Ask a Shiter

[barefoot]

Anyone else drive cars without using the clutch?

Odd perhaps but I've always done it a bit in every car that I've ever owned, just in case the clutch packed up so I'd know how to do it.

I've only had to drive clutch-less on three separate occasions and my claim to fame/best ever is bringing the t2 home from wherever the cable snapped, swinging it round into the hammer head part of the cul de sac in which I live, bouncing it off the kerb, dropping it into reverse & backing down the road & then the full length of my drive!

[steve_earwig]

Oh yes, although not lately. Ford gearboxes seem to be ok about it but Hillmans object noisily. I once had a Cortina 2.0S that I was always blowing the clutch out of, had to drive that one a few times with no way of disengaging the engine, worst bit is getting stuck in the traffic and having to keep pulling away on the starter motor.

[KruJoe]

In law, am I required to chase up the DVLA when I don't receive an SORN acknowledgement from them?

[HH-R]

I didn't get anything the last time I SORN'd a car online, just the confirmation page that I'd done it. It didn't show up on their website as SORN either, just unlicensed. I still have the confirmation from their website should they decide to be incompetent/shirty about it in the future (highly likely).

[HH-R]

On the power steering question, does it burn out an EPAS pump if you hold it at full lock? I read somewhere that you shouldn't do it and never do, touch wood I've never had the light of death on the dashboard, but it might be b0110cks.

[KruJoe]

I never hold it on full lock as it sounds wrong, like it's straining something... not that yer motoring public would even notice. It makes me cringe. Don't know if it actually does any harm though!

 

 

 

I think they advise you to save/print that SORN confirmation page.

Online is different to by post (which I did). You have to use a paper form when you've just bought the car.

 

So, am I legally responsible for chasing them up when I don't receive an acknowledgement after a paper SORN?

[jonathan_dyane]

On trader's insurance I always thought there was a gentleman's agreement that you don't ever claim...

[Bobthebeard]

On trader's insurance I always thought there was a gentleman's agreement that you don't ever claim...

Isn't that in the small print of every insurance policy? Most of the small print and 'terms and conditions' of insurance policies seem to have been written by Shakespeare IMHO. Lots of words but nothing that actually makes any sense nowadays.

[Asimo]

Anyone else drive cars without using the clutch?

Odd perhaps but I've always done it a bit in every car that I've ever owned

Yes, I started doing it when I had VW beetles, because the clutch action is so awful (and the gearchange pretty good). RWD Fords were always the easiest to drive clutchless with their superb gearboxes, so much feel in the lever and excellant syncromesh.

A useful skill too occasionally: I once recovered my wife's breadvan Polo to a dealer with a broken clutch cable, just a few easy miles, and then the slave cylinder bracket broke on her Rover 414 and I drove that back home from Hampshire somewhere, well over a hundred miles across country (really good gearchange in that Rover)

[Dave_Q]

Boring Insurance Question Alert. I've had trade insurance for the last 3 years but I'm trying to discourage myself from doing hopeless deals (on BMWS) that end up costing me money so am returning to a normal insurance policy. I also think I'd have a war with the bastards on a claim unless you could prove you're selling 90 cars a day.

 

My question is I want an insurance policy I can add another car to at some point without getting massively tiger bummed. I see these multi car policies out their but I think they're for husband and wife type deals not some fanny with 2 cars of his own. If I get a new, new car I might want to hang on to the Avantime, which is still too new for a classic policy but still want the option to keep it.

 

Has anyone any experience of such dealings?

 

No experience of the type of policy you're looking for but be prepared for a fight on your no claims bonus.

 

I changed back to civilian insurance about 18 months ago after a few years on trade, you know that definition of trading that means 'serial chod botherer who changes cars every 3 months without ever making a profit'.

 

At this point I had 5 years no claims. No insurance companies would accept my no claims despite my endless assertions that my trade policy included SDP.

 

Eventually after many many phone calls I found a company who gave me *some* discount with the promise of giving me my full 6 years when I renewed with them. Frankly they were a bunch of charlatans who charged me more than the initial quote for spurious reasons  Luckily their renewal paperwork did state 6 years no claims so I took that away and went with a real company.

 

Anyway, essay over, best of luck!

[saucedoctor]

Windscreen scuff.

