Ask a Shiter

[Doctormop]

@Doctormop - there's a technical dodge that means you can get more overall floor length out of a drawbar, than artic. So they're attractive to hauliers who need sheer volume. But, they're not popular in quite a lot of depots, due to the through-loading issue, and double deckers and the new 50' trailers can do what they do anyway.

I know Eddie's Go-karts have quite a few, as do the likes of UK Mail. I miss driving them; you can fling them about. Top fun.

 

I recommend Goodyear wipers if you can get them. Got mine from Costco for about £20, but they haven't had them since, and they're not normally that cheap! Bloody good blades on them, if the black paint's a bit flaky here and there after about a year.

 

Thanks C.J, it was one or two Bostart's "Road Train" combos that got me thinking there were more about than there used to be, just made me think of the British Transport films of the 50's when every wagon seemed to be a drawbar affair and helped me lapse into the nostalgic world that I seem to spend more and more of my waking hours visiting.

[Mike D]

Cort16 has my first suggestion!

 

I'll try my live data on it to see what the fuel pressure is doing, It was running ok so don't think it's the turbo...

 

Thanks Gents

[M'coli]

Cheers Pete - there's an engine management system as it's the JTD engine, so... I'll stick it on charge when I get in from work tomorrow morning.

 

It'll just go into learn mode, it'll be a bit lumpy and weak for a few miles. Just drive normally and it'll pick up and be fine.

When you bung the charger on, make sure you've got a door open or a window down. I've had one car (I'm thinking it was my Audi 90?) that when I bunged a charged battery on, it locked all the doors. With the keys inside. And the alarm going.

Thanks. Prior to charging it, I locked the door, took the key out, placed the battery on the coffee table in the porch and hooked it up to the battery charger... There isn't much room in the engine bay around the +ve terminal so taking the battery out was the most convenient.

[nigel bickle]

So, I've a 1966 Datsun shortly wanting an MOT-and I've a problem with the (clap hand) wipers.

 

Essentially the spindles seized & burnt the motor out. I've replaced the motor. freed & greased the linkages, &tried to repair the spindles- but they are borked.

 

Natch, they are a bit peculiar, but found a 60's Fiat one which I've adapted successfully for the drivers side- but not yet managed to trace a second (bummeras I remember binning one a few months back!).

 

So-my question essentially. With no wiper blade/arm,spindle or linkage on the passenger side- can it pass a ticket?

[KruJoe]

At a guess - yes. Await confirmation from MOT bod.

 

Good to see the Yugo 313 in your sig, Nigel!

 

 

My Q: Does filler shrink when it hardens?

[Wilko220]

Anyone got any views on / experience of tyres manufactured by the company "Event"?

[Partridge]

Yup, my 45 had some on when I got it. They had plenty of tread left and were shit. The grip wasn’t great and it was borderline dangerous in the wet. I read reviews and found other people were saying the same thing. I ditched some and put some part worn P-Zeros on (until I got some alloys) and they were much, much better.

Avoid at all costs.

[cort16]

My Astra coupe plus £350 for a 51 Plate Nissan X-Trail Petrol Automatic with the EML light on.

I've not got a lot of knowledge of these although I can't think the pez automatic is going to all that desirable plus I bet the car tax is interesting.

 

Discuss.

[Danblez]

Is there such a thing as a decent brand of wiper blade?

I seem to be changing them on my daily every few months as they just become crap or noisy.

I don't mind paying a few quid for some decent blades if they'll clear the screen properly and last a bit longer.

 

Champion wiper blades all the way. My last set lasted 5 years, were quiet, cleaned the screen well and never left any deposits. Couldnt bloody find them when one eventuAlly split and bought halfrods replacements on my trade card. Not as good as the champions but way better than the shit bosch turn out these days!

[Cavcraft]

I think there'd be a reasonable amount of interest in that mate. Parker's guide will tell you the tax band and you check current cost of RFL on DVLA website.

