Ask a Shiter

[The Moog]

£15 from cartakeback.

Fix it.

Will be scrap money.

[bub2006]

Ok cheers. Be pissed off selling it but I just feel stuck. At that price though its not going.

[gordonbennet]

Is it possible to check and set a cars tracking at home with, say, bluetac and string?

 

I do my own tracking and have done so for years.

 

No longer use the following cos i brought a trackace, which takes a bit of getting your head round how to use it but is better than i thought it would be.

 

Anyway, source two thin copper pipes one an easy but will hold firm sliding fit inside the other, say 8mm and 6mm, the thicker one longer approx 4ft or about 6" shorter than the track of the narrowest car in your stable, the other long enough to be able to slide to fit your widest tracked car and leave about 6" inside the thicker pipe.

If you bend the thicker pipe slightly so its a gentle curve (to clear undertray etc yet still measure from as close to wheel mid height point as possible), you'll be able to measure, surprisingly accurately, the distance between wheelrims front and rear, when you do this also check the distances at the fattest point of the tyres from the centre of the sidewall (allow for the longer distance, 1mm toe in at the wheel edge may well mean 2mm at the tyre), again front and rear, if you push the car forward a foot or so and recheck you'll find that so long as your wheels are not buckled that you can be pretty accurate measuring the tyres alone like this to get the tracking near enough, then measure from inner wheels for fine tuning.

To set the tyres and suspension, push the car forward to the desired measuring spot and let it come to a halt in the straight ahead position without using the footbrake.

After making any adjustments, roll the car back several feet then forward again to the measuring spot.

 

No its not as good as a laser alignment too, obviously not cos its a Heath Robinson effort, but in my humble it's every bit as good as the right equipment in the hands of some pissed off youth who doesn't give a fuck.

 

Someone on another forum has laid two ladders or other straight edged tools against the wheels and measured between the ladders at various points along the length in front of the car, you could certainly get this method to set an accurate parallel and then make any minor adjustment using common sense or back of fag packet maths to fine tune.

[kirton]

For Bren and his toilet

 

tie a plastic bag around the head of a mop and plunge it into the (not too full) toilet bowl, the pressure generated clerss the blockage  has worked well for me several times and is free and not messy;  hope it works for you

 

Only two posts so have to find somewhere to put the suggestion

[barrett]

Right. Did the Dartford crossing a couple of weeks ago. Missed my 24hr window for paying, but paid online within two days. Just got two letters in the post today saying I have a penalty for not paying.

Now, I know I only have to pay another fiver, but I really don't want to give The Man free money, so can I just ignore it and wait for then to come knocking with the receipt for my payment as evidence, or shall I attempt to sort it out??

 

Advice welcome

[Station]

has worked well for me several times and is free and not messy;

Kirtons dinner, yesterday:

 

[Clanger]

Will this polish out?

 

[andrew e]

Right. Did the Dartford crossing a couple of weeks ago. Missed my 24hr window for paying, but paid online within two days. Just got two letters in the post today saying I have a penalty for not paying.

Now, I know I only have to pay another fiver, but I really don't want to give The Man free money, so can I just ignore it and wait for then to come knocking with the receipt for my payment as evidence, or shall I attempt to sort it out??

Advice welcome

Ring em up, and argue the toss, they are pretty negotiable. Even so I have an account and update it to suit, just easier IMHO.

[barefoot]

Stupid pineapple scene question.

I have a t2, the back of which was lower than the front

presumably because the suspension had become tired of all that weight over the years.

I had the front lowered using dropped, (raised) spindles and almost everything is fine.

It's a bit lower at the front now, it still rides smoothly enough but...

Before, it was superb in the snow, now it is utterly dire.

What can possibly have caused this?

I've asked the question on specialised vw fora*, only to be told that it's because

I've not been properly scene and lowered the back to match.

Any ideas?

 

 

 

*the plural of forum?

[spike60]

Stupid pineapple scene question.

I have a t2, the back of which was lower than the front

presumably because the suspension had become tired of all that weight over the years.

I had the front lowered using dropped, (raised) spindles and almost everything is fine.

It's a bit lower at the front now, it still rides smoothly enough but...

Before, it was superb in the snow, now it is utterly dire.

What can possibly have caused this?

I've asked the question on specialised vw fora*, only to be told that it's because

I've not been properly scene and lowered the back to match.

Any ideas?

 

 

 

*the plural of forum?

Camber angles changed altering the tyres footprint?

[Pillock]

Spindles won't change front camber and if I read that right, the back hasn't been changed.

 

What's less good about it, oh naked footed one? Traction, handling, everything?

 

I figure it's got to be something to do with weight distribution.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Could of died today...

 

In a Citroen Xsara going downhill, indicate for my turning, brake. Then 'pop' from the front somewhere, then shoot past my turning as no brakes....

 

If you really stamp on the pedal you just about have rear brakes but the pedal is still hard and no fluid loss so must be an internal seal on the master cylinder surely??? Not looked yet too wet and dark

[Lacquer Peel]

The Caddy's wipers are driving me nuts, they go on when they feel like it. Sometimes when I'm indicating or turning the steering wheel, other times when I'm driving straight along the road. Does it sound like an earth problem?

[DeeJay]

The Caddy's wipers are driving me nuts, they go on when they feel like it. Sometimes when I'm indicating or turning the steering wheel, other times when I'm driving straight along the road. Does it sound like an earth problem?

Could be a bit of bare wire (insulating worn through).

[Des]

Is it possible to check and set a cars tracking at home with, say, bluetac and string?

