Ask a Shiter

[Hendry]

It's possible you've knocked the linkage on the Clio, they're bad for that. They get out of alignment, like how your tracking goes. It's easily adjusted, if you can get the measurements from the Renault service manual.

It's also possible the cable's had enough after its quick bath. Again, not hard to do, but you'll need to adjust the linkages after.

Also check if yours has rubber bump stops by the box, sometimes they come adrift and cause problems.

Good luck!

Its weird, it mostly seems to be fine now, only the odd time it wont go into 2nd, once every so often it does it with 3rd, by the rest of the time its spot on, sometimes it will go into 2nd with slightly force like its just very notchy, it NEVER happens with 1st, 4th, 5th or reverse. I'm reluctant to take it to a mechanic/garage, not because I don't want to spend on it, just in my experience the minute you mention gearbox related faults they want to rebuild it even when it may not need it and it doesnt fix the problem, they just see a way to make maximum profit, gearbox specialists are the same. How I would describe going into 2nd now is the same way as your gearbox notches into gear when you are putting it into gear with the engine off and not pressing the clutch to park in gear. I dont think its the box anyway as with the clutch pressed an engine off it selects gears as smoothly as it ever did, I'm told if its still difficult to go into gear with engine off its the box.

[Matt]

What is the best way of eliminating dog hairs from a car's upholstery? Not being a pet owner, it's not something I've had to think about before - but a previous owner of my 45 obviously was...

 

An alternative method that I have discovered that works very well is a damp leather chamois with a vacuum cleaner handy. Wet a leather chamois in the sink and ring it out so it's damp. Now bunch it up in your hand so that you have a large, blunt surface and wipe in one direction until you have a pile of hair, remove with the vacuum cleaner and repeat.

 

I took my mothers Volvo from this...

 

 

... to this using said method, not very labour intensive but some spots can be a bit awkward. I wound up just sitting in the boot.

 

[Station]

How much can you get for used batteries? I've asked at a couple of metal scrap merchants and they have only:

a ) mumbled something or other under their breath

b ) said the boss isn't in

c ) said the price of scrap is low or something, and then continued to mumble something under their breath

d ) scratched their balls through their overalls while uttering something I couldn't understand

e ) all of the above.

[Station]

My old MR2 was bad, I had to take everything out to get rid of all the festering dog hair and random McDonalds chips out.

 

[twosmoke300]

Batteries are usually 4 to 6 pounds each .

Price if scrap is always low if you ask them .

[Matt]

What cars have fuel efficiency comparable to Citroen AX diesels (60-70 MPG) but are more widely available for shiter kind of money?

[twosmoke300]

Saxo and 106d . corsa 1.5d maybe

[Rusty_Rocket]

What cars have fuel efficiency comparable to Citroen AX diesels (60-70 MPG) but are more widely available for shiter kind of money?

The 106 diesel of course!

Fiesta TDCi comes close IME.. but there's always the 'common rail roulette..'

[Matt]

Saxo and 106d . corsa 1.5d maybe

 

Are they in the real world though? They're heavier and Parkers has them all listed as 53 MPG.

 

Maybe it would help if I said that my intention is to strip the interior and do a load of a aero modifications to see how fuel efficient a light little diesel can be.

[Rusty_Rocket]

106/ Saxo is the best possible base for an eco car as that is what it was designed for.  Small frontal area, low kerb weight, skinny tyres and covered (flat) wheel trims.

Over the past 4 years, I've averaged 59-61mpg on two 106 diesels.  That's every tank recorded, all types of driving.

[Luckythirteen]

It's probably been asked before (and I could JFGI, but where's the fun in that?), but if I panelled inside a van to camper it: is there any reason why I couldn't/shouldn't fill the gap between plywood and metal with expanding foam?

Sounds like the obvious way to insulate. Sounds too easy though.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Batteries are usually 4 to 6 pounds each .

Price if scrap is always low if you ask them .

