Ask a Shiter

[Eddie Honda]

Mcguard

McGard if you're googling it.

[mitsisigma01]

""Mcguard nuts. Piece of piss to remove with a reverse thread 1/2 socket and a windy gun""

Any southern shiters got any of these I can borrow to do 4 nuts on a Ford focunts please

[Dead_E23]

There must be different types of those McGard wheel nuts - I've just been looking at one I removed from my V70 and it has a swivelly collar to prevent that type of attack.   It's outside diameter is 25mm and it's as hard as a coffin nail - a new, sharp chisel made little impression on one I had to remove by force and I had to use drill bits of increasing diameters to chop the head off it, which was a tiresome job.

 

Despite the impressive hardening on the bolts, the keys are made of stupidly soft pot metal and as soon as you find a tight one you are sunk.  That's not something I would much like to deal with at the side of the road, so I hereby award McGard nuts the certificate of shitness and certify them fit for the bin. 

[SiC]

If you have the wheel nut code or even the remains of the nut key tool you can buy replacements.

[sierraman]

I've got a set of those sockets but they only go up to 19mm, which is slightly too small - next size up seems to be 21mm but I'm concerned that'll be too big as a "normal" 20mm 12-point socket slips straight over the bolt.

The 19mm will do it. Be sure to get it square on to the nut so it gets a proper grip.

[bigfella2]

I'm replacing the engine on a 2004 Peugeot Partner van. Im ditching the hateful.DW8 and putting a 1.9XUD in it.

 

On the exhaust manifold there is this pointless looking thing bolted on. IMG_20181128_150426.jpg

 

What is the point of it? I've seen it on quite a few cars but never really questioned it

You ought to post more pictures of your engine swap, love anything like that.

[DodgeRover]

Question for any BMW geeks out there: can anybody tell me what flavour of locking wheel nut key I need to undo this?

 

IMG_20181202_123029.jpg

 

It's off the Rover 75 but is a BMW fitment. It looks to me like it could be an 051 but then I look at other patterns and think it could be those as well. The locking wheel nut key which came with the car isn't even close - helpfully* that doesn't have a number on it.

 

The alternative is to buy a complete set of keys - 45 quid on the slow boat from China, so not the end of the world but an expense I'd rather avoid if I can.

Loosen all the others and drive in tight circles until it comes undone.

[loserone]

I did this for an hour in my 206.

 

I wasn't quite sick.

[loserone]

And it didn't work.

[w00dy]

Is there any way to cancel a Hastings Direct policy without incurring the £45 cancellation charge? Seems very steep.

[Raff]

To what extent can aging suspension be compensated for by tracking? My front wheels are wearing on the outside edge very noticeably. No other symptoms. Have rotated the wheels for now. Trying to keep spending under control on this particular vehicle.

[mitsisigma01]

If you have the wheel nut code or even the remains of the nut key tool you can buy replacements.

So you can be arse raped by main dealers and for the new chocolate key to do the same again

[xtriple]

I whinged and complained like Billy -ho to Hastings, made every threat in the book and finally, got the cancelation charge waived! They do cancel it but you have to escalate it quite a way.

[loserone]

Can you ask them to change the vehicle to a Tesla, or some other similarly uninsurable vehicle, in order that they choose to offer to cancel the policy for you.

[wuvvum]

If you have the wheel nut code or even the remains of the nut key tool you can buy replacements.

I don't have the nut code sadly.  I have a wheel nut key, which is intact but is the wrong one for the nuts.

 

The rest of the wheel nuts weren't stupidly tight, so I'm hoping that if I can get an adequate grip on the locking nuts with something they'll wind off fairly easily.

[sierraman]

Alternatively few blobs of weld onto a 19mm nut and off it goes.

[Dead_E23]

Welding a nut on sounds worth a go. If I'd had my Aldi inverter welder in those days it would have been worth fishing it out of the shed to save drilling.

If you're not lucky enough to have a super Aldi stick welder to hand, the McGard key features a nice central hole ideal for aligning a drill.

[Ghosty]

Car doesn't idle/misfires when up to temp and at low revs (mutually inclusive conditions).

Is the head warped?

[xkjagnz]

Can you open maintenance free batteries, and if so how? I have several that charge but need a top up

[Tamworthbay]

Can you open maintenance free batteries, and if so how? I have several that charge but need a top up

some have a flat plastic ‘cap’ that goes across all cells that can be prized out. If not then you can carefully drill a hole above each cell and put a grommet in after.

[Guest Hooli]

Car doesn't idle/misfires when up to temp and at low revs (mutually inclusive conditions).

 

Is the head warped?

 

I'd expect signs of OMGHGF if the head was warping. That sounds more ignition/fuelling.

[Ghosty]

I'd expect signs of OMGHGF if the head was warping. That sounds more ignition/fuelling.

It recently did HGF, replaced it.

 

I was thinking fuel.

 

I'm trying to work out whether to flog the Rover or break it. I don't really have the space but the wheels and interior would probably net £300.

[Guest Hooli]

I'd flog it, because otherwise you end up left with half a car you can't sell & can't get anywhere to weigh in.

[Supernaut]

The obvious answer is... ROFFLE.

[Louise2cv]

My friend is looking at a car tonight, but the guy selling says it has no V5, she will have to apply for one. He is a trader and doesn't have the V5 because it was a part exchange... that's not usual surely? He also says she is ok to drive it because its still taxed, which also isn't right is it?

 

I think it sounds dodgy. 

 

What do you guys think? Grab it or RUN AWAY?

[dozeydustman]

My friend is looking at a car tonight, but the guy selling says it has no V5, she will have to apply for one. He is a trader and doesn't have the V5 because it was a part exchange... that's not usual surely? He also says she is ok to drive it because its still taxed, which also isn't right is it?

 

I think it sounds dodgy. 

 

What do you guys think? Grab it or RUN AWAY?

 

 

Personally I'd run away unless I knew the seller personally. A dealer normally has to fill in a section of the V5C to say the car is in the hands of a trader.

[steveo3002]

^certainly tread carefully 

 

the tax thing ...yeah not right but some do it to get home under the radar 

[spike60]

Question for any BMW geeks out there: can anybody tell me what flavour of locking wheel nut key I need to undo this?

 

IMG_20181202_123029.jpg

 

It's off the Rover 75 but is a BMW fitment.  It looks to me like it could be an 051 but then I look at other patterns and think it could be those as well.  The locking wheel nut key which came with the car isn't even close - helpfully* that doesn't have a number on it.

 

The alternative is to buy a complete set of keys - 45 quid on the slow boat from China, so not the end of the world but an expense I'd rather avoid if I can.

The BMW spline type lock keys are about £8 from the BMW dealer, they keep a full set as reference when you bring the car then order the needed one. Next day delivery when I've needed them,

[sierraman]

My friend is looking at a car tonight, but the guy selling says it has no V5, she will have to apply for one. He is a trader and doesn't have the V5 because it was a part exchange... that's not usual surely? He also says she is ok to drive it because its still taxed, which also isn't right is it?

 

I think it sounds dodgy.

 

What do you guys think? Grab it or RUN AWAY?

Possibly got a logbook loan out on it?

[Eddie Honda]

Run like fook.