Ask a Shiter

[Danblez]

Something I have always wondered is when a car nearly stalls but then just recovers there is an awful, deep clattery noise. What on earth causes that noise as it doesn't sound too health but cant be anything bad

[RayMK]

Something I have always wondered is when a car nearly stalls but then just recovers there is an awful, deep clattery noise. What on earth causes that noise as it doesn't sound too health but cant be anything bad

 

Probably the exhaust bashing the body.  Can be alleviated by replacing worn engine mountings/exhaust mountings or just avoid nearly stalling  . 

[darkfour]

International Driving Permits:Do I need one?

 

I'm planning a trip to the UK and then onto southern Spain. I've hired cars in the UK before and never been asked for one but what about Spain? I have a US and UK driving license but I'll be renting the car with my US one which apparently isn't recognized in Spain (given how badly they drive in the US i'm not really surprised).

 

If I carry my UK license too will this be ok to use as the IDP even if it's not on the rental agreement?

[egg]

power steering on the mondeo is heavier than I'd expect.

 

Would changing the PAS fluid make it any lighter or just smoother?

[skattrd]

Changing fluid won't hurt, or cost much, so just change it and see if it improves.

 

Try putting more air in the tyres if it's too heavy.

[LC Torana]

Is there a filter in your power steering?  If there is, change that too at the same time.

[Richard]

You would be better off tracking down what's making the steering heavy. It could be track rod ends, ball joints, strut top bearings or even worn tyres.

[stripped fred]

The driver's electric window switch was a bit dodgy when I got my 406 last year. It would only work if you lifted it and pushed it at the same time due to a poor connection. Eventually it stopped working the majority of the time so I got a replacement switch unit off eBay for £19. It worked fine for several months every time until now. I think electrically it must be ok as it makes a clicking noise but the the motor isn't doing it's job. Is it worth me stripping the door card off and lubricating the motor or runners?

Anyone had this problem before?

[Des]

Something I have always wondered is when a car nearly stalls but then just recovers there is an awful, deep clattery noise. What on earth causes that noise as it doesn't sound too health but cant be anything bad

 

That's the ignition, the range of the advance goes from a few degrees before top for idling and gets to dozens of degrees at big revs, so at sub tickover speed the ignition is unsuitably advanced, and we're under load so things get all pre-ignition Mike Yarwood diesel impersionation.

[djimbob]

You would be better off tracking down what's making the steering heavy. It could be track rod ends, ball joints, strut top bearings or even worn tyres.

 

or even underinflated tyres, surprising how often that happens!

[djimbob]

Anyone had this problem before?

 

Get it stripped and see what happens, or leave it, as the French user would do

[HH-R]

Anyone had this problem before?

Is the clicking coming from the switch, under dash or door?

[Asimo]

International Driving Permits:Do I need one?

 

I'm planning a trip to the UK and then onto southern Spain. I've hired cars in the UK before and never been asked for one but what about Spain? I have a US and UK driving license but I'll be renting the car with my US one which apparently isn't recognized in Spain (given how badly they drive in the US i'm not really surprised).

 

If I carry my UK license too will this be ok to use as the IDP even if it's not on the rental agreement?

UK licence is as valid in Spain as in UK: EU standardisation etc. Why rent on the US licence?

[Pillock]

Saw an odd one last night, a LHD Volvo 440 in red, on a 64 plate...

 

It exists as the driver got in the wrong lane to come into Marlow and faced the wrath of everyone trying to leave the industrial estate so I had a good proper look as he slowly tried to merge back into the lane he should have been in, deffo LHD, deffo on a 64 plate with new looking plates.

 

Import?

 

Possibly an import and the DVLA has messed up, but could also be from a foreign land that uses xx99xxx as the format for their plates and just happens to be 64.

[stripped fred]

Is the clicking coming from the switch, under dash or door?

The clicking noise comes from inside the door. Like a solenoid noise or the motor is trying to work but can't.

