Ask a Shiter

[cros]

My Astra actually increases the revs as you bring the clutch up when in gear. If you're sat at the lights, dip clutch, put it in first and slowly raise to biting point it goes from 800rpm to 1000rpm just before it bites.

Essentially, in a lot of new stuff, the throttle pedal is merely a suggestion. I bet you don't get WOT unless the computer decides you really deserve it either.

 

I did find out that the Astra also restarts the engine for you if you stall it. Try and pull off in third, stall, dip clutch, it starts again without touching the key.

I'd get an exorcist to have a look at it if it was mine.

[worldofceri]

I thought there were still lots of points-equipped cars available right up until cats became compulsory (93ish?)

 

I've never seen a Plurihell with the roof removed.

[scdan4]

will the return pipe keep the fuel cool by cycling it a bit? preventing vapour lock.

[RayMK]

will the return pipe keep the fuel cool by cycling it a bit? preventing vapour lock.

 

Possibly, depending on the car.  I know of a Reliant Regal that was modified to have a choked (small orifice) return T'd off between its mechanical fuel pump and the carb.  The small return flow kept the engine bay fuel pipework at near tank temperature (i.e. much lower than engine bay temperature) but did not starve the carb when performance* was demanded.

[cros]

The anti vapour lock sounds plausible. Since I will be mostly on LPG I think I can spare myself the arse of running a pipe back to the tank and poking a hole to get it in.

[rainagain]

I was asked to look at a friend of a friends car last night, a 2007 Mondeo Tdci. It had cut out and refused to start, their breakdown company had said the camshaft sensor was faulty. They had replaced this but it still wouldn't start, when I got to it I found the fault codes had been erased. I used a Bluetooth OBD dongle and turned the engine over, I got an RPM reading only once then just 0. The engine turns over but doesn't make any attempt to start, there's no smell of diesel in the exhaust so I'm thinking the crankshaft sensor has failed hence why there's no rpm being read, no diesel being injected and no fault codes. Does this sound right?

[CreepingJesus]

Quick question about the V70 (B5252 engine): it's using a bit of oil and water, not a lot but it's steady. The header tank is clean and properly pressurised, and the oil cap is clean. Exhaust is clean and not steaming/smoking/stinking (unlike owner). However, there's slight traces of mayonnaise on the dipstick.

Am I right in assuming this is the early stages of OMGHGF?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I have a calcium car battery which I depleted a bit (not completely flat, just not enough to start a car). My trusty 1990s battery charger will not charge it. I read online that I need a special charger to charge calcium car batteries. 

 

Does that mean my trusty 1990s alternator will also not charge this type of battery?

[Kiltox]

Loads of batteries are calcium these days arent they - even the cheap shite from ECP

I charge such shit with a crap old charger probably older than yours and it's fine

 

I thought it was only AGM batteries that needed special chargers

[panhard65]

3 questions. First has anyone ever seen a Citroen Muriel driving without its roof on?

 

Next question, I've just bought a modern 2.5 Landover petrol engine to stick in an old car, and I was surprised that something from the late 80's /early 90's was still fitted with points ignition. Along with round headlamps is this the lastest vehicle to be so-equipped?

 

Final question, the landrover has a return fuel pipe on its twin choke Weber- what is the purpose of it and can I do away with it?

Citroen pluriel with the roof off here you go

The car was so shit I broke it for spares as it was worth more in parts. Here it is with the factory cover on. The sides are really easy to take off but you cant take them with you. I had special bags and a stand for mine.

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

Where from 1-9.75 on the danger scale would shiters put repairing an e38 fuel tank with pratley putty, and some underseal..

 

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

Does using the wrong colour coolant fubar your engine?

 

Or am i right in whacking in some tap water and a splash of orange antifreeze and hoping for the best.

[nigel bickle]

Why is the battery warning light on my early Uno's glowing, when it's charging normally at 13-14.5?

 

No battery probs, no voltage drop when loaded, never outside of normal parameters.....

 

Or is just being Italian flouncy!

[cros]

Citroen pluriel with the roof off here you go

ebay 049.jpg

The car was so shit I broke it for spares as it was worth more in parts. Here it is with the factory cover on. The sides are really easy to take off but you cant take them with you. I had special bags and a stand for mine.

That's a lovely cover. I now understand how it all worked.

[castros_bro]

Silver calcium batteries generally require more charging voltage (14.4 to 14.8 V) and may not be functional in older vehicles because their power generating systems give lower voltages than those of modern vehicles. This also may occur with battery chargers if they are run level charge voltage of 13.6V  which may fail to charge these batteries. Cheap crappy unintelligent 1970's non regulated chargers should charge them but not very quickly. Also see Yer Ford smart charge system for the full horror.

