Ask a Shiter

[oldcars]

Can i have a car insured but on a sorn?  Something makes me think i cant.

[andy18s]

Yes but not the other way

[andy18s]

Yes but not the other way

When I sold the Rover I switched my insurance over to the Escort,which as been sorned since I bought it 3 years ago....

Really need to get it out the garage....

[oldcars]

Going to sorn the Kia when the tax runs out. Needs a bit of work doing so might as well.

[Kiltox]

Any reason why I wouldn't want to buy a towbar like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Trafic-Van-Towbar-01-to-14-Tow-Bar-/282107170441?hash=item41aee5ce89:g:648AAOSwLnlWmPk6 over a more expensive one?

I assume they need to conform to some kind of standard?

[RayMK]

I would only trust the one illustrated with a very light Halfords type trailer.  The approved ones have been designed (i.e. stresses calculated etc.), manufactured from decent materials and tested.  Pulling a large caravan or a car trailer with a cheapy could be an expensive mistake.

[tooSavvy]

My Toyyo has a very basic tin/twistie fuel cap.. Very neat.

 

However, during our extended mileages of late, if I removed it on a 1/4... Having slurped off a quick £30... it goes 'Foommppp' = big vacuum.

 

As it isn't EFi & has no emissions bollo€s should I drill a 0.5mm hole through it??

 

It has been like this (presumably lol ) for a 1/4 Century!

 

 

TS

[Kiltox]

I would only trust the one illustrated with a very light Halfords type trailer. The approved ones have been designed (i.e. stresses calculated etc.), manufactured from decent materials and tested. Pulling a large caravan or a car trailer with a cheapy could be an expensive mistake.

Probably a good point. I'm getting quoted circa £200 for a Witter bar including fitting so that's looking good to me!

 

Planning to haul a fuck off car transporter trailer so.....

 

Just need to pass my trailer test first!

[GrumpyCat]

A 1999 Megane Scenic has an L shaped bit of plastic near the top of the filler neck that prevents a hose the size of a garden hose being pushed down. You can fit a thinner hose past it or use a hacksaw blade to cut the plastic off.

 

It would be a relatively safe bet that a normal Megane would be the same.

 

Cheers for the info 

[worldofceri]

Any reason why I wouldn't want to buy a towbar like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Trafic-Van-Towbar-01-to-14-Tow-Bar-/282107170441?hash=item41aee5ce89:g:648AAOSwLnlWmPk6 over a more expensive one?

 

I assume they need to conform to some kind of standard?

I've bought towbars from this outfit before and never been less than completely satisfied. They couldn't get away with selling substandard products, they all comply with legislation and will be fit for use at the max weights of whatever vehicle they're intended for. I think they're relatively cheap because:

 

a. They pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap;

b. They are approved under British and EU legislation but aren't submitted for the expensive TÃœV tests and whatever else other countries require, unlike Witter et al;

c. No premium branding bollox.

[Kiltox]

Only concern with them is that it says commercial vehicle products (it's for my Trafic) aren't necessarily approved because they don't need to be

[RayMK]

You are correct, though I think the approval is applicable to all vehicles built after 1998.  Commercials, including campers etc which are based on commercial vehicles, appear to be a seperate category.  There's a lot more on the web if you want the correct info and some reassurance.  The key considerations, apart from the design of the towbar which should transmit the loads through attachment points approved by the vehicle manufacturer, are:

1/  The condition of the vehicle structure should be sound.

2/   The trailer loading must not exceed the vehicle manufacturer's specifications for towing. 

 

Worldofceri is right to point out that Anker Towbars and many other non-Witter brands are bound by British and EU legislation, so they should be a safe bet.  I am more used to seeing towbars which spread the load over a wider area and also have more towbar structure to resist the torsional (i.e. up and down) leverage on the cross beam which is exerted by the towball.  However, if the Traffic towbar looks like the one illustrated (it may be a generic picture), you should be comforted by the fact that Anker have designed the bar to attach in accordance with Renault's requirements.  Why does that still leave me feeling a bit uneasy  ?

[Kiltox]

Hahahaha yeah any Renault requirement leaves me uneasy too!

 

End of the day I'm going to be towing at almost the vehicle's maximum weight from time to time so I need to be certain it's as safe as can be - I'll do more research before committing but a fitted Witter at £200ish seems good

[worldofceri]

It's a generic picture.  All their listings have the same image.

 

I'd go for the 70odd quid one and fit it yourself.  It's only nuts and bolts and it'll come with instructions like a flat-pack wardrobe.  If you can change a wheel you can fit a towbar.  Hard part is usually undoing the rusted fixings for the bumper, undertray of whatever you have to take off to fit it.  Shouldn't be a problem if your Trafic's newish, mind.  I imagine a van's more straightforward than a car generally as they'll be designed with towing more in mind from the outset.

