Ask a Shiter

[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.

[Tayne]

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

[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.

[Albert Ross]

Damn right, but if (like '80s Fords) the covers are missing, and white light shows to the rear, it's pass and advise.

[philibusmo]

The rear trailing arm bushes on the Y10 are looking a little past their best so I thought I would replace them.

 

These seem to be a little difficult to get hold of, as in I can't find them anywhere. Now I know that the Y10 has what's called an Omega rear axle which is fancier and found on the later Fiat Pandas, so can any of you knowledgeable gents let me know if the rear trailing arms bushes are the same on the Lancia Y10 and the late original Fiat Pandas?

 

Nope, thought not.

[cobblers]

Finally ran the tank down the Golf the other day, and slung 10 litres of veg in it to see how we go. Once warm it seems great but it's deffo a bit more of a bugger to start (It's always needed a good pull on the glow plugs to go at all) but now it needs a quick rev to clear it's throat.

Anyway it seems to be a lot more clattery when cold, and the "cold running" stage seems to last longer. Is this something I need to worry about/sign of impeding pump asplosion? I'm really not good with diesels, they all sound like they are broken to me so I don't know how to pick out genuinely bad noises.

[Cavcraft]

What year of Golf is it mate and it's not a shitty PD engine one is it? They don't like veg but to be fair to VAG I think all their 'pre-PD' diesels love the stuff.

[cobblers]

Nah, its a mk3 1y non turbo 1.9 thing, they're apparently the best vehicle to run veg on EVAR but it's done 190k so I'm a bit worried about it shitting the insides out of the pump or something.

[skattrd]

Cobblers, just run it with a bit of diesel in.

I have run my golf saloon on 100% veg in summer before but I think it runs better with it slightly diluted. Even 10% diesel can make it easier starting.

Oh, and yes they do take a while to warm up as well

 

208k on my boring now. I've done the last 48k of those, and it's seen more veg than diesel in that time

[Cavcraft]

In most cases it actually works better because it has better (pump) lubrications SKILLZ, or so people used to say. It's possibly because you have no diesel in the car and it's usually best to have a mixture, even in summer. That said my old BX loved the stuff and would run 100% veg most of the year and it also made the car slightly quicker (yep, for real) and cleaner.

My 306 hatch is quite agricultural sounding anyhow but I think veg makes it noisier and it certainly does in the DW8 engine estate I have. Perhaps your car needs to adjust to running on it, sort of breaking in a bit if you like, and I reckon the addition of some diesel will help it. The mileage shouldn't make the slightest bit of difference as those lumps do massive miles and will continue to run on veg.

[willswitchengage]

Anecdotally it may work but you should really stick away from veg oil in any DI engine.

 

Unlike IDI injectors, DI engines have numerous tiny holes to spray in fuel. The increased viscosity and likeliness to carbonise on exit increases the probability of these clogging = new injectors. The burn rate in DI engines is also cooler and faster, which is less favorable to non-fossil fuels.

 

Use veg in 1.9D and turbo D engines, sure, but be wary of advancing to TDI/SDI, even the early mechanical pump models.