Ask a Shiter

[Asimo]

Can you bump start an auto under any circumstances?

 

I only ask as I left the lights on my Suzuki all day and it was flat as a bastard when I came back.

 

As it was parked out of sight in  some old cattle pens at the top of a slope, I coasted it out so the RAC could find me.

 

It was so tempting slam it into drive and see what happened.

 

The answer is NO.

 

If you have one of the older, better, Mercedes automatics which, as has been said above, had a second oil pump driven from the gearbox output shaft then you would be able to tow or roll start it, but not just push and bump.

 

Automatics won't bump or roll start because they require hydraulic pressure to operate and the gearbox hydraulic pump is driven by the engine via the gearbox input shaft. Without hydraulic pressure the geartrain will be "in neutral" and no drive can be transmitted to the engine. Additionally, the torque converter will transfer very little torque back to the engine at low speeds which is why you could roll one of those Mercs. down a hill and start it, but never just push and bump.

 

As far as I know CVT type automatics also all require hydraulic pressure from an engine driven pump to operate their clutches and wotnots so won't bump or roll start either. Dafs have a centrifugal clutch, ie driven by engine speed, so you won't be bumping one of those either.

[DSdriver]

Interesting lock and having looked at the YouTube vid, this gate is unlocked.

Is it one of those systems where undoing any one padlock opens the gate? Useful where several different companies need access to the same site.

[Sigmund Fraud]

What was the last car available with 7" round headlights? (Land Rover Defenders excepted), Mini?

 

Elise series 1 ?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Can you bump start an auto under any circumstances?

 

I only ask as I left the lights on my Suzuki all day and it was flat as a bastard when I came back.

 

As it was parked out of sight in  some old cattle pens at the top of a slope, I coasted it out so the RAC could find me.

 

It was so tempting slam it into drive and see what happened.

You could bump start P6 Rover and Zodiac MkIV s fitted with Borg Warner 35s. You had to get up to about 70 before it would work though. Found this out towing a mates 3500 with my Exec ,then of course we had to try it the other way round,well you're always curious at 18 aren't you?

I think that was the same night we discovered the top speed of either car was unaffected by having another car on a bit of string behind it, 99 for the Zodiac and 105 for the Rover.

[dave21478]

Suspension replacement....

 

If I am not too skint after xmas I plan on getting 4 new shocks for the car as its a bit wobbly and floaty. Is there any point in buying new springs if the old ones are not broken? They dont exactly wear out, do they? Do they get weaker? The paint has flaked off the old ones but they arent obviously rusty or anything. 

 

New bushes all round would probably do it good too. I reckon cheap replacements would probably be worse than the old stuff on it, and new OE stuff is kinda dear, but I see some polybush kits on ebay for reasonable money. Granted, this might introduce some harshness to it, but I dont see any other downsides? Surely a cheap polybush is going to be better than a cheap rubber bush, which will probably be kippered in 8 months?

[mercrocker]

What was the last car available with 7" round headlights? (Land Rover Defenders excepted), Mini?

Hindustan Ambassador?

[Richard]

Suspension replacement....

 

If I am not too skint after xmas I plan on getting 4 new shocks for the car as its a bit wobbly and floaty. Is there any point in buying new springs if the old ones are not broken? They dont exactly wear out, do they? Do they get weaker? The paint has flaked off the old ones but they arent obviously rusty or anything. 

 

Springs do get weaker with age but new springs are appalling shit from what I've heard so you're probably better sticking with the old ones.

[Asimo]

Elise series 1 has Renault 4 headlights I think, a bit smaller, maybe

[spike60]

If you buy original springs from a good source you will get newer, hopefully better versions of the ones on. If, like most folk, you get the cheapest you find you will get appalling shit, it's often true you get what you pay for.

[Pillock]

Our old fleet cars are 1.3 diesel Astras with the FIAT engine.

 

I can assure you in a car that heavy, there is no fun to be had.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

What was the last car available with 7" round headlights? (Land Rover Defenders excepted), Mini?

The G-Wagen has still got 7" round lights,probably LED or some such bollocks behind the lenses mind.

[tooSavvy]

Springs.... and 'nominal' damping....