 

Some bastard has thrown something at our Smart Cabrio. and there's a scuff about the size of my wee fingernail on the windscreen. It's not cracked, and it isn't really deep.

 

Does anyone know of anything I could use to reduce the visibility of said scuff, or should I call Gavin from Autoglass to put some of his "special sauce" on it?

 

Cheers all.

[Inspector Morose]

Jewellers rouge.

[saucedoctor]

Cheers bud.

[Station]

What is the legal time limit for me to have something until it becomes my property?

Three sent me a phone ages ago and haven't bothered to collect it. I told them I'm going to sell it on the weekend if they didn't collect. They suddenly sprung to attention and want to send out a collection envelope.

As it has taken them three months to cancel this phone (that I didn't want), I'm reluctant to give it back as they simply can't be arsed cancelling the contract (because they are useless cunts).

 

BTW, I'm not one for only complaining when a company is bad (I do it if they are good) but don't go with Three if you are unsure you want to spend two years with the same (awful) supplier. Poor reception, abysmal customer service and just a horrible experience overall. This is universal and they were voted 97th (!) on the customer serivce scale.

[daveb47]

On my Volvo 940 tpt am i right in thinking that you  should be able to move the wastegate actuator at bottom of turbo by hand?

[Bobthebeard]

What is the legal time limit for me to have something until it becomes my property?

Three sent me a phone ages ago and haven't bothered to collect it. I told them I'm going to sell it on the weekend if they didn't collect. They suddenly sprung to attention and want to send out a collection envelope.

As it has taken them three months to cancel this phone (that I didn't want), I'm reluctant to give it back as they simply can't be arsed cancelling the contract (because they are useless cunts).

 

BTW, I'm not one for only complaining when a company is bad (I do it if they are good) but don't go with Three if you are unsure you want to spend two years with the same (awful) supplier. Poor reception, abysmal customer service and just a horrible experience overall. This is universal and they were voted 97th (!) on the customer serivce scale.

Mobile phone sellers/providers are far bigger than you, and far nastier. They WILL chase you for the contract payments. No matter what. Ask me how I know!

[Luckythirteen]

Feel your pain on the 3 thing, Station. If they put half as much effort into making it work properly, as they do phoning you with 'special offers', it would be fine.

But unless you can root the fuck out of it, I wouldn't even contemplate using that phone. They'll be all over you like a bad rash if you do.

[steve_earwig]

Mail it back in tiny little pieces - sorry. my dog ate it.

[Stroller133]

I frequently drive clutchless. I find it easier to go up the box than down and generally easier in pretzels than diesels

[spike60]

I frequently drive clutchless. I find it easier to go up the box than down and generally easier in pretzels than diesels

I usually find it much easier in the works van.

[fairkens]

What would you call this? And where would I get another one?

 

About 3 inches long with the last half inch threaded. If it helps it attaches a side panel on to this:

 

[Parky]

By generally being unhelpful, restrictive, uncooperative and disrespectful, do the Ukrainian rebel soldiers around the MH17 crash site hope to gain international recognition and support?

 

And quite annoyed about what's going on there. Perhaps this should be in the grumpy thread

[Leyland Lawrence]

What makes a car manufacturer decide whether to put the fuel nozzle thing on the left or the right?

[steve_earwig]

Could it be something to do with it being on the side nearest the kerb on the car's country of origin?

 

What would you call this? And where would I get another one?

I think I'm going to go with either "fixing screw" or "fastener". What make is the, erm, vehicle?

[KruJoe]

It's a Yamaha Townmate I think. The later ones didn't have a knob on the screw head, just a slot you could turn with a coin.

[steve_earwig]

You think? No log book? Maybe #3 here http://www.yamahamotorcyclespares.co.uk/genuineparts/9063/19/yamaha%20t80%20townmate/side%20cover%20/%20oil%20tank?uid=0 Oh look, no picture, no part number, no stock Still, it's a bolt, side cover apparently.

[steve_earwig]

I'm not actually finding that one anywhere, all my usual Yamaha part's sites aren't admitting to its existence, just Suttons who are playing the "you'll not be using us to look up part numbers" game. Perhaps you could take a waddle into your nearest Yamaha dealer?

[Stroller133]

Astra H were built in uk, but had o/s filler cap.

[Stroller133]

Freelander also had o/s filler cap.

[steve_earwig]

Ah, but where were they designed? [/clutching at straws]