Ask a Shiter

[steve_earwig]

You found a 406 HDi 90 with a DPF? Hold on to it, it's rare!

[loserone]

A quickie for the MoT men out there. Is there any maximum height a fog light can be at? I've done a bit of electrickery with the rear lights on the BX astate so now it has separate brake lights (we're the fogs) and the fogs are now with the tail lights. The new fogs are as bright as they were before but just a bit higher up in the cluster.

Have I done wrong?

Can't say anything for certain about the MOT, but construction and use regs. mean it must be 100mm away from the tail lights / brake lights.  

 

Source: Mk1 MX5s often have one reversing light converted to a fog light (like mine did).  It's marginally too close for C&U, but passes an MOT without complaint.

[explosive-cabbage]

I'm having problems with a compressor I have been working on. Please watch the video and all is explained.

 

Contains shite content!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iomOhGKRR1g&feature=youtu.be

 

 

Please help!

 

Should I just purchase another compressor off eBay?

[explosive-cabbage]

And how do I embed a video so you can watch it without navigating away from this page?

[Craig the Princess]

 

Just copy and paste the link into the post

[explosive-cabbage]

Mine hasn't come to life in the last post on the previous page...

[Craig the Princess]

I'm having problems with a compressor I have been working on. Please watch the video and all is explained.

 

Contains shite content!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iomOhGKRR1g&feature=youtu.be

 

 

Please help!

 

Should I just purchase another compressor off eBay?

 

 

delete the &feature=youtu.be

[explosive-cabbage]

Okay thanks!

[dave21478]

No idea re the motor, but in my experience a motor that will start if flicked by hand generally has a problem with the capacitor.

 

However - isnt welding on the tank more than a little bit dangerous? Especially if you ran out of gas....if those welds have made weak or brittle points in the metal, well....these things run at about 8 bar normally? If a weld fails while you are standing near it, it will quite possibly kill you.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGZxmIBkaU

[Asimo]

What if a hypothetical Romanian fruit picker -  of which there are many around here - got bored with the Romanian registered Oltcit he had driven here in the spring and sold it to me to pay for the Ryanair to home.

 

Would I get into Nova declaration type difficulties or other import /export/customs/dvlatype aggro? 

[Sigmund Fraud]

What if a hypothetical Romanian fruit picker -  of which there are many around here - got bored with the Romanian registered Oltcit he had driven here in the spring and sold it to me to pay for the Ryanair to home.

 

Would I get into Nova declaration type difficulties or other import /export/customs/dvlatype aggro? 

 

My interpretation of the guidance on the gov.uk website is that the current owner should submit a NOVA application before selling. He should then give you all of the car's documents plus a signed and dated receipt, which you can use for the registration process.

 

The car is old enough to not need type approval, so that won't be an issue. It will still need to pass a UK MoT, so you need to sort out beam pattern (deflectors/bits of tape are enough) and rear fog light. You also need to insure it on the chassis number before registration, but most classic insurance brokers can do this. And you'll need to pay for the registration fee, road tax and new number plates.

[Bobthebeard]

Just been told that some new Audis will automatically change the headlight aim when driving on the continent.

Triggered by the SatNav it seems. Is it true? Even if it is true, I feel sure that they will still blind everyone coming the other way...

[Richard]

I read somewhere that new Audis can detect if their headlamps are dazzling people and shut off part of the beam accordingly. It sounds as if it might be the same feature but I can't imagine how it would work.

[meshking]

Dunno, but Waze on my phone changes to use the language of the country you're driving in to give directions. Very useful, but I don't speak Flemish.

[Stroller133]

I read somewhere that new Audis can detect if their headlamps are dazzling people and shut off part of the beam accordingly. It sounds as if it might be the same feature but I can't imagine how it would work.

Some sort of light sensor?

[Stroller133]

Surely if that works then it could be applied even when using main beam for completely auto lights?

[Luckythirteen]

I read somewhere that new Audis can detect if their headlamps are dazzling people and shut off part of the beam accordingly. It sounds as if it might be the same feature but I can't imagine how it would work.

It uses radar to detect other cars in the vicinity. The backup is linked to the light switch being 'on'.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I read somewhere that new Audis can detect if their headlamps are dazzling people and shut off part of the beam accordingly.

 

Didn't 1950s Cadillacs do the same thing with the 'Autronic Eye' ? So much for progress...

 

See also : modern "directionally adaptive headlights" and 1940s Tuckers.

[DSdriver]

When everyone else is travelling in driverless cars with automatic dimming headlights will I be able to drive around on main beam not stopping at traffic lights because they will take avoiding action?

[rml2345]

^ That sounds like good fun.

Power steering stupid question;

I've been running around in Swampy21's 940 and noticed his steering is a great deal lighter than mine. The belt doesn't squeal and isn't loose but has glazing on the side and is clearly past it.

Ordered a new belt as a matter of course but would a worn but not squealing belt cause the power steering to be significantly heavier? It had rack/track rod ends about six months ago.

[DSdriver]

/\ different tyres?

[Asimo]

^^^Or tyre pressures, or wheel alignment, (camber / trail, not just tracking), Steering ratio - same number of turns lock to lock?, steering wheel size or the properties of the power steering valve itself.

 

Pressures are the easiest thing to change!

[steve_earwig]

When everyone else is travelling in driverless cars with automatic dimming headlights will I be able to drive around on main beam not stopping at traffic lights because they will take avoiding action?

Sure, until you come across someone driving the same way...

[rml2345]

I think the tyres on both 940s are 195s and steering wheel both the same size. Will check pressures on the way home tonight. Steering doesn't pull or wander but having castor/trail checked wouldn't hurt either.

Hoping it's not PS pump as that's an awful job.

[alf892]

^ That sounds like good fun.

Power steering stupid question;

I've been running around in Swampy21's 940 and noticed his steering is a great deal lighter than mine. The belt doesn't squeal and isn't loose but has glazing on the side and is clearly past it.

Ordered a new belt as a matter of course but would a worn but not squealing belt cause the power steering to be significantly heavier? It had rack/track rod ends about six months ago.

Change the oil maybe.......is there a filter in the reservoir ?

[alf892]

Also check column uj is free.........but this usually makes it feel lumpy

[rml2345]

Doesn't seem lumpy, just heavy. They are known for sticking column UJs though. I presume fluid was changed when the rack was replaced. There's no filter that I'm aware of and the fluid seems pretty clean. A change wouldn't hurt of course. All good suggestions though so I'll start with the cheap/easy stuff and work up.

[Noel Tidybeard]

You found a 406 HDi 90 with a DPF? Hold on to it, it's rare!

dunno he just said one day a light had come on the dash

it was a y reg 406 rapier estate and has been replaced with mundano st155 tdci estate

[Noel Tidybeard]

the aldi auto headlight thing is prolly similar to the speed restrictor in a nissan gtr- mirrors, magnets & witchcraft

[rml2345]

^^^Or tyre pressures, or wheel alignment, (camber / trail, not just tracking), Steering ratio - same number of turns lock to lock?, steering wheel size or the properties of the power steering valve itself.

 

Pressures are the easiest thing to change!

 

Checked pressures tonight and both front tyres were 5psi under what they should be... 

Back up to the correct pressure and it was much lighter again but I'll do the belt at the weekend anyway. Oh, and check the tyre pressures more often