Ask a Shiter

[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?

[scaryoldcortina]

you can try using the ref number on the green slip to notify transfer as though you were the previous keeper, leave off the leading digit and it's the same as the number on the main bit of the v5c.

 

Obviously you aren't supposed to do this, and have to tick a declaration saying you are the keeper, so it's up to you. If you post it in with a v62 the previous keeper will probably get a fixed penalty for not notifying too.

[drum]

I'll try that, thanks.

[Asimo]

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

Most likely to locate the headlight lens moulding exactly in the tool that assembles it to the headlamp shell. If it didn't have those features it would be harder to accurately hold it because it is a smooth and awkwardly shaped thing.

[scaryoldcortina]

the three bumps are for alignment - US spec machines clamp to the headight and project a laser or use spirit bubbles where ours stand in front of the car and measure the beam itself.

 

[Guest Hooli]

Idly browsing & found this with a rather impressive 359k on it, anyone beat that?

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201612240827902

[fatharris]

 

I nearly talked myself into buying this on the basis of the mileage alone.

 

 

According to the advert, it had something like a dozen cambelt changes.

 

Best thing is, the advert was over a year old, so it's passed another MOT since

[Cavcraft]

Had a 412,000 miles Sharan TDi once, I think some others on here have eclipsed that too

[Rave]

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

 

I was expecting both joints to be an utter bitch to remove but both came apart fine once I'd figured out how they worked. In the case of the drop link (which I was interested to see was made of GRP) it was fine once I figured that you stick a 6mm allen key into the stud to hold it. The track rod end bolt was easy to undo but then to get it to seperate I had to give it a few sharp taps with a hammer. It seems to be some sort of press fit + bolt arrangement, a bit like tapered cranks on a bicycle, and you don't grease those. It was 2 months ago that I dismantled it all so my memory is hazy, just wondered if that taper is the actual swivel part of the steering action, in which case I really should grease it.

 

The car's an ex-cop motor and according to the potted history I got with it it had the suspension renewed at 60,000 miles, so it's not as old as the rest of the car.

 

IMO grease threads but not mating faces

 

That was my thinking, don't want to rot the rubber bits. I was more wondering if there was some good reason not to use copper grease on suspension parts, same as you're not supposed to use it on wheel bolts / studs (I always copper grease the centre bore, learned that lesson the hard way...).

[martybabes]

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.

 

 

 

Ah, that'd be a green-grocer then...

[Ghosty]

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

 

HONDA ENGINE

 

I can definitely go for that, we've had a couple already.

[stephen01]

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.

 

 

 

Yep, visited a few crappy garages in the past..

 

this is more of a fantasy than ever being a reality, not for me may I add, I could do services but not much else!

[sierraman]

Given how some axle stands leave you with the impression the car is about to pirouette in the air before it crushes your head like a burst water melon, who thinks some appropriately cut down railway sleepers would be infinitely safer?

[xtriple]

Having had the great pleasure of a car falling on me (on my head to be accurate... which explains a lot) I do not recommend the experience one bit. I therefore take (took) every care to use stuff that I was pretty sure would not allow the heap to fall on me and then put other stuff under the car to further make my life safer. My happiest days were when I had the pit.

[Tickman]

Given how some axle stands leave you with the impression the car is about to pirouette in the air before it crushes your head like a burst water melon, who thinks some appropriately cut down railway sleepers would be infinitely safer?

Decent quality wood should be fine, just please don't use bricks or blocks as they can just crumble.

(Whenever I see stuff supported on bricks (on forums and facebook) I let them know but I am not the health and safety police!)

[steveo3002]

axle stands plus some wood /spare wheels incase it turns ugly

 

i always put the taken off wheels under where im working with the view it will stop the car hitting the deck if something turns ugly  

[sierraman]

I think I'm going to invest in some ramps. For some jobs that require a bit of banging, I think they'd offer a bit more stability. I've some heavy duty rubber knocking about, so thinking of lining the base of them with this.

[sierraman]

Update... bought a pair of 2.5 tonne ramps with the extenders so you can go up them in a modern, width is 210mm so should hold the Mondeo satisfactorily I'd hope as they are 205 sections. £37 delivered.

 

I've a few jobs already that I think they'll make life easier (famous last words) such as rustproofing, changing the roll restrictor, oil change etc so we'll see. I feel a bit happier about doing more involved work using them as they're much more stable.

[Snipes]

I've never had any problems greasing threads on TREs. In some cases, like BMWs or IS200s you pretty much have to or they're guaranteed to seize in place. Just don't put too much on. You only need a tiny film; don't get spreading it on there like custard on an apple pie.

[cobblers]

Renault headlight switches on "Big arse" meganes and scenics and whatnot.

Is there some flaw with them them that makes people just turn the front foglights on and not the headlights? Do they have an electrical fault or something?

I reckon a good 50% of the cars I see on my way to and from work have got at least one headlight out and the front fogs on.

[Kiltox]

Renault headlight switches on "Big arse" meganes and scenics and whatnot.

Is there some flaw with them them that makes people just turn the front foglights on and not the headlights? Do they have an electrical fault or something?

I reckon a good 50% of the cars I see on my way to and from work have got at least one headlight out and the front fogs on.

No, they're just fucktards. HTH.

 

It IS however a serious pain in the arse to change headlight bulbs on them!