Ask a Shiter

[The Moog]

Is a 2001 Saab considered shite?

 

To me it feels like a new car although to most civilians it wont.

 

I don't want to go adding updates in news 24 if it isnt.

[Station]

nothing very exciting then - I'll lob it in the shed just in case

Immobiliser!

[Station]

Where can you get cheap mineral oil from?

It's for my diesel Astra which likes nothing more than slurping cheap unsynthetic before dumping it out of the heavily leaking sump gasket.

[twosmoke300]

Is that key not for an alarm siren ?

[Skizzer]

The tailgate harness of my SD1 has more or less disintegrated, leading to no heated rear window (optional) or number plate light (MOT fail).  I bought Rimmer Brothers' last 'boot harness' a while back but of course it stops at the connector to the knackered bit, so that was a waste of (quite a lot of) money.

 

So my question is, where's a sensible place to buy odd bits of car wiring?  I need various short-ish lengths, 1970s colours and, um, strandage.

 

These guys look promising - http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/66/category/11 - or is there a better plan?

[Skizzer]

OK, I'm guessing that question was too stupid even for the stupid question thread.  Never mind, I'll bung any old car cable in.  My level of caring about it has just dropped off somewhat, as the clutch has now packed in.

[Luckythirteen]

Is a 2001 Saab considered shite?

 

To me it feels like a new car although to most civilians it wont.

 

I don't want to go adding updates in news 24 if it isnt.

I'd think so. It's not a classic, and a dealer wouldn't touch it, so why not?

[twosmoke300]

OK, I'm guessing that question was too stupid even for the stupid question thread. Never mind, I'll bung any old car cable in. My level of caring about it has just dropped off somewhat, as the clutch has now packed in.

And your patience level too it seems . Three hours between your posts .

[Skizzer]

^ No offence meant, just that on reflection it was a fairly pointless question that I could have figured out myself - suggestions still very welcome though.  And the clutch failure has indeed moved the wiring down my list of things to worry about.

[Jazoli]

Where can you get cheap mineral oil from?

It's for my diesel Astra which likes nothing more than slurping cheap unsynthetic before dumping it out of the heavily leaking sump gasket.

 

Home Bargains, BM stores, Asda, eBay etc etc, its everywhere, your local factors should do 5L for about £8

[Pillock]

Is a 2001 Saab considered shite?

 

To me it feels like a new car although to most civilians it wont.

 

I don't want to go adding updates in news 24 if it isnt.

I hope so, I've just been putting updates on there about my 2001 Saab.

[Inspector Morose]

What are the symptoms of the clutch failure Skizzer?

[phil_lihp]

Currently away from home again but I need to change the clutch master cylinder on the 940 soon as the pivot on it which attaches to the pedal has snapped off (my fault) and I need it working reliably.  The swap itself looks to be dead simple but how should I go about ensuring that the system's fully bled?  Not much about it on the web that I have found other than the suggestion that a bleed nipple is located on the slave cylinder to which a brake bleeder can be attached with the brake fluid reservoir open.  

 

What I want to know is, should I 'fill up' the new master cylinder with fluid before attaching it - I can see that getting messy but assume it's otherwise going to introduce a lot of air into the system.  There's no reservoir on the clutch cylinder itself.

[red5]

Where is it fed from? Own reservoir or shared one?

[Skizzer]

What are the symptoms of the clutch failure Skizzer?

 

First time starting up for a few weeks, it released ok and then the pedal went slack.  It comes back up but there's no resistance; the clutch is disengaged.  The master cylinder reservoir is low, so my plan is to top that up with DOT4 and bleed it and see what that does.  There are no obvious leaks at the master cylinder end, haven't yet checked around the slave cylinder.

 

This is presumably a consequence of lack of use, because I AM SHIT AT OLD CARS.

 

Apologies for grumpiness lately.  It's one of those weeks, on various fronts.

[Taff]

OK, I'm guessing that question was too stupid even for the stupid question thread.  Never mind, I'll bung any old car cable in.  My level of caring about it has just dropped off somewhat, as the clutch has now packed in.

