Ask a Shiter

[wuvvum]

Now that you've posted that, I've definitely seen E39s with gingercators before, I'd just forgotten that I had.  Now I feel like a tit.

[320touring]

Deffo pre facelift e39

[steveo3002]

did i dream it or is there a leak detecting dye and lamp kit avail for coolant leaks?   id swear ive seen them cheap on ebay but cant see any now i want one

[chaseracer]

Anyone ever done a clutch on a 2.0HDi Blingo?  I mean, HHCIB*...?

[Anthony]

Anyone ever done a clutch on a 2.0HDi Blingo?  I mean, HHCIB*...?

Done one on a 306 HDi, which I think should be basically the same given the similarity between the two front ends.

 

It's easy enough, but there's not a huge amount of space to squeeze the gearbox past the subframe and refitting in particular can be awkward if you're doing it on your back with the car on axle stands. I found it much easier dropping the subframe off to give clearance. If it's a keeper, take the opportunity whilst the 'box is off to replace the clutch fork bushes (cheap from Peugeot/Citroen) and the diff oil seals (cheap enough on eBay and from factors) plus I'd suggest checking and if needs be replacing the crank oil seal.

[Tickman]

did i dream it or is there a leak detecting dye and lamp kit avail for coolant leaks? id swear ive seen them cheap on ebay but cant see any now i want one

I got one on eBay last year, came with a little UV torch and it was quite effective.

[steveo3002]

I got one on eBay last year, came with a little UV torch and it was quite effective.

what did you search for..all i can find is a/c leak testers

[Tickman]

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/UV-Dye-Torch-Kit-Leak-Detection-Dye-Coolant-Cooling-Antifreeze-System-RLD2-/230723938073

[Dave_Q]

Yes it has the glass roof. I was thinking of splitting the dpf/cat and knocking out the cat and cleaning the dpf. Apparently just knocking the cat out doesn't upset the Ecu.

Anyone heard the same/different?

Cat on a diesel is passive so the ecu won't know, there are no lambda sensors or owt.

 

It will know about the DPF though, that needs mapping out.

[twosmoke300]

Euro 5 diesels and poss some euro 4 have oxygen sensors

[BorniteIdentity]

Two questions about my w202 Mercedes please.

 

1. The paint code is 249 Malachite/Spruce Green. But there are two colours on my car and I need some of the lighter shade made up. How do I make sure I get the right one?

 

2. There’s a small tear on the driver’s seat. I’ve bought some green leather in order to make a ‘geography teacher’ elbow patch befitting of an old Merc. How should I fix it on? Ask MiL to sew it or use some fabric glue?

 

Thanks

[Kiltox]

Anyone ever done a clutch on a 2.0HDi Blingo? I mean, HHCIB*...?

Changing an aux belt and crank pulley was hard enough. Tight fit that engine.

[twosmoke300]

Not too bad - get a pair of drive shaft seals first .

Will prob also need the input shaft sleeve too . I always fit them now while the box is out . If it’s been making noises for a while then it may need a release arm .

Getting the gear linkages off without breaking them can take patience.

[Dave_Q]

It's a tight fit at the belt end but not bad at the gearbox end once the battery tray etc is out of the way.

 

Wouldn't have thought it was too bad a job, if the clutch had gone on my blingo I would have been fairly happy to have a crack on the floor with jacks etc.

[egg]

I believe you can drive the original Honda Insight mk1 as a petrol only.

 

Can a Mk1 original Prius do the same?

 

Google hasn't helped me (definitively).

 

Prompted by this Prius for sale

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712021769350

 

'Hybrid Issue but does drive'

[DeeJay]

Two questions about my w202 Mercedes please.

 

1

2. There’s a small tear on the driver’s seat. I’ve bought some green leather in order to make a ‘geography teacher’ elbow patch befitting of an old Merc. How should I fix it on? Ask MiL to sew it or use some fabric glue?

 

Thanks

 

Do you have a pic of the tear?

[HH-R]

I believe you can drive the original Honda Insight mk1 as a petrol only.

 

Can a Mk1 original Prius do the same?

 

Google hasn't helped me (definitively).

 

Prompted by this Prius for sale

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712021769350

 

'Hybrid Issue but does drive'

I believe so, but it makes them slower than a week in custody.

[phil_lihp]

Given that everything I know about electronics can be written on the back of a capacitor, this may seem like a really stupid question.

 

I have a moderately watertight old prefab concrete garage with no power feed (the roof doesn't leak but water can get in under the edges of the floor when it rains, which will eventually get fixed).  I'd like some light in there and I have a spare car battery knocking around so was thinking of hooking it up via some sort of regulator to something like this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/45W-Ceiling-Suspended-Recessed-LED-Panel-White-Light-Office-Lighting-600-X-600/152186076839?hash=item236eff3ea7:g:tfYAAOSwARZXljrE

 

Would that work?  I understand that the battery's output needs regulating to a steady 12v, I'd need to somehow attach it to a wall switch as well and had the thought of using a solar charger to keep the battery topped up.  However, I am not sure where to start or what's best to get.

 

Any thoughts?

[Kiltox]

I believe you can drive the original Honda Insight mk1 as a petrol only.

 

Can a Mk1 original Prius do the same?

 

Google hasn't helped me (definitively).

