Ask a Shiter

[Angrydicky]

Probably a question for more SE-based shiters.

 

If I was to A-frame a car through the Dartford Tunnel, what kind of toll charge would I have to pay? Car and trailer? Two cars?

 

Cheers!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Probably a question for more SE-based shiters.

 

If I was to A-frame a car through the Dartford Tunnel, what kind of toll charge would I have to pay? Car and trailer? Two cars?

 

Cheers!

Trailers and caravans are free since the last toll increase so I'd argue it's a trailer !

Otherwise go over after 10 pm when it's free anyway.

[saucedoctor]

I've had a search, but can't find the answer. It's undoubtedly here, so I apologise in advance.

 

Rust Remover: not the converter stuff. I'm after the acidic stuff that burns off the rot and leaves shiny metal. I cannot remember the name of it, but I'm sure it's been mentioned on here before.

 

Thanks all.

[Ratdat]

I've had a search, but can't find the answer. It's undoubtedly here, so I apologise in advance.

 

Rust Remover: not the converter stuff. I'm after the acidic stuff that burns off the rot and leaves shiny metal. I cannot remember the name of it, but I'm sure it's been mentioned on here before.

 

Thanks all.

 

You want Bilt Hamber's DEOX-C for that. 

[saucedoctor]

That's the one! Thanks RatDat, I'll get on to eBay now.

[Ratdat]

You can buy it direct from their website...

 

http://www.bilthamber.com/corrosion-treatments/deox-c

 

or the gel...

 

http://www.bilthamber.com/corrosion-treatments/deox-gel

[Fat_Pirate]

I've foolishly agreed to carry out the MOT repairs on a friend's '95 Polo, which includes a front wishbone bush - the big one at the back, apparently.  Can I just take off the wheel, unbolt the wishbone and bosh on a cheapo replacement wishbone from GSF, rather than arse about with trying to remove/replace said bush?  

 

FANX

[mouseflakes]

I've no idea about Polos, but did just that ^ on my Saxo and it was easy-peasy.

[mouseflakes]

Is it just me or does everyone get Red Diesel bulk delivery adverts appearing on YouTube?

 

What have I been doing to trigger those? Should I stop searching for 'farmyard action' videos?

 

 

And yes, I was listening to a bit of Glen Campbell this evening. Guy's a legend, so shut up.

[DSdriver]

Fat_Pirate: Be prepared for disappointment when GSF sell you the wrong part.

 

Mouseflakes: You are not alone! (apart from liking Glen Campbell that is).

[Lacquer Peel]

I've foolishly agreed to carry out the MOT repairs on a friend's '95 Polo, which includes a front wishbone bush - the big one at the back, apparently. Can I just take off the wheel, unbolt the wishbone and bosh on a cheapo replacement wishbone from GSF, rather than arse about with trying to remove/replace said bush?

 

FANX

The back bushes might be mounted on separate consoles.

 

You can either take the consoles out for access or improvise a tool to press the bushes out in situ.

[cort16]

Boring Insurance Question Alert. I've had trade insurance for the last 3 years but I'm trying to discourage myself from doing hopeless deals (on BMWS) that end up costing me money so am returning to a normal insurance policy. I also think I'd have a war with the bastards on a claim unless you could prove you're selling 90 cars a day.

 

My question is I want an insurance policy I can add another car to at some point without getting massively tiger bummed. I see these multi car policies out their but I think they're for husband and wife type deals not some fanny with 2 cars of his own. If I get a new, new car I might want to hang on to the Avantime, which is still too new for a classic policy but still want the option to keep it.

 

Has anyone any experience of such dealings?

[mat_the_cat]

My experience of the multi-car policies is that you get a discount on the second car, maybe matching your NCB on the first but nothing massive. It actually worked out cheaper with Adrian Flux to mirror my NCB on other policies. What I want is for an insurance company to see that I can't drive more than one car at once, I'm not really bothered about vehicle theft round here so just give me one premium for the whole fleet, based on risk when driving the 'worst' car!

[Richard]

That's how motorcycle insurance worked until the 90s.

 

It's a pity there isn't a private version of trade insurance.

[cort16]

That's how motorcycle insurance worked until the 90s.

 

It's a pity there isn't a private version of trade insurance.

 

That's exactly what I'm looking for. As mat_the_cat said you can only drive one of the bloody things at a time so you think some specialist insurance place would come up with a policy that allowed you to have a pool of 3-4 cars on your policy you could move on and off as you pleased. With the changes to how you tax your car and the MID database this should be feasable.

Most decent trade policies also give you a portal so you can add or remove your own cars so you wouldn't need to get pelted with admin fees for changing things over.

Some limitations on the policy such as no imprezas, m cars, RS Audis etc would be fair enough and would stop it being exploited for high performance drivers. I guess if they can scam you out of as much money as possible on multiple policies this is good for them.

[Mr Lobster]

Wheres the autoshite members map gone? Did it not used to be in the menu bar at the top of the page? Not that it matters but I just noticed it wasn't there.