 

I have a lazy version of GordonBennets invention, look out for an old mop, the extendible one where there's an inner and outer telescopic part that's locked by twisting, remove the mop head and the plastic hanging up bit and there's your gauge, although not having the doglegs makes it a bit more suited to jeeps and vans. I've refined by welding a nut in each end, to take long screws with a 0.5 mm thread pitch, gives a kind of micrometer means of measuring, quarter turn of a screw is 0.125, I suppose that's a reliable / repeatable kind of a tolerance, especially with a spirit level cable tied to the bastard

[barefoot]

Spindles won't change front camber and if I read that right, the back hasn't been changed.

What's less good about it, oh naked footed one? Traction, handling, everything?

I figure it's got to be something to do with weight distribution.

It's very much as before, rides softly, handles ok, obviously looks cooler*

But in snow and mud, where it was once good, it is hopeless.

It's very odd.

[sierraman]

If you are selling a car that's uninsured, then when a test drive comes along, do you just ask them for proof they have insurance that covers driving another car eg fully comp? Or does the car itself have to be insured for someone to drive it?

[Station]

Could of died today...

 

In a Citroen Xsara going downhill, indicate for my turning, brake. Then 'pop' from the front somewhere, then shoot past my turning as no brakes....

 

If you really stamp on the pedal you just about have rear brakes but the pedal is still hard and no fluid loss so must be an internal seal on the master cylinder surely??? Not looked yet too wet and dark

 

It sounds like it, it's now sucking air in through the master cylinder, or is just not pumping anything at all. They're easy to repair, four bolts hold it onto the servo, and a circlip holds the whole sprung mechanism together, it's a satisfying job to do at the sink.

[The Moog]

If you are selling a car that's uninsured, then when a test drive comes along, do you just ask them for proof they have insurance that covers driving another car eg fully comp? Or does the car itself have to be insured for someone to drive it?

Continuous insurance rules mean that it has to have insurance and tax otherwise it is sorn and shouldnt be on road.

[Stroller133]

If you are selling a car that's uninsured, then when a test drive comes along, do you just ask them for proof they have insurance that covers driving another car eg fully comp? Or does the car itself have to be insured for someone to drive it?

I Suspect that this a bit like the A-framing question and hours could be spent arguing either way. Over recent years all my insurance has specified in the wording that the "other car" needs to be insured, so for me, now it's quite clear. However in the past when the certificate just said I could drive Any other car not belonging to me, I would have driven it regardless of whether the vehicle was insured. A friend disagreed and always claimed it needed to be insured by the owner too, if you leave it on the public highway after driving it, it would no longer covered once you leave the. This made some sense I suppose.

[Richard]

It just isn't worth the risk of having a car on the road that isn't on the MID. The police impound first and ask questions later.

[sierraman]

Plus a fine, points, headache etc... I was enquiring as I'd looked at a car I could potentially make a few hundred on. However that plus the mouth breathers coming back whinging about this that and the other puts me off.

[The Moog]

I Suspect that this a bit like the A-framing question and hours could be spent arguing either way. Over recent years all my insurance has specified in the wording that the "other car" needs to be insured, so for me, now it's quite clear. However in the past when the certificate just said I could drive Any other car not belonging to me, I would have driven it regardless of whether the vehicle was insured. A friend disagreed and always claimed it needed to be insured by the owner too, if you leave it on the public highway after driving it, it would no longer covered once you leave the. This made some sense I suppose.

There was case law that stopping even to pop to shop was considered the continuous journey so was still insured 3rd party.

 

But as Richard stated nowadays it isn't worth the grief arguing about it. Computer is always right.

[DSdriver]

Could of died today...

 

In a Citroen Xsara going downhill, indicate for my turning, brake. Then 'pop' from the front somewhere, then shoot past my turning as no brakes....

 

If you really stamp on the pedal you just about have rear brakes but the pedal is still hard and no fluid loss so must be an internal seal on the master cylinder surely??? Not looked yet too wet and dark

Glad you lived to tell the tale. I thought conventional braking systems worked diagonally to prevent such an occurrence. Much prefer the LHM system meself, takes fluid from steering, then suspension before dissing the brakes.

[cort16]

Mrs C opened the passenger door of her a2 for the first time the other day and found a mushroom farm growing on the bottom of the door.

I just went out give it a bleaching and when I opened the door a load of water sloshed out. I recon there's water getting trapped in by there by the door seal used to keep the water out from the outside. Good job it's aloominum or there'd probably be a manky great hole there now.

 

I've not got any idea were it's coming in. Any ideas? I've google it but can't find anything obvious.

[Pillock]

Normally though, the door seal is towards the inner edge of the door, so water can slosh up the gap between door and sill but won't get any further. Shouldn't be anything to trap it in there. Can't seal the outside of the door I wouldn't have thought as the water that makes it past the window weather strip usually comes out the bottom of the door.

 

On the plus side, free mushrooms.

[Station]

What are those A2's like to drive? I've liked one for a bit.

[anonymous user]

The Caddy's wipers are driving me nuts, they go on when they feel like it. Sometimes when I'm indicating or turning the steering wheel, other times when I'm driving straight along the road. Does it sound like an earth problem?

Daft question, do the wipers work through a relay? My one Volvo 240 had fun when the relay was playing up, either they wouldn't work at all, or you couldn't switch them off.

 

P.s. I know yours is a van but when I read Caddy I think Cadillac,

[spike60]

Has anyone used DVLA form V888? It's the form to find out info held by DVLA on vehicles and I have recently bought a car and wouldn't mind knowing who/where etc. What do I need to put on the form for " what information do you want and why?" and " how are you going to use the information?" Presumably "cos I'm a nosey bastard" won't be good enough!

[nacho man]

Is there a American version of Parkers/honest John type thing were I can while away my days reading American car reviews from the 90's.