 

I always use this lot

 

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

 

they haven't failed me yet and have even taken stuff back when I have ordered in error. Not the cheapest on the web but you pay peanuts etc etc

[Skizzer]

I always use this lot

 

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

 

they haven't failed me yet and have even taken stuff back when I have ordered in error. Not the cheapest on the web but you pay peanuts etc etc

 

Very cool, thank you.  All ze colours in all ze sizes + easy website and a sense check of what cable to use for what = the supplier of choice, better than others I'd found.  Will put an order together over the weekend.  Maybe finally next week is going to be Rover Fixing Week.

[Taff]

Very cool, thank you.  All ze colours in all ze sizes + easy website and a sense check of what cable to use for what = the supplier of choice, better than others I'd found.  Will put an order together over the weekend.  Maybe finally next week is going to be Rover Fixing Week.

 

I've made a couple of looms from scratch using their kit mate, they are very good. I don't even bother shopping around anymore, if it involves sparkyness I go straight to them

[Semi-C]

I always use this lot

 

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

 

they haven't failed me yet and have even taken stuff back when I have ordered in error. Not the cheapest on the web but you pay peanuts etc etc

 

+1  On these fellas.

 

I spent ages yesterday scouring the dusty corners of my spongebag/brain looking for this company's name.

 

"a company that sells wiring products for vehicles.....hmmmmm, if only I could remember their name?"

 

Nice one Taff.

[phil_lihp]

Where is it fed from? Own reservoir or shared one?

 

As far as I know, it's shared with the braking system.  There do seem to be clutch master cylinders available for the 940 which have a reservoir on top but mine does not and I've ensured that the replacement doesn't either on the assumption that they're not compatible.

[Taff]

do we have a "I recommend this company" type thread? A quick search didn't reveal one but it was me searching, so human error is always a large factor.

[BorniteIdentity]

"Upgraded to Weber carb" on every car advert ever.

 

1. Vayburr or Webber?

2. Why is it an upgrade?

3. Do they still make them?

[Richard]

do we have a "I recommend this company" type thread? A quick search didn't reveal one but it was me searching, so human error is always a large factor.

The Limeflower Pages IIRC.

[dave21478]

I always use this lot

 

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

 

they haven't failed me yet and have even taken stuff back when I have ordered in error. Not the cheapest on the web but you pay peanuts etc etc

 

+2 on those guys. Good service.

[Taff]

I've just added them to the Limeflower thing.

 

Which, incidently, is a list of AS-recommended suppliers and not a holistic cure for dysentry

[skattrd]

"Upgraded to Weber carb" on every car advert ever.

 

1. Vayburr or Webber?

2. Why is it an upgrade?

3. Do they still make them?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weber_carburetor

 

 

Weber carburetors are still used extensively in classic and historic racing. They are also supplied as high quality replacements for problematic OEM carburetors

[Coprolalia]

"Upgraded to Weber carb" on every car advert ever.

 

1. Vayburr or Webber?

2. Why is it an upgrade?

3. Do they still make them?

 

What skattrd said. Also:

 

1. I've always said 'Web-ur'. Annoys the pineapple brigade.

2. Other carbs used are more complicated (Pierburg) or harder to get bits/tune (Stromberg/SU/Dellorto/Solex). In theory those carbs from factory may have been better, but they're probably buggered with age. Very few mechanics these days know how to set up a carb. Webers are a piece of piss to get to run, are fairly economical and generally well made.

3. Yes, lots on ebay too. I know http://www.fastroadcars.co.uk/shop/index.php does almost all the bits you'd ever need.

[sierraman]

If a shocker is knocking a bit but not leaking and passes the bounce test is it on borrowed time? Or might it motor on for ages until I have to swap it?

[HH-R]

What's the best thing to clean off polish from black plastics? Thought about using white spirit but not sure if it would damage the paint?

[sierraman]

Methylated spirits the purple coloured stuff.