Ask a Shiter

[steveo3002]

i use these ones most

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERGEN-Swivel-Oil-Filter-Strap-Removal-Wrench-Set-4-Piece-2-3-4-5-1-4/152619908642?epid=2037171200&hash=item2388dafe22:g:l64AAOSwlXhZZKuA

[MikeR]

main issue tends to be slippage and skidding . not only did my tool struggle but the rubber gloves failed as well .....considering it was a long one as opposed to a stubby that could be normally fitted , there was plenty to get hold of !   , I had to ask a mate to try his .

 

I dont like piercing , I like to be able to use the ride if all else fails ....

[Eddie Honda]

IMG_20150920_243702_049 by macplaxton, on Flickr

 

I is a tool ponce.

[Rod/b]

Whatever happened to the UNKLE_B411saX insane Maserati restoration from history? Last I remember was him cutting a decent repair panel in half so he could fit it in the boot of a Metro or something.

[Kiltox]

I’ve tried many oil filter tools but the universal one (screwdriver) usually wins

[cort16]

I’ve got one of those band ones I I got from Aldi for 3 quid and it’s never failed me yet.

[Eddie Honda]

I’ve got one of those band ones I I got from Aldi for 3 quid and it’s never failed me yet.

 

Band ones are shit. You will fail.

 

 

Needs one of these:

 

 

and if the oil filter is a shit aftermarket one, you'll need some extra grip

 

[Jim Bell]

Funny one.

 

Mk1 Focus Zeetec 1.6.

Crazy constant beeping coming from the glove box/clock area. Sounds literally like a digital clock alarm, but I dont think the car has a setable clock alarm.

 

Came on ramdomly on the way home today. No warning lights or anything though. Just constant beeping. Went off with ingnition when we got home.

 

Anyone got any ideas of WTF it is?

[DodgeRover]

Funny one.

 

Mk1 Focus Zeetec 1.6.

Crazy constant beeping coming from the glove box/clock area. Sounds literally like a digital clock alarm, but I dont think the car has a setable clock alarm.

 

Came on ramdomly on the way home today. No warning lights or anything though. Just constant beeping. Went off with ingnition when we got home.

 

Anyone got any ideas of WTF it is?

Seat belt not fastened warning alarm?

[320touring]

Here's one for you..

 

Getting the Burd's Clio 172 ready for MOT this week and I decided to change the brake fluid as pedal felt spongy.

 

It now has new fluid to all nipples, and 2 new front calipers (snapped bleed nipples on old ones) plus new front pads.

 

We were Uber cautious to keep an eye on the fluid level to avoid any air in the ABS system.

 

Pedal still feels spongy compared to my one, and a million miles away from the way the ph2 car with the same setup felt. It pulls up ok, but pedal is long.

 

Any suggestions on cause or remedy?

[hpi_matrix]

Here's one for you..

 

Getting the Burd's Clio 172 ready for MOT this week and I decided to change the brake fluid as pedal felt spongy.

 

It now has new fluid to all nipples, and 2 new front calipers (snapped bleed nipples on old ones) plus new front pads.

 

We were Uber cautious to keep an eye on the fluid level to avoid any air in the ABS system.

 

Pedal still feels spongy compared to my one, and a million miles away from the way the ph2 car with the same setup felt. It pulls up ok, but pedal is long.

 

Any suggestions on cause or remedy?

 

What happens if you pump the pedal (does it get hard), how did you bleed it (pressurised system or the old fashioned way)

[hpi_matrix]

Having aquired the roffle'd citroen zx I'am now struggling to insure it for a decent price. Im guessing this could be because:

• Im under 30
• All my NCB is on another car
• Its not old enough to be classic

Any suggestions comrades? Im not keen on shelling out £500+ insurance on an old beater when I havent paid more the £300 for much better exotica.

[320touring]

What happens if you pump the pedal (does it get hard), how did you bleed it (pressurised system or the old fashioned way)

It was bled old fashioned way, pedal pump I'll try later.

[Jim Bell]

More Ford questions.

 

Did the mk1 CMax use Focus wing mirrors?

 

Ie can a CMax one ho straight on my Focus without titfarting around with it?

[Timewaster]

Any tips for curing the stinking stagnant water in the utterly inaccessible washer bottle on my family wagon?

 

I've cured it before by popping the pump out and letting it all run out but I go on holiday in 2 days and I'm not going to have time for a massive strip down.

 

Bleach?

 

Sterelising tablet?

 

Hosepipe in the filler neck and go in the house for a cup of tea? (Garden flood optional).

[Kiltox]

Just under boiling water + a bit of bleach, run it through

 

Hose down the paint afterwards

[Fabergé Greggs]

If my tires only say 145 r14 on them and I want a new one in the same size- does that correspond to a sidewall ratio of 80 hence 145 80 r14?

 

Why don’t they write the 80 on the side???

[Sigmund Fraud]

Why don’t they write the 80 on the side???

 

Because the aspect ratio is actually 82%.

[Fabergé Greggs]

Because the aspect ratio is actually 82%.

