Ask a Shiter

[Albert Ross]

Do vans have to be fitted with commercial tyres? The Ducato needs two new tyres on the front; they're 215/75R16, which is a size that seems to be used on some 4x4s as well. Would I get away with using 4x4 tyres without the "C" marker, or would that be an MoT phail?

 

If it's a Class 4 test, then it may just get advice. IIRC a Class 7 Test would mean a fail, as type of tyre is checked. Be safe, not cheap. It's not like you can hammer a "C" over it for a retest now, is it?

[skattrd]

Am I completely mad to be considering a '200 with a chipped L-series? Something tells me I should run a mile, but it's VERY tempting...

 

No, buy it, buy it now

[cort16]

Does anyone know anything about this generation of Grand Cherokee? I quite fancy it for some v8 lpg powered blezzing around lording it up over lesser (well lower) road vehicles.

This one's done 180k and doesn't seem to have any service history although is sub a grand. I remember that the previous generation Cherokees had potentially disasterous rear diff issues and I read that without regular servicing the engines can suffer from sludging . You do seem to see a lot on ebay with knackered engines but I'm not sure if that's the 4 litre or this one, which has the 4.7v8.

 

[barefoot]

..... I've seen a few instances in which the newer Ducato's can't reverse up a steep slope without the timing belt jumping teeth....

 

I don't understand why that would happen.

Can anyone explain please?

[Richard]

My guess is that the timing belt tensioner relies on oil pressure and reversing up a steep slope takes the oil away from where it needs to be. Apparently bump starting a Transit has the same effect.

[andrew e]

http://www.seered.co.uk/fiat.htm

 

Sevel ducato X250 transmission woes.... In a nutshell the reverse ratio was simply to high a gear. Could potentially slip a belt in extreme cases by revving the bolloxs off the engine to back up hill.

[OwdChina]

Does anyone know anything about this generation of Grand Cherokee? I quite fancy it for some v8 lpg powered blezzing around lording it up over lesser (well lower) road vehicles.

This one's done 180k and doesn't seem to have any service history although is sub a grand. I remember that the previous generation Cherokees had potentially disasterous rear diff issues and I read that without regular servicing the engines can suffer from sludging . You do seem to see a lot on ebay with knackered engines but I'm not sure if that's the 4 litre or this one, which has the 4.7v8.

 

 

 

The 4.7 is fairly good except for a couple of gripes. One of which was exhaust manifold bolts snapping for fun ( just had to drill & extract 3 in mine, Dodge Ram 1500 ) and the other is the positioning of the EGR valve, right at the back of the left bank (changing mine tomorrow). It's a bastard to get at, you can't even see it without a mirror and lying ontop of the engine with your head wedged against the bulkhead aint fun.

Edit: just realized yours may not have the EGR fitted on a 2000.

[trigger]

How do you tell if your car has a DMF fitted?, I've just collected my new car but looking online some had it fitted and some didn't on my year, It does have a strange fuel filler with no cap?.

 

[Lacquer Peel]

I think it's designed to prevent mis-fuelling.

Look for a clutch kit for your car on eBay, that'll give you some idea.

 

You went for a pez powered car in the end?

[red5]

Aye - derv nozzle is wrong size to fit. Allegedly.

[trigger]

You went for a pez powered car in the end?

 

It's a 2.0 TDCi but for some reason has a unleaded sticker on the cap?! Talking about confusing you!

[Minimad5]

More Riva woes:

 

After spending quite a pretty penny on my Riva, i got it running 100% BUT

She now decides to randomly cut out, i have checked everything and can't seem to find the problem.

You could be driving along for hours, and no problem, or minutes and it will cut out - as if the ignition is turned off, as the car does not splutter or cough, just simply cuts out.

 

What do we think it could be guys & girls ?

 

I have tried / changed the following:

Ignition (i thought the contacts inside were failing, so changed the whole lot)

Main relay (The one behind the dash, again for reasons above)

All earth leads & fitted more

Condensor - just incase the "new" one was duff.

Coil - As per condensor.

 

I really like this car, just don't wan't it to become a nightmare, nor do i want to go down the route of fitting a modern engine - Well not just yet anyway, as it takes the car "Out of action" for a wee few weeks.

 

Someone has mentioned carb icing / Fuel evaporation, but i don't think it is either, as simply backing out of drive made it cut-out once, but ran fine for the rest of the day....

[trigger]

Oh hang not DMF! I mean DPF!

[Pillock]

All Fuccus filler pipes are like that Trig, I thought someone had robbed all the caps from the work fleet at first but mine's the same.

