Ask a Shiter

[worldofceri]

I was the CPC holder for my mates recovery firm for years, other people look at us funny when we refer to:

" Another one of them 5 tonne Transits "

 

Of course, you can get a 5t Transit.  But, you need and O licence for one of those, something many owners are unaware of judging by the lack of a little blue disc in the windscreen of most.

[rainagain]

Looks like I'm going to need a a good length of 10mm copper pipe, its a bit bigger than I initially thought

I is a tube bending ninja. I couldn't make a flare at each end so I soldered on a couple of olives instead.

 

All fitted tonight, I will report back if it splits in a geyser of power steering fluid

[somewhatfoolish]

That's what I was going to add (but took too long about it) - batteries don't like freezing.

 

Perversely, I had a quick Google (I really should stop using that) to see if I could find some figures and was told hot temperatures are far worse. Really? So why do so many more batteries get sold in the winter? Maybe if you live in Death Valley...

 

Oil gets thicker the colder it is which makes starters do more work, putting more strain on the battery and the charging circuit. The cold also reduces the ability of the chemistry in the battery to put out current.

[andy18s]

Approximately. The 60 or 65 is a ratio, it means the sidewall height is 65% of the 185mm width f'rexample. Because you are narrowing the tyre as the aspect gets larger, they almost cancel each other out.

 

185R65 have a sidewall height of 120mm

195R60 have a sidewall height of 117mm

 

What you might want is to increase the aspect ratio without narrowing the tyre, but you might run into clearance issues. And your speedo will read slow, although it probably already reads fast so might not matter.

That's assuming the tyre actually measures 185 across,there's a massive amount of variance between manufacturers..

[GrumpyCat]

Would this fail an MOT?

 

[steveo3002]

dent wont , maybe tape the bumper edge to be sure 

[rainagain]

Just been out for a spin in a colleague's Tuscon, when cold you can engage gears ok, but there is only a small amount of movement in the clutch pedal. Once it heats up you have to push the pedal right to the carpet, even then it is really hard to get it into gear.

 

Anyone want to suggest what is faulty? I'm thinking the pressure plate is failing

[steveo3002]

is it hyd clutch?  might need a bleed /look for leaks on the clyinders

[AMC Rebel]

What's the point of a 3.5 ton recovery vehicle? Surely they only have a tiny payload?

The bloke who recovered my ZT-T back here (the first time) more or less admitted it was overweight.  It was a nearly new Citroen chassis cab with a tilt and slide - single wheel rear axle.

 

Would I need an O licence for a 7.5 tone GVW recovery/beavertail thing if it was just for fun?  I know I'd need CPC if driving even 7.5t for a job - but if it was for collecting my own chod or taking to shows I don't think I do.  I have grandad rights to drive 7.5t (being old enough to be a Grandad).

[rainagain]

is it hyd clutch?  might need a bleed /look for leaks on the clyinders

Sorry meant to say, yes it's a hydraulic clutch and I've checked no leaks

[barefoot]

Woman next door asked me how to get mould off her folding roof - MX5 - I didn't know.

She was steam cleaning it, I didn't know about that either.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The bloke who recovered my ZT-T back here (the first time) more or less admitted it was overweight.  It was a nearly new Citroen chassis cab with a tilt and slide - single wheel rear axle.

 

Would I need an O licence for a 7.5 tone GVW recovery/beavertail thing if it was just for fun?  I know I'd need CPC if driving even 7.5t for a job - but if it was for collecting my own chod or taking to shows I don't think I do.  I have grandad rights to drive 7.5t (being old enough to be a Grandad).

Not if its registered as a private vehicle and taxed as such. You used to have to have " Not for Hire or reward" signs or stickers on the cab doors, . The problem is if you were ever tempted to pick a car up for a mate or weigh in a scrapper not registered to you, You'd have a hard time proving to VOSA that you weren't doing it for profit. There have been cases of VOSA prosecuting people moving their own race/rally cars because they've got a sponsors sticker on them and that makes it business use.

In theory you shouldn't need to use a tacho either.

I haven't worked as a Transport Manager for at least 5 years, so this could all have been superseded !

[rainagain]

Woman next door asked me how to get mould off her folding roof - MX5 - I didn't know.

She was steam cleaning it, I didn't know about that either.

I've heard you should wash it with Milton sterilising tablets, but never having owned a soft top I can't confirm it works

[beko1987]

Is a non working handbrake on light on the dash an MOT fail? Noticed this morning that it doesn't illuminate with the handbrake on, and I really cant be arsed to fix it if it's not a failure item because french...

[steveo3002]

Sorry meant to say, yes it's a hydraulic clutch and I've checked no leaks

rubber hose buldging when warm?

