Ask a Shiter

[The Moog]

So HBOl will do both? was odd that it is labelled as a picasso

[Tayne]

Has anyone any advise on getting a stainless steel exhaust made? Very tempted to do this for the Ambassador as it is a keeper, exhausts aren't easily gettable and the exising one is fucked beyond bodgery.

I'd also try your nearest powerflow dealer.

[phil_lihp]

Literally two minutes after I posted that, I stumbled across what could be the perfect solution on Gumtree. I may report back soon.

 

This I will await with interest, I'm paying far too much for a storage unit and a leaky lockup that's too small to work in but have never found a better alternative.

[Bobthebeard]

My 2003 Honda Accord (175,000 miles) has just recently started to use/lose coolant. Only slightly, like half a litre in 1000 miles. No sign of leakage anywhere. Strangely the coolant in the header tank/bottle has also turned from a nice blue to murky brown. Coolant and water pump are both under six months old. No obvious signs of HGF, no oil in water or water in oil etc. No overheating. Nothing, but something has changed( for the worse no doubt.)

Any ideas?

[willswitchengage]

In February when my insurance renewal is due, I will have gained four years NCB. However, I'm thinking of moving to a classic policy that has no interest in NCB (Lancaster insurance).

 

Could I still use this NCB in a few years time should I revert to a normal policy or does it have to be an unbroken period of insurance?

 

Was blue sky thinking and still think there's something wrong that a 23 year old can get insured on a W123 for £200 a year :s - the little Corolla with 4 years NCB is twice that! bizarre

[skattrd]

NCB lasts for 2 years if unused, or it did last time I didn't use mine for a bit. Just make sure you get proof of NCB when your policy expires

[Pillock]

Insurers will usually ask that NCB was last added to in a period ending not more than 2 years ago, so you can go at most 2 years on a classic policy. It's been like that for enough different insurers when I've tried it that I'd say it's usually the case, however it is down to the insurer you go with in two years time - what's your crystal ball looking like?

 

I used to have a "classic" for a year or so, maybe 18 months - then a normal car for a year - then back to a classic just to keep the NCB going.

 

My ex once went too long on a classic but she got a letter from her classic insurer stating that although no NCB was earned, she had not made a claim and the "modern" insurer accepted that and honourned the NCB. Again, that's not a guarantee though.

[willswitchengage]

Cheers, gonna get the calculator and some payslips out now

[M'coli]

The Co-op will honour a NCD for up to 3 years , but don't allow modifications of any sort

[HillmanImp]

I got insured through Adrian Flux recently with a 3 year gap between normal policies. Not all of them will do it but if you speak to a broker they can wangle it.

[spike60]

Privilege recognized my 6 years classic insurance with a Corvette when I went to a non classic Z3, they wanted proof from Towergate my previous insurer though. Dropped the premium from £470 with Admiral to £180 with Privilege. NCB is usually use it or lose it after 2 years.

[meshking]

Slightly new car question (it's a mk1.5 focus) - there is so much condensation on the windows that there must be a leak, but all the carpets are dry. Nothing evident in the boot which appears to be a classic leak point. Any ideas where else to look? The constant wiping is driving me mad!

[brickwall]

Pollen filter screwed up or old?  I overheard that somewhere...

[spike60]

My old Polio steamed up until I replaced the 110k mile old pollen filter.

[meshking]

Ooh, good call. I'll check that out. Thanks!

[The Moog]

Same with current Xsara,  Misty as a moor on an Autumn day, pulled the filter and it was choked up and thick black fluff all over it. Had same symptoms with feeling of damp but no wetness. Now removed the fans blow proper hot air and seems to have started to clear. 

[The Moog]

Xsara is just a hatchback, Xsara Picasso was the popular MPV

After hunting around there doesnt seem to be a manual for the 2.0 auto Xsara on a 51 plate. Can do 1.6, 1.8 Pez and 2.0 Dizzle but not the fancy dan 2000

[Asimo]

Slightly new car question (it's a mk1.5 focus) - there is so much condensation on the windows that there must be a leak, but all the carpets are dry. Nothing evident in the boot which appears to be a classic leak point. Any ideas where else to look? The constant wiping is driving me mad!

Air con/ heater unit, the drain holes block somewhere, Does it have a recirculate/fresh air function stuck on recirculate? Inspect the pollen filter, and its box, full of water/ crud?

[saucedoctor]

Biscuit tin. Loads of holes in the lid. 1/3rd fill it with salt. Leave it in the car when you're not driving it. That should absorb a good bit of damp.

I used a cheapo kitchen roll left on the back seat of the Rover to similar effect after I'd fixed the boot leak, but the interior had yet to dry out fully.

[barefoot]

Opened sack of cat litter wedged behind the front seats.

[face]

What is the problem with a 205GTi, corners and hedges?

 

I often hear it, but have no idea what the deal is.

[ShiteRider]

What is the problem with a 205GTi, corners and hedges? I often hear it, but have no idea what the deal is.

Lift off oversteer. Give in beans into a bend and come of the gas and the back end on them would come around ford capri style.

[SambaS]

Does someone have the link to that page with the list of towns and cities for insurance price comparison, all I remember is my home is the cheapest possible band.... but I am considering moving to Manchester next year with a friend. It would be either that or London and I am quite sure we can't afford to rent in London.

[face]

Lift off oversteer. Give in beans into a bend and come of the gas and the back end on them would come around ford capri style.

 

DRIFTYOSTYLEE

 

*doffs hat*

[Station]

Both my Volvo and Justy have sodden footwells in the front.

I though with the Volvo the rear light clusters were no longer sealed - I sealed them up and they don't leak anymore, but now there's a bit of moisture in the boot, but the driver's footwell is absolutely shittingly soaking. You can splash about in there complete with the puddle like sloshing noise. It's horrible and want to get it sorted ASAP. The passenger side is fine.

 

And surprise, sur-frigging-prise, the Justy has a completely soaking carpet. I've already had the carpet and interior out and it took a week on the radiator to dry it out - I thought this was because I transported an engine and the coolant leaked out. It's back again - and same with Volvo, you can go on a splashy puddle spree if you slam your boots onto the carpet. Rank.

 

Any ideas where this can be coming from on both cars? There's a LOT of water in there, and I suppose we have had a lot of rain?

 

My MR2 also has a wet passenger floor, but I'll come back to that later.

[skattrd]

To try and find where water is coming borrow a mate and hose pipe. Sit in car and get the mate to spray hosepipe around the areas where you think it may be coming in and try and spot the leak.

 

I shall be doing this in one of my motors next week.

[Station]

It's a common problem apparently:

 

 

 

Mine aren't as bad as this, but it's certainly sloshy.

[meshking]

So I pulled the pollen filter just now, soaked through on one end. So I've replaced it and bunged some sealant around the plastic cover, seems like a shonky design tbh. Think I caught it just in time, it was dry down the intake, but the filter was very wet.

 

Many thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[skattrd]

Painting plastic - I'm looking to replace the front bumper on the Storia with a standard one. I haven't bought a replacement bumper yet, but at present it looks like I'll be getting one that is dark red, I need it to be white.

 

I know less about painting than most things, so what's the easiest/best way to change the colour of a large piece of plastic?

My current thought is sand it down to provide a good key and loose some colour. Then spray shit loads of white plastic primer over the top until it looks white.

[Tayne]

 

I know less about painting than most things, 

 

I'm in the same boat, which is why I don't paint myself.

 

I'd at least get a price from a pro.