If it has a DPF it'll say so on that etis link I facebook'ed you..... for example mine comes up as

 

Engine: 1.6L Duratorq TDCi (110PS) - DV6

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Trans - MTX75

Drive: RHD FWD

Emission: Stage IV + DPF Emissions

Air Conditioning: Dual Zone Auto Temp Control A/C

Territory: (+)"GB"

Paint: Vision

Interior Fabric: New York / Ebony

 

at the top of the page. To save you the bother, I've checked yours and it's a nay

I think it also says [109DPF] somewhere on my V5 too.

[trigger]

Yay! No DPF then! I did look myself and it just said Stage IV emissions, annoyingly I've just found the passenger doors central locking doesn't work so I've got to take it back to the garage on Tuesday, Which is over a hour away, Boo!

[whitevanman]

More Riva woes:

 

After spending quite a pretty penny on my Riva, i got it running 100% BUT

She now decides to randomly cut out, i have checked everything and can't seem to find the problem.

You could be driving along for hours, and no problem, or minutes and it will cut out - as if the ignition is turned off, as the car does not splutter or cough, just simply cuts out.

 

What do we think it could be guys & girls ?

 

I have tried / changed the following:

Ignition (i thought the contacts inside were failing, so changed the whole lot)

Main relay (The one behind the dash, again for reasons above)

All earth leads & fitted more

Condensor - just incase the "new" one was duff.

Coil - As per condensor.

 

I really like this car, just don't wan't it to become a nightmare, nor do i want to go down the route of fitting a modern engine - Well not just yet anyway, as it takes the car "Out of action" for a wee few weeks.

 

Someone has mentioned carb icing / Fuel evaporation, but i don't think it is either, as simply backing out of drive made it cut-out once, but ran fine for the rest of the day....

 

Ignition barrel, or perhaps a dodgy wire from the starter to the switch or fuse box depending on how it is wired up, Cortinas are a nightmare for it in days gone bye

[Minimad5]

Ignition barrel, or perhaps a dodgy wire from the starter to the switch or fuse box depending on how it is wired up, Cortinas are a nightmare for it in days gone bye

 

I've changed the barrel sir (even put switches in place of, to be 100% sure !)

I am starting to think 'Fuse Box', but removing all of the wiring loom tomorrow shall yield some horrors i bet !

[Des]

What about coil terminals, if they're spade types they can be a bugger, doesn't have a little anti run on electric valve on the carb does it?

[Lacquer Peel]

You went for a pez powered car in the end?

 

It's a 2.0 TDCi but for some reason has a unleaded sticker on the cap?! Talking about confusing you!

 

SCRAP IT.

[Lord Sterling]

So far, the KV6 seems fine, its holding its temperature where it should be and running fine. I was told that its not the original engine as that was changed after around 40k, apparently the owners then knew nothing about the problems or recalls or whatever so went out and bought a new engine for about £4k and had it fitted.

 

I really like my current KV6 Sterling a lot, its the comfiest car I've ever owned, fast and holds the road well (it had about £400 of new ball joints top and bottom and new tyres all around mid last year) I really don't want it to go pop like all the others so are there any peventative measures I could take? I was told that sticking some K-seal in would help stop any future head problems, but I have also heard that sticking into a goid engine does nothing and would need to be flushed out.

 

Any ideas/tips.

[DSdriver]

What about coil terminals, if they're spade types they can be a bugger...

 

Yep, I had that this week, then another one loose on the LPG.

Volvo used to cut out for no good reason and it was eventually traced to the fuel pump relay. The trouble with intermittent faults is that they never happen when you are ready with a circuit tester.

[Partridge]

Does the name “Vectra†actually mean anything?

[trigger]

Yeah, It's Spanish for "Bucket of shit".

[Pillock]

Pah, the days of meaningful car names are history! No longer will you dream of holidaying in Cortina, using the extra flexibility of your Quattroporte, or the wonderful noise produced by your Maestro. Or that lass you sent the photos of to Fiesta.

 

Plus it avoids language issues.... I'm told Nova means "won't go" in Spanish? And Toyota would have struggled with the MR2 in France.... M.R.Deux. Merde. Shit.

[Cavcraft]

It's Cheshire for 'fanny magnet'.

[Partridge]

I’m having a right giggle over the replies here, gents.

I actually did manage to find out though that “Vectra†is a type of plastic-no joke.

 

Cavette, I know for a fact that’s a porkie pie, my gf is a Cheshire girl and doesn’t get aroused by Vectras

...well I don’t think she does.

[Partridge]

 

Better hope she gets turned on by Jags then.

 

 

 

 

I think she does, just a little-apart from X-Types In fact, our shared loved of Jags is what brought us together really. (And I do not mean love in a physical way)

[SambaS]

Does this look like a Citroen ZX Carburettor to you?

 

 

The previous owner told me he got it from one, other people say they were all injection. I have no idea.

 

It's fitted to my Samba Cabriolet. It's a Solex.

[Pete-M]

Google brought up this

 

 

Which looks pretty damn similar to me.

[Partridge]

I’ve just done the same. Two votes for yes.