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[Skizzer]

Stupid question about K-Seal, raised in the Dedra thread: if I lob a couple of bottles in as a bodge to stop a leak from a badly fitted head gasket, temporarily until I get the head properly reskimmed (and obviously a new new gasket fitted), will it shorten the life of the engine? Does it only do its magic where the leak is (where the pressure is lower?) or will it fur up the cooling system where I don't want it to?

 

(Please forgive use of technical jargon like 'magic' and 'fur up'. It's not called the stupid question amnesty for nothing.)

[ashmicro]

http://www.coolantrepair.co.uk/#/how-k- ... 4519504283

 

I've never heard of it furring up coolantways, if that helps!

[Skizzer]

Thanks Ash, it does help. S'pose I should have googled that myself really

[Cavcraft]

Sales bint type calls to my lad's work today and tells the staff that her company can claim their VAT back for them on tools if they're not self employed. For this service there's a 'mere' 25% fee, or some such robbing bastard amount.

 

Now, is there any truth in being able to claim the VAT back and if so how can an individual do this please? Me laddo let it drop he's spent just shy of three grand on tools and has all the receipts

[Albert Ross]

Yes, you can do it, but you don't need to pay a third party to do it. Speak to your local tax office, as long as he has receipts, all will be well.

[Guest]

Why do rear arches on a car typically go before the fronts?

[alf892]

rear wheel arch lips are usually double skinned and the joint is either spot welded or glued. Eventually damp gets in (and stays!) so it rots. Glued last better......look at Pug 405s/306s......they are glued. I know ford stuck with welding for a long time hence the grot. don't know about any others though

[Cavcraft]

Thanks Albert. Tayne, I'll let you know how gets on. Regarding rear wheel arch rust I agree with the above and would also suggest stones getting flicked up from the front wheels probably chip away at the paintwork over time hence the rear of the sills on some cars are the first bit of them to give way.

I reckon if I drove a brand new car for two months in bad weather and didn't clean it I could highlight exactly where it will rust in coming months or years.

[Pillock]

All the guys I work with claimed for tools, since we weren't provided with our own - you can also claim for laundry tax relief or something daft if they make you wear uniform, which is only a couple of quid a month but adds up over the 6 years or something you can claim in arrears.

[andrew e]

The laundry one works, my mate has claimed for it. As long as your issued clothing. Don't need to be self employed either.

[autofive]

 

what are these wheels from?

 

tyres are 165 R15

[eddyramrod]

4 stud Beetle? Other contenders might be Alfa or Lancia, but I can't offer a positive ID, sorry.

[Wilko220]

Anyone happen to know if a tailgate off a 2-door 1997 Renault Megane will fit a 4-door 1997 Renault Megane?

[Cavcraft]

I'd be amazed if they were different.

[mnde]

What are these coolant hose clips called that are all over my Megane's engine bay?

 

 

 

Do I need special pliers to remove them, and are they single use or re-useable?

 

Thanks,

 

Mark.

[The Moog]

Why put it on the backing? It serves no purpose there. Better to be on the sliders. Copper grease is not meant to be used for ABS appplcations, a high heat resistant silicon grease should be used for that.

 

Always got told to put a smear on the back and then on the edges so the brakes dont squeal when braking. Not silly enough to put it on the brake face Always done it and I thought that HBOL told you to.

[andrew e]

You can reuse those crazed sprung french jubbile clips, if A) you don't break your fingers removing them, they don't launch 200 yards away, C) you have the strength to get them back on. Use needle/long nose pliers/water pump pliers, and have some spare quality jubbilies to replace them with. If you can nip them, then spin the tabs (clockwise-anti clockwise) to an angle thats easy to work with.

[trigger]

What are these coolant hose clips called that are all over my Megane's engine bay?

 

Do I need special pliers to remove them, and are they single use or re-useable?.

 

I had these on my Bora, they are reusable and you just need a pair of plumbers joint pliers like these, you squeeze them and the slide back, fitment is reverse of removal..

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fatmax-groove ... 50mm/74176

[mnde]

What are these coolant hose clips called that are all over my Megane's engine bay?

 

Do I need special pliers to remove them, and are they single use or re-useable?.

 

I had these on my Bora, they are reusable and you just need a pair of plumbers joint pliers like these, you squeeze them and the slide back, fitment is reverse of removal..

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fatmax-groove ... 50mm/74176

 

Ah I see! So there's no need to remove them at all, you just tweak with the pliers, slide/ease them back then twist the hose off the stub etc... Thanks Trig!

 

Mark.

[worldofceri]

I use mole grips to get them off. To be fair, they're less of a faff than regular jubilee clips once you get the hang.

[meggersdog]

. Use needle/long nose pliers/water pump pliers, and have some spare quality jubbilies to replace them with .

 

These spring clips are designed to expand and retract with the temperature changes of the engines cooling system.Many of the housings are plastic so replacing them with jubilee clips can cause the plastics to crack as jubilee clips stay tight.

[andrew e]

Cheers for that fella, I figure there was a real reason

[garycox]

Anyone happen to know if a tailgate off a 2-door 1997 Renault Megane will fit a 4-door 1997 Renault Megane?

 

Don't the 2-doors have a boot rather than a hatch?

[Wilko220]

New ones possibly - but I mean one of this vintage...

 

[Volksy]

The Megane Coupe shown, is a 2 door with a boot, not a hatchback, so the boot lid will not fit a 5 door hatch, or a 4 door saloon.

 

To save confusion, a 2 door car is a saloon (no entry to the cabin from the boot lid)

a 3 door is a Hatchback (you can access the cabin through the boot lid)

a 4 door is a Saloon

a 5 door is a hatchback

[Pillock]

Yeah the window is fixed on the Mk1 Megane coupe.

The boot is quite large with the stupidest, most annoyingly tiny opening ever. The lid doesn't lift up high enough not to get in the way.

[Wilko220]

Oh I see - deceptive appearance.

 

Thanks chaps.

[Timewaster]

My stupid question, generally aimed at the Ebay tat thread....

 

SALTY. Does it mean overpriced or falling apart or what?

The only clue I can think of is the Top Gear episode where Hammond and May do minicabbing in peoples own cars and try to slag them seruptitiously.

 

Help me, I R numpty.

[Cavcraft]

Salty=over priced.

[Negative Creep]

Ah, I was thinking it meant a but rusty