Ask a Shiter

[twosmoke300]

Check your meter - some digi meters voltage readings climb when the batteries get low

[stripped fred]

After 10 hours of trickle charging and left overnight it now shows 11.97v. So I think it's scrap. Another stupid question, will the scrap man give me anything for it or should I just take it to the tip?

[skattrd]

After 10 hours of trickle charging and left overnight it now shows 11.97v. So I think it's scrap. Another stupid question, will the scrap man give me anything for it or should I just take it to the tip?

 

It's done on weight and scrap prices, so don't expect a lot .. I think I got £4-5 each for the last ones I weighed in.

[gordonbennet]

Funny you should mention Varta batteries RayMK, dunno if they are the same now but they used to be the dogs bollocks.

 

There was a mighty great sod sitting in the 940 Diesel Volvo when we got it, it wasn't new then, it did its job for years on end with us, when the glow plugs gradually failed it could turn the engine over for minutes at a time without slowing till the old girl fired up, my sister bought the car off us (should never have let it go), used to jump start her Volvo artic when the poxy thing went flat which was every bank hol unless she turned off the master switch, so that thing lasted all sorts of abuse over 10 years that we know about and it was new then, do they make 'em like that any more i wonder.

People say Bosch are the same battery, but my experience of them over the last 10 years has been disappointing.

 

I buy Yuasa when possible now.

[myglaren]

My original battery was a Varta, replacement a Yuasa.

Turned out the Varta was fine (11 years old) and was put back, Yuasa stuck in meter cupboard (charged) and forgotten for six months - dead as a doornail

The Varta went with the car.

 

Although the no-name and under spec battery in the current C5 was actually OK and it was the starter that was seized, I had a new Bosch put in.  Had asked for a Varta but couldn't get one at the time but they told me that the Varta and Bosch production line was one and the same.

Time will tell.

[Bfg]

SKINNY  TYRES

 

Last night I was looking at the prices of tyres for my Shitroen Ami 1-ltr.  Mine are way past their best used by date. 135-R15's are not a commonly used size to be competitively priced.  Michelin tyres are best part of £100 a piece.   I see Nankang, Toyo, Camac, Firestone, Maxxis, Pirelli and a couple of others make this size..   but I also see that the 'convenience tyre' for the Honda Accord (2006) use this size..  I suspect that these would be no good for daily use..  but perhaps someone here has a suggestion for five tyres of 135-R15 or 145-R15 ? 

cheers, Bfg

[TataBobu]

Those Nankangs look good to me: http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110&cart_id=15175227.110.767&sowigan=So&Breite=135&Quer=&Felge=15&Speed=S&kategorie=6&ranzahl=4&S_Z=R&tyre_for=&x_tyre_for=&m_s=3&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW&Label=F-B-72-3&details=Ordern&typ=D-105380

[Bfg]

Those Nankangs look good to me: http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110&cart_id=15175227.110.767&sowigan=So&Breite=135&Quer=&Felge=15&Speed=S&kategorie=6&ranzahl=4&S_Z=R&tyre_for=&x_tyre_for=&m_s=3&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW&Label=F-B-72-3&details=Ordern&typ=D-105380

 

Great price - Thanks..   I'll be looking for all season tyres, so the Maxxis AP2 seem good bet

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110&cart_id=15175227.110.767&Breite=135&Quer=80&Felge=15&Speed=&Load=&kategorie=6&Marke=&ranzahl=4&tyre_for=&x_tyre_for=&rsmFahrzeugart=ALL&filter_preis_bis=&filter_preis_von=&homologation=&search_tool=standard&Label=F-B-69-2&details=Ordern&typ=R-282084

 

...but first Taiwanese and now Chinese ??

[mat_the_cat]

Funny you should mention Varta batteries RayMK, dunno if they are the same now but they used to be the dogs bollocks.

 

8 years for the Varta in the van, possibly only finished off by the fact the regulator failed and it was charging at 15+ volts. Discovery battery is 5 years old, BX 4 years (both Varta too) and all still lasting well. Time will tell...

[mjrose]

What does it mean when the mot check website can't find your vehicle?

 

A friend has just bought a 58 plate crafter with 52k miles on and I reckon it's clocked. Worn pedal rubbers and wheel, generally tired looking. I'm disappointed there is no evidence on the mot checker website.

[Richard]

It's probably had a change of plate. The old MOT checker used to take account of this, but the new one doesn't.

 

http://www.ukvehicle.com/ will tell you what the previous number was for free, and presumably all previous plates if you pay. I think https://totalcarcheck.co.uk/ will give you the plate history if you pay too, and they are cheap.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Why do modern Ford Fiestas have Aston Martin front ends?