Have a look on Autotrader for prices of the Nissan, I would expect them to be doing pretty good coin tbh. Still offer them less money though, it's the way of the world!

[cort16]

It looks okay in the pictures although it's a bit of a shit colour and I don't trust autogear boxes. Typically it's 60 odd miles away.

[cort16]

Can any vauxhall knowledgests tell me where the oil pressure switch on a z18xe (1.8 16v) motor is? I've got oil weeing out somewhere around the oil filter (I don't think it's the filter) and I was wondering if the oil pressure switch is around that area?

[Mr Lobster]

Is it worth using the Autoglym type leather products on newish cars with leather or is it just for reviving older leather?

[CreepingJesus]

Yes. A light coat every few months will stave off the onerous task of renovating it, for a very long time.

It's dead skin after all, it's going to need help to remain moisturised, and hence supple. Don't forget the less obvious bits, and maybe give it a proper clean and feed once a year.

[skattrd]

Outdoor car covers - are they worth using?

[cort16]

Outdoor covers are worth using just make sure the car's dry before you put the cover on.

[willswitchengage]

^^consdering they stop UV radiation, water and all the various crap that trees and insects produce from reaching your car, yes!

[skattrd]

Cheers, I wasn't sure about condensation and the like with waterproof covers.

[dollywobbler]

You want a decent, breathable cover. Always good to get the cover off on dry days but consider the wind. If you live in a blowy spot, then a cover bashing against the paintwork is unlikely to do your car any favours.

[Cavcraft]

Can any vauxhall knowledgests tell me where the oil pressure switch on a z18xe (1.8 16v) motor is? I've got oil weeing out somewhere around the oil filter (I don't think it's the filter) and I was wondering if the oil pressure switch is around that area?

 

My son says he's 'fairly sure' it will be by the oil filter.

[cort16]

Cheers billy! It turned out to be the O ring on the weird paper oil filter . Rather than pay 6 quid for a filter and oring someone's tried to silicon it (unsuccessfully).

[Cavcraft]

Sorry, he's just been back on to me and said if it's the O ring on the filter than the car is knackered and you'd be best off swapping it for a Corsa C.

[cort16]

I'll take my chances

[Spiny Norman]

Are the road marking (specifically zebra crossings) they use in shopping centre car parks legally enforceable?

Reason I ask is that today I nearly got run over crossing at a ZC in a large retail park by some dozy bint who just had no intention of stopping. I did of course convey my displeasure but got the standard blank stare...

Are they regarded the same in law as the ones on the public highway, or are they painted more in hope than in expectation?

[tooSavvy]

AFAIK.... when working at a large shopping centre [some years ago] with usual carparking area but a lot of 'driving around between the flowerbeds' sort of access roads/ped crossings, I was told some of the road was 'adopted' (Plod Zone) but the slightly narrower access roads were 'not adopted' and common sense might be resorted to, for resolving delinquency!!

 

Totally 'mythical strategy', by the Centre Management, in my opinion.

 

No one got run over thankfully, so 'Plod[less] Zone' claim situation never came up........

 

tooSavvy

[garycox]

Is there a cheap way of getting an engine back from Central France?

 

Also - is anone here who can speak decent French willing to ask a seller a few questions for me?

 

If so, please PM me, thanks.

[Mr Lobster]

Are the road marking (specifically zebra crossings) they use in shopping centre car parks legally enforceable?

 

I think they are only enforceable if the have the white squares at either side / in the carriageway -

 

 

Of course this may be total bollocks that I have imagined, but I seem to think it is PHAKT.

[skattrd]

Can the MoT testers confirm or deny that non-functioning rear number plate lights (painted over) are a fail, please.

I'm not a tester, but seem to remember having a failure because of non working number plate lights.

 

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_110.htm

[Pete-M]

They're a fail.

[red5]

Aye, straight fail.