Ask a Shiter

[Richard]

Just tow it home if it's only 20 miles.

[Slartibartfast]

What the ever loving fuck is this inside the cap of the coolant tank on the s80? It looks like some sort of valve to safely release pressure but I can't find any reference to it in the owners manual or online. How the heck do I top up the coolant?

[Guest Hooli]

Is it the inside of the cap? All rad caps are designed to vent above a set pressure so some sort of valve there makes sense.

[DodgeRover]

Has the cap come apart and that should be attached to it?

[Slartibartfast]

Yes I think that must be what has happened

[Guest Hooli]

It'd also explain the low coolant as wiffs of steam would be escaping when the engine is hot.

[DSdriver]

Any tips for removing a bastard tailgate gas strut ball joint? The other 3 were easy but one just wont come apart. As far as I can see there is no wire safety clip, there weren't on any of the others either. 

 

Don't fret, job done. Hand cleanser and fine wire wool is ace for cleaning plastic trims.

[busmansholiday]

When I got day insurance through Aviva it was only two or three quid extra for breakdown insurance, but the only problem I see with your plan is if the engine is cold when the breakdown guy turns up. Unless it runs, that would be a different story unless it's something apparently obviously broken before hand.

Givern how long it takes for them to turn up, especially in Donny, there'll be ice on it!

 

Find somebody with personal recovery cover, offer them a lift, get them to ring up. Sadly* I'm not available for a few days/weeks/years*!

[Slartibartfast]

Has the cap come apart and that should be attached to it?

OK so this is what's happened. Managed to get it out and top up the coolant. However when putting it back (which I had to do via the medium of hammering, I think I put it in too far/deep. Ran the engine for maybe ten minutes to get it up to temp and the coolant is boiling in the expansion tank. This means the system is not properly pressurised, doesn't it?

 

I'm going to get a new cap (hopefully tomorrow) but for the time being I need to use this busted one.

[DodgeRover]

Boiling means it running FAR too hot, are you sure it wasn't just bubbles of air purging if it's been run low?

[sierraman]

I’d have done the nails after mending the car, save them getting chipped.

[drum]

17 year old daughter passed her test today - wahey!

Internet searched for insurance - boo!

 

Any secrets on how to get it a sensible quote?

[320touring]

17 year old daughter passed her test today - wahey!

Internet searched for insurance - boo!

 

Any secrets on how to get it a sensible quote?

Insure her on the Delta. Seriously.

 

Bigger older cars with lower levels of driver fuckups are ftw!

[Slartibartfast]

Boiling means it running FAR too hot, are you sure it wasn't just bubbles of air purging if it's been run low?

I'm not sure, no. There was still water in the expansion tank, it was a centimetre or two below the "MIN" line.

[Tickman]

17 year old daughter passed her test today - wahey!

Internet searched for insurance - boo!

 

Any secrets on how to get it a sensible quote?

Meg passed last Friday and Admiral were coming in at about £1250 on the compare sites but direct were £1050.

 

This is insurance in her name with both parents named. 

As a comparison the same car in the wife's name with the same three people on insurance was £1500!

 

No box and when Chuck has been with Admiral and they have been great as well as the cheapest.

[SiC]

17 year old daughter passed her test today - wahey!

Internet searched for insurance - boo!

 

Any secrets on how to get it a sensible quote?

Keep her as a main driver and then put yourself+other half as a named driver.

 

Also you could go black box. Then you can buy this as a present.

[Slartibartfast]

I’d have done the nails after mending the car, save them getting chipped.

but if I get them chipped my nails will go faster and get better fuel economy. That's how it works, right?

[320touring]

but if I get them chipped my nails will go faster and get better fuel economy. That's how it works, right?

Depends.

 

Some models you just turn up teh pump..

[drum]

Meg passed last Friday and Admiral were coming in at about £1250 on the compare sites but direct were £1050.

 

This is insurance in her name with both parents named. 

As a comparison the same car in the wife's name with the same three people on insurance was £1500!

 

No box and when Chuck has been with Admiral and they have been great as well as the cheapest.

Cheers T, Admiral insurance sorted. Acorn were similar price but personal recommendations are always good.

 

Retirement from this taxi job will be very liberating!

[SiC]

Any suggestions on Metal Working Dolly's? So many size and shapes that I have no idea what to get as a good all rounder.

[Guest Hooli]

Cindy, Barbie was always too posh.

 

 

 

Oh...

[steveo3002]

Any suggestions on Metal Working Dolly's? So many size and shapes that I have no idea what to get as a good all rounder.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Body-Dent-Repair-Tool-Set-Professional-Hammer-Dolly-Kit-Garage-Workshop-DIY/202337442846?epid=8020274601&hash=item2f1c405c1e:g:ElYAAOSwJnlbG-PP

 

id say the top 2 are most used , but as with most tools you need a differant one for each job , so something like that set might come in handy 

[doug]

17 year old daughter passed her test today - wahey!

Internet searched for insurance - boo!

 

Any secrets on how to get it a sensible quote?

When my daughter passed her test the best quote we got by along way was from Direct Line.This was for a 1.4 Lupo. Had to get a black box fitted though. It was £500/£600 IIRC

[Tickman]

When my daughter passed her test the best quote we got by along way was from Direct Line.This was for a 1.4 Lupo. Had to get a black box fitted though. It was £500/£600 IIRC

That is stupid cheap.

Direct line couldn't get anywhere near for me when I did my searches despite being already a customer.

[Kiltox]

Was looking at a cheap fast fit oil change for the Primera to save me doing it - National and ATS both want to put 5w30 fully synthetic in it which isn’t really what it wants.

 

Do we reckon these big chains don’t bother stocking 10/40 semi any more? I guess most newer cars want the thinner fancier stuff?

[Fumbler]

Was looking at a cheap fast fit oil change for the Primera to save me doing it - National and ATS both want to put 5w30 fully synthetic in it which isn’t really what it wants.

 

Do we reckon these big chains don’t bother stocking 10/40 semi any more? I guess most newer cars want the thinner fancier stuff?

They do when they have variable valve timing but Halfrauds and local Morrisons petrol station stock Carlube and Castrol 10/40 semi and full.

[robinmasters]

What's the best way to fix monkey metal?

[sierraman]

Half an hour and do it yourself then you know it’s done properly.

[Matt]

I want to build a wiring harness that allows my cars headlights to run direct from the battery via a relay as the factory setup is known to have a lot of resistance and feeble wiring. What I want to know is would it be safe to use old household appliance wiring for this? I've got a shit load of it kicking around from dead vacuum cleaners, extensions cords etc. Obviously I'm not going to just chuck an old Dyson flex into the engine bay and wire it in; it's stripped from the outer insulation and would get routed through conduit.

[Guest Hooli]

If the wire is a big enough cross section for the current it'll be fine. I'd just make its as thick as the current wiring to the bulbs but I'm sure there is a proper way to calculate it.