[Kiltox]

Are second hand windscreens a thing?  Might have a grotty old Astra van coming in soon but it will more than likely need a new screen to get through a MOT 

[sierraman]

An acquaintance of mines selling a Mondeo TDCI estate. It's making the usual racket from the tensioner. He wants £400 for it, it's a tidy car by all accounts, it starts and pulls like a train and the clutch is fine so he says. Is replacing the tensioner a pain in the arse on these? I'm tempted if it's not a bad un.

[The Moog]

Is a non working handbrake on light on the dash an MOT fail? Noticed this morning that it doesn't illuminate with the handbrake on, and I really cant be arsed to fix it if it's not a failure item because french...

 

Yes I think it is.  Check for 20 francs stuck in it 

[rainagain]

Are second hand windscreens a thing?  Might have a grotty old Astra van coming in soon but it will more than likely need a new screen to get through a MOT 

I don't think you can easily remove a bonded windscreen without breaking it. You might just be unlucky and find 'it gets hit by a stone on the way to the MOT' once you insure it.

[rainagain]

rubber hose buldging when warm?

Solid line  

[steveo3002]

must have a bit of flexi due to engine movement surley?   i dunno , have you tried bleeding it

[Kiltox]

I don't think you can easily remove a bonded windscreen without breaking it. You might just be unlucky and find 'it gets hit by a stone on the way to the MOT' once you insure it.

Sadly I don't have glass cover

[cort16]

It does sound like a slave or master clutch cylinder issue. Can you pump it up to get pressure?

[Richard]

My C5 had a similar issue. It turned out the cure was to lift the clutch pedal with my toe.

[dave21478]

Are second hand windscreens a thing?  Might have a grotty old Astra van coming in soon but it will more than likely need a new screen to get through a MOT 

You will likely have to go to a breakers and cut it out yourself.

 

I did this with my Escort. I made a thread about it here....

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/20013-swapping-a-bonded-windscreen-success-i-think/

 

I wouldnt really fancy doing it again unless I really had no alternative.

[jonathan_dyane]

Westons Windscreens in Liverpool specialise in secondhand windscreens

[DodgeRover]

Opinions on price chaps.

 

My much loved Almera is due an MOT in about 2 weeks, the exhaust has taken its cue to rot through just before the rear silencer and just by the front flexi. I've taken it in to be looked at and been quoted £400 + VAT for a complete downpipe-back setup including cat which is a bit salty IMHO.

 

I've wobbed up the back of it with exhaust paste but the front bit is going to be a twat to do and won't last long due to it needing to flex.

 

It also needs 4 tyres before christmas so that being the case I'm looking at £600 of work for a £400 car which we've stuck 80k miles on. I'm a bit sad when I think about taking it to see James Brown but at the same time I could get something else in better shape for £600 and just sack this off.

 

thoughts?

4 decent part worns should be do able for £80 fitted, find somewhere else to do the exhaust or just fit the rotten bit, I wouldn't change the cat if it's not broken....

[DodgeRover]

 

Would I need an O licence for a 7.5 tone GVW recovery/beavertail thing if it was just for fun? I know I'd need CPC if driving even 7.5t for a job - but if it was for collecting my own chod or taking to shows I don't think I do. I have grandad rights to drive 7.5t (being old enough to be a Grandad).

Nope no need for an operators licence or tacho if you are using it for your own stuff just remember not for hire or reward.

[drum]

Just been out for a spin in a colleague's Tuscon, when cold you can engage gears ok, but there is only a small amount of movement in the clutch pedal. Once it heats up you have to push the pedal right to the carpet, even then it is really hard to get it into gear.

 

Anyone want to suggest what is faulty? I'm thinking the pressure plate is failing

Coincidentally, I was coming on this thread to ask a very similar question about my Santa Fe.

 

At first I thought it must be low on fluid, but if wasn't. Sometimes the pedal won't fully return which made me think master cylinder, but my main suspicion is the pressure plate. I think it might be a Hyundai thing.

 

I'm contemplating replacing the fluid first to eliminate that before spending lots of dosh.

[AMC Rebel]

 i do think  that  the DVSA   are  'concerned' about the number of shonky  car and nag transporters used 'not for hire  or reward'  but appearing at  events where there is prize money ( and in the case of  some of the banger events 'start money' )  and/or prizes of greater value than a  rosette  ... 

 

 

 

I know there's no logic to it (and no point trying to argue with the DVSA) but if I could prove I'm not gaining anything - eg collectioning for a fellow shiter etc for cost of fuel etc and therefore still losing on the trip it'd be nice to think I'd be OK - but I guess that's not how it really works.  Similarly, the banger racers I knew who were doing it (and certainly the Rally Boys) weren't making anything - they were working other jobs to fund it.