Ask a Shiter

[Christine]

Is there any way of finding out if finance is owed on a car for free ,or do you always  have to pay for   hpi report?

[willswitchengage]

This is the 'code' on my car's fan belt. It's a Gates Micro V Horizon with blue trim. The other fan belt is something similar and unfortunately I can't immediately check the timing belt as that's an engine out job (!!!). Does anybody know how to read these? Question really is is it from 2014 or is it just coincidence that the random numbers align with a date.

 

[sierraman]

If the belt isn't cracked or excessively glazed or noisy then I wouldn't worry about it.

[Dave_Q]

Looks like 2014 week 38 to me.

[willswitchengage]

  On 15/06/2018 at 17:51, Dave_Q said:

Looks like 2014 week 38 to me.

 

Well I look silly now!

[puddlethumper]

  On 14/06/2018 at 21:31, DodgeRover said:

How about we come over and see you, doing up a barge sounds more interesting than work...

The first week in August I'll be back here while my friends are on hols, so a possibility.

[puddlethumper]

  On 15/06/2018 at 07:16, The Moog said:

You going to to do a Dutch Bargeshite thread?

I'll try to. Good beer and friends makes it difficult to get the time.

[Cavcraft]

Somewhere on Facebook someone posted a video clip from their car. Basically, they must have put a permanent feed to their dashcam so it was on all the time, whther driving or not even in the car. Is it possible (and if so, how, please) to rig this up and better still have it so it's like a web cam and can be viewed remotely, without draining the battery too much?

It'd be great when you left your car parked up, given that a fair percentage of the population seem bloody awful at parking these days.

[sierraman]

I think the feed to the clock and the radio runs a constant live so you could tap into that.

[dean36014]

  On 16/06/2018 at 03:02, Cavcraft said:

Somewhere on Facebook someone posted a video clip from their car. Basically, they must have put a permanent feed to their dashcam so it was on all the time, whther driving or not even in the car. Is it possible (and if so, how, please) to rig this up and better still have it so it's like a web cam and can be viewed remotely, without draining the battery too much?

It'd be great when you left your car parked up, given that a fair percentage of the population seem bloody awful at parking these days.

In my Xm they fag lighter socket is permanently live and I left my dashcam (not a cheap one) plugged in when I forgot to unplug it. Five days later the battery was totally flat. Bit pointless really as if the car is moved in anyway the camera records so its not necessary to have it constantly on. I've since hardwired it it in on a switched live and the battery has never drained since. Maybe coincidence, I don't know but as said I can now leave the car at least a week and it fires straight up.   

[adw1977]

  On 16/06/2018 at 03:02, Cavcraft said:

Somewhere on Facebook someone posted a video clip from their car. Basically, they must have put a permanent feed to their dashcam so it was on all the time, whther driving or not even in the car. Is it possible (and if so, how, please) to rig this up and better still have it so it's like a web cam and can be viewed remotely, without draining the battery too much?

It'd be great when you left your car parked up, given that a fair percentage of the population seem bloody awful at parking these days.

 

Do you have more than one fag lighter / socket?  My V50 has three (decadent!) and one is permanently live while the other two switch off when the key is out of the ignition.  And yes, it is meant to be like that!

[tommytwo]

Looking for some advice on my 92 Rover 820, which keeps locking itself. Never had an infra red fob for this car and so have always unlocked it with a key. When I use the key in the drivers door, it immediately locks itself again. The passenger door sometimes will unlock using the key but all other doors remain locked. I can sometimes with the key lock and unlock the passenger door 3 times and then all other doors will unlock also. My feeling is that the source of the problem lies in the passenger door, possibly a micro switch in the door lock actuator having failed in the closed position. Anyone else had this problem? Where do I start with my trouble shooting? Thanks.

[dave21478]

  On 16/06/2018 at 03:02, Cavcraft said:

Somewhere on Facebook someone posted a video clip from their car. Basically, they must have put a permanent feed to their dashcam so it was on all the time, whther driving or not even in the car. Is it possible (and if so, how, please) to rig this up and better still have it so it's like a web cam and can be viewed remotely, without draining the battery too much?

It'd be great when you left your car parked up, given that a fair percentage of the population seem bloody awful at parking these days.

 

Wiring the dashcam to a permanent live will leave it running 24/7. Some have a "parking mode" that saves power by only recording when it detects movement. All this is easy enough.

Live streaming to facebook or allowing remote viewing....thats harder. It would be easier to not even use a dashcam but an old android phone with a dashcam app. However, streaming the image will absolutely hammer your mobile data allowance. Fine for a one-off event, but not practical for full time security.

[Stanky]

I'll get a proper thread up about this in due course, but to get the ball rolling - I bought the Ex red5/83c/holbeck Celica a few weeks back and I'm looking at changing the cambelt myself shortly.

 

Its a 6th gen 1998 Celica ST202 with the 7a-fe 114bhp engine. The car has done 125k miles with the last evidence of the cambelt having been changed at 61k in 2004. The belt and tensioner are due to be changed and I plan to undertake this myself.

 

I can see the process involved to change the cambelt, thats relatively easy, but should I look to change the auxilliary belts at the same time? My rationale is that they have to come off regardless to get access to the cambelt cowling and get the old belt off, so should i fit 3 new belts (Power steering pump, Alternator & water pump & A/C compressor circuits) at the same time while they are off?

 

From searching the Toyota forum various posts suggest changing the water pump at the same time too - is this wise to do for peace of mind? If I change the water pump, can i re-use the pulley that drives it, or should I get a new one? the pulley appears to bolt onto the actual pump with 4 bolts.

