Ask a Shiter

[TimothyClaypole]

Says it's best not to let it dry. Screwfix sell a bottle of sealant remover for a couple of quid.

 

Reviewer says it smells of oranges so I bet it's similar to AF Labelclene.

[Cavcraft]

Do any of those 'plug and play' tuning chips actually work? Some look absolute rubbish and some look ok and eBay feedback seems a bit mixed for various sellers. Could do with a mild boost for the Audi 80 TDi (90 brake I think) I'm knocking about in but don't know if these chip things actually work or not.

[Father Ted]

I used a Dragon one on the 90bhp Xantia and it made a very nice difference to the "oomph" factor of the car- be warned though - some are just a glorified potentiometer and not worth the money. Some are updatable and adaptable by means of a PC and a USB stick.

[ashmicro]

We had good results on a 90BHP Ocatvia diesel with a chip from Superchips. Straight to 110 BHP, and the "driveability" was definitely better. IIRC it was about £300. They said they could get it to 150BHP, but we'd have to change the injectors too.

[Cavcraft]

£300? (faints)! Cheers matey a bit rich for me though, I was looking at those circa £80 ones on an Internet auction site, do you know if they're any cop? Thanks.

[Rocket88]

I think that you can make one for what they for £80 on ebay for about £3.97 with bits from Maplins. It's basically, as previously stated, a potentiometer. There's some stuff on one of the diesel tuning sites with a "how to " guide

[Pillock]

£300? (faints)! Cheers matey a bit rich for me though, I was looking at those circa £80 ones on an Internet auction site, do you know if they're any cop? Thanks.

 

Supposedly even those just trick a few sensors.... a popular one seems to be the fuel temp sensor for some reason? More oomph but fewer MPG unlike actual remapping which typically offers better MPG and better BHP too.

[CreepingJesus]

Cheers for the advice TC, it's for my sister, so I'll pass that on.

 

As for cheap tuning chips; I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole of any length. The only guaranteed result is with one of the name brands.

Booking a couple of hours on a rolling road and messing about with the wastegate + actuator settings, and clamping the fuel return line would probly be a better bang-for-buck ratio!

[The Moog]

Fitted new ball joints to the micra. They have castellated nuts and split pins on them but when I did them up tight the nuts were about half way down the bolt and the whole split pin area was exposed.

 

Should they be done up that tight or is the intention to put on the bolt wind it down until the split pin hole is visible through the nut then put the pin through?

[scaryoldcortina]

^ That's pattern parts for you. I've had that happen. Yes, it should be done up tight, it's the pressure on the taper that keeps it in. I think I used nyloc nuts instead of the castle and splitpin but you could (maybe) redrill the splitpin hole.

[The Moog]

Okey dokey thought that might be the case. Will change the nuts when I get two minutes and it is dry

[Albert Ross]

Use a thick flat washer to raise the nut..... Land Rover do....

[Pete-M]

Hmm, a friend of mine is trying to register his old Transit abroad but the V5C doesn't hold all the information he needs to satisfy the droids where he intends to register it (Czech).

 

Is there any way of getting a type approval certificate from Ford for an individual vehicle does anyone know?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Hmm, a friend of mine is trying to register his old Transit abroad but the V5C doesn't hold all the information he needs to satisfy the droids where he intends to register it (Czech).

 

Is there any way of getting a type approval certificate from Ford for an individual vehicle does anyone know?

 

I don't suppose Ford will want anything to do with it. If I were him, I would send the DVLA a letter asking for an official confirmation that they don't hold the info and the van is legit or whatever.

 

What kind of info is he missing?

[Pete-M]

Hmm, a friend of mine is trying to register his old Transit abroad but the V5C doesn't hold all the information he needs to satisfy the droids where he intends to register it (Czech).

 

Is there any way of getting a type approval certificate from Ford for an individual vehicle does anyone know?

 

I don't suppose Ford will want anything to do with it. If I were him, I would send the DVLA a letter asking for an official confirmation that they don't hold the info and the van is legit or whatever.

 

What kind of info is he missing?

 

Tried that, it didn't work. I've just had a quick googlefestâ„¢ and found an e-mither address for Ford about getting a Certificate of Conformity for it.

