Ask a Shiter

[phil_lihp]

The fine steed is currently in my care and is proving to be a little gem over 3k I've done in it , Powertrain by Bollox plaque is on the dash!

 

I have only replaced the heater knob and a tiny piece of missing trim but it needs a bit of a tart up on the bodywork so I'm on the lookout for 2 front wings in white and will be getting some grey and white paint made up to do the sill's/arches. It's MOT is due in October so I'll service it and go over it ahead of that and try to get it through.  I have the extensive history file previous keepers and will add to it   

 

Fantastic, what superb news!

 

Sounds like a far more professional version of the very amateurish paintwork I did to it a couple of years ago and I'm very pleased to hear it.  Do keep us posted, I'm very glad this excellent machine is being looked after, I had every intention of doing the bodywork on it but never got enough time.  The heater knob broke while it was out on loan to my sister, I did glue it back together but it was a bit bodged.

[Bucketeer]

What is the point/purpose of the country identification stickers affixed to cars travelling abroad? Are they a legal requirement?

[omegod]

Fantastic, what superb news!

 

Sounds like a far more professional version of the very amateurish paintwork I did to it a couple of years ago and I'm very pleased to hear it.  Do keep us posted, I'm very glad this excellent machine is being looked after, I had every intention of doing the bodywork on it but never got enough time.  The heater knob broke while it was out on loan to my sister, I did glue it back together but it was a bit bodged.

 

Ahh so you painted it with what looks like masonry paint   , I was kindly granted custody of it by eddyramrod when he won HillmanImps roffle.  It's probably the most comfy car I've ever ran. Central locking on drivers door doesn't work off the remote but does with the key so that will be getting looked at too, remote is a bit pernickety but I'm terrified to open it up in case it doesn't work anymore as it operates the immobiliser. I'll put some pics up when it's rejuvenated     

[castros_bro]

What is the point/purpose of the country identification stickers affixed to cars travelling abroad? Are they a legal requirement?

 

To identity the country of origin of the vehicle's registration.

Yes

and for the unasked question " Strudel "

[Richard]

I need to sell my nonshite modern,2003 M Benz C180,is it acceptable to advertise it on Autoshite rather than EBay or Gumtree?

 

I would say that's perfectly acceptable.

[steveo3002]

what sort of year did asbestos brake pads stop being made?   

[Eddie Honda]

what sort of year did asbestos brake pads stop being made?

1999/2004

 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/asbestos.htm

[steveo3002]

thought it wouldve been way before then ....so fair chance you can still find em at autojumbles etc

 

not that im after any

[Richard]

That's when they had to stop using asbestos, from memory I stopped seeing the warning stickers on brake pad boxes in the early 1990s.

[meshking]

 

How difficult is it to change the cable on a ford focus drivers side electric window? The missus' car window got stuck down,when the cable snapped and entangle itself.

Clearly the correct solution is one of (a) buy the spares or repair focus locally for £400 and begin raping for parts or ( find a rancho to replace the focus.

But I'll probably have a stab and fixing it first, and wondered if anyone had done the job on here before. It seems someone has been there before on my car, because the foam is cut and held in with gaffer tape.

[twosmoke300]

I wouldn't bother with a cable / eBay repair kit personally unless you have plenty of time and patience of a saint ! An aftermarket regulator isn't that expensive

[omegod]

I think GSF are doing a 45 per cent off code BANK45 this weekend so maybe check their site

[meshking]

Thanks, I've gone for a regulator with motor assembly off that there eBay. Hopefully it won't be too bad to install.

[Kiltox]

Can we name some car warranty companies please - WarrantyWise have pissed me off for the last time

 

If you've had any particularly terrible experiences with any I'll try to avoid them

[LC Torana]

reason for new bonnet :

 

image.jpg

 

 

This exact thing (bonnet flew up at speed and turned itself inside-out when it smacked the windscreen) happened to a friend a few years ago.

 

Mind you, it was her Laguna.

[bub2006]

Need help. Have a caravan up for sale. Someone just rang saying his credit card linked to paypal/eBay and can pay me in full for van now and I deliver it to him. I can borrow my friends car for an hour to take it to him but bit concerned over payment. Thanks

[Kiltox]

Never take PayPal for goods you deliver in person

[bub2006]

That's what I thought. Thanks

[dave21478]

No fucking way. He says you never delivered it, reverses the payment and you lose the money and the van.

 

Paypal is only worth a damn for dealing with people you trust 100% or for sending things through the post where you have proof of sending it.

[dave21478]

Tell him to paypal you 50 quid as a deposit and you will deliver but he pays in cash. The 50 covers your pez if he proves to be a timewaster.

[bub2006]

I've refused it point blank now. Don't need that hassle too!

[Pillock]

If he's got a credit card he can get a cash advance out of the ATM, if he's not willing to do that then he's a scammer - it'll either be someone else's paypal account, or he wants to reverse the charge.

 

Offer to run him down to the cash machine to get it out? 

[scdan4]

What would I need to know about merc e300 estates, (the ones about an x reg and with twin round headlights.) .Probably dieasal with a decent sized engine (e320cdi for example). I'm not finding the volvo that comfortable, so looking to change, to a.n.other big, comfy estate.

 

Rust, rust and rust? Gearbox? Any shennigans like swirl flaps, dmf's, hideous cambelts to consider? Will it offer camry / v70 levels of reliability?

 

 

something along the lines of

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-benz-e320-cdi-/282151363388

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mecedes-E-320-cdi-elegance-5-door-estate-2001-/122102850092

 

(neither of those have a tow bar showing - do they have a hideaway one as standard or will I need to budget for one?)

[beko1987]

Would this be a stupid thing to get to learn to weld with/fix the rusty arch on the car?

 

[anonymous user]

Would this be a stupid thing to get to learn to weld with/fix the rusty arch on the car?

 

Screenshot_20160831-141638.png

Most probably yes (they are not good on thin metal and you will need how to learn to strike an arc), great for making gates out of angle iron though

[beko1987]

WTF is causing this on my Puma?

 

Tank is nearly full - but I certainly didn't fill it this full and this is 20 miles after I last filled it.  Only reason I removed the cap is I was curious about the stench of fuel - is it making it's own?

I don't know if you still care, but was it a hot day when this happened? Mine used to be a bastard for pressurising the tank, sealing the fuel cap on if I tried to open it on a hot day, I literally gave up and tried later a few times through fear of snapping the only key I had off in it parked up at a pump.

 

Maybe this is what it looks like if I had got the cap off, or my cap was just fucked...

[beko1987]

Most probably yes, great for making gates out of angle iron though

If anyone wants it then, I can collect and hold? I'll pass for self learning though maybe

[RayMK]

Provided that the suspension and steering bits have no obvious play or other untoward appearance, just spray the general area with some soapy solution/waxy car shampoo - but not on the brakes.  It could be that recent dry weather has made rubber grommets etc a bit dry and grippy.   If you live in a wet region my scientific theory does not apply and this may be a waste of time.

[scaryoldcortina]

Micra squeak sounds like a bottom ball joint gone dry.

[taxi paul]

Warranty companies. When my Chevrolet craptiva needed a new throttle body. The main dealer , Lookers Liverpool refused to deal with them so I had to pay the bill first and claim it back off them.They refused to pay all the labour charges and for some parts needed, a new hose I think was one. But I have heard warranty wise where ok. I ended up about £550.00 out of pocket in the end. I know th AA are doing a basic warranty which appears ok.