Ask a Shiter

[Kiltox]

There's a focus estate in the for sale / wanted thread - not its own thread

[cort16]

how do you hatch reg numbers out of ebay when they're hidden? I know it can be done. Want to check mot history on this one.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-FORD-FOCUS-LX-TD-DI-DIESEL-/222365258413

 

 

They may have changed it, this is how you used to do it

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/25344-decoding-ebay-registration-number/

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Are the ace cafe meets any good? I am down near the big smoke a week on monday, and there is a french night, might take my clio. Is it worth a late night home to have a smooch around?

T

 

This time of year, it might be a bit quiet. I've been to a couple of winter classic car nights and there's only been half a dozen cars, in June and July there's literally hundreds. Don't know about French nights.

I haven't been to a Ford or Jap night since the speed bumps went in, but they must have put a dampener on the drifting etc, probably not such an issue for Frenchies.

[Pillock]

They may have changed it, this is how you used to do it

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/25344-decoding-ebay-registration-number/

 

That does indeed still work, and it's VA03PWX... although in this case....

 

 

 

[scdan4]

the more you know....

 

thank you.

[Richard]

I've been trying to work out whether there's any way of adjusting the clutch in the Getz.  It slips if I drive the car too enthusiastically.  The biting point is right at the absolute top of the pedal travel, so I was thinking I might get a bit more life out of it if I could adjust the pedal a bit.  Problem is that I can't see any obvious way of doing it - the pushrod from the slave cylinder doesn't appear to be adjustable (it's completely covered by a rubber gaiter but I can't see any sign of any adjustable bits).  I don't know a lot about clutches - is there likely to be anything else I can try?

 

I could be wrong but I don't think slipping can be adjusted out of a clutch.

[scaryoldcortina]

You used to be able to get a few* more miles out of a slipping clutch by slackening off the cable as a temporary fix but with hydraulics you are SOL I'm afraid.

[Rave]

Sooner or later I'm going to have to attempt to reinstall the alternator in my Mondeo. To get it out I had to undo an ARB droplink, and the track rod end, so obviously I'll need to reinstall them. Having never really fiddled with suspension/steering components before, how should I go about greasing the threads and/or mating faces? I've got a pot of copper grease here, and a 20 year old pot of lithium grease that still seems basically O.K. I was going to LM grease the track rod end and then copper grease the threads on both parts, but thought there was no harm in checking with the knowledgeable folk on here.

[Kiltox]

Replace the drop link with a new one unless it's very new - I've never known one to come off without a massive fight

 

Not sure about grease, never have

[DodgeRover]

IMO grease threads but not mating faces

[scdan4]

I'm sure I've just seen a Focus diesel estate on here somewhere?

 

 

There's a focus estate in the for sale / wanted thread - not its own thread

 

 

 

Found it. Thanks

 

It's stations, but he cannot recieve pm's.

 

Where abouts is he does anyone know?

[jonathan_dyane]

Wirral I think

[Ghosty]

What are the auto boxes like in R8s, and which engines do they come with? I think at least some are CVT and I really don't want that.

[bub2006]

R8 never had a cvt from my knowledge, the bubble shape did though.

[bub2006]

And from what I gather they are quite thirsty in the r8

[sierraman]

Should there be any reason an axial rod might undo itself?

 

As I described in my thread on the Mondeo, the axial rod fell out as I was manoeuvring the car. Refitted it nice and tight. Went for some tracking last week and the fitter managed to wind it out so it fell out the rack again for some reason as the tracking just wasn't adjusting. Told him to put it back with some Loctite. Cannot understand how he managed to get it to fall out again whilst adjusting the tracking. I put it back when it first happened as tight as it would go, I know everybody says this but I'm particular about safety so I made sure. Any reason it should be unwinding again?

[Tickman]

New shock fitted and after 100 miles I now have about 5mm vertical play here:

There appears to be no horizontal movement, just vertical.

