Ask a Shiter

[Nicola H]

Here's one. One of the guys down at my lock ups mates has an e36 BMW 323i. He turned up the other night saying he couldn't turn it off as it looks like the barrel was fucked and the key was just spinning in it. They couldn't get it to stop and stalling it wasn't an option as it's an auto so he took positive and negative cables off the battery and it kept running! I though that the circuit had to be complete for the car to run? Is this normal?

 

Yup, it knackers the alternator in no time at all.

 

Much easier to pull the fuel pump fuse.

 

or asphyxiate it ...

 

( apparently asyphyiation is the only way to stop a dieseling ( as in running on it's own sump oil) engine before it blows up

[Nicola H]

What's the etymology behind the Leyland in British Leyland? Why not British Weston-super-Mare or British Happisburgh?

 

might be something to do with the location of the original Leyland Motors factory in ... Leyland, Lancs ...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I buggered up the ECU of my Volvo 240 by disconnecting the battery with it running. It put up with it once, the second time it knackered it up completely.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I buggered up the ECU of my Volvo 240 by disconnecting the battery with it running. It put up with it once, the second time it knackered it up completely.

[Cavcraft]

... 'bottletops' ...

I believe that's what they're called, because they resemble crimped crown type beer bottle lids.

Send him that picture Billy?

I hate scrapping good wheels...

 

Cheers Joe, he lives round the corner and mentioned he wanted some so I'll show them to him, just wanted to make sure I had the right type first. They are in nice order but not as nice as some others I had, but they're all heading for frag as that's what I got them for!

[Cavcraft]

... 'bottletops' ...

I believe that's what they're called, because they resemble crimped crown type beer bottle lids.

Send him that picture Billy?

I hate scrapping good wheels...

 

Cheers Joe, he lives round the corner and mentioned he wanted some so I'll show them to him, just wanted to make sure I had the right type first. They are in nice order but not as nice as some others I had, but they're all heading for frag as that's what I got them for!

[willswitchengage]

What's the etymology behind the Leyland in British Leyland? Why not British Weston-super-Mare or British Happisburgh?

 

might be something to do with the location of the original Leyland Motors factory in ... Leyland, Lancs ...

 

A quick wikipaedo afterwards led me to wall-head banging after I forgot that Leyland truck & bus was the other half of BL and not just BMC...

[willswitchengage]

What's the etymology behind the Leyland in British Leyland? Why not British Weston-super-Mare or British Happisburgh?

 

might be something to do with the location of the original Leyland Motors factory in ... Leyland, Lancs ...

 

A quick wikipaedo afterwards led me to wall-head banging after I forgot that Leyland truck & bus was the other half of BL and not just BMC...

[Station]

Last night, heading home from work at 8pm, I saw a Mondeo on the hard shoulder with a girl sitting on the Armco sort of waving cars down. I've been in this situation before (ie stranded) and thought 'f*ck it!', I had time so I did a U-turn at the next roundabout, got some fuel and water from the service station and a short time later pulled in in front of her 1995 Mondeo.

The girl turned out to be Australian and her car had lost power and ground to a stop on the hard shoulder (on the M6). I checked the car and it was getting spark and you could smell petrol. She was saying the head gasket had gone, but there was no signs of it going (no poo on the oil cap). The engine was turning kind've loosely, and there was a slight grinding noise after about 6 seconds. I had to leave her as I couldn't do anything and didn't want to get gripped by the police for helping someone out, and her mate was arriving in an hour and a half with recovery.

I think the cambelt had gone, but have been thinking of what it could have been? When the engine was spinning, there was a big load of bubbles coming through the bottom pipe of the water bottle.

[Station]

Last night, heading home from work at 8pm, I saw a Mondeo on the hard shoulder with a girl sitting on the Armco sort of waving cars down. I've been in this situation before (ie stranded) and thought 'f*ck it!', I had time so I did a U-turn at the next roundabout, got some fuel and water from the service station and a short time later pulled in in front of her 1995 Mondeo.

The girl turned out to be Australian and her car had lost power and ground to a stop on the hard shoulder (on the M6). I checked the car and it was getting spark and you could smell petrol. She was saying the head gasket had gone, but there was no signs of it going (no poo on the oil cap). The engine was turning kind've loosely, and there was a slight grinding noise after about 6 seconds. I had to leave her as I couldn't do anything and didn't want to get gripped by the police for helping someone out, and her mate was arriving in an hour and a half with recovery.

