Ask a Shiter

[New POD]

A friend has offered me this 2.2 petrol safrane for £350.

Anyone had one? Is it worth a try?

 

Sent from my G3311 using Tapatalk

You sure he's a friend?

[Bobthebeard]

The Saab 9-5 has decided that it doesn't like the standard sound system any more and just displays 'Radio Code' on the display when the, err, radio is switched on.

I have no code, nor does there seem any way of entering one as pressing any or all of the buttons does nothing. At all.

It was working fine and then it wasn't.

Any ideas peeps?

[Guest Hooli]

I think they are coded to the car so shouldn't ask for a code. I think SiC said that ages ago when he fixed the radio in mine.

 

I'll check WIS when I'm home if no-one has solved it before hand.

[AMC Rebel]

Google says they are paired to the car - apparently can be "re-married" to the car by someone with dealer-style diagnostics. 

[Wingz123]

The Saab 9-5 has decided that it doesn't like the standard sound system any more and just displays 'Radio Code' on the display when the, err, radio is switched on.

I have no code, nor does there seem any way of entering one as pressing any or all of the buttons does nothing. At all.

It was working fine and then it wasn't.

Any ideas peeps?

If it is a GM head unit and I say this with experience of Cavaliers/Astra/Vectra then I believe the volume up and down knob changes the numbers that make up the code you may have to press and hold a number for the four blanks to display. Then one by one enter the numbers.

 

With regards to obtaining a new code - pull the head unit out, get the serial number and there will be someone who can generate a code on Ebay if you search Saab or Vauxhall radio code. Give them the serial number and they’ll message you back with the code. Probably cost you 99p....

 

If it were Renault I could generate you a code from my phone now!

[3VOM]

I'd heard it was 'six fucking litres'

We will be having that on a T shirt soon at this rate.

[Floatylight]

Great thanks, I'll google for a local branch.

Might be able to sell you a Groupon voucher at bargin prices m9, due to having bought voucher then finding all the pipework was fooked...

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[Guest Hooli]

Oh, talk to me Goose....

[Christine]

Can a child own a car and have a V5C in their name ? Sorned  of course

[Tamworthbay]

Can a child own a car and have a V5C in their name ? Sorned  of course

Yes

[Guest Hooli]

You can put them in your dog's name too, be interesting to see plod prove if you had permission to drive though.

[Christine]

Ah Clive,  just remembered !

When i had my hrv mot'd last week , there was a small pile of Capri RS dealer literature/ RS component brochures  put to one side...Left there by a previous owner, to be passed on to the new owner of a 2.8 capri  they mot ,so i had a nosey look through it ..   I can photograph them if you want , though I expect they're all online somewhere ... 

[Christine]

You can put them in your dog's name too, be interesting to see plod prove if you had permission to drive though.

 

Any dog owning a car falling foul of the law  will be investigated by police dogs

[SiC]

Sealed Beam headlights.

 

Can you still get them that are original-ish spec? If so, are they as good as they used to be or worse?

 

Or would I be better off just buying one of the many H4 conversion units that are available now?

 

Why are sealed beam headlights no-longer really available? Surely there must be enough old vehicles left in the world to justify making 7" headlights.

[skattrd]

I'm not sure if they're good/bad or indifferent but I used to get sealed beam lights from Rimmers ... I lived just down the road from them, but they do mail order.

 

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-13H3471A

[dozeydustman]

Sealed Beam headlights.

 

Can you still get them that are original-ish spec? If so, are they as good as they used to be or worse?

 

Why are sealed beam headlights no-longer really available? Surely there must be enough old vehicles left in the world to justify making 7" headlights.

 

 

A decent old-school motor factors have have some knocking about. Only had sealed beams on my Scimitar. inner main beams were fine but outers were about as bright as Toc-H lamps.

 

Personally I'd upgrade to an H4 conversion for everyday use and keep a set of sealed beams or 410 fitting units for shows.

[SiC]

My MGB has sealed beams and the candles in them are pretty pap. But I just put that down to dirty contacts and old bulbs. Or are they all a bit dim compared to modern halogen?

[dozeydustman]

They will be dim compared to halogen. Bit like having the tungsten 410 bulb but you chuck the whole unit when it's dead, so 40W dipped 45w main compared to the 55w (or higher) of halogens. Being pre 1985 you can fit any wattage bulb to the MGB, but if you go higher than 55/60w H4s then you'll need to run the headlamps through a relay if not done so already.

 

Modern street lighting and even the car behind you will swamp out any useful output of 410 bulbs and sealed beams.

[Guest Hooli]

Sealed beams are 45/40w from memory.

 

I see I was beaten to it.

[SiC]

What about 70w/50?

