Ask a Shiter

[trigger]

There is a mk3 subframe with the rack still in lying at the yard, and I have a scorpio in the yard too. I could always measure them for you.

That would be great but only if it's not too much trouble, don't go out of your way.

 

I don't want it but i can't get rid of it until i know what it fits and I'm fed up with tripping over the poxy thing!

[scaryoldcortina]

Yeah, I know the feeling. I have a huge pile of stuff I'm supposed to be ebaying! It's no bother, I don't think I'm busy tomorrow morning so I'll try and get some pics and measurements for you.

[sierraman]

I've been looking at a 2005 Volvo V40 on gumtree it is advertised as follows:

 

Volvo s40 2.0 SE d turbo diesel 4dr saloon

125k miles

Very smokey on start up and clears the warmer it runs hence low price

 

Anyone got any idea on what is causing the smoke? The price is quite good, I was trying to work out once I've added on what is faulty if it is still worth while.

 

Would it be the turbo or injectors causing the smoke when cold?

Depends on colour of the smoke, ease of starting. Given it does it from start up, at a guess, I'd say a leaking/failing injector(s) possibly as a result also from the pump being knackered. Could be something simple but I'd doubt it, the usual cheap to fix problems such as cam sensor, blocked EGR, boost leaks wouldn't manifest themselves like that.

 

Personally I'd leave it to the scrapman. On any common rail diesel, getting involved with injector replacements and pump replacement will involve some serious wallet/hand interface.

[sierraman]

Bonsoir Is Mineral 15w40 engine oil ok for a perkins primate 2L mdi derv injun ?

Older spec oils such as that had anti foaming agents in the derv oils.

[twosmoke300]

Those volvos can have almost incurable smoke / rough running from cold problems . I'd avoid

[3VOM]

Golf (1.4 Petrol) failed MOT on CO being twice what it should be. Everything else is OK. Is it new cat time?

[DVee8]

Have any of you knowledgeable lot had any thing to do with steptronic gearbox's?

there is a MGF with a steptronic gearbox,just curious what they are like.

Is it a like or run run as fast as you can.

[RobT]

For those who've used it, at off-peak times are the Eurotunnel lot quite relaxed about letting you on at a different time to your ticket? I'm thinking more at the Calais side if I turn up early.

[Bobthebeard]

I remember reading on here about those small Lithium Ion battery things that will start a car with a flat battery, but can't find the thread.

As we are going away for a month soon and leaving the Saab on a relatives drive near to Manchester airport I am concerned that the battery may go flat in that time. The relatives will be able to start and run the car occasionally but am not convinced that they will tbh. They too work away a lot and won't be home on the day we get back to collect the car.

So, was thinking of leaving one of the Lithium jobbies in the car just in case.

Question is/are

Which one to buy?

Do they go flat after a month?

Can they explode randomly and burn the car/house down because Lithium batteries?

 

Thanks!

[Tickman]

I remember reading on here about those small Lithium Ion battery things that will start a car with a flat battery, but can't find the thread.

As we are going away for a month soon and leaving the Saab on a relatives drive near to Manchester airport I am concerned that the battery may go flat in that time. The relatives will be able to start and run the car occasionally but am not convinced that they will tbh. They too work away a lot and won't be home on the day we get back to collect the car.

So, was thinking of leaving one of the Lithium jobbies in the car just in case.

Question is/are

Which one to buy?

Do they go flat after a month?

Can they explode randomly and burn the car/house down because Lithium batteries?

 

Thanks!

 

Both old threads here, if you have a spare battery and some jump leads I would put them in the boot instead.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/22847-booster-packs-any-recommendations/

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/26671-battery-jump-pack-recommendations/

[twosmoke300]

Golf (1.4 Petrol) failed MOT on CO being twice what it should be. Everything else is OK. Is it new cat time?

Not usually , Cat failure usually results in a just fail situation . A massive fail usually means running problems / misfire or oxygen sensor .

A misfire could have killed the cat too tho so you may find once you fixed the main issue it still just fails

[stephen01]

For those who've used it, at off-peak times are the Eurotunnel lot quite relaxed about letting you on at a different time to your ticket? I'm thinking more at the Calais side if I turn up early.

 

This depends on the time you turn up, if you get there hours early expect to pay extra, late is generally ok but be prepared to wait around for next available crossing..

 

I once turned up 12 hours early cost me over £100 extra! The best one we did was when my FIL booked it in the summer and he somehow managed to book them the wrong way round so when we turned up to folkstone the ticket reference kept throwing up an error, he had in fact booked us from Calais to folkstone, not a problem apart from the fact that he'd also done it for our return leg which just happened to be the busiest weekend ever and we were lucky to get back on and in  time to send the kids back to school! this cock up also cost about an extra 200 quid - not bad considering we were pulling an 8x4 trailer also..

[3VOM]

Not usually , Cat failure usually results in a just fail situation . A massive fail usually means running problems / misfire or oxygen sensor .

A misfire could have killed the cat too tho so you may find once you fixed the main issue it still just fails

I'll post the figures this evening. It failed first time because of an air leak on the exhaust. Fixed that but now the CO is high. 

