Ask a Shiter

[Asimo]

EOS 20D

 

Check everything is clean, look throught the lens and operate the iris, are all of the petals moving ok?

 

If you can focus manually but automatically not that might be a clue. Can you hear the focus mechanism operating?

 

Try another lens - beg, or borrow.

 

Are your sure some camera setting hasn't changed? 

 

I became convinced my camera was faulty because of focus issues but I had displaced the viewfinder adjustment so manual focus appeared not to work. Doh!

 

Edit - looking closely at the picture on a real computer rather than a tablet I reckon that s a lens problem. Try it at different zooms. There are a lot of moving parts in a zoom lens.

[Stroller133]

Just started c-max and it seems ok so far - only thing was fuel gauge was reading way past max , but each time the ignition is switched its coming down. A headlight just blown on Saab?

[trigger]

Right, what's Motorshite and how is it any different to Autoshite?

[saucedoctor]

2004 Clito 1.2 16v EML is on, but there's also this wee lamp. Anyone know what it means? Gonna stick the computer on it tomorrow, but all tips gratefully received. The car belongs to my mate's kid, it's her first motor and she's only had it a week. Cheers all.

[saucedoctor]

Cheers Tayne. I was just one the phone to a mate there now, he called it "The Light of Impending Frenchness" :D

[cort16]

[saucedoctor]

It was fault P0638, related to the throttle body. I cleaned up the manky looking main connector, and cleared the code. Seems OK now. FRENCH CAR IN ELECTRONICS "DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO" SHOCKA.

[skattrd]

Cheers Spike60, I'd never noticed that on the DVLA site.

 

So the car is showing as having an export marker against it, any idea how I get it removed?

 

Right, I've spoken to a nice person in Swansea and they're sending me form V55/5.

Once I get the car over here I need to MOT it then send off V55/5 with some money for tax then they'll tax the car and issue a V5 at the same time, hopefully.

 

Next is finding out about customs and import duty etc.

[Lacquer Peel]

The Vanette is long overdue an oil change. Where's the cheapest place to buy 7 litres of 15W40 engine oil? It's become really unfashionable in the last 5 years, modern bangers run really thin oil. Old Ian Halfords doesn't approve of older engines, so their 15W40 oil isn't included in their current engine oil offer.

EuroCarParts has 5 litres for £16, but I'm sure I could get it cheaper.

[explosive-cabbage]

Morrisons Cheapo own brand Savers etc is 15/40  - £10.99 for 4.5L.

[Lacquer Peel]

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/super-flow-motor-oil---15w40---5l-347776

 

£7.93 for 5 litres, whut!

[Lacquer Peel]

Ah.

[mat_the_cat]

The only thing you need to worry about (viscosity wise) is the hot figure, i.e. the 40 in this case. So a 10W40, 5W40 or even a 0W40 would be perfectly OK - they'll just be thinner when cold and hence easier to crank the engine.

[dollywobbler]

I tend to find local motor factors can be surprisingly good.

[Station]

I doubt you'll get 0w40 mineral oil!

I used 5w40 fully synthetic on my Isuzu diesel and the oil light kept flickering on.

[Richard]

How much effect does a windscreen claim have on your insurance premium? I know it doesn't affect your No Claims but I can't help wondering if they bump up your base premium to compensate.

[Station]

It doesn't affect it at all, as you're basically paying for the windscreen anyway (you could get it cheaper elsewhere in fact).

[mat_the_cat]

I doubt you'll get 0w40 mineral oil!

 

True, but it doesn't nee to be mineral if you're struggling to get hold of it.

 

I used 5w40 fully synthetic on my Isuzu diesel and the oil light kept flickering on.

 

Interesting, as compared to (say) a 15W40 oil the viscosities at 100 °C will be between 12.5 and 16.3 Centistokes (in order to meet the SAE 40 spec.), the only difference being that the 5W40 oil will flow better when cold, yet will still be thicker than when it is at operating temperature. Or to put it another way, the 5W40 starts off thinner, but get's less thin as it warms up to end up at the same viscosity.