So 145 80 r14 and 145 r14 are actually different sizes? So much so that I shouldn’t mix and match?

[clayts450]

Any tips for curing the stinking stagnant water in the utterly inaccessible washer bottle on my family wagon?

 

I've cured it before by popping the pump out and letting it all run out but I go on holiday in 2 days and I'm not going to have time for a massive strip down.

 

Bleach?

 

Sterelising tablet?

 

Hosepipe in the filler neck and go in the house for a cup of tea? (Garden flood optional).

Had same. Cleared it over time by topping up with neat screenwash from Wilko. Saves burning out the motor

 

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

[Sigmund Fraud]

So 145 80 r14 and 145 r14 are actually different sizes? So much so that I shouldn’t mix and match?

 

Most people use them interchangeably, I wouldn't mix them on the same axle but 2% isn't all that much TBH.

[cort16]

More Ford questions.

 

Did the mk1 CMax use Focus wing mirrors?

 

Ie can a CMax one ho straight on my Focus without titfarting around with it?

I’m pretty sure mk1 cmax is mk2 focus based so probably not.

[dave21478]

Am I being paranoid or does this ebay account look dodgy to anyone else?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/the_blue_abyss_ltd

 

I put an item (set of four injectors for 200 quid) in my watch list last week and went back to it today, but while this listing is still visible they now have zero items for sale. Looking at their recent feedback it all reads just too perfect with weirdly gushing superlative comments by loads of buyers all with around 80 feedback points, all for sets of four copper washers costing a quid.

Its not until you get back to page 5 or 6 of their feedback that it starts to look normal.

[sierraman]

Focus Mk2 Thermostat housing, is it on top of the gearbox at the side of the head and a similarly simple job to do as per mk1 Focus? A friend of my fathers was quoted £350 on the job. I'm thinking more like £40-50 for the housing and an hour and a half's labour tops?

[inconsistant]

Anyone any experience with Mister Auto?

 

Are they usefully accurate, or euro car parts accurate?

 

 

Used once, never again. 

Advertised track rod ends at half the price of elsewhere on their website which also showed them in stock. After ordering (and taking money) they took 2 weeks to let me know they didn't actually have any in stock by which time I'd missed my chance to fit them while off work. I had also added a radiator cap for a couple of quid to take my order over the free delivery threshold and they then delivered that on it's own, it had the rubber seal missing so went straight in the bin. Ended up ordering track rod ends from the reliable supplier I should have gone to in the first place.

I now factor in the cost of being pissed about when considering the price of parts. 

[inconsistant]

There are multiple failure modes for starter motors.

 

Describe the symptoms and someone may be able to help.

 

Ben

 

 

Thanks Ben, sorry to be vague/crap at diagnosing but sort of engine seems to crank slowly, battery seems to drain and need charging quite often (it's only a couple of years old, car isn't used often) but mainly I'm wondering because trusted mechanic noted that starter motor was on it's way out a couple of years ago, and I've not fixed it since then so wondered what might be the tell tail signs. I should have asked him why he suspected the starter.

 

I'm trying to methodically go through all the things that might be making it difficult to start over winter as I suspect its a combo of a couple of things. I suspected my and battery charger and thanks to The Moog I now know that my old charger didn't do anything except turn it's charging led on. I did a test and it was 11.97v before and 11.97v after 48 hours of charging. That may be the reason why I had to keep 'charging' the battery but it still struggled. TheMoogcharger has got the battery up to 13v overnight. 

 

Would it be worth whipping it out and getting it refurbished anyway (1985 Porsche 924, original starter motor) as the place that did my alternator does them too.

[Slappy]

Ah, my favourite thread... Can anyone tell me when Titanium spec Focii appeared and whether it was a direct replacement for Ghia spec or whether there was some overlap? If there was some overlap, what were the differences? Ta.

[DodgeRover]

So 145 80 r14 and 145 r14 are actually different sizes? So much so that I shouldn’t mix and match?

You probably have a better chance if getting 145r14C which will be the correct size - just check the speed rating is appropriate.

[Asimo]

Having aquired the roffle'd citroen zx I'am now struggling to insure it for a decent price. Im guessing this could be because:

 

• Im under 30
• All my NCB is on another car
• Its not old enough to be classic

Any suggestions comrades? Im not keen on shelling out £500+ insurance on an old beater when I havent paid more the £300 for much better exotica.

Ask your broker to "mirror" the no claims discount of your existing policy on the new policy.

This means you get the same discount as on your main policy, but you can't add no-claims protection to it and the new policy won't make any no claims bonus.

[Stroller133]

Anyone know the cost of transferring a registration from one car to another? Basically my cousin wants to keep his existing plate from his Scenic (his late father’s car, so sentimental reasons, which I can understand), and transfer it to an MG TF which he’s px’ing it for. The bloke who owns the garage may know costs or may not want to do it, but thought I’d put the feelers out for him anyhow.

Remember you cant put a newer plate on the car. The MG TF needs to be same year or newer than the Scenic.

 

EDIT:

Sorry, didn’t realise this post was that old!