[scaryoldcortina]

For once I'm going to disagree with twosmoke - High CO but HC and lambda within limits is almost always a dud cat, especially if it still failed a MoT emission test after the 5 mins preconditioning and second testing.

[twosmoke300]

Depends what you mean by high I suppose . Under 1% then yeh cat but when its 3or 4 % it usually means deeper problems.

 

Most cat cars seem to be pretty clean without a cat . Saabs in particular seem to nearly scrape a pass without a cat .

[3VOM]

OK here's the scores:

 

First time:

First Fast Idle

CO 0.54%

HC 118ppm

Lambda 1.05

 

Second Fast Idle

CO 0.53%

HC 127ppm

Lambda 1.061

 

Tester says he can hear leak on exhaust and there is one on the joint between the cat and the middle pipe. I fix this and take it for a retest.

 

Second time:

First Fast Idle

CO 0.59%

HC 169ppm

Lambda 1.03

 

Second Fast Idle

CO 0.66%

HC 157ppm
Lambda 1.025

 

[twosmoke300]

Yeh that's cat . Burn a bit of oil does it ?

[bub2006]

Does the old tale of baking foil in the headlights assist when the bowl has corrosion or flaked off the bottom?

[bub2006]

Short and direct answer I suppose

[AMC Rebel]

Does the old tale of baking foil in the headlights assist when the bowl has corrosion or flaked off the bottom?

 

I tried it with some Opel Manta ones in about 1983 and it wasn't a great success - truth to tell, I had a go at redoing what the previous owner had already attempted with foil.  I found it impossible to get a wrinkle-free application. In their case the silvering had sort of disappeared from the plastic it was sprayed onto.

[AMC Rebel]

I work on the Dock and they are resonably regular on the dock road though I would doubt the selection process. I was let through twice in a filthy and scruffy Corsa van while they pulled an 11 plate Peugeot with a well dressed lass and then a similar age X5.

 Sounds like airport security - pick on people who won't moan and cause bother for "random" extra attention.  Then tick box for how many checked that day.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

For those who've used it, at off-peak times are the Eurotunnel lot quite relaxed about letting you on at a different time to your ticket? I'm thinking more at the Calais side if I turn up early.

In my experience Eurotunnel and the ferry companies are usually very relaxed , as long as there's space. After all you've paid for a crossing and it's no skin of their noses which one you go on. In fact we always buy the cheapest ticket for whichever day , one day I'm sure we'll come unstuck.

Last August we came back a day early and they didn't even mention it.

[dave21478]

Does the old tale of baking foil in the headlights assist when the bowl has corrosion or flaked off the bottom?

 

 

You can get aerosols of chrome spray paint. Its not perfect, but its better than a failed reflector.

Assuming the glass isnt about to fall off anyway, you can get the C15 headlights apart easy enough with a heat gun, then glue them back together with silicone.

[bub2006]

Thanks dave. I can get new lamps on ebay around 50 quid a pair so that will be the idea eventually. Probably just live with it for now. Headlamps are shocking on it but don't think reflector being kippered will help. Going to get the bulb adapter collars too to put night breakers or similar in.

[stephen01]

In my experience Eurotunnel and the ferry companies are usually very relaxed , as long as there's space. After all you've paid for a crossing and it's no skin of their noses which one you go on. In fact we always buy the cheapest ticket for whichever day , one day I'm sure we'll come unstuck.

Last August we came back a day early and they didn't even mention it.

Did 6 trips last year didn't get on early once! This may well have been down to the fact that i had a trailer as my FIL got on one two hours early the git.

[wuvvum]

I'm currently in Somerset visiting my parents. Drove down in the Getz, which made the journey fine, except that it's lost all the lights in the offside rear cluster apart from the reversing light, and both number plate lights have gone too. It's not the bulbs, and I've checked the relevant fuses. Before I go out and try to find a multimeter (infuriatingly I had one in the car until last night when I cleared all the crap out for the trip), is there anything obvious anyone can think of which might cause such symptoms?

[Richard]

Our Punto did the same. The cure was to solder a new earth wire on and connect it to the existing earth wire.

[Lacquer Peel]

 

Does anyone know if this type of trailer axle can be repaired and where to get parts?

The trailer has no plates on it but I think it's an Ifor Williams chassis possibly with Indespension axles.

[dave21478]

Depends whats wrong with it.

 

The big axle maker names are Alko, Knott, BPW and Indespension, and as far as I know they all offer a refurb service.

Brake and bearing parts can be bought online, but if its anything more involved like a bent arm or failed rubbers then its not DIY-able.

 

One way to tell the axle make is to look at the hub nut covers, they often have a logo stamped on them. There should be an ID plate near the centre of the axle, but they are often missing due to the rivits rotting.

[Lacquer Peel]

It's a bit "witchcrafty" to my eyes. Trailing arms and rubber suspension I think? I'll take a proper look at it today.

I think it's all Ifor Williams but they don't seem to offer any parts for these axles.