 

I guess that maybe the 5W40 was at the lower end of the SAE 40 spec., so was close to falling into the SAE30 category...maybe that was marginal enough tp cause a difference to be seen.

[twosmoke300]

I once used 0 40 Mobil one in my vectra DTI 2.0 (free at work ) and it made the oil light flicker at idle when hot. 15w40 mineral diesel in it and no problems from 115k to 200k when it was weighed in .

[Jim Bell]

Rover Lucas key fobs/remote locking things.

 

I have a Rover 600 and an Rover 25 (loan) both have only the one key and one transponder/plipper thing.

 

Now the Mrs "misplaced" the key and fob for the 600 and was unable to find it for 3 days. Because fucktard.

 

That made me fancy getting a backup key and plipper, probs for both cars.

 

Now keys are easy. I can do that bit. Plippers are freely available on eblag, but who the tits can code them these days?  Obviously it would have been Rover dealers back when such a thing existed, but that ship has sailed. And caught fire. And sank.

 

Anyone got any idea how to code one up these days?

 

Cheers in advance for the avalanche of help about to cascade toward us, killing all in its path.

[Pillock]

If it's like the MG F one, the separate fob with two round buttons then only Rover dealers could. I hunted for a solution for ages and came up zero, unless I could find a Rover dealer that nobody told to not bother opening up any more

 

Bit of a shame as I have two keys but only one plip.

[daveb47]

Volvo 940 heater is slow warming up & not that hot.

Going to replace thermostat.

Is there still such a thing as a winter thermostat & if so where to get one.

[dollywobbler]

Just replace it with an OEM one. My old 740 heated up super-quick and was very toasty.

[dave21478]

If its this style....

 

then I found this a while back which works for various Land Rover models. Plenty cars use the same system so worth a try, I would say...

 

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/how-recode-your-keyfob-230001.html

[Station]

If it's like the MG F one, the separate fob with two round buttons then only Rover dealers could. I hunted for a solution for ages and came up zero, unless I could find a Rover dealer that nobody told to not bother opening up any more

 

Bit of a shame as I have two keys but only one plip.

 

There's someone on MGROVER forum that programs these! Think it's about 10 or 20 quid.

[Jim Bell]

If its this style....

 

then I found this a while back which works for various Land Rover models. Plenty cars use the same system so worth a try, I would say...

 

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/how-recode-your-keyfob-230001.html

 

Cheers. No Idea what a "bonnet switch" is though. None of my cars have one anyway. Surely it cant mean the bonnet release pull, as theres no electronics at all connected to these?

 

 

There's someone on MGROVER forum that programs these! Think it's about 10 or 20 quid.

 

Would that mean sending them my only key and plipper in the post? (no fanks)

Or driving to where ever they are I suppose.

 

I was hoping there'd be a Laptop or phone app/program that would just do it. 

[Pillock]

I assume there's a switch to tell when the bonnet is open, just a plastic plunger with wires.

 

I didn't find that info, the plip is the same but I don't know how likely the info is to apply to other cars. Given you need to program the already-working one first, it sounds like it might end in tears.

[Wilko220]

Yo guyz. NE1 know if this'll go in a late 1725 Hunter / Sceptre? I think the answer is yes but if some kind person has the expertise or catalogues to confirm I would be much obliged.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lucas-9M90-Starter-Motor-25359-BL-Marina-1800-Princess-Ambassador-Sherpa-Auto-/191403652668?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2c908bf63c

 

Cheers!

 

[barefoot]

Is there a rule to say that I have to clear the frozen snow from my roof or is it OK to just let it blow of in great swathes at high speed?

[steve_earwig]

Nah, leave it there, other road users love* it when it blows off all over them.

 

Once the inside of your car warms up it also starts getting mobile, it could just slide off the back, or it could slide over your windscreen. Plus, after a couple of days it might turn into a sheet of ice, in which case it could do damage when it slides off (t.shirt available)