 

Prompted by this Prius for sale

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712021769350

 

'Hybrid Issue but does drive'

I don’t believe the battery pack will be fucked at 65k if it’s genuine - might be something else.

 

I think it will drive fine on the petrol only tho.

[cobblers]

Given that everything I know about electronics can be written on the back of a capacitor, this may seem like a really stupid question.

 

I have a moderately watertight old prefab concrete garage with no power feed (the roof doesn't leak but water can get in under the edges of the floor when it rains, which will eventually get fixed).  I'd like some light in there and I have a spare car battery knocking around so was thinking of hooking it up via some sort of regulator to something like this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/45W-Ceiling-Suspended-Recessed-LED-Panel-White-Light-Office-Lighting-600-X-600/152186076839?hash=item236eff3ea7:g:tfYAAOSwARZXljrE

 

Would that work?  I understand that the battery's output needs regulating to a steady 12v, I'd need to somehow attach it to a wall switch as well and had the thought of using a solar charger to keep the battery topped up.  However, I am not sure where to start or what's best to get.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

You can light a garage off a battery, no problems.

There's loads of 12v LED light solutions to choose from, 20w of LEDs will light it fairly well, I'd put a pair of strips along the roof about 6" off the side walls, so that a car doesn't cast a shadow.

 

How often/long to you expect to use the lights? A 50w solar panel and charge controller are maybe £60. If you've got a clear view of the sky without shade from buildings or trees then a 50w panel will get you about 15watt hours per day, worst case. In summer, more like 150 watt hours.

 

Then its a simple calculation - your lights are 20w, so you can run them in winter for about 40 minutes a day off of solar power.

An old car battery will give you a decent buffer so you can average it out over a week or so, and run the lights for 4.5 hours on a weekend and then let them charge up all week.

[DeeJay]

Given that everything I know about electronics can be written on the back of a capacitor, this may seem like a really stupid question.

 

I have a moderately watertight old prefab concrete garage with no power feed (the roof doesn't leak but water can get in under the edges of the floor when it rains, which will eventually get fixed).  I'd like some light in there and I have a spare car battery knocking around so was thinking of hooking it up via some sort of regulator to something like this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/45W-Ceiling-Suspended-Recessed-LED-Panel-White-Light-Office-Lighting-600-X-600/152186076839?hash=item236eff3ea7:g:tfYAAOSwARZXljrE

 

Would that work?  I understand that the battery's output needs regulating to a steady 12v, I'd need to somehow attach it to a wall switch as well and had the thought of using a solar charger to keep the battery topped up.  However, I am not sure where to start or what's best to get.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-User-Petrol-Generator-850w-max-Very-little-used/112664203393?hash=item1a3b4f5081:g:-esAAOSwke9aDJvM

 

 

£50 buy it now.

[phil_lihp]

Thanks, that's very helpful.  I'm on the lookout for a wiring diagram of how the whole thing should work.  There's no car in there, it's not big enough so it's more storage and workshop, it would be useful for a bit of evening bike maintenance as I cycle to work and at the moment if something on the bike breaks or needs adjustment it has to hang on until the weekend just so I can see what I'm doing.

[phil_lihp]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-User-Petrol-Generator-850w-max-Very-little-used/112664203393?hash=item1a3b4f5081:g:-esAAOSwke9aDJvM

 

 

£50 buy it now.

 

Oh how the neighbours would love me!  Quiet residential street, I don't think I'd be very popular!

[Tickman]

Would it not just be easier with something like this?

 

https://www.homebase.co.uk/ultimate-bat-light-led-torch_p375110

[Kiltox]

How close is the garage to the house? Wouldn’t be hard to run a 230v spur if close

 

Otherwise I would buy a decent leisure battery and a solar panel.

[phil_lihp]

You're not wrong and it is close to the house, I will be asking an electrician I know about a spur, it's been in my mind for some time but I was just curious about how easily the old car battery could be rigged up for a bit of cheap light.  Likely not worth the hassle but it seemed like an interesting little project to get my head around.

[DeeJay]

65 decibels, quieter than the light of my life.

[Kiltox]

You're not wrong and it is close to the house, I will be asking an electrician I know about a spur, it's been in my mind for some time but I was just curious about how easily the old car battery could be rigged up for a bit of cheap light. Likely not worth the hassle but it seemed like an interesting little project to get my head around.

TBH with a small LED strip it would take a while to drain a fully charged battery so it’s a decent interim measure

 

Either that or Screwfix do rechargeable LED work lights for about £25

[cobblers]

Just running a light off a battery is about as easy as it gets, two wires and it illuminates. Take one of them off and illumination stops.

Drag the battery back in the house after 3 hours of light and put it back on charge. 

 

Or do what most people do and run an extension cable down to the garage that runs through a hole in the corner of the kitchen door, screw the socket on the wall and have a plug that goes to a flickery 5 foot flourescent tube that came out of a skip.

[phil_lihp]

I just got rid of the flickery flurescent tube out of my kitchen too!  Awful things.  Yep, I realise now, plenty of 12v options so I don't need to be looking at 230v stuff at all.  See?  Told you I was useless with this stuff but every day's a school day.  I'll pick up a cheap 20w LED light and go from there, I have some suitable cable which was bought for the van but not used so should be able to knock something simple up.