 

 

 

I have a calcium car battery which I depleted a bit (not completely flat, just not enough to start a car). My trusty 1990s battery charger will not charge it. I read online that I need a special charger to charge calcium car batteries. 

 

Does that mean my trusty 1990s alternator will also not charge this type of battery?

[Pillock]

Does using the wrong colour coolant fubar your engine?

 

Or am i right in whacking in some tap water and a splash of orange antifreeze and hoping for the best.

 

Depends what's in there. Blue to Orange goes all goopy and thick. I've got a feeling some colours are OK to mix but I'm not brave enough to suggest which they might be, as I'm wrong over 75% of the time.

 

Worst case is "hoping for the best" results in a massive lack of cooling as your engine gets hot and pops the head gasket or something. Can you tell what colour is meant to be in there or does it currently have the colour of a post-vindaloo WateryShit?

[Stanky]

Can you not get 'universal' stuff which my simple brain translates as 'will mix with existing stuff without catastrophic results'?

 

Or, several flushes with just plain water ought* to rid your cooling system of most of whatever is in there currently, ready for whatever ECP is knocking out cheap at the time.

[CreepingJesus]

Why is the battery warning light on my early Uno's glowing, when it's charging normally at 13-14.5?

 

No battery probs, no voltage drop when loaded, never outside of normal parameters.....

 

Or is just being Italian flouncy!

Checked the alternator earth line?

[rainagain]

I was asked to look at a friend of a friends car last night, a 2007 Mondeo Tdci. It had cut out and refused to start, their breakdown company had said the camshaft sensor was faulty. They had replaced this but it still wouldn't start, when I got to it I found the fault codes had been erased. I used a Bluetooth OBD dongle and turned the engine over, I got an RPM reading only once then just 0. The engine turns over but doesn't make any attempt to start, there's no smell of diesel in the exhaust so I'm thinking the crankshaft sensor has failed hence why there's no rpm being read, no diesel being injected and no fault codes. Does this sound right?

Ok we changed the cranks sensor, still doesn't start, still no movement of the Rev counter when cranking. Any ideas?

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

Hi lads.. Dropped the coolant after the water pump shat itself on the a46 (had two cars kick the bucket on the same 10 mile stretch :/ ) it was like bisto haha,

 

So that went into my old lades caserole pan, Did the water pump (leaked the first time cos i had no idea what i was doing), Winter apperead so i left the car stood.. Had another pop at the water pump with my old boy a week ago used a bit of gasket sealant either side this time.. That went well so flushed the system with a shatload of water boxed it up and put some shell universal antifreeze in and tap water.

 

Thats whats in it now, So im guessing its all above board if you just dont mix types of coolant , Regards.

[Guest Hooli]

 

Final question, the landrover has a return fuel pipe on its twin choke Weber- what is the purpose of it and can I do away with it?

 

Sometimes these are because the pressure from the fuel pump can force the needle valve open & flood the carb.

[cros]

Sometimes these are because the pressure from the fuel pump can force the needle valve open & flood the carb.

The car has a nice gentle points type SU pump, you sometimes have to whack it with a spanner to make it work, but it shouldn't make the carb flood.

[cros]

Does using the wrong colour coolant fubar your engine?

 

 

 

Or am i right in whacking in some tap water and a splash of orange antifreeze and hoping for the best.

I'm under the impression that ancient stuff like I run doesn't like the 'oat' technology anti-freeze (whatever the fuck that is) because it eats some of the metal they used to use. Brass and shit. Anything modern and made from snot and plastic will be fine with it.

I use blue anti freeze, not red, someone might have explained this to me on licenced premises though so don't take too much notice.

[LC Torana]

I use the green coolant in the P6B and the orange one in the 75.

[rainagain]

Ok we changed the cranks sensor, still doesn't start, still no movement of the Rev counter when cranking. Any ideas?

Did some more today, found out why it wouldn't start, the camshaft pulley has come off! I'm assuming that all the valves will now be wrecked?

[Rusty_Rocket]

I'd imagine so, Rainagain

[scdan4]

That sucks. 

[Guest Hooli]

Bugger

[omegod]

Don't know how that pulley has come off, 3 bolts securing it in a vernier type arrangement, maybe a chain swap happened and it wasn't torqued properly  

[rainagain]

I don't know how either, the couple who own it are really hard up at the moment so it couldn't come at a worse time. The wife was actually crying today when I showed it to her.

 

Its done 130,000 miles and never had a belt change(!) so the bolts must have just slowly worked loose over time.