[doobietoo]

if it clicks all the time you hold the switch down its most likely the cog/ other type of mechanism that has worn / broken allowing the motor to turn but not actually moving the window...

[stripped fred]

if it clicks all the time you hold the switch down its most likely the cog/ other type of mechanism that has worn / broken allowing the motor to turn but not actually moving the window...

There's just the one click. I think it might be getting stuck and it thinks there is something in the way so won't operate the motor. I'll tet and get the door card off and have a closer look.

[stripped fred]

There's just the one click. I think it might be getting stuck and it thinks there is something in the way so won't operate the motor. I'll tet and get the door card off and have a closer look.

Fixed! That was easy. Sprayed some silicone spray down the side of the window and voila, it now works! One of the rear windows was really slow taking about 30 seconds so gave that a good dosing too and it's now fine. Did them all in the end. Worth noting fellow old car enthusiasts if you didn't know already. I like this silicone spray stuff. Cured the leaks on my mr2 t-bar roof with it too as the seals had become dry.

[sierraman]

Anyone know if you can get an auxiliary belt 'kit' (belt, tensioner and pulley) for a Mk1 mondeo? thanks. Sold individually by different manufacturers on ebay (£61 just for tensioner! )

 

I know about the cambelt kit (FINIS 1112530)

No, you can buy the idler, that's about £15-20, you can tell if that's fucked if it feels rough. The other part is the tensioner, which if it isn't doing its job anymore can be freed off with some Plusgas working it back and forwards. You wind it back in by turning the bolt on the tensioner. Putting it back on is a pain though, easier to put the belt on all the pulleys inc the tensioner (with it retracted) then ease it over the water pump pulley. I'd just put a new belt on if it needs one, I wouldn't waste money just changing things for the sake of it. The belts easily last 100k 10 years plus.

[Kiltox]

Anyone got a recommendation for a brake pipe flaring tool that isn't shit?

[wuvvum]

OK, here's a stupid question:  Is Plusgas really that much better than all the other stuff on the market (GT85 etc)?  I've never used it, but a lot of people on here seem to swear by it.

[myglaren]

There is a WD40 penetrating oil that is said to be better - I bought some as there was no Plus-Gas available at the time.

Can't say if it is any better as I ended up not needing it and it is years since I used Plus-Gas.

Always hated the stink of it.  My dad used to dowse everything in it

[Inspector Morose]

Duck oil. Smells nicer.

[stephen01]

What and how much damage could I have done by connecting up the battery the wrong way round for less than 2 seconds, car in question is a 67 herald.

 

Reason I ask is because it wont start, first time ever in 5 years.

[alf892]

Anyone got a recommendation for a brake pipe flaring tool that isn't shit?

One of these

 

 

This is an old Moprod one.........fantastic bit of kit for making neat pipes on the car.

 

I think you can get modern versions on ebay but not sure how good they are.

[Lacquer Peel]

I think you can get modern versions on ebay but not sure how good they are.

 

Aye, there are a lot of things that look the part on eBay but are utter shit when you get them, even if you don't buy the cheapest.

[Bobthebeard]

Why is it so difficult to sell a minty mint 1990 Honda Prelude? Ebay has been tried and failed. Several silly mong questions fielded. FFS.

[Kiltox]

One of these

 

moprod.jpg

 

This is an old Moprod one.........fantastic bit of kit for making neat pipes on the car.

 

I think you can get modern versions on ebay but not sure how good they are.

 

Guess I need to find a more modern equivalent that is still half decent, not sure where to look though!

[Bobthebeard]

No PGM-FI? No 4WS? Rust on the rear wheelarches?

Non of the above really....

[Kiltox]

Anyone ever changed a clutch link rod on a Clio II / Kangoo I ?

Any tips for actually managing to reach where it goes and force the rod onto the ball joint ? (it sits above the pedal box in the most awkward location - I can touch it but not press it with enough strength due to the angle I need to reach in at)