Ask a Shiter

[adw1977]

I've used a cheap Laser windscreen repair kit with reasonable success before, didn't make the chips completely invisible but improved them and they didn't turn into cracks in the remaining year or so that I owned the car.

 

Laser is a brand name, no actual lasers are involved!

[DodgeRover]

I think 5p sized is too big for the chains to do, an independant or a cash job might do it.

You should be able to get like for like on the insurance, if it's a blue screen coming out then a blue one should go back in.

[Tetleysmooth]

I've been offered an 05 or 55 plate (can't remember which) Saab 9-3 1.8t Linear petrol convertible by a work colleague.

It's being offered at a very reasonable price. It's a bit scruffy here and there, but the roof works ok, and he uses it everyday for work, so there can't be too much wrong with it.

 

Other than that, I don't know too much about these. On certain models, I've heard about sludged up sumps and steering rack mountings rusting away from the bulkhead.

 

So, what problems does the above model suffer from, and what should I inspect closely?

Thanks in advance

[Lacquer Peel]

Sludged up sumps and rusty/floppy bulkheads are problems with the previous generation, I think these are a bit better.

[xtriple]

Where the hell can I get sensibly priced insurance for yon little Fiesta?  I have no no claims available (on two other cars) and want it insured but wil hardly ever use it. Cheapest I can find is a couple of hundred quid, I wanted classic for about half that!

[Guest Hooli]

Where the hell can I get sensibly priced insurance for yon little Fiesta?  I have no no claims available (on two other cars) and want it insured but wil hardly ever use it. Cheapest I can find is a couple of hundred quid, I wanted classic for about half that!

 

Tried multicar with one of your existing policies?

[xtriple]

Yes I did, the one the Merc is with don't do it and the other mob (Hastings) would rather shove wildly enraged wasps up my arse than be helpful!

[egg]

Try Direct Line on their website (not on comparisons).

[Guest Hooli]

Lancaster? It's who I had my last two 'classics' insured with.

[NorthernMonkey]

I've been offered an 05 or 55 plate (can't remember which) Saab 9-3 1.8t Linear petrol convertible by a work colleague.

It's being offered at a very reasonable price. It's a bit scruffy here and there, but the roof works ok, and he uses it everyday for work, so there can't be too much wrong with it.

 

Other than that, I don't know too much about these. On certain models, I've heard about sludged up sumps and steering rack mountings rusting away from the bulkhead.

 

So, what problems does the above model suffer from, and what should I inspect closely?

Thanks in advance

The timing chain guides break up and then the chains can jump a tooth or two.

 

Replacements are a upgraded design but not cheap...around £250 just for the parts alone from neo brothers as there’s two chains.

 

Not too bad to do though...on with one at the moment.

[NorthernMonkey]

By the way, the 1.8t is actually a two litre but with a lower power map on the ecu.

Noobtune online can provide aero levels of performance for little cost.

[puddlethumper]

Provided you use less than 2500 litres a year it is perfectly legal. Might fuck your car up though...

I've been using veg, when it's cheap enough, for a number of years and it's not fucked up my 1.9 Xud. I change the filter every year, which seems enough. I add 2 stroke to it which keeps seals good and so far no problems.

[puddlethumper]

That is a very good price for new oil. Is thst a chain, or a one-off shop?

Indian supermarket, not a chain. It's been that price, more or less, for a year.

[sierraman]

Quick driveshaft related query. The nearside driveshaft on the Mondeo has about 5mm of in/out movement. It also clacks when you accelerate on full lock. Obviously the CV joint is knackered. But how much in/out movement is acceptable?

[Ian_Fearn]

Anybody know what a set of 17" alloys are worth in scrap? They're off an MX5 with no tyres. 

[spike60]

Anybody know what a set of 17" alloys are worth in scrap? They're off an MX5 with no tyres. 

About £8-10 last time I weighed any in.

[Ian_Fearn]

Each or for all 4?

[spike60]

Each, depending on weight

[Ian_Fearn]

Thanks a lot.

[mrbenn]

Anyone got a recommendation for a decent set of metal drill bits? Got some broken bolts to drill out and am sick to death of polishing the ends and nothing more. Could do with 1.5/2mm as smallest size. Ta.

[Scruffy Bodger]

Anyone got a clue on a rough figure for a rear bench seat value for an Astra GTE Mk2? It's in dark rainbow and has been in storage for many years. The colours on the fabric are excellent as they have been stored in the dark for many years BUT there are a couple of tiny burn marks on the lower part of the bench. Also have interior carpets and a loom but that's in several pieces.

 

I've had nothing to do with VX's for many years, guessing these aren't exactly everyday items now so don't want to sell myself too short.

 

TIA.

[twosmoke300]

Anyone got a recommendation for a decent set of metal drill bits? Got some broken bolts to drill out and am sick to death of polishing the ends and nothing more. Could do with 1.5/2mm as smallest size. Ta.

 

Heller Cobolt coated are a good GP drill . Not too brittle but good n sharp. Use lower speeds and get a bottle of proper cutting fluid . Makes a huge difference.

Think a 1-13mm set is around 50 quid iirc

[mat_the_cat]

My mate has a Kangoo, which has just intermittently lost second gear. You simply can't move the lever into the 2nd gear position. Doesn't seem directly related to temperature, although generally better when cold. Nothing jammed in the linkage, nor is there any witness marks from it catching anything. It is exactly the same engine running or off, and whilst stationary or moving. As yet he hasn't been underneath when 2nd is unavailable, to see whether you can still physically move the lever on the gearbox itself.

 

I'm baffled, and feeling a little guilty as I sold him the car! Any ideas from the collective wisdom?

[DodgyBastard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWfaTuRO1uc

 

 

 

My 1.6 petrol 305 seems to have developed a bit of a rattle but I can't quite tell where it's coming from. Any suggestions as to what it could be? It drives fine and isn't down on power or anything like that, sometimes it goes away or is less noticeable. I loosened the alternator belt to see if it was the alternator making the noise but it felt smooth enough to turn by hand so probably not that.

[DodgeRover]

Have you checked the valve clearances recently? Sounds a bit like mine when it needed a cam.

[Talbot]

My mate has a Kangoo, which has just intermittently lost second gear. You simply can't move the lever into the 2nd gear position.

Sounds like one of the interlock detents is jamming in position. I don't know the specific gearbox, but there must be interlocks between the selector shafts, and if one is jammed, you may get this effect.

[D Spares & Tyres]

As I am running on veg, from the convenient Indian supermarket at 16 for 20 litres what are the legalities, or not, of doing this ?

Not legal.

 

However, if you process your own fuel from waste cooking oil then it is legal for you to use up to 2500 litres per year without paying duty on it. You must keep a log of the amounts you are processing and using.

 

If you get caught with it in your tank then it will of course be waste oil that you have processed yourself and there is currently no proper record of this as that is the first batch you have made and this is your maiden journey....

[Lacquer Peel]

It doesn't have to be waste vegetable oil, just "biofuel", which new vegetable oil is.

 

I've been burning veg oil for over 10 years and not had any issues with the law/HMRC. Who's going to check if you have recorded every litre?

[SiC]

I didn't know it had to be used. Could you just not spit in the can?

[Dave_Q]

I don't believe it does have to be used oil.

 

Processing into biofuel is the legal terminology, for many cars the "processing" includes taking the lid off the bottle and pouring it into the tank.