 

I.e. these: https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/headlamp-unit-lucas-sealed-beam-75-50w-with-pilot-rhd-xbc103360.html?assoc=109034

 

It's more for the 1100. One sealed beam is very dead and I don't think the other side is far off either.

[dozeydustman]

That would probably be OK SiC, though make sure the wiring is strong enough for 70w. Looking at 11.5A for both full beams, so you might have to run then through a relay, or replace part of the existing loom with some 15A or higher rated wire.

 

The output of a 70w sealed beam would be the equivalent of 30-35w Halogen, so would still be dimmer. Rule of thumb is halogen gives the same amount of brightness for half the watts.

[SiC]

A new loom will be going in anyway, so will spec the wire to ensure whichever will be suitable and modernise the design. Halogen conversion sets are a fair bit cheaper than the old sealed beam units. However I quite fancy the old school charm of sealed beam. Probably won't be saying that when driving back in the dark.

[Slowsilver]

Sealed Beam headlights.

 

Can you still get them that are original-ish spec? If so, are they as good as they used to be or worse?

 

Or would I be better off just buying one of the many H4 conversion units that are available now?

 

Why are sealed beam headlights no-longer really available? Surely there must be enough old vehicles left in the world to justify making 7" headlights.

 

Despite trying to keep our Maxi reasonably original this is one thing I felt had to be changed.

The standard sealed beam units were still fitted when we bought it and they were worse than useless, making it virtually impossible to drive it safely in the dark.

Replaced with H4 halogen bulb units and massive improvement seen.

Actually used Mini ones, which are widely available and fairly cheap and would also fit your 1100.

They have provision for built-in sidelights but these don't have to be used and can be blanked off with rubber grommets.

[AMC Rebel]

They will be dim compared to halogen. Bit like having the tungsten 410 bulb but you chuck the whole unit when it's dead, so 40W dipped 45w main compared to the 55w (or higher) of halogens. Being pre 1985 you can fit any wattage bulb to the MGB, but if you go higher than 55/60w H4s then you'll need to run the headlamps through a relay if not done so already.

 

Modern street lighting and even the car behind you will swamp out any useful output of 410 bulbs and sealed beams.

 

 

Sealed beams are 45/40w from memory.

 

I see I was beaten to it.

 

 

What about 70w/50?

 

I.e. these: https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/headlamp-unit-lucas-sealed-beam-75-50w-with-pilot-rhd-xbc103360.html?assoc=109034

 

It's more for the 1100. One sealed beam is very dead and I don't think the other side is far off either.

 

My recollection, having lived through all this in the late 70s is that original Lucas, Ring, Osram etc 7 inch sealed beam lights as fitted to my Escorts, Maxi, Cortina etc were 45 dip, 60 main, Like these New old stock ones -

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI-FORD-ESCORT-SEALED-BEAM-HEADLIGHTS-LUCAS-TYPE-FITTING-N-O-S/382554749951?hash=item59120a3bff:g:RNIAAOSwPDBaFY2l

 

Current ones seem to have morphed to 50/70.

 

I replaced my sealed beam units in my 1600E for some 7" 55/60W H4s I found fitted to a car in the scappies - in my memory they were wonderful, but upon being reacquainted with similar in the crying pumpkin (classic Range Rover) recently I thought they were utter shit.

 

For maximum blinding of oncoming traffic you can LED 7" units now as seen fitted to some twatty defenders.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-7-7inch-Headlight-Headlamp-Land-Rover-Classic-Mini-Range-Rover-Jeep-Black-/321660839759

 

Out of stock but you see what I mean.

[Tickman]

When at one of the Scotoshite meets in the Toledo the cars were lined up at the end of the night and my dipped beam lights were not as bright as several others sidelights!

 

I would upgrade if you ever want to drive it at night on anything other than well light local roads.

[gm]

there's a new old stock lucas 7" sealed beam unit in one of my boxes of crap in the garage you can have for postage if it's any use to you ? I think I posted it on here before but suprisingly* had no takers

[Des]

My trailer now has a new master fitted, bled itself from lots of pumping and leaving the handbrake applied overnight, no signs of leaks on the backplates and working very well, so I stupidly looked inside the drums.

 

 

Linings declinings, I did wonder what age this trailer, Escort looking shoes would place it in the age of Dagenhams pinnacle of dustbin production, but when I double checked against internet piccys, they're subtly different, looks like they're early Cortina, fecking things older than myself, anyone recognise them? 9'' drum, I've gambled a tenner on a set already so hopefully I've guessed right.

[nigel bickle]

Or just get those re-lined?

[Guest Hooli]

Loads* left on them. If it's taken this long to get that worn you should have another 20 years in those.

[Sir Snipes]

Would it be Cortina with that 5-stud hub? Maybe p100? Or could they have used different hubs inrelatinon to the brakes?