 

Unadulterated:

 

My nan:

 

Bastard:

 

New Fiesta:

[LC Torana]

Not just the Fiesta.

 

Here's our current model (and last-ever) Falcon:

 

[The Moog]

How can I get a rusted screw out from inside the armrest of the swift?

 

There are two screws at bottom of a plastic well that I need to remove to get able take the door off. One of them is rusted and rounded.

[320touring]

Pull!

 

then you can wind it out with some pliers once door card is off. if refitting use a washer:)

[The Moog]

Pull!

 

then you can wind it out with some pliers once door card is off. if refitting use a washer:)

Cheers

[mjrose]

It's probably had a change of plate. The old MOT checker used to take account of this, but the new one doesn't.

 

http://www.ukvehicle.com/ will tell you what the previous number was for free, and presumably all previous plates if you pay. I think https://totalcarcheck.co.uk/ will give you the plate history if you pay too, and they are cheap.

Thanks very muchly!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Today, on the M25, I saw an army recovery vehicle, the sort they use for towing tank transporters with.

Somehow it had a Wolf 110 attached to the back of it, it was sitting at at least 45 degrees, with the front end about 6' up in the air.

My stupid question is ,why was the O/S/F wheel spinning at high speed? Assuming it hadn't been left ( or was stuck) in gear, even then I'd have thought the centre diff would prevent this, or would the diff lock have to be engaged?

Probably just me being retarded.

[Guest Hooli]

Today, on the M25, I saw an army recovery vehicle, the sort they use for towing tank transporters with.

Somehow it had a Wolf 110 attached to the back of it, it was sitting at at least 45 degrees, with the front end about 6' up in the air.

My stupid question is ,why was the O/S/F wheel spinning at high speed? Assuming it hadn't been left ( or was stuck) in gear, even then I'd have thought the centre diff would prevent this, or would the diff lock have to be engaged?

Probably just me being retarded.

 That is why you shouldn't tow a perm 4x4 with two wheels in the air.

 

You know when you turn one wheel on a car, the other side turns the other way? you get the same thing at the centre diff & then the front diff spins it all off to one side due to uneven drag & you get the effect you saw. Normally it's then followed by the planetary gears over heating & either the front or centre diff going pop.

[angle]

Right then. My XUD Xantia is starting to sometimes overheat at speed - fine at idle or low revs, but 2500rpm+, up a hill or going fast, and it gets 10-15 degrees hotter than it should. Coolant isn't pressurising, fans are coming on, heater works. When it does it, the radiator is cold, other times its normal temperature. So far simple enough - blocked rad or thermostat stuck closed, right? Thing is, both radiator and thermostat are brand new, fitted at the beginning of the month. So - anything else? Or am I looking at taking stuff apart that's just been fitted? (Yay)

[skattrd]

Airlock?

[320touring]

MOAR BOOST is always the answer with an XUD!

 

seriously though, likely either an air lock or a jammed thermostat..

[Lacquer Peel]

New thermostat is no guarantee of a functioning thermostat, new aftermarket ones can be utter shit but it's usually the other way around - thermostat stuck open.

 

People talk about complicated coolant bleeding procedures for XUDs but letting the engine idle with the coolant cap off works for me.

[twosmoke300]

Not complicated just 2or three bleeders to open and possibly park uphill

[angle]

Yep, sorry, was thinking airlock as well - but the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking thermostat given its intermittent, and only started happening 500 miles or so after everything was fitted - surely air in the system ought to be obvious more or less straight away? Genuine Citroen one as well, bastards.

 

Ta, all.

[HH-R]

Has anyone on here had a William towns era Lagonda?

[Kiltox]

Changing a steering rack on an MX5 - everything is loose but I'm struggling to remove the rod that comes from the steering column from the clamp on the rack - I've fully removed the pinch bolt

 

Soaked it in penetrating oil but access is awkward to spread the clamp any more - any tips for removing it?

[Station]

Remove steering wheel with shaft/column

[Dave_Q]

Just been asked to look at a neighbour's 57 plate citroen C3 1.4 pez.

 

Starts but cuts out after about 3 seconds.

Any suggestions? Was going to have a crack at cleaning out the throttle body but beyond that no idea.

[himoverthere]

Just been asked to look at a neighbour's 57 plate citroen C3 1.4 pez.

 

Starts but cuts out after about 3 seconds.

Any suggestions? Was going to have a crack at cleaning out the throttle body but beyond that no idea.

Definitely sounds fuel related - but can't be the fuel filter because they don't have one, apparently.

 

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32434