I think the cambelt had gone, but have been thinking of what it could have been? When the engine was spinning, there was a big load of bubbles coming through the bottom pipe of the water bottle.

[Cavcraft]

My experience of cam belts snapping involves the engine spinning over like crazy when turning over but not 'catching'. Almsot like a high speed whirring.

[Cavcraft]

My experience of cam belts snapping involves the engine spinning over like crazy when turning over but not 'catching'. Almsot like a high speed whirring.

[pompei]

Why are buses and lorries diesel powered? I know that there have been petrol lorries in the past. Something to do with torque?

[pompei]

Why are buses and lorries diesel powered? I know that there have been petrol lorries in the past. Something to do with torque?

[catsinthewelder]

Think what the traditional disadvantages with ( older ) diesel powered cars are; slow, noisy, dirty etc. Which is less of an issue in a truck than say, a Jaguar

 

Diesel engines are generally more efficient than petrol particually in larger, slower applications so they started in ships, stationary generators and railway engines before taking over from petrol in lorrys and buses as technology progressed before eventually being used in a good many cars.

 

Newer technology in petrol engines is starting to reverse thier fortunes for smaller applications now though.

[catsinthewelder]

Think what the traditional disadvantages with ( older ) diesel powered cars are; slow, noisy, dirty etc. Which is less of an issue in a truck than say, a Jaguar

 

Diesel engines are generally more efficient than petrol particually in larger, slower applications so they started in ships, stationary generators and railway engines before taking over from petrol in lorrys and buses as technology progressed before eventually being used in a good many cars.

 

Newer technology in petrol engines is starting to reverse thier fortunes for smaller applications now though.

[willswitchengage]

Why are buses and lorries diesel powered? I know that there have been petrol lorries in the past. Something to do with torque?

 

a) Thermal efficiency: Diesel engines are about 40% efficient due to their higher compression ratios and reduced pumping losses (no throttle), gasoline engines are about 30% efficient

 

They are inherently more durable

 

c) CI (diesel) engines can generally be run on a wide variety of cheap heavy oils with little modification, less of a consideration for highly regulated on-highway transport though

 

Basically they're cheaper to run, which is your most important consideration in a commercial vehicle. Bio/natural gas buses are becoming increasingly common though due to their much cleaner emissions and the cheapness of fuel

[willswitchengage]

Why are buses and lorries diesel powered? I know that there have been petrol lorries in the past. Something to do with torque?

 

a) Thermal efficiency: Diesel engines are about 40% efficient due to their higher compression ratios and reduced pumping losses (no throttle), gasoline engines are about 30% efficient

 

They are inherently more durable

 

c) CI (diesel) engines can generally be run on a wide variety of cheap heavy oils with little modification, less of a consideration for highly regulated on-highway transport though

 

Basically they're cheaper to run, which is your most important consideration in a commercial vehicle. Bio/natural gas buses are becoming increasingly common though due to their much cleaner emissions and the cheapness of fuel

[M'coli]

Historically diesel was taxed much lower too - the price difference was about 20% in the late 70s.

[M'coli]

Historically diesel was taxed much lower too - the price difference was about 20% in the late 70s.

[willswitchengage]

Historically diesel was taxed much lower too - the price difference was about 20% in the late 70s.

 

Talking of which the price difference is only 1p in our local Esso/Tesco right now

[willswitchengage]

Historically diesel was taxed much lower too - the price difference was about 20% in the late 70s.

 

Talking of which the price difference is only 1p in our local Esso/Tesco right now

[Caffiend]

*takes deep breath and jumps in*

 

This seemed like the most appropriate thread to throw myself on the mercy of anyone who lives locally-ish to me (Stevenage). I'm coming towards the end of the catchily titled IMI Level 1 Award in Motor Vehicle Repair & Maintenance, and hoping to sign up to year 2, but uncertainty of job situation means that may not be possible

 

Year 1 has been a good start, but has been very very theoretical and I still severely lack the confidence to get the spanners out and 'ave a go on my own beloved BX TZD. 4 students to remove and replace oil & filter (when I say 'replace', I mean put the same oil back in and the same filter back on) on one of the serious wrecks in the college workshop doesn't really cut it in terms of "50% practical". It might be 2012, but there's still only 2 women in a class of 19 And because the guys all have a genetic knowledge of "how to do it" (apparently), it's more 'gimme that torque wrench' than letting me take the time to work it out for meself.