[Squire_Dawson]

Why do buses and maybe also commercial vehicles have the main speedometer calibrations in kilometres?

[daveb47]

Wheres the autoshite members map gone? Did it not used to be in the menu bar at the top of the page? Not that it matters but I just noticed it wasn't there.

It wasnt updated to run with latest version of board software,so is disabled till an upgrade is available

[wuvvum]

Why do power steering pumps always strain on full lock?  It doesn't seem to matter how shit the car's lock is either - you get the same amount of groaning from a Metrocab as you do from a Delica, which needs full lock to get round the M25.

[twosmoke300]

Because it deadheads the pump. Basically its a hydraulic pump with nowhere to push the oil. It will have a relief valve which will prevent damage by returning oil to the reservoir. Some of the noise you hear will be the valve and the flow of oil, some is by the belt and engine struggling with a pump under full load.

[barefoot]

Anyone else drive cars without using the clutch?

Odd perhaps but I've always done it a bit in every car that I've ever owned, just in case the clutch packed up so I'd know how to do it.

I've only had to drive clutch-less on three separate occasions and my claim to fame/best ever is bringing the t2 home from wherever the cable snapped, swinging it round into the hammer head part of the cul de sac in which I live, bouncing it off the kerb, dropping it into reverse & backing down the road & then the full length of my drive!

[steve_earwig]

Oh yes, although not lately. Ford gearboxes seem to be ok about it but Hillmans object noisily. I once had a Cortina 2.0S that I was always blowing the clutch out of, had to drive that one a few times with no way of disengaging the engine, worst bit is getting stuck in the traffic and having to keep pulling away on the starter motor.

[KruJoe]

In law, am I required to chase up the DVLA when I don't receive an SORN acknowledgement from them?

[HH-R]

I didn't get anything the last time I SORN'd a car online, just the confirmation page that I'd done it. It didn't show up on their website as SORN either, just unlicensed. I still have the confirmation from their website should they decide to be incompetent/shirty about it in the future (highly likely).

[HH-R]

On the power steering question, does it burn out an EPAS pump if you hold it at full lock? I read somewhere that you shouldn't do it and never do, touch wood I've never had the light of death on the dashboard, but it might be b0110cks.

[KruJoe]

I never hold it on full lock as it sounds wrong, like it's straining something... not that yer motoring public would even notice. It makes me cringe. Don't know if it actually does any harm though!

 

 

 

I think they advise you to save/print that SORN confirmation page.

Online is different to by post (which I did). You have to use a paper form when you've just bought the car.

 

So, am I legally responsible for chasing them up when I don't receive an acknowledgement after a paper SORN?

[jonathan_dyane]

On trader's insurance I always thought there was a gentleman's agreement that you don't ever claim...

[Bobthebeard]

On trader's insurance I always thought there was a gentleman's agreement that you don't ever claim...

Isn't that in the small print of every insurance policy? Most of the small print and 'terms and conditions' of insurance policies seem to have been written by Shakespeare IMHO. Lots of words but nothing that actually makes any sense nowadays.

[Asimo]

Anyone else drive cars without using the clutch?

Odd perhaps but I've always done it a bit in every car that I've ever owned

Yes, I started doing it when I had VW beetles, because the clutch action is so awful (and the gearchange pretty good). RWD Fords were always the easiest to drive clutchless with their superb gearboxes, so much feel in the lever and excellant syncromesh.

A useful skill too occasionally: I once recovered my wife's breadvan Polo to a dealer with a broken clutch cable, just a few easy miles, and then the slave cylinder bracket broke on her Rover 414 and I drove that back home from Hampshire somewhere, well over a hundred miles across country (really good gearchange in that Rover)

[Dave_Q]

Boring Insurance Question Alert. I've had trade insurance for the last 3 years but I'm trying to discourage myself from doing hopeless deals (on BMWS) that end up costing me money so am returning to a normal insurance policy. I also think I'd have a war with the bastards on a claim unless you could prove you're selling 90 cars a day.

 

My question is I want an insurance policy I can add another car to at some point without getting massively tiger bummed. I see these multi car policies out their but I think they're for husband and wife type deals not some fanny with 2 cars of his own. If I get a new, new car I might want to hang on to the Avantime, which is still too new for a classic policy but still want the option to keep it.

 

Has anyone any experience of such dealings?

 

No experience of the type of policy you're looking for but be prepared for a fight on your no claims bonus.

 

I changed back to civilian insurance about 18 months ago after a few years on trade, you know that definition of trading that means 'serial chod botherer who changes cars every 3 months without ever making a profit'.

 

At this point I had 5 years no claims. No insurance companies would accept my no claims despite my endless assertions that my trade policy included SDP.

 

Eventually after many many phone calls I found a company who gave me *some* discount with the promise of giving me my full 6 years when I renewed with them. Frankly they were a bunch of charlatans who charged me more than the initial quote for spurious reasons  Luckily their renewal paperwork did state 6 years no claims so I took that away and went with a real company.

 

Anyway, essay over, best of luck!