Ask a Shiter

[skattrd]

My Merc c250TD has 2 modes for the autobox, winter and standard. I had it in winter the other day and quite liked the engine staying in a higher gear and keeping the revs down.

Would leaving it in winter mode all the time do any damage to the box? more stress/torque on the box with it  being in a higher gear?

[spike60]

My Merc c250TD has 2 modes for the autobox, winter and standard. I had it in winter the other day and quite liked the engine staying in a higher gear and keeping the revs down.

Would leaving it in winter mode all the time do any damage to the box? more stress/torque on the box with it  being in a higher gear?

This used to be regular question when I used the Merc forum and the answer was no , it's fine. Mind you, that was from the boys who make a living repairing Mercs!

[Luckythirteen]

Ma's TDCi Focus is the same: takes an age to warm up, even if you leave it idling. You can get the gauge to dip if you coast far enough at 70, with the heater on full!

It's a bit freaky if you're used to petrols, or ancient diesels, watching the gauge move about.

[Luckythirteen]

Ma's TDCi Focus is the same: takes an age to warm up, even if you leave it idling. You can get the gauge to dip if you coast far enough at 70, with the heater on full!

It's a bit freaky if you're used to petrols, or ancient diesels, watching the gauge move about.

[M'coli]

Hmmm...even with a new heater matrix and 'stat, the 205 TD's heater was pish. The BX's is better, but there's such a lot of interior to heat up.

[Richard]

Apart from the two C5s every French car I've owned has had a heater that barely takes the chill off when it's cold outside.

[twosmoke300]

Saab heaters are lovely .

[dollywobbler]

Apart from the two C5s every French car I've owned has had a heater that barely takes the chill off when it's cold outside.

 

XM is lovely, with different adjustment for each side. I set it toasty my side when travelling solo, and cold on the passenger side so I can get cool air at face level through the centre vent. 

[Rusty_Rocket]

Pug 106 diesel- heat from the vents 2 minutes after a cold start. And no, I don't have a head gasket problem 

[myglaren]

C5 (HDi) takes a little while to heat up - warm by the time I get to work, four miles.

Xantia, BX, Visa and GS were all fine (once the GS pipes were sorted out)

[twosmoke300]

K series will have steam out of the vents in 30secs

[HH-R]

I'd have thought it would be the higher stressed OMG TURBO INTERCOOLER EGR DPF FAP FAP FAP diseasels that run hotter than the old skool ones. Rover L-Series takes quite a while to heat up too.

 

Am I the only one who keeps the heater off until the engine has warmed up properly?

[saucedoctor]

 

Am I the only one who keeps the heater off until the engine has warmed up properly?

 

Nope. I do that too.

[Craig the Princess]

 

 

Am I the only one who keeps the heater off until the engine has warmed up properly?

 

 

Nope, don't want cold air at me. Except if the screen needs clearing of course.

 

[wuvvum]

Are Proton Satria Neos any good? I quite like the look of them, and I don't think I've ever seen one on the road, which adds to the appeal. They seem worryingly cheap - like under 2 grand for an 08-plate car with 26K on the clock. Does this mean they're rubbish?

[320touring]

Are Proton Satria Neos any good? I quite like the look of them, and I don't think I've ever seen one on the road, which adds to the appeal. They seem worryingly cheap - like under 2 grand for an 08-plate car with 26K on the clock. Does this mean they're rubbish?

TOOOOOOOSAAAAAVVVVVY to the beige courtesy phone please

[HH-R]

We looked at one when someone took a few foot off my 'rents facelift Rover 25 boot.

 

They look pretty good on the outside, and it was mega cheap even 4 years ago for a 2008 car. The interiors look fine but feel REALLY low rent, even cheaper than a facelift Rover 25 Project Drive special. It made a modern Vauxhall interior look like pure quality.

 

Never got to have a go because they couldn't get the alarm/immobiliser off, think it had barely a sniff of interest so the battery was flat as a pancake or the remote key wasn't working.

 

I bet they're not that bad to drive, can only wonder now though!

[Danblez]

Whats the best stuff for feading and treating worn leather bolsters which also need a bit of recolouring. There are that many different products out there I dont know what I need.

 

 

[barefoot]

Tyre repairs.

Elsewhere you may have read that the 944 suffered a punture, a thorn through the sidewall, garage told me the tyre was a goner. I've rplaced it, but when it was removed it was revealed to be less than a year old with a micro hole in the shoulder. Lorry fitter in at the same time told me of a local place with a vulcanising machine who'd be happy to repair it for me.

Is it legal?

Is it dangerous?

Will it be as good/better than new?

Apparently a couple of the local lorry fleets put much work the chaps way.

It seems a shame to chuck away what looks like a new tyre but I don't want it to explode on me while I'm negotiating the Sainsburys parebolica at high speed.

Advice welcomed please.

[Richard]

I believe that sort of repair is only legal on commercial vehicle tyres.

[barefoot]

That might make sense, Anyone any idea why it's rong?

[Richard]

Maybe because commercial tyres have a much stronger and stiffer carcass.

[dave21478]

Granted this was about 12 years ago, but I once borrowed my sisters Volvo 360 GLT  and got a bicycle spoke right through the sidewall of the nearly new left rear. I lurched it to a nearby National Tyres and they said they couldnt repair as they didnt have the equipment, but directed me to a place further away (and swapped the spare on for me FOC) who could vulcanise it.

I left the wheel there, surrounded by lorry tyres, and they worked some kind of magic on it and I collected it that afternoon. No kittens were harmed.

[alf892]

As I understand it sidewall damage can be repaired by the correct process. It tends to be commercial tyres that get repaired because they have a much higher value.

 

I think........certainly used to be the case. Tyre Revivers used to come around every week collecting major repair stuff and then drop it off the following week.

[Andrew353w]

Am I the only one who keeps the heater off until the engine has warmed up properly?

 

No, I also keep the heater off until the gauge rises well off the stop, normally until it's reached 60 deg C. The result is that the engine itself warms up more quickly and when the heater is turned on, it comes on with a WALLOP!  Toasty toes!!!

[barefoot]

Who nose?

 

Dropped it off this morning - it's got to be worth seven & a half quid.

Chap said it was a simple repair in an easy place.

I asked why folk didn't repair tyres & wrote them off instead, he said was just so that they could flog you a new one...

Back this time next week, I'll post pics for you fair people to get a better idea of what's been done.

[chaseracer]

Lambda sensors.

 

OEM Bosch at a not unreasonable £76 all-in, universal Bosch at 54 quid, or Walker universal at thirty-odd sheets: http://www.lambdasensor.com/main/bosch/price.pl?item=0258003130

 

Any difference in the real* world?

 

 

* ...or as close as we ever get 

[andy18s]

Who nose?

 

Dropped it off this morning - it's got to be worth seven & a half quid.

Chap said it was a simple repair in an easy place.

I asked why folk didn't repair tyres & wrote them off instead, he said was just so that they could flog you a new one...

Back this time next week, I'll post pics for you fair people to get a better idea of what's been done.

Tbh a decent fitter wouldn't take a job like this on if there was any doubt about the quality and safety of his work.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Ive got a question. What is the earliest you can tax an untaxed car? I mean, if you want to buy the tax before it starts. Used to be something feeble like 2 days but i'm sure I taxed the Primera at least a week or so before the start of the month when I first put it on the road. I want to tax my 75 before the start of the month, and SORN the primera before the end of the month, so i dont end up paying the DVLA shitehawks for 2 lots of tax over a single month.

[twosmoke300]

What car is the lambda sensor for chaceracer?