The but is tight and the top mount and stuff seemed OK when it was all apart.

 

Stumped unless it has just shit itself!

[Ghosty]

And from what I gather they are quite thirsty in the r8

Don't mind thirsty. I'll be on the look out for a decent auto one if I get this job, there's one on C&C, wonder if it's sold.

[bub2006]

If I remember right the R8 auto were all Honda 1.6 lumps.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Warning. Not old car alert!

I'm thinking of buying a 5 years old Citroen 2.0 DS5 diesel as my daily driver. Is this likely to result in financial and mental suicide?

You are a Pound Shop Napoleon AICMFP

[twosmoke300]

Axial rod just wasnt "tight" enough or the locking device not fitted/ staked ( if it has one - most cars dont these days) I always use loctite when fitting these.

 

The volvo strut mount - is the same amount of thread showing on both sides?

[stephen01]

hypothetically speaking if you wanted to open a garage and work on paying customers cars do you need any actual qualifications? I know insurance and all that jazz would need to be obtained. but as for actual qualifications? Are there any legalities that say you need to be C&G level 1 million?

[Tickman]

Axial rod just wasnt "tight" enough or the locking device not fitted/ staked ( if it has one - most cars dont these days) I always use loctite when fitting these.

 

The volvo strut mount - is the same amount of thread showing on both sides?

Both sides have the same amount of thread. 

I have stripped it all back down and just about finished reassembly.

Is the loctite for the big securing nut holding the shock insert in? If it is I have done it up very tight but no loctite.

 

Edit now read the above on a screen larger than a matchbox so now understand the loctite was not for me!

[sierraman]

I ought to have my Weetabix then. It came out when the fitter started winding it out on the ramp, perhaps the bit of Loctite will sort it out.

 

Next question, how much of a pain in the arse is the rear roll restrictor on the gearbox of a Mondeo diesel to do. Told it's a bit perished, bit of a knock as well on bumps could be that. Easy job or a PITA and do it on a ramp?

[Bobthebeard]

What are these nubbins for and why? On the headlight lens of the Oldsmobile. Three nipples on each. Is it to do with injection moulding? If so why are they not trimmed off? Not important obv. Just wondering?

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

What are these nubbins for and why? On the headlight lens of the Oldsmobile. Three nipples on each. Is it to do with injection moulding? If so why are they not trimmed off? Not important obv. Just wondering?

image.jpeg

To park wipers on cars so equipped?

[scaryoldcortina]

hypothetically speaking if you wanted to open a garage and work on paying customers cars do you need any actual qualifications? I know insurance and all that jazz would need to be obtained. but as for actual qualifications? Are there any legalities that say you need to be C&G level 1 million?

 

Nope, no legal requirement at all to be qualified in anything, and no guarantee that someone who did C&G light vehicle maintainance remembered/understood any of it anyway.

 

It's why the garage trade is so pot luck tbh.

[sierraman]

I've had people do work for me that had every qualification under the sun but didn't know shit. On the other hand I've had people who've learnt on the job who knew their onions.

 

I think a lot of garages have the trouble with training someone up from school, spending time showing them how to do the job, then they fuck off to the garage down the road for 50p an hour more.

[JeeExEll]

hypothetically speaking if you wanted to open a garage and work on paying customers cars do you need any actual qualifications? I know insurance and all that jazz would need to be obtained. but as for actual qualifications? Are there any legalities that say you need to be C&G level 1 million?

If you were to run it as a trading business check out if there could be problems obtaining public liability insurance. In the legitimate sparky trade up until a few years ago a small-business proprietor being "competent through proven experience" was acceptable to insurers but that's no longer the case.

[drum]

The v5 for two of my more recent purchases haven't appeared. Presumably the sellers couldn't be arsed spending the two minutes online transfer.

 

I have the green new keeper slips, so can I do an online thing or do I have to snail mail to Swansea?