Ask a Shiter

[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...).

[djimbob]

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?

 

Something on the car is using electric when it shunt, so best to google how to check for electric drain, and no doubt you will find a helpful youtube instructional video. Easy ish ways to tell involve pulling fuses and using a meter to see which electrical circuit is playing silly buggers!

[outlaw118]

I've been a bit naughty and got tugged for speeding ; copper put 90 on the ticket despite both of us knowing I was going a bit quicker than that... (in my defense i'd just driven 200 odd miles and I was "wagging my tail" as it were....)

 

This was March 10th, and I've heard nowt.

 

Have I got away with it?

[Richard]

 

 

Have I got away with it?

 

No. The much-quoted two weeks doesn't apply because the NIP is delivered at the time. It can be six months or more before you get a summons. I'm not sure what the exact time limit is but it's much more than a couple of weeks.

[djimbob]

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.

 

I read somewhere it was an optional extra that many Japanese manufacturers offered in the domestic market, and was marketed as a "winter pack," along with other niceties for cold weather, can't for the life of me remember where, as I've had loads of these motors, I remember the Mazda Bongo I had sported the twin battery and 4x4 options, very cool.

Not as unusual as the "joyful talk" intercom between front and back of the Toyota Hiace, and then there was the Toyota Sera with it's own perfumed dispenser for the ladies - genius  

[Guest Hooli]

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?

 

My first guess is the reg/rec in the alternator. Just because I've had a few diodes fail there & cause this issue.

 

The other poster saying measure current & pull fuses has the best way of working it out though.

[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?

Couple of days letting it soak meant a BFO hammer and pry bar against the clamp had it free

[Jazoli]

 

 

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?

Yes I'd say so as that's the wheel with all the load on it whilst turning right, it makes sense but with being italian its probably 20p stuck in the handbrake mech that's causing it.

[oldcars]

Something on the car is using electric when it shunt, so best to google how to check for electric drain, and no doubt you will find a helpful youtube instructional video. Easy ish ways to tell involve pulling fuses and using a meter to see which electrical circuit is playing silly buggers!

Thanks, i will see if i can get a mate to help don't know how to check elec using a meter.

[Guest Hooli]

^^ Dead easy.

 

Take earth cable off (as there is only ever one). Put ammeter between cable & batt - read display.

Pull fuses till current drain shown drops & that's what's causing it.

 

I'd suggest a meter reading to 10amps to start with, your drain will be much less than that but it's safe & will still show fractions on an amp.

 

Oh, don't start it like this. Unless you like your meter burnt of course.

[forddeliveryboy]

@forddeliverboy

 

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

 

Dunno, it could be a steal - you just don't know until you have a good look for yourself. That white turbo-d on ebay would be ideal as a first CX, it sounds like it's been looked after and everything sorted to make it a very useable machine, but it's of little use unless you have a regular journey over 30 miles on open roads - big old Cits are not intended as mantelpiece objects or shopping trolleys. 

 

I've yet to find a car which is as fast, below-the-radar and capable of vast distances in less time than a mainline train as a petrol turbo CX - simply amazing. Unlike the GTi models, engine noise doesn't make itself known as the turbo smoothes and quietens, plus long, long gearing. There's just the steady rush of air as in aircraft, with a ride like a sailing boat on the plane. Can't begin to describe the magic, but it made other very fast and hugely expensive machines feel very ordinary and cheaply engineered.