[Kiltox]

It's a 205k mile 53 plate so maybe not so much

[barefoot]

Dropping it again may fix it, or shaking / tapping.

 

 

Well, unsure whether you were kidding or not and not one for mindless violence, I nudged it off the worktop...

& fuck me, it's started working again.

[JeeExEll]

I've a tidy 206 which needs a bit of welding to the underside of both sills for a new mot. Not too crusty but a bit holed after poking about.

 

Looking for a quick fix to make it a cheap daily runabout again, is plating over the cut out areas still ok for mot or does the new metal have to be butt welded in?

 

Have a couple of pics of said Puggett at rest.

 

 

[320touring]

Anyone able to give any tips as to whit to look for on a mk2 Avensis? chap at work keen to try Bangernomics at my suggestion - so looking to punt circa 1300-1500 on one (I know!so much cash)

 

anyways he's wanting me to view some at weekend with him so any pointers would be much appreciated!

 

for info its sub 80k miles 1.8 petrols he is looking at.

 

cheers

[Kiltox]

Oil use is the biggie on those engines I think - if it looks like it's been getting topped up regularly it probably has!

[320touring]

Oil use is the biggie on those engines I think - if it looks like it's been getting topped up regularly it probably has!

cheers-is it classic "mk3 mondeo" oil useage? or pissing out the sump etc?

[Kiltox]

Burning it as far as I'm aware, google VVTI oil usage it's quite often talked about especially now they're getting older

 

I think it affected some production years a lot worse than others

[M'coli]

I've a tidy 206 which needs a bit of welding to the underside of both sills for a new mot. Not too crusty but a bit holed after poking about.

 

Looking for a quick fix to make it a cheap daily runabout again, is plating over the cut out areas still ok for mot or does the new metal have to be butt welded in?

 

Have a couple of pics of said Puggett at rest.

 

 

Plated over and lap-welded is fine but they do have to be seam-welded.

[320touring]

Burning it as far as I'm aware, google VVTI oil usage it's quite often talked about especially now they're getting older

 

I think it affected some production years a lot worse than others

Cheers chap-It came up when I did some genning up. as you say seems to be dependant on year.

 

I'll try to steer him off them:)

[fraser.innes.3]

Anyone know if a Mk1 Megane (1999) has an anti-syphon filler neck?

Under the back seat is the fuel pump. Pull the fuel pipe 'carefully from the pump. Put a longer one on, located in a fuel container. Apply 12v to pump. Do not smoke!!

 

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Snipes]

Anyone able to give any tips as to whit to look for on a mk2 Avensis? chap at work keen to try Bangernomics at my suggestion - so looking to punt circa 1300-1500 on one (I know!so much cash)

 

anyways he's wanting me to view some at weekend with him so any pointers would be much appreciated!

 

for info its sub 80k miles 1.8 petrols he is looking at.

 

cheers

Yeah as stated theu can suddenly start burning oil that leads to absurd emissions come MOT time. Affected the 7A-FE (Celica, mk1 avensis, etc) and zz1-fe vvti (celica, mr2, avensis etc)

[Asimo]

Are there any other modern, ie monocoque era,  cars with an exposed B pillar below the glass-line like this Volvo?

 

[twosmoke300]

Was asked to do a quote for a clutch change on a 1.6 16v mk1 scenic today and according to auto data it's an engine and box out job !

I've never done one on a scenic before but there must be a way round that surely ? Has anyone one here done one ?

 

Is it like the Clio/ kangoo where you remove the stupidly long studs in the bell housing and it comes out easy ?

[scaryoldcortina]

It's very very tight. I did one a year back and it was easier to drop the cradle than try to wangle the box out - the pulley end of the engine is so close to the chassis leg there is no room for it to tilt to get the box down.

 

Also has the stupid long studs fwiw.

[RayMK]

Are there any other modern, ie monocoque era,  cars with an exposed B pillar below the glass-line like this Volvo?

 

Picture 23.png

 

I could only think of the Borgward Hansa 2400.  Monocoque, but hardly modern. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgward_Hansa_2400#/media/File:2005-08-27_Borgward_2400,_Bj._58.jpg

[Austin of England]

I've a tidy 206 which needs a bit of welding to the underside of both sills for a new mot. Not too crusty but a bit holed after poking about.

 

Looking for a quick fix to make it a cheap daily runabout again, is plating over the cut out areas still ok for mot or does the new metal have to be butt welded in?

 

Have a couple of pics of said Puggett at rest[/url]

I had this problem last year with my sons 206, it didn't look too bad with the holes the MOT tester put in the sill, but under the paint and stonechip material it was very rusty most of its length, I ended up welding in a new sill. I think the problem was blocked up drain holes, when I took the old sill off it was obvious that it had been full of water, check your drain holes and full length of the sill before patching, there may not be a lot to patch to! - topic here http://autoshite.com/topic/22258-why-bother-may-contain-pictures-of-rust/page-2