Ask a Shiter

[Tamworthbay]

Mate at work is having intermittent issues with the ABS light coming on on his 06 Focus. My fault code reader (eBay special) shows no stored codes and it comes and goes apparently. My first thought is a dirty sensor so I have cleaned them all. I also noticed that the speedo twitches from 0 to 5-10mph when the car is cold and stationary. No idea if this is connected or just random weirdness. Any other suggestions?

[twosmoke300]

Give the clocks a thump when it’s misbehaving.

They use the clocks as a can gateway beteeen abs and the engine Ecu .

The clocks are prone to bad joints . Ecu testing or bba reman can repair them for about £150

[sierraman]

Best way of getting this crackle finish plastic stuff off? It’s peeling and soon it’ll look a fucker. Any tips on getting it off without damaging the paint underneath?

[Pillock]

It's a sticker usually, but one that'll have turned brittle. Get it warm and see if you can use some gorilla tape on top to peel it off.

 

Personally I'd be touching up the edges, it usually breaks into 1mm chunks and will take forever

[sierraman]

You are probably right. It’d be one of those jobs you wish you’d never started!

 

Next stupid question, seen pillar drills in ALDI for a piffling £50. I know I’d get the use from one plus £50 isn’t a colossal amount. Any experience of them? Was a toss up between that and the Guild one for £70. But the ALDI is 500W and the Guild is 350W?

[DodgeRover]

Rubbish, not enough power and the belt slips

[sierraman]

What were you drilling?

[DodgeRover]

Wood, I played with the gearing and no matter what you did it was hopeless. Setting up a tensioner pulley would probably help if you were inspired.

They were MDF cabinet doors boring a 22mm hole with a sharp cutter bit.

[Guest Hooli]

I've got one & it's been fine for me. I've used it to helicoil bike parts etc, nothing that strenuous for it though.

[skattrd]

Does anyone else do the multi-car classic/modern insurance like Peter James & Footman James?

[Noel Tidybeard]

Battery question here...

The Honda Accord battery will go almost completely flat if the car is not used for three or maybe four days. Starts fine if used daily ish.

Checking for parasitic drain shows a 37mA drain (constant).

By my reckoning this shouldn't kill a battery in three days surely? The battery is unknown vintage as it came with the recently purchased car. The battery has been flat twice now to my knowledge.

Is the battery just weak?

Will a new battery cure the problem?

 

honda went through a phase of using pissy smoll batteries so its not unheard of to get a flat battery after sitting with radio on

[SiC]

You are probably right. It’d be one of those jobs you wish you’d never started!

 

Next stupid question, seen pillar drills in ALDI for a piffling £50. I know I’d get the use from one plus £50 isn’t a colossal amount. Any experience of them? Was a toss up between that and the Guild one for £70. But the ALDI is 500W and the Guild is 350W?

I've got one. Can't remember if Aldi or Lidl. There is a large amount of wobble on the shaft that is caused by the pressure of the belt on it. At the slowest speed it was the worst, so I ended up using a mid setting.

 

For general hole drilling in both metal and wood it's been absolutely fine. I've even abused it for the odd light pressing out of shafts and small bearings.

[sierraman]

I’m not planning on drilling out a cylinder head on a priceless Maserati Birdcage so it’ll probably do what I need. Comes with a vice as well. For £50 it’s probably worth a risk, if it’s useless I can always wang it back under the 3 year guarantee.

[somewhatfoolish]

Best way of getting this crackle finish plastic stuff off? It’s peeling and soon it’ll look a fucker. Any tips on getting it off without damaging the paint underneath?

Perhaps try a heat gun on a low setting(or risk borrowing the other half's hair dryer?)?

[sierraman]

Cheapest place to get a replacement remote locking thing for a 14 plate BMW 1 series? It’s the type that unlocks as you walk to the car. Keyless entry thing?

[castros_bro]

Part of the crap-in-back-of -garage clearout.  Where is the best/cheapest place to get rid of used tyres? Local council place charges £5 for each.  

[320touring]

Anyone near Bolton that could assist with parts collection please?

[Mally]

I'm a distance away, but if no one else offers I could detour my Hospital visits.............what is it and what do I do with it?

Edit.

Right I know what it is now. Everything I Squirrel away I lose or it goes rusty.

However at your own risk it could be done.

pm if you need me.

[320touring]

Thanks for the offer Mally - will see if someone nearer can assist first:)

[mrbenn]

Anyone got any recommendations for decent battery powered LED lighting? It's for a lockup garage, no mains power.

 

Was thinking of starting by throwing perhaps 4 of these up:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-PUSH-LIGHT-BATTERY-POWERED-MULTI-PURPOSE-CUPBOARD-GARAGE-CARAVAN-UNDER-STAIR/183394454279?hash=item2ab3294b07:g:uVMAAOxyiRlScAAL:rk:10:pf:0

 

Suggestions welcomed.

 

Cheers.

[wuvvum]

Part of the crap-in-back-of -garage clearout.  Where is the best/cheapest place to get rid of used tyres? Local council place charges £5 for each.  

 

[tooSavvy]

^^^ 'Liked' ONLY for shameless *irony, mind...

[sierraman]

Part of the crap-in-back-of -garage clearout. Where is the best/cheapest place to get rid of used tyres? Local council place charges £5 for each.

Find a Kwikies or a National with the gated bit round the used tyre compound and lob them over the gate.

[DodgeRover]

Part of the crap-in-back-of -garage clearout. Where is the best/cheapest place to get rid of used tyres? Local council place charges £5 for each.

Cut them into quarters and drop them in the normal bin.

[mitsisigma01]

Anyone got any recommendations for decent battery powered LED lighting? It's for a lockup garage, no mains power.

 

 

Was thinking of starting by throwing perhaps 4 of these up:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-PUSH-LIGHT-BATTERY-POWERED-MULTI-PURPOSE-CUPBOARD-GARAGE-CARAVAN-UNDER-STAIR/183394454279?hash=item2ab3294b07:g:uVMAAOxyiRlScAAL:rk:10:pf:0

 

Suggestions welcomed.

 

Cheers.

Depends if you want to see past the end of your nose or not !

Screwfix do mini led rechargeable lights that are bright as fk so good for working in dark places !

[mitsisigma01]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/diall-led-rechargeable-led-work-light-10w-12-240v/2587k

[mrbenn]

Thanks for the link! I might get myself one of those.

 

To be honest, I'm after something that gives a bit more of a general bit of light rather than to work with. Even looking at LED rope light type stuff just to add a bit of light but guess this type of thing would be pretty dim:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Rope-Lights-Battery-Operated-Waterproof-50-100-LEDs-String-Remote-Timer/163236437876?hash=item2601a65f74:m:mMYfvrwQp_3uMESnqjIh61w:rk:20:pf:0

[DodgeRover]

What you want is a couple of rolls of self adhesive LED strip, just run it off a spare car battery

[panhard65]

Part of the crap-in-back-of -garage clearout.  Where is the best/cheapest place to get rid of used tyres? Local council place charges £5 for each.  

Ask at the local independent tyre fitters if they will take them. I think most are over a quid a casing. When I moved 7 years ago I had 70 of the buggers to get rid of as you always think they will come in handy one day. Dumped tyres are a real problem and do not biodegrade so sending them to landfill is not the answer.

[Guest Hooli]

Part of the crap-in-back-of -garage clearout.  Where is the best/cheapest place to get rid of used tyres? Local council place charges £5 for each.  

 

Bolt them together in a pile of two, paint them a stupid colour & sell on ebay as hipster planters.