Ask a Shiter

[cort16]

Now that automated manuals have been explained can somebody explain twin clutch gearboxes?

 

[anonymous user]

Chap at petrol station today asked if he could jump start his Isuzzu 4wd thing, he had the leads ready, but they made him push it off the forecourt first. Happily they were decent leads and reached my under-seat battery. Daft question, his vehicle had two batteries under the bonnet, one each side. (we jumped it using the one on the driver's side) I asked him what the other battery was for and he didn't know, do they all have two, in which case why, or is it likely to be some sort of lash up?

[cort16]

Winch maybe?

[Richard]

My Transit has two batteries. As far as I can tell it only uses one when the engine is off and if you flatten that one, which I do quite a lot, it actually jump starts itself.

[Cheggers]

My Merc has a 2 battery set up - one for the roof & toys with the other for starting and running the engine's systems.

[cort1977]

Some Land Cruisers have an auxiliary battery as standard (at least in Australia).   For winches and stuff but may also be able to place in parallel for extra cranking capacity.

[djimbob]

Chap at petrol station today asked if he could jump start his Isuzzu 4wd thing, he had the leads ready, but they made him push it off the forecourt first. Happily they were decent leads and reached my under-seat battery. Daft question, his vehicle had two batteries under the bonnet, one each side. (we jumped it using the one on the driver's side) I asked him what the other battery was for and he didn't know, do they all have two, in which case why, or is it likely to be some sort of lash up?

Japanese winter pack, the North Island gets fucking freezing and many Jap imports have two starter batteries, as does my Transit minibus as it happens

 

Some diesels also have a button which ups the tickover therefore enabling the engine to heat up the cooling system and internal heating in stop start tokyo (other large conurbations are available) traffic - can't for the life of me remember how I know this, apart from owning many Jap import people carriers with these top features!

[Lacquer Peel]

I've seen grey import 4x4s with twin batteries so I'm not sure it's anything to do with a winter pack, just a backup for churning a big indirect injection diesel over when it's cold.

[KruJoe]

Some diesels also have a button which ups the tickover therefore enabling the engine to heat up [quicker].

 

My Pleasure Wagon has this, and it closes a flap to restrict the exhaust too. I've not found a second battery on it though.

It also has a socket for a 110V mains plug-in, I don't know why, or how to use it!

[tooSavvy]

To boil a UK 240V kettle verrry slowwwwwwwly

 

TS

[skattrd]

I know some Scandinavian vehicles had electric sockets fitted so you plug an electric heater in to them.

[bub2006]

I'm sure the Vauxhall Carlton on a A plate 2.3 diesel had two batteries. I never knew why

[Lacquer Peel]

Indirect injection diesels need a lot of heat and electricity to start, especially shitty pig iron ones like that Opel 2.3 diesel.

[Guest Hooli]

My Pleasure Wagon has this, and it closes a flap to restrict the exhaust too. I've not found a second battery on it though.

It also has a socket for a 110V mains plug-in, I don't know why, or how to use it!

 

Pre-heater?

 

Plug the car into the mains & it warms up the coolant ready for you. Needed in some damn cold places or the engine gets so cold the oil turns to sludge & the starter can't turn it over.

[Lacquer Peel]

110v for camping shit I think.

[LC Torana]

110v for camping shit I think.

 

An electric toilet?

[SiC]

110v tools?

[SamR380]

How much is a Citroen CX in good condition worth?

[forddeliveryboy]

How much is a Citroen CX in good condition worth?

 

 

More info required, there are so many combinations of engine/trim/level of care. Its value depends in part on what you want it for. Otherwise answer is £2k-£10k.

 

This doesn't look bad vfm at all, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-CITROEN-CX-25-DTR-TURBO-DIESEL-WHITE-/162007219685?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

 

but if you're looking for a long-term keeper then a S1 may make more sense. 

[SamR380]

More info required...

 

Thanks so far... this is the one:

 

http://www.angliacarauctions.co.uk/en/classic-auctions/latest-classic-car-catalogue/saturday-9th-april/1983-citroen-cx-prestige/

 

Looks far too nice for a 2-3k estimate but I really have no idea what Citroens are worth.

 

[forddeliveryboy]

Mileage 13270 - I'd be hoping it's been round the clock, just the once. Otherwise it could be a hornet's nest of trouble and it would sell for lots more. It could still be a load of trouble, of course - hidden rot which could require someone very used to these machines to spot, damaged longerons (the common one is a bent longeron through jacking at the wrong place - this can render them scrap/need lotsnlots of clever work to rectify) or worn out steering (expensive) and other wear through lack of the correct maintenance.

 

I'd want to have a very thorough poke about before bidding into 4 figures,not just around the steelwork but in the history of the car and who's looked after it and how often. Potential to spend thousands is easy on an old CX. The £2-3k is intended to encourage interest, of course. As long as it's not rotten and cosmetically right, the trade will be watching this - there could be a very quick couple of grand's profit. 

[forddeliveryboy]

Just had a look at the MoT history - it's 113270, by all accounts, and has had plenty of welding. Some in 2012 and some in 2008 in the same area, by the sounds of it. This welding could have been done to a very high standard, meaning the structural integrity is as it ought to be and it's not a mess. And well-protected against future rot. Or it could be just casual patches over old rot, then blasted with underseal. Which would last not very well.

 

Putting right bodged structural repairs is more time-consuming than doing it right in the first place usually, you probably need someone who has taken these cars apart (body off chassis etc) to assess things if you're serious about buying. The welding could be getting ripe but be hidden behind trim/more black stuff, or it could have been a top job which is going to last and last.

 

Successive mentions of play in inner steering joint could be either an MoT tester who doesn't know these machines (the diravi steering and pressure valve brake pedal often makes them edgy, the suspension is the last straw - the inner joints are rubber-sprung but testing diravi is a little different from normal ps) or owner who hasn't bothered with preventative mainenance. 

[KruJoe]

110v for camping shit I think.

 

 

An electric toilet?

 

 

110v tools?

 

110v stools

 

 

Srsly though, it might be something really useful, I ought to ask on TEOC, someone there will know.

[uk_senator]

I'm sure the Vauxhall Carlton on a A plate 2.3 diesel had two batteries. I never knew why

Mine did.. Not only a diesel, but an auto too.. Taught me as much about momentum as my Fiat 126`s did..

[oldcars]

Shuma's battery drains. If i take it out no drain, hooked up to car drains in a few days. I don't know anything about electrics, mate said to check the earth. Do i just take it off and clean it up? What else can i check?

[bub2006]

Mine did.. Not only a diesel, but an auto too.. Taught me as much about momentum as my Fiat 126`s did..

Crikey I bet that could shift .......

[andrew e]

I love the bonnet power* bulge on the diesels.

[sierraman]

Renault used to do an automated manual mk1 Megane called the Easy. Likelihood of one of those being on the road -slim to none!

[drum]

The Alfa has a noisy wheel bearing but I'm not sure which one.

There is no play from any corner. Spinning the wheels by hand doesn't show up anything.

There is no difference in heat after a run from any hub.

The noise increases when going round a right hander and decreases on left handers.

 

Does this point to front passenger wheel?

[SamR380]

@forddeliverboy

 

Thanks for your advice. Perhaps not a good idea for my first Citroen then (not that I need another car...).