Ask a Shiter

[spike60]

Anyone know any discount codes for Ecp please?

MBCLUB25 gets 25% off most stuff but codes don't work when they have a sale on which seems to be all the time now.

[gm]

Plenty here

 

http://couponfollow.com/site/eurocarparts.com

 

but as said above, with their dfs permasale on, most are redundant. tweet5 worked for me a couple of weeks back when I needed some gearbox oil.

[cort16]

Anyone know anywhere I could get a sill for an 05 Peugeot boxer van other than Peugeot?

It's the long one that goes under the sliding door. I've tried the local panel place but as per usual they don't have it.

[320touring]

Anyone know anywhere I could get a sill for an 05 Peugeot boxer van other than Peugeot?

It's the long one that goes under the sliding door. I've tried the local panel place but as per usual they don't have it.

Grinder and a cutting disk plus any cooncil depot?

[Richard]

Try phoning Autopaints in Thornton. If they can supply one I'll be happy to pick it up and start off the pony express.

[cort16]

I've patched it but it looks shite as it's been patched before. I think it's easier just to put a new sill on it

[Station]

Station - no, it made the leak worse for me.

Did it? I'm guessing it works fine on actual seals where the gap is nearly microscopic. The leak is typically 'leaky' - spots of oil whenever it has parked up.

[skattrd]

Did it? I'm guessing it works fine on actual seals where the gap is nearly microscopic. The leak is typically 'leaky' - spots of oil whenever it has parked up.

 

 

Yep, apparently it softens the rubber seals, in some cases the seal can deteriorate (fall apart) instead of softening.

[wuvvum]

Weather permitting, I'm going to be doing an oil change on the Forester this weekend.  It's somewhat overdue, and given the nature of the engine (i.e. not an L series or a Cléon (the last two engines I changed the oil on)) I'd like to do as thorough a job as possible.

 

Should I use an engine flush prior to emptying out the old oil?  Do these things do any good, or are they likely to cause more issues than they solve?

[skattrd]

We've had debates on engine flush before and the answer was mixed, some say do it, others not.

Personally I use a flush every time I change the oil.

[Andrew353w]

Me too! I drain the old oil then put flushing oil in & run it for about 15-20 minutes at tick-over before I put the new oil in and put on a new filter.  160,000 miles using this method of oil changes every 5,000 miles so I must be doing something right!

 

PS Make sure the old oil is HOT (fan cutting in hot!) before draining it & when you do drain it leave the oil filler off, to allow a greater flow rate.  

[gordonbennet]

I'm doing my own flush of sorts on the petrol engined Landcruiser i bought couple of weeks ago.

 

My method though is to use pukka Diesel engine oil, happened to have a spare 5 litres of 10/40 Magnatec Diesel oil in the garage, now in the engine, which i'll leave in till it changes colour after a few months then drain out with hopefully all the nasties the higher detergent content will have removed, new filter, job done.

Then new oil and filter every 5k maximum should keep everything tickety boo.

 

Reminds me, must order a Fumuto oil drain valve for the beast, its directly under the middle of the sump so doing a boiling hot change is gunna be painful.

[phil_lihp]

Having a weird problem on the 940 - driving back home at night on unlit roads, it became very obvious that the headlights weren't really lighting the way, odd because they're usually visible from outer space.  Main beam is fine but it became obvious when compared to other car's light beams on the motorway that dipped beam is pointing down far too much and abruptly ends a few feet in front of the car.  I'm assuming it's got automatic adjustment because I can't find a manual dial to adjust the aim at all.  No blown bulbs or visible damage.

 

It passed an MOT in June so I'm assuming it's a fairly recent development.  I think I've only just noticed it as the majority of night driving previously has been in lit areas or with a heavy load which would compensate for the aim.  From the beam pattern they cast both lights look to be evenly aligned so I don't think it's just one light gone out of alignment.  I can't find any info on any sort of manual or automatic adjustment with the 940 with a bit of googling, anyone know what's going on here?  

[panhard65]

Having a weird problem on the 940 - driving back home at night on unlit roads, it became very obvious that the headlights weren't really lighting the way, odd because they're usually visible from outer space.  Main beam is fine but it became obvious when compared to other car's light beams on the motorway that dipped beam is pointing down far too much and abruptly ends a few feet in front of the car.  I'm assuming it's got automatic adjustment because I can't find a manual dial to adjust the aim at all.  No blown bulbs or visible damage.

