flat spotted.

[Crusty Sills]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but how do you get a Halfords trade card? I've been out of the motor industry many years now and in not sure how I could get one.

[The Moog]

Complete the form online then take it in with headed notepaper, business card or something similar.

 

I got mine as I help* out with my college motor sports department so took my work id that was barely glanced at.

[Stanky]

A long while ago someone on here got a rather natty bracket for mounting spotlights to. From my admittedly hazy memory it was a Mk1 Suzuki swift in that nice blue they did, and the bracket mounted behind the numberplate and was essentially a folded bit of metal with some holes tactically screwed into it.

 

I've trawled ebay for similar and there are loads with a built-in bullbar, but nothing quite like what i remember. Bullbar example:

 

 

But this will look silly on my Celica. Can anyone point my towards something that does the same sort of thing but which doesn't stick out so much?

 

The lights in question are some Rally Giant spots, which have a threaded bolt, so will bolt through the holes at 90 degrees to the number plate.

[Richard]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but how do you get a Halfords trade card? I've been out of the motor industry many years now and in not sure how I could get one.

 

Complete the form online then take it in with headed notepaper, business card or something similar.

 

I got mine as I help* out with my college motor sports department so took my work id that was barely glanced at.

 

I showed the guy my SPA passport and mumbled something about being an electrical/mechanical engineer (which I sort of am), he said "I'll put mechanic" and fetched me a card. All he did was tick a box on the screen, he didn't take any details of my "evidence" or anything, I get the impression that they aren't too fussy.

[steveo3002]

yeah dont seem to be too fussy...make up a letterhead if need be or buisness card and mumble something about making car parts 

[Lacquer Peel]

How much of a reduction do you get with a trade card?

[davehedgehog31]

How much of a reduction do you get with a trade card?

Varies by item type I think.

 

[steveo3002]

you can now login on thier site with your trade card and check prices 

 

aerosols n stuff maybe a quid or two off , own branded bulbs are way cheaper  

[Lacquer Peel]

20% off tools is appealing.

[Tamworthbay]

They seem very variable on issuing trade cards, my local is pretty easy, but the one in Derby is a sod to get one at. So if you don’t have any luck with one try another.

[steveo3002]

11 peice spanner set   rrp £35  trade £24.80

 

ratchet spanner kit rrp £40 trade £38

 

upol etch primer rrp£16.90  trade £14.37

 

p40 filler  rrp £9.50 trade £8.08

 

501 bulb rrp £1 trade 90p...bulbs used to be like 1/3 price

 

36 peice socket set rrp £30 trade £13

 

30 piece votex sockets rrp £70 trade £46

 

still dearer than ebay for most stuff

[Lacquer Peel]

If you need a tool 5 minutes ago it's worthwhile though.

[steveo3002]

can anyone explain gear ratios vs final drive 

 

i kinda get how a close ratio low geared box differs to a taller geared one...but whats the final drive bit about

[jakebullet]

Halfords trade card page says you can be a "Welder / Metal worker". Somewhere I've got a city & guilds certificate in basic snotting. Am I likely to get away with it? Plz note I have zero bullshit my way thru things skills.

[mrbenn]

I changed a complete exhaust from the cat to the back box on my volvo v40 recently.

 

The whole job took me about 5 hours. I wont be doing another one. Ever.

 

But yes, it can be done with axle stands on your driveway.

 

Sorry, only just seen this.

 

Had a look yesterday but wasn't in a place where I could get it on ramps. Took me ages just to change a knackered rubber so, having read your experiences, I'm thinking twice at this point!

[The Moog]

Halfords trade card page says you can be a "Welder / Metal worker". Somewhere I've got a city & guilds certificate in basic snotting. Am I likely to get away with it? Plz note I have zero bullshit my way thru things skills.

Yes

[The Moog]

 

 

A long while ago someone on here got a rather natty bracket for mounting spotlights to. From my admittedly hazy memory it was a Mk1 Suzuki swift in that nice blue they did, and the bracket mounted behind the numberplate and was essentially a folded bit of metal with some holes tactically screwed into it.

 

 

 

.

If it was a swift it would be Matt likes cars.

[hairnet]

Why are old style Italian number plates the wrong way round front to back

[bigfella2]

I got my mate who owns a printing press to knock me up a fake business card saying I was a mobile mechanic.

[CrapCarNerd]

Ok, i've confused myself..... I'm toying with the idea of buying a good second daily/business shite to take the load of my prized (by me) Escort. (5000 limited milage and done about 2000 in 4 months in it)

 

What reliable shite do you guys drive?

 

If you read my other thread about the Nissan Sunny N13 Auto... that was the kind of thing i've been thinking but, naturally, all my loved ones think i'm insane and should buy something that is at least in the 2000s... also i live in London and just learned about that ULEZ thing thats coming in next year so maybe even 06   . So, they're probably right! So i started looking at ebay today at Mercs, Minis etc to see what i could get for £1000 - £1500 and its all spiralling out of control in my head haha.

 

 

I was thinking something Auto as i get board of changing gears in London every 10 seconds but being a musician they want a shed load for insurance so probably cant go over a 1.6. A Golf 1.6 was around £500 a year. I've, seen a couple of really cheap Rover Autos but recently drove past a couple of broken down Rovers in my 1985 1.1 Escort    so not sure about the reliability? 

 

Another scenario is this weekend, i've got gigs all over the place so i've hired a car... this might get old quick but then again it could be cheaper if i don't end up hiring them too much.

 

As you can see... i've confused myself and this video is mostly to blame .... Damn you Quentin Wilson .

 

[outlaw118]

Looking at the possibility that The Alfa may be "going to live on a farm"....

 

So, looking at returning to Volvos, the V70 to be precise.

 

Looked at a few online, and loads of people (sellers) have said about the 2.4 Dizzle "bulletproof" and "255,000 is nothing for one of these" all that kind of shit.

 

Is this true?

 

Possible purchase link for info
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807158467736?make=VOLVO&year-to=2009&price-from=1000&model=V70&sort=sponsored&year-from=2006&radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&price-to=2500&postcode=rm162pt&advertising-location=at_cars&page=2

[Kiltox]

What stops a standard Panda bumper and grille fitting a 100hp?

[davehedgehog31]

What stops a standard Panda bumper and grille fitting a 100hp?

Too small a hammer.

[catsinthewelder]

Incoming ULEZ is going to have an odd effect on old cars in London.  Pre-78 cars are exempt so sightings will probably increase a bit as various shitters, lords of the manor etc bring the old classic into town rather than stump up 25 quid to bring their 20 year old modern* car into the zone.

 

I'm not sure what I would do in your position,  there are a wonderful variety of old cars that are exempt but few that are practical hatchbacks/estates and even less that are affordable.  I can recommend the Renault 12 estate if you can find one in the UK or perhaps a Maxi.