 

 

Euro Car Parts are currently offering £3 per battery so that has to be a minimum

[Craig the Princess]

Are they in the real world though? They're heavier and Parkers has them all listed as 53 MPG.

 

Maybe it would help if I said that my intention is to strip the interior and do a load of a aero modifications to see how fuel efficient a light little diesel can be.

 

I think the AX leads the field by a margin due to lightness. There are a lot of platstic pieces even compaired to a 106.

Have you seen the ecomodder.com forum, mainly american but lots of folks doing similar areo mods etc.

[Matt]

106/ Saxo is the best possible base for an eco car as that is what it was designed for.  Small frontal area, low kerb weight, skinny tyres and covered (flat) wheel trims.

Over the past 4 years, I've averaged 59-61mpg on two 106 diesels.  That's every tank recorded, all types of driving.

 

Oh right, I had no idea they were actually as efficient as that in the rear world. Do you drive for economy intentionally or do you just drive kind of normally? *Goes off to look for them for sale*

 

It's probably been asked before (and I could JFGI, but where's the fun in that?), but if I panelled inside a van to camper it: is there any reason why I couldn't/shouldn't fill the gap between plywood and metal with expanding foam?

Sounds like the obvious way to insulate. Sounds too easy though.

 

How much force does expanding foam put on the surfaces around it? I would be concerned about it forcing back against the wood or causing visible damage to the thin metal panels.

 

 

I think the AX leads the field by a margin due to lightness. There are a lot of platstic pieces even compaired to a 106.

Have you seen the ecomodder.com forum, mainly american but lots of folks doing similar areo mods etc.

 

Well aware of it, it's a shame there isn't more EU based members with more efficient cars being more common here than in the US.

[Lacquer Peel]

Fabia SDI is good on fuel, 60MPG+ without trying hard, but it is a miserable car for miserable people.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Oh right, I had no idea they were actually as efficient as that in the rear world. Do you drive for economy intentionally or do you just drive kind of normally? *Goes off to look for them for sale*

 

 

I don't drive intentionally economically at all.  In fact, I believe n/a diesels should be regularly thrashed to keep them 'clean'.

My long-term fuel records are simply to keep a tab on things- every time I fill up, I record the date, mileage, litres and price per L.  The best one was the 106 I sold on here.  It had a Lucas pump, which although is not suitable for veg, is more economical than the Bosch one I have now.  Only by 1-2mpg though.

[saucedoctor]

Anyone know where I can get stuff to er, stuff the seat on my Viano? It's gone a bit flat on one side. No Heydrich jokes, please

 

Thanks.

 

[320touring]

Oh right, I had no idea they were actually as efficient as that in the rear world. Do you drive for economy intentionally or do you just drive kind of normally? *Goes off to look for them for sale*

 

 

How much force does expanding foam put on the surfaces around it? I would be concerned about it forcing back against the wood or causing visible damage to the thin metal panels.

 

 

 

Well aware of it, it's a shame there isn't more EU based members with more efficient cars being more common here than in the US.

They seem to like my jaag ok;)

[Matt]

I don't drive intentionally economically at all.  In fact, I believe n/a diesels should be regularly thrashed to keep them 'clean'.

My long-term fuel records are simply to keep a tab on things- every time I fill up, I record the date, mileage, litres and price per L.  The best one was the 106 I sold on here.  It had a Lucas pump, which although is not suitable for veg, is more economical than the Bosch one I have now.  Only by 1-2mpg though.

 

I do the same but I only started a year ago so it's not a particularly large spreadsheet yet. January 29th 2014 to January 3rd 2015 has seen me average exactly 50 MPG (50.003 to be precise, 0.003 of a mile being equivalent to 4.8 meters!). Suzuki say I should get 53 MPG on a combined cycle but I always drive with my headlights on which apparently decreases MPG by about 6% or -3 MPG in my case.

 

How have you found 106's as day-to-day transport? Reliable, cheap parts, comfort etc?