 

[email protected] , mysteriously enough.

[jakebullet]

Autocrap repair, autocrap replace....

 

Got the windscreen hit by a flying stone, but , er, not sure what counts as a chip? It's not the classic 'bullseye' damage, more like a 3mm square bit of glass flaked off. Not thru to the plastic bit in the laminate as far as I can tell.

 

Is this something I can get Gavin , 30,technician to fix?

Will it be even more noticeable like the one idiot sister had 'repaired'?

How many repairs can you do to a screen? Spotted a few more similar ones.

 

How bent are the glass people? If it's a new screen on the insurance what's the chances of them sticking a heated one in instead? I'm assuming the wiring will be there, it's in the car software options for heated front screen fitted yes/no. (Disco 2).

[warren t claim]

If Renault make such shite diesels then how come they're Europes biggest van manufacturer?

[M'coli]

If Renault make such shite diesels then how come they're Europes biggest van manufacturer?

Of all things, Mr Claim, warranty claims: most of the reliability problems will be outside of the warranty period. The oil seal failure on the turbo must be time dependent rather than mileage dependent, or the vans are fitted with engines that are spec'd differently to the car engines, i.e. have lower power output and hence stress the seals less. For example, I believe the Fiat 1.9JTD has a lower output in the van than the car, because the van uses more of the power all of the time, rather than all of the power just some of the time.

[catsinthewelder]

They might fine the former owner (no back tax though) but I don't see any reason why it should worry you. Just bosh in a SORN request when the V5 turns up.

[nigel bickle]

They may cewrtainly try -as I can vouch. Historic makes no difference to them on the issue of SORN -or the fine thereby imposed.

 

However -liability doesnt transfer so just SORN it as soon as you can. No probs for you

[Father Ted]

Can I ask a stupid computer Q?

 

The wife wants a laptop - currently running a HP Compaq netbook and it wont play BBC iPlayer downloads ( the downlads are jerky and not smooth - cant stream them in the caravan due to crap 3 mobile broadband) and struggles with games even when at home on the decent 10 meg broadband.

Im assuming the little netbooks processor and RAM are not up to the job. My notebook does everything I want OK - wont do iPlayer or similar downloads, but cant says Im arsed.

 

So what am I looking for processor and speed and RAM wise then in a new laptop? She wants a laptop as she says 10" isnt enough for her any more

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

My 2007 vintage laptop has no problem doing any of the things you mentioned (although I don't play the latest shoot-em-up, so it may be pants when it comes to that). I'd say a 2 Ghz processor and 3GB of RAM would be enough, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along soon. Perhaps the graphics set up would be another thing worth thinking about.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

tonight's totally daft question: is there anything wrong with reusing the old sump washer after an oil change? I can't be arsed going to a parts shop/B&Q and buying 100 washers of which I probably won't ever use 98.

[Albert Ross]

Depends on the type. Copper twists and won't reseal. Aluminium goes too thin to seal correctly. The steel/rubber "Dowty" seals rip up, and the rubber rings squash. So they all leak eventually, I suppose going to Ford and buying one for less than a quid is too hard for you? Could you not hammer a smaller seal over it?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

that's a good idea...I'll head down to the Honda dealership for a 30p washer inclusive of a free cuppa and biccies.

[Des]

I've often re-used washers, not ideal but when there's secondhand oil and filter going in / on it's kind of academic. I suppose you could heat a solid copper washer to re-soften it, but I'll usually smear the sump plug threads in hylomar or silicon, just a smear mind.

[Father Ted]

For years I re-used sump washers (copper) without any issues, but these were on A and A+ engines and they were not exatly oil tight anyway. These days the sump drain rarely comes off and the oil gets sucked out with a pump through the dip stick tube, but thats pure lazyness and due to 1) inaccessible bloody French sump nuts 2) engine undertrays.

[trigger]

Would trading in a 6 year old Mondeo ST TDCi at a garage for a 45 year old Cortina Mk2 GT be deemed as a sensible thing to do?

[scaryoldcortina]

^ Yes, of course it would!

[Albert Ross]

If you DIDN'T do it I would take it as a sign of madness. I expect pictures by tomorrow or I'm calling the yellow van.