Ask a Shiter

[Bear]

Mercedes pretty much said 30 years, in that they support cars well into classic territory and the MobiloLife warranty (as such) applied for 30 years. If you kept the car for 30 years. And took it to a dealer for every issue.

 

PSA stop making parts for cars as soon as they can. European guidelines or regulations or something I think were that car manufacturers had to provide parts for 10 years after production ended - but this is clearly either something I misremember, or only applies to mechanical bits as PSA and Renault are buggers for NLA on trim, rubbers, electrical bits and the like.

 

Renault's LeQuement famously said that the New Laguna was designed with components that should last 3 years. I think that he meant the cars should get through the warranty without needing things like wheelbearings (am I right in thinking the Laguna II has combined wheel disc and bearing? I know there was something daft and expensive about them), but of course it came across like planned obsolescence.

 

Most cars seem to be developed on 7 year cycles, with the odd one hanging on for longer. So I think, most manufacturers consider the viable lifespan of a car as a quality appliance to be 7 years, then whoever ends up with it after that is using old tech and not important.

[The Moog]

Are the Ryobi impact drivers any good?

 

I have been asked if I want one as a present. I have got the lithum ion drill and batteries but didn't know if they were up to the job

[rainagain]

  On 09/08/2015 at 16:57, skattrd said:

I just used the metal polish and a cloth to do my headlights. It took hardly any effort and less than 5 minutes. I'd say give whichever you have a go, I doubt you'll make things worse* .... if you do please don't blame me

I used 1200 wet and dry and then t-cut, looked like new. Bit scary after the sandpaper as they looked terrible. Other people recommended that I sand them with the 1200 and then lacquer them afterwards skipping the t-cut step, this apparently also stops them deteriorating so quickly.

[Sigmund Fraud]

C3 Pluriel... Has anyone had one ? Are they as unreliable as people say ?

 

 

I've always liked their quirky styling and versatile roof, and they're now available for shite money !

[panhard65]

  On 15/08/2015 at 11:56, Sigmund Fraud said:

C3 Pluriel... Has anyone had one ? Are they as unreliable as people say ?

 

mixer.jpg

 

I've always liked their quirky styling and versatile roof, and they're now available for shite money !

Yes it was fucking awful. Whatever you do don't get the auto with the stupid flappy gearchange, the poxy thing never knew what gear it wanted to be in. The roof is shit and unlikely to work and a pain in the arse if you take the rails off as there is nowhere to store them in the car. Mine had been a cat c but still made more money breaking it for spares than selling it as a going concern. I love French cars but would avoid the pluriel like the plague

[Pillock]

Well the woman in the picture is clearly lobbing a bit of concrete in the back before she takes hers over the bridge.....

[willswitchengage]

Why are some French numberplates yellow, some white, and some red?

[dave21478]

yellow - old style

white - new style

red - export plates. Temporary registration to drive a new car out of the country.

green - Diplomatic / consul registered car.

[Matt]

So the 200 quid Alto died and has been hastily replaced with... OH GOD, A RENAULT ('04 Clio). I'm just looking through the old MOT's online and back in 2007 the tester put down an advisory that has me totally stumped.

 

"Both front and nearside rear tyre are low on cosmetic tread"

 

Cosmetic tread? Can anyone decipher that? 

[320touring]

  On 15/08/2015 at 21:29, MattLikesCars said:

So the 200 quid Alto died and has been hastily replaced with... OH GOD, A RENAULT ('04 Clio). I'm just looking through the old MOT's online and back in 2007 the tested put down an advisory that has me totally stumped.

 

"Both front and nearside rear tyre are low on cosmetic tread"

 

Can anyone decipher that?

for mot its tread on central 3/4 of tyre that needs to be above 1.6mm

 

stuff on the shoulders can be below that..

[billyboy406v6]

What is a "pineapple" as in VW speak, and I may be a "giffer" how do I confirm/deny this affliction ? thanks, Bill.

[Richard]

Years ago somebody posted a picture of a rat look VW that had a pineapple among the shit on the roof rack. It stood out as being ridiculous even by the standards of rat look roof racks and became Autoshite shorthand for the rat look scene, eventually broadening to the entire VW scene.

[HH-R]

Giffer = 80s/90s car with 12,000 on the clock kept garaged and polished every Sunday, where it is taken to the garden centre for a cuppa before being put back. Reversed out of said garage at 4000 RPM and 2 MPH, then driven at no more than 38 MPH through 20 and 30 zones, topping out at 45 on NSL roads and dual carriageways. Period aftermarket accessories relating to making life easier/saving money installed. Usually wait at side streets until you're 10 yards away then decide to pull out very slowly, totally oblivious.

[Alan_Green]

Question. Why are Hilux Surfs so cheap when 4x4 pickup Hiluxes are so expensive the world over and which Surf is the one to buy?

[dollywobbler]

  On 16/08/2015 at 11:45, Alan_Green said:

Question. Why are Hilux Surfs so cheap when 4x4 pickup Hiluxes are so expensive the world over and which Surf is the one to buy?

 

I think the Surf now has an image problem, being attractive to the sort of people who like far too much jewellery and a stupid, aggressive dog. 2.4s have also gained rather a reputation for being a bit K Series when it comes to coolant. The gaudy interiors on some of them don't help. I'd quite like one.

[Pillock]

Straight out of the autoshite handbook.