 

Is anyone able to provide the belts required? I can find a variety of belts for this engine, a list of Toyota part numbers would be very helpful if anyone can point me in the right direction. Am I right that the belts I need are toyota part numbers:

 

88310A - Belt for A/C compressor curcuit (includes pulley in circuit)

16361A - Belt for Alternator & water pump circuit (no pulley, Alternator provides 'tension')

44310A - Belt from water pump pulley to P/S pump, no pulley)

 

Is that correct? If not, what are the part numbers?

 

This was taken from this guide:

 

 

Taken from: https://www.diyauto.com/manufacturers/toyota/generations/celica-t200/diys/belt-orientation-5sfe-3sge-3sgte-3sfe-7afe-by-cuttyman9

[stephen01]

How stupid is it to buy a 05 jaguar x type diesel that smokes and only has 2 months not?

[mitsisigma01]

I'm at a similar dilemma with the Mx5 mk1 , leaky t piece on thermostat housing, so to change that , from how I see it it is camcover off ,new gasket , timing wheels off , cambelt off , to save taking that off again change water pump while I'm in there.And I think there is a crank end seal that also needs doing whilst there .

Or shall I just pug up the t-piece and play waterpump/cambelt/headgasket roulette all at the same time ......

[sierraman]

  On 16/06/2018 at 17:00, stephen01 said:

How stupid is it to buy a 05 jaguar x type diesel that smokes and only has 2 months not?

Fuck it off if it smokes. Don't buy into all this they'll tell you its the EGR, its probably not, its likely to be the injectors.

 

No point at all buying a Mondeo/X type diesel with problems, a decent one is only worth £7-800 anyway. A good one is worth a go, just make sure it doesn't smoke and the idle is good with no flashing glow plug when you boot it. Then run it till it drops, don't entertain repairing any fuelling related issues. You'll also find garages reluctant to do this as well as beyond a few simple things you can try, its difficult to accurately diagnose what the actual issue is.

 

Also unlike the mk3 Mondeo the x type rots like fuck. Chances are the seller knows this. It will be like fucking weetabix under those sill covers.

[dave21478]

Stanky, the belts is a difficult call....three belts and a waterpump will likely add up to a fair price on top of your cambelt parts. Once they are off, I would inspect them carefully and see what state they are in....look for cracking and fraying. Is the car a long term keeper? if so, then probably change them if they seem worn...Personally I rarely change them unless they are hanging to bits, but financial acuity and forward planning are not my strong points. Same for the water pump...once the belt is off, see if it turns freely and has no play in the bearings and decide from there. Since its not driven by the cam belt, its probably not that difficult to change the pump at a later date if required, although that depends on the layout and access. The pulley will almost certainly be fine to reuse unless its some kind of two-part bonded shit, which is unlikely for a waterpump.

 

Stephen01 - that would be very stupid unless its practically free. Diesel injectors or pump problems are 4-figure repair bills on a car worth £700.

[Cavcraft]

  On 16/06/2018 at 17:00, stephen01 said:

How stupid is it to buy a 05 jaguar x type diesel that smokes and only has 2 months not?

 

If it's less than about £250 it's ok.

[Stanky]

Thanks for the input Davenumbers, cambelt plus tensioner is £28, water pump is £16. the other belts seem to be about £6 each so thats about £60 all in, not a monumental amount. I've had a bit of a think and since all the ancilliaries are driven from separate belts (the cambelt just drives the cams) am I being a simpleton in thinking that if one of them seizes it'll only shred its own belt, rather than take out the cambelt?

 

The cambelt lives inside a little house made of 3 parts of cowling so is protected from the outside world (and shredding belts) and the engine is non-interference anyway so even if something catastrophic happened to the belt the engine *should* be fine.

 

Or am I being a tightwad git and just need to pony up the cash and do it all properly? I do plan to keep this one for a while, and the cambelt age is the main question mark hanging over it really. 

[dave21478]

Ok, they are less expensive than I imagined. I would probably change them all in that case.

 

Having said that, I honestly struggle to remember the last time I bought a new aux belt for...well...anything, and in all that time the worst I have had is the Shitlander shedding its belt which required a tow home as it turned the water pump as well as alternator etc.

You can get home with no alt or power steering, but the water pump is the important one.

[Guest Hooli]

I'd change them if I had the cash, they are bound to be due on the service schedule if the cambelt is. You can always through them in the boot if they are good, as we all know carrying a spare means it's never needed.

[Amishtat]

This is Amish Senior's 205 auto. Has anyone got a couple of these wheel trims or even better, a front bumper?

[The Moog]

Honestly I would change them whilst your at it Stanky.

 

You then know it is done and probably isn't that much effort.

[clayts450]

Talk to me about 12v impact wrenches, like this one. False economy and better off buying one of the Clarke clones like this one ?

[Guest Hooli]

Post it on the shitely thread, you might be able to get them a lot closer to you that way. Solves one issue anyway.

[dave21478]

I dont really understand the question? are you hoping for a refund? I would say thats unlikely and frankly a bit of a shitty thing to ask - he has afterall stored them for six months for you...possibly for free? He could very well have sold them elsewhere immediately for a no hassle transaction.

[dean36014]

So where are the wheels located and where are you Jo? he mentions he can get them to Gaydon Ford show, when is that?

[dave21478]

but i still dont understand the question, what do you want from the guy? you paid for them, but cant/wont collect, so....now what? Are you trying to re-sell them to someone else and have this new buyer pick them up direct from this guy? because if I were him I wouldnt be keen on that either, having randoms turn up to pick up something as part of a transaction that is nothing to do with him....what if the new buyer doesnt like the condition or whatever and get shirty with the guy? 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Cat B. Is there any coming back from it, or will a car that's escaping breaking never be able to legally go back on the road?