 

I followed a silver Merc Vito van today - 06 - and the n/s rear [obviously, I was watching it] was vibrating like a tuning fork... the back of the van was going up and down like a blowjob  .

 

Totally ZERO damper actions.... but the driver must know the thing is giving bunny hops??

 

 

TS

[saucedoctor]

On an 06 Vito half the suspension mounting points had probably rusted right through.

[Inspector Morose]

Okay, I'm looking to gear up the BX of many shiters. The box on the 1.9 N/A is quite under geared for a diesel and its reving its tits off at motorway speeds plus the box is a little sloppy and incontinent in its old age. Now I know acceleration will be even more glacial than ever but I'm after cruising ability for some long distance trips next year.

Question is, I know the BX 1.7 turbo box is higher geared but will it fit onto the 1.9? Alternatively, will a Xantia 1.9 TD box fit?

Last question. Anyone got one?

[skattrd]

Probably a bit more involved than you want but could you not just change the 5th gear? keeping everything else the same ie. no worse.

[Taff]

The answer is NO.

 

If you have one of the older, better, Mercedes automatics which, as has been said above, had a second oil pump driven from the gearbox output shaft then you would be able to tow or roll start it, but not just push and bump.

 

Automatics won't bump or roll start because they require hydraulic pressure to operate and the gearbox hydraulic pump is driven by the engine via the gearbox input shaft. Without hydraulic pressure the geartrain will be "in neutral" and no drive can be transmitted to the engine. Additionally, the torque converter will transfer very little torque back to the engine at low speeds which is why you could roll one of those Mercs. down a hill and start it, but never just push and bump.

 

As far as I know CVT type automatics also all require hydraulic pressure from an engine driven pump to operate their clutches and wotnots so won't bump or roll start either. Dafs have a centrifugal clutch, ie driven by engine speed, so you won't be bumping one of those either.

this baby

 

 

as an Allison 4 sp auto and an emergency tow-start pump. You needed to be doing 30kph to activate the pump, usually on the holly-bones of another Warrior.

 

As an ex Army mechanic who had 16 years experience on these puppies, and who used the tow start several times, I wish I could tell you HOW it worked but I had an uber hangover the day we did the pumps in trade school and didn't take in a word, sorry

[Inspector Morose]

It could be possible, I've heard that these boxes are relatively easy to rebuild and swap bits over on. A straight box swap would be preferred though cause I'm a lazy git.

[Inspector Morose]

15s would fit, I think but there might be clearance issues at the back. Ride quality suffers dramatically too, I'm led to believe.

[twosmoke300]

Dunno about the bx box but on quite a few cars you can swap the 5th gear set without taking the box out.

[Asimo]

Leave the gearbox and swap the engine for one with sparkplugs.

[Mr Livered]

What is an under tray? I'm not sure I have ever had a car with one. Is it some kind of detachable floor for the engine compartment?

[worldofceri]

It's a device for catching the drips from your oil-leak.

[saucedoctor]

It's a device for catching the drips from your oil-leak.

 

And stones off the road surface.

[Taff]

What is an under tray? I'm not sure I have ever had a car with one. Is it some kind of detachable floor for the engine compartment?

 

it's a device created to ensure that every single car driver spends ten pounds at the dealership on plastic clips per annum forever

[Asimo]

A really good undertray would save a lot of trouble at mot time.

 

 

* This Mercedes W196 is old enought to be mot exempt

[skattrd]

I used to refit the sump guard to my rally car before the MOT as it meant the tester could hardly see (and test) anything.

[The Moog]

Are car ramps worth the cash? I keep thinking about getting some but cant justify the £50 it might be.

[KruJoe]

I use mine all the time.

If you don't want to pay for new, keep an eye on ebay for local auctions, bargains can be had for that sort of thing because they're often listed as collection only.

[skattrd]

Joe are they better than axle stands  ... or pallets

I've never used car ramps so can't comment, but on the odd occasion I do anything on the drive I find axle stands adequate.

[The Moog]

Cool. Normally use stands but can be a ball ache when it is just to get at something simple or adjust handbrake cable.

 

Will have a hunt on ebay.