 

"Negative point about car. Negative point about car. Negative point about car. Negative point about car. Negative point about car. I'm hunting for one on eBay"

[Sigmund Fraud]

  On 15/08/2015 at 17:09, panhard65 said:

Yes it was fucking awful. Whatever you do don't get the auto with the stupid flappy gearchange, the poxy thing never knew what gear it wanted to be in. The roof is shit and unlikely to work and a pain in the arse if you take the rails off as there is nowhere to store them in the car. Mine had been a cat c but still made more money breaking it for spares than selling it as a going concern. I love French cars but would avoid the pluriel like the plague

 

I've done a bit more homework on them, which confirms that they're a massive world of pain... Build quality that would shame a late-1970s BL worker, pointlessly complex multiplex electrics, poorly engineered roof that leaks like a sieve, asthmatic engines, thoroughly bland driving experience.

 

Naturally, there's already a couple of them on my ebay watchlist...

[billyboy406v6]

  On 16/08/2015 at 11:40, HH-R said:

Giffer = 80s/90s car with 12,000 on the clock kept garaged and polished every Sunday, where it is taken to the garden centre for a cuppa before being put back. Reversed out of said garage at 4000 RPM and 2 MPH, then driven at no more than 38 MPH through 20 and 30 zones, topping out at 45 on NSL roads and dual carriageways. Period aftermarket accessories relating to making life easier/saving money installed. Usually wait at side streets until you're 10 yards away then decide to pull out very slowly, totally oblivious.

Hooray !!!!! I am defo not a giffer,thank fuck for that ! And I also understand what a pineapple is, what a weekend I am having !!

[skattrd]

  On 16/08/2015 at 11:21, billyboy406v6 said:

What is a "pineapple" as in VW speak, and I may be a "giffer" how do I confirm/deny this affliction ? thanks, Bill.

 

Pineapple = scened, see ratluk, slammed, stance, roofrack with assorted crap on it, including possibly a pineapple

Giffer owned cars  may also come with many small dents skillfully* touched up, a tartan blanket and of course a bag of werthers original.

 

Here's a link to a thread you may find useful http://autoshite.com/topic/13953-autoshite-lexicon/

[willswitchengage]

  On 16/08/2015 at 11:45, Alan_Green said:

Question. Why are Hilux Surfs so cheap when 4x4 pickup Hiluxes are so expensive the world over and which Surf is the one to buy?

 

Question. Can all questions from now on begin with the word 'Question'? It just reminds me of that Destiny's Child song.

 

[Lacquer Peel]

Is it possible to do this without the special tools? http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/repair-206/206/info/gb/b--g00a3.htm

[Pillock]

 

 

  On 16/08/2015 at 18:04, willswitchengage said:

Question. Can all questions from now on begin with the word 'Question'? It just reminds me of that Destiny's Child song.

Shoes on my feet, Alf Garnet - I depend on meat.

 

http://www.rathergood.com/alf

[dave21478]

  On 16/08/2015 at 18:18, Lacquer Peel said:

Is it possible to do this without the special tools? http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/repair-206/206/info/gb/b--g00a3.htm

 

I didnt even know there was special tools or a "setting hole" for that.

 

I just used a square tool that fit into the tensioner and wanged it on at "feels about right" tension.

 

The square things I have are a bunch of 3/8" sockets with various square male ends for sump plugs, tensioners etc. Also, iirc in a pinch once I managed to make something from a bit of square bar from a house door handle....or maybe that was a timing belt tensioner somewhere? I forget.

[The Moog]

Rear caliper is sticking on civic. Is it worth rebuilding them or just replacing them?

 

Can get a rebuild kit including pistons for about £40 whereas caliper said are going to be £200

[D Spares & Tyres]

Just free it all off, clean the sliders and piston. Usually works!

[The Moog]

Cheers Tom, will have a look later on in the week.

[stephen01]

  On 15/08/2015 at 19:05, willswitchengage said:

Why are some French numberplates yellow, some white, and some red?

 

was thinking the same the other day, now I know.. 

[Lacquer Peel]

  On 16/08/2015 at 20:20, dave21478 said:

I didnt even know there was special tools or a "setting hole" for that.

 

I just used a square tool that fit into the tensioner and wanged it on at "feels about right" tension.

 

The square things I have are a bunch of 3/8" sockets with various square male ends for sump plugs, tensioners etc. Also, iirc in a pinch once I managed to make something from a bit of square bar from a house door handle....or maybe that was a timing belt tensioner somewhere? I forget.

 

Thanks for that, most of the tensioner is totally invisible on a DW8 Berlingo. I think you can use a 3/8 drive extension to release it, according to the internet.

[Sigmund Fraud]

  On 16/08/2015 at 20:20, dave21478 said:

I didnt even know there was special tools or a "setting hole" for that.

 

I just used a square tool that fit into the tensioner and wanged it on at "feels about right" tension.

 

The square things I have are a bunch of 3/8" sockets with various square male ends for sump plugs, tensioners etc. Also, iirc in a pinch once I managed to make something from a bit of square bar from a house door handle....or maybe that was a timing belt tensioner somewhere? I forget.

 

^ WHS. Just use the 90 degree rule for tension, especially if it's just* an ancillary belt.

[Lacquer Peel]

I forgot how shit PSA cars are to work on at the cambelt end. INNER WING/CHASSIS RAIL Y U HERE?