[Rusty_Rocket]

What car is that, Matt?  I find anything 50mpg+ is a blessing

[Matt]

What car is that, Matt?  I find anything 50mpg+ is a blessing

 

2002 Suzuki Swift 993cc 3 cylinder and I agree, 50 MPG is kind of my benchmark for a daily driver now that I've had the Swift. Mine is in GLS trim so is laden down a bit more than low spec cars; fog lights, painted bumpers, power steering, bucket seats and a roof spoiler.

 

I wouldn't suggest rushing out to buy one though.

[worldofceri]

Can you ask non car related stupid questions here?

 

If so....

 

If you chew something but don't swallow it, do you get any calories?

 

Probably.  You can absorb sugars through the side of your mouth, I believe.

[mat_the_cat]

It's probably been asked before (and I could JFGI, but where's the fun in that?), but if I panelled inside a van to camper it: is there any reason why I couldn't/shouldn't fill the gap between plywood and metal with expanding foam?

Sounds like the obvious way to insulate. Sounds too easy though.

 

I've heard of several people doing it without problems, but the pointers I remember were:

1) use less than you think

2) drill plenty of holes to allow the air to escape, and also so you can see how far the foam has travelled.

3) don't do it if there's any chance of welding being required in the foreseeable future!

[Jon]

My Dad had a 106 diesel (1.5 facelift one) and though he really enjoyed squeezing the best fuel economy out of it (best I think was 71mpg) over 125000 depressing miles as Lacquer Peel says above of a Fabia SDI, it was a depressing car for depressing people. It's all well and good looking for the best fuel economy but would the hopefully extra 10mpg really be beneficial when the driving experience is so crap? My abiding memory of that car was that it gave the worst static shocks ever. Defo hold on to the door as you exit, if you buy one of those.

 

Would an LPG converted car not be a bit cheaper/more cheerful to run? Don't know what diesel prices are like in Britain now but they were always higher than petrol. Or get a veg friendly turbo diesel something and enjoy rapid miserly motoring. 106 diesels hit a brick wall when accelerating* waaay to early in my experience. Or more interestingly, stick with the Suzuki you have and make some eco mods to see how effective they are; you've already got a year's worth of fuel bills for comparison.

[HH-R]

Since the temperature has dropped outside over the winter, my gearbox is a bit crunchy going into 3rd and 2nd sometimes, baulks going into 2nd and needs shoving into first. I try to drive it with mechanical sympathy even though I hate the damn thing so don't like the reluctance. It gets better once it gets up to temp, but it takes almost to the end of my 15 mile commute to loosen up. Would changing the oil help? It's not always like that, think if it drops below about 8 degrees outside it does it.

[dave21478]

Changing the oil for fresh OE spec stuff certainly wont do it any harm. I reckon a bit of google research would be required to see if its happy on other thinner grades of oil.

[HH-R]

Cheers. It's on 64k and probably never been changed. I changed it on my last Panda at about 40k and it improved it no end but I can't remember what about it I was trying to improve in the first place

[messerschmitt owner]

smart fortwo cdi - import a lhd one from Europe - 70mpg regularly and on one trip when I was hypermiling some 110mpg

[sheffcortinacentre]

scrap cars are avg £90 a ton, alloys £1000 a ton, batteries £450 a ton.

 

a focus is about £105.

average alloy wheel £6-8

average battery £5-6

gen cats £40

an half worn tyre is £5 (from used tyre man)

 

 

mate loves it when sellers tell him they know its fetching £150 a ton & their Vectra with snapped cambelt ,kerbed alloys with slicks is worth at least 2n arf allday mate.

[Matt]

It's all well and good looking for the best fuel economy but would the hopefully extra 10mpg really be beneficial when the driving experience is so crap?

 

I'm not really looking to a create an OMG 100 MPG daily driver, it's more of a project idea so refinement and pleasure of driving isn't high on the list of priorities. In that case yes, the extra 10 MPG is a huge advantage.