 

It passed an MOT in June so I'm assuming it's a fairly recent development.  I think I've only just noticed it as the majority of night driving previously has been in lit areas or with a heavy load which would compensate for the aim.  From the beam pattern they cast both lights look to be evenly aligned so I don't think it's just one light gone out of alignment.  I can't find any info on any sort of manual or automatic adjustment with the 940 with a bit of googling, anyone know what's going on here?  

It could be a fault on the bulb, some of the halogen 472 bulbs will give an incorrect beam pattern if the black painted cap has dropped off. Worth trying a bulb to start with. If you want to check the aim I have got a beam setter at the workshop you can borrow.

[Station]

Why on nearly all cars can you only direct the blower at footwell and windscreen, but not middle and windscreen?

[steve_earwig]

I suspect (think, whatever) that the dash vents used to work, no matter where you directed the air, that's why you can shut them.

[bub2006]

The corsa always has air from vents if they are open. I always Have direction set to feet and screen but sometimes open drivers vent to get some warm air if I Ave drivers window down when smoking.

[twosmoke300]

Why , when I am looking for a series land rover , am I looking seriously at a 94 Chevy astrovan awd dayvan ?

[phil_lihp]

It could be a fault on the bulb, some of the halogen 472 bulbs will give an incorrect beam pattern if the black painted cap has dropped off. Worth trying a bulb to start with. If you want to check the aim I have got a beam setter at the workshop you can borrow.

 

Cheers, thanks for that.  I'll check the bulbs, haven't had a chance to even look at the problem much yet but it needs sorting ASAP as it's not really safe on unlit roads.

[gm]

I bought a set of scabby alloys yesterday that need painting - other than halfords, where would you recommend I go to buy paint ? I don't need a colour match, just a sort of generic dark silver in rattle can format will do.

[steve_earwig]

Homebase, B&Q, Great Mills... I used to go to the factors just down the road from me for stuff like that. Plus - saving fuel. Minus - rip-off prices. Still, I guess they gotta eat.

[The Moog]

Would a massive hole in the exhaust effect performance and mpg of a na car?

 

I swear the civic feels quicker now it has been replaced, but I cant think why it would make a huge difference

[DSdriver]

Yep, change of backpressure and stuff.

[gordonbennet]

I bought a set of scabby alloys yesterday that need painting - other than halfords, where would you recommend I go to buy paint ? I don't need a colour match, just a sort of generic dark silver in rattle can format will do.

 I got a pack of three x 450ml cans of Autoglyms wheel paint via Amazon to do the Landcruisers wheels, cost around £16 the three.

 

About the going rate costwise but the brand i trust, haven't used them yet mind.

[Craig the Princess]

Is there a downside to using a can of tyre gunk? The ex-moog Saab had a leaky tyre losing pressure over 3/4 days to flat. Does that stuff do any harm? Out should I be less lazy and get the tyre reseated?

[UltraWomble]

Replacing 185/65/15 with 195/65/15 - slight difference in size, cant see the 6mm making a huge difference with the wheel arches on the Picasso and the speedo will under read slightly ( it over reads anyway if those lamp post hung speed signs are to be believed)

More tyre choice, cheaper price.

 

But would you fit 195/60/15 as they are closer to the original rolling size?

 

Oh and second silly Q

 

Can I SORN without my log book/reminder?

[The Moog]

If they fitted I would go with whatever is the better deal 😊

 

Craig I think that some tyre fitters dont like it as it coats inside of the wheels as well. Depends on whether want a quick fix or not

[spike60]

Is there a downside to using a can of tyre gunk? The ex-moog Saab had a leaky tyre losing pressure over 3/4 days to flat. Does that stuff do any harm? Out should I be less lazy and get the tyre reseated?

Some of it goes off after a few months, leaving you with a dollop in one part of the tyre and nowt anywhere else, cue severe wheel wobble. Dunno if they all do this but the stuff the AA put in one night did.

[Richard]

I have 205/55x16 tyres on the 850 where there should be 205/50x16, because the proper size costs much more. It means the speedo is bang on according to the sat-nav and it rides slightly better. I've not noticed any problems, certainly not with clearance.

[spike60]

Why would a dealer sell a fair % of cars on Irish plates, e.g ABZ 1234? An outfit near me does this and wanted to know all my details when I asked about the plates on one particular car online. The car in question is a 2006 130i BMW, not for me. About 25% of the cars on site have Irish plates, not cheapo stuff, the 130i is one of their bargain bin items.