Ask a Shiter

[maxpower]

KruJoe... is that a friend of yours in the picture with the white Panda?

Just wanted to check before I start going "cor blimey", "phwoar" and other pervy stuff.

 

i thought it was the "ginger one" from girl's aloud... then again my eyesight ain't what it used to be

[retrogeezer]

KruJoe... is that a friend of yours in the picture with the white Panda?

Just wanted to check before I start going "cor blimey", "phwoar" and other pervy stuff.

 

 

Just what I was thinking!

[retrogeezer]

This one?

 

 

(Dunno what it is...)

 

85-87 US Ford Escort Wagon I reckon...bumpers are slightly different but the rear window is the same shape and door shuts etc look the same.

 

[warren t claim]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nissan-Ebro-Tra ... 0683386974

 

What's the score with this type of van? When I first left school I worked for a company that had a couple of them. I remember them being painfully slow. Are there any left on the road?

[Cavcraft]

/\

Hiab/Ford Cargo/Immingham docks interface.

[The Moog]

Cant remember if I asked this before but a few years ago Halfords used to sell a sheet of plastic vinyl type stuff you put on your wing mirrors. It repelled water which meant not only did it keep them clear in the rain but at this time of year no frost would stick. I cant remember what they are called or even what to search for. Any ideas?

[Cavcraft]

Is an airbag light that's permanently on an MOT failure?

[cort16]

It is now yes. Is it on that E46 3 series? It's probably the seat sensor as it's a common fault, which I had on my E46.

It's a bitch to change so you'd maybe be better trying to find another seat.

[Cavcraft]

It is mate, cheers. I read somewhere there's a wire under the drivers seat that gets caught by rear passengers feet. Can the light be temporarily knocked off by a FCR do you know? Many thanks.

[cort16]

No it comes straight back on unfortunatly.

[scaryoldcortina]

No, fault code readers won't kill the airbag light because it is regenerated at each start by the SRS system self test. Best you can hope for is that the code reader will give you some B0xxx codes to help track the fault down.

 

Only other thing you could do is get it in for MoT before the end of march and it will get advised not failed. This gives you another year to figure out what is wrong with it.

[Cavcraft]

Nice one gents, thanks.

[TimothyClaypole]

My 2004 2.4 Transit diesel, needs a top up on the oil, can I use normal Castrol GTX branded oil for diesel engines?

 

 

 

(after a few minutes faffing with the key opening bonnet malarky...)

[Timewaster]

Cant remember if I asked this before but a few years ago Halfords used to sell a sheet of plastic vinyl type stuff you put on your wing mirrors. It repelled water which meant not only did it keep them clear in the rain but at this time of year no frost would stick. I cant remember what they are called or even what to search for. Any ideas?

 

I worked in an independent car parts place for nigh on 20 years and I can honestly say I have never heard of this. I think you may have imagined it.

Try Rain-X or some similar poundland equivalent

[The Moog]

Hand on heart didnt dream it. They were awesome and when the car died I forgot to take them off. Been hunting ever since ...

[Richard]

I think you got them for rear windows too, as a cheaper alternative to a stick-on heater element.

[Pete-M]

Bikers and single seater riders use 'em on their visors.

[The Moog]

Cheers for that.

 

Going to buy a visor one and cut it up and see if it works. Cant seem to find the ones for wing mirrors. The difference it makes is amazing.

[Skizzer]

Cheers for that.

 

Going to buy a visor one and cut it up and see if it works. Cant seem to find the ones for wing mirrors. The difference it makes is amazing.

I use a Fog City one which does the job nicely. A bottle of Rain-X is another option.

 

These people appear to do sheets of anti-fog film: http://www.abodewindowfilms.co.uk/acatalog/Opti_Mist_Fog_Free_Window_Film.html.

 

Be interested to know how you get on - good luck!

[catsinthewelder]

Just phoned up about that ^

 

Apparently on the website in error, they don't supply it anymore. which is a PITA

[Negative Creep]

Any ideas why the Bluebird takes so damn long to heat up? Unless you're stationary the needle barely moves and as a result the heater is never more than luke warm. I've changed the thermostat, flushed and renewed the coolant and both pipes to the matrix are hot. Does the cabbie trick of a bit of cardboard over the rad actually work?

[M'coli]

Yes - I ran around in the Cavalier for a month or so with cardboard over the rad unti I got around to changing the thermostat.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

My friend who recently bought that Granada asks why his fuel-injected car requires him to use the gas pedal in order to fire up and stabilise the idle within the first minute or so after starting up from cold. After that, it holds it perfectly well. Is it likely to be a dirty idle air control valve, spark plugs on the way out or something else?

[gricer]

Olympic editions:

 

Hyundai made Olympic editions of both Stellar and Pony as a tie-in with the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

 

The Stellar was the Gold Medal and teh Pony the Silver Medal. The only ones I ever saw were Gold (Stellar) and Silver (Pony) with red pinstripes and graphics. Other colours may have been available too.

 

Nissan/Ebro Trade

 

This was imported for a couple of years around 1985-87. As it was built in Spain, it was exempt from national quotas on Japanese imports that applied back then. It was priced below the existing Japanese-made Urvan LCV and sold as a more rugged, basic vehicle. It was truly awful, heavy and slow. A real throwback to 1950s vans with forward control, especially compared to modern FWD kit like the Renault Trafic and Talbot Express. According to Howmanyleft there are no UK survivors. However it was made form many more years in Spain and there are plenty still trundling around there if you want one. There's a left-hooker on Ebay at the moemnt too.

 

KruJoe's Ginger/Panda babe

 

Phwooaar! etc

[The Moog]

Just phoned up about that ^

 

Apparently on the website in error, they don't supply it anymore. which is a PITA

 

Got the same thing. Found a website with it on but it is £46 a sheet. Would be a good buy to do the camper windows. Will try the visor stuff first and then if it is any good will show you pics.

[KruJoe]

KruJoe... is that a friend of yours in the picture with the white Panda?

Just wanted to check before I start going "cor blimey", "phwoar" and other pervy stuff.

No, sorry! I just googled 'Fiat Italia 90' or summert and up she popped. Not my type I have to say, but I thought some of you might appreciate my choice if image!

[scaryoldcortina]

My friend who recently bought that Granada asks why his fuel-injected car requires him to use the gas pedal in order to fire up and stabilise the idle within the first minute or so after starting up from cold. After that, it holds it perfectly well. Is it likely to be a dirty idle air control valve, spark plugs on the way out or something else?

 

"They all do that sir...." or at least autofive's new one does, and so does my 2.0i sierra.

 

But it's more likely to be the cold start sensor. Which engine is it?

[M'coli]

KruJoe... is that a friend of yours in the picture with the white Panda?

Just wanted to check before I start going "cor blimey", "phwoar" and other pervy stuff.

No, sorry! I just googled 'Fiat Italia 90' or summert and up she popped. Not my type I have to say, but I thought some of you might appreciate my choice if image!

I do indeed - that's the Cuillins behind it.

[scaryoldcortina]

Rover 400 questions...

 

Are the rear calipers the same as a Honda Accord of the same vintage? (R reg)

Does anyone know of a supplier or scrapyard with said rear calipers? (need a passenger side one urgently)

Will the front bumper off the same shape Rover 200 fit? (scrappy has one the right colour and everything)

Why am I bothering to fix it? (customer likes it and doesn't want a new car - caliper will stop it MoTing next month)

[dollywobbler]

If we're on about boxy Rover 200/400, the bumpers are identical. Don't think they are for the later ones though as the headlamps are different for a start.