 

I also have a 2001 Xsara which could do with some work and don't mind practising on that as it's at the bottom of its depreciation curve anyway. But I don't have off-street parking to be able to take it off the road and really take me time to screw it up, I mean, suss it out and gradually do a proper job on getting it up to scratch. So, if anyone locally is breaking a car and wants a hand undoing things or could do with an inexperienced but enthusiastic and hopefully not entirely useless apprentice to hinder with repairs on their own shite, and has infinite patience, pick me, pick me - I need practice!

 

Thanking you for your attention, I'm back to lurking.

 

EDIT: PS - I am signed up to the BX forum and the guys there have all been everso helpful and lovely, but not many 'regulars' over there in my neck of the woods, the pool is larger here!

[Caffiend]

*takes deep breath and jumps in*

 

This seemed like the most appropriate thread to throw myself on the mercy of anyone who lives locally-ish to me (Stevenage). I'm coming towards the end of the catchily titled IMI Level 1 Award in Motor Vehicle Repair & Maintenance, and hoping to sign up to year 2, but uncertainty of job situation means that may not be possible

 

Year 1 has been a good start, but has been very very theoretical and I still severely lack the confidence to get the spanners out and 'ave a go on my own beloved BX TZD. 4 students to remove and replace oil & filter (when I say 'replace', I mean put the same oil back in and the same filter back on) on one of the serious wrecks in the college workshop doesn't really cut it in terms of "50% practical". It might be 2012, but there's still only 2 women in a class of 19 And because the guys all have a genetic knowledge of "how to do it" (apparently), it's more 'gimme that torque wrench' than letting me take the time to work it out for meself.

 

I also have a 2001 Xsara which could do with some work and don't mind practising on that as it's at the bottom of its depreciation curve anyway. But I don't have off-street parking to be able to take it off the road and really take me time to screw it up, I mean, suss it out and gradually do a proper job on getting it up to scratch. So, if anyone locally is breaking a car and wants a hand undoing things or could do with an inexperienced but enthusiastic and hopefully not entirely useless apprentice to hinder with repairs on their own shite, and has infinite patience, pick me, pick me - I need practice!

 

Thanking you for your attention, I'm back to lurking.

 

EDIT: PS - I am signed up to the BX forum and the guys there have all been everso helpful and lovely, but not many 'regulars' over there in my neck of the woods, the pool is larger here!

[DSdriver]

Welcome Caffiend

I learned most of my stuff about cars by not having the money to pay someone else to do the job so having to get on and have a go. Haynes in one hand and spanner in the other. As a Citroen nutter myself I approve of your choice of the BX and Xsara. Do keep us informed about your adventures.

[DSdriver]

Welcome Caffiend

I learned most of my stuff about cars by not having the money to pay someone else to do the job so having to get on and have a go. Haynes in one hand and spanner in the other. As a Citroen nutter myself I approve of your choice of the BX and Xsara. Do keep us informed about your adventures.

[ashmicro]

Welcome Caffiend. Get in there and get dirty/bloodied.

 

My stupid question - Once more I have been working on THAT accursed E46. This time, my mate's wife smacked it into an hedge. I've sorted the bumper quite magnificently but the wheelarch liner is cracked. It's not got a hole in it. nor is it flapping around or sticking out (It's actually in place properly, just cracked)

 

MOT PHAIL?

 

KTHXBAI.

[ashmicro]

Welcome Caffiend. Get in there and get dirty/bloodied.

 

My stupid question - Once more I have been working on THAT accursed E46. This time, my mate's wife smacked it into an hedge. I've sorted the bumper quite magnificently but the wheelarch liner is cracked. It's not got a hole in it. nor is it flapping around or sticking out (It's actually in place properly, just cracked)

 

MOT PHAIL?

 

KTHXBAI.

[Albert Ross]

As long as nothing fouls on full lock, nor catches on hoses or ABS wiring, then you'll be fine.

[Albert Ross]

As long as nothing fouls on full lock, nor catches on hoses or ABS wiring, then you'll be fine.