Ask a Shiter

9,217 · October 16, 2018

I've been given a pile of "The Motor" mags going back to 1951 (and others, newest is 2011).

I feel, for the benefit of all here, I should scan the adverts and post in an appropriate thread. But what about articles, is it allowed, ie copyright, or is there a time limit so it's all fair game now ?

Seems very unlikely anyone would object if the source is acknowledged. Trigger has dozens of old road tests scanned and posted on Flickr.

3,569 · October 16, 2018

Which engine oil flush should I use? Trying to lose a very slight tick and hoping something like Wynn's will do the trick? Apparently not recommended on engines over 75k miles though and the Probe has done 131k.

7,140 · October 16, 2018

The Volvo 940 Wentworth failed it's MOT. In fixing the brakes they have seen the wheel spacers on the front wheels. These have apparently been fitted because the Volvo steel wheels on the car are wrong and the wheels don't rotate without the spacer.

Because of this they won't MOT it with the spacer on, are these wheels...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F232961867518

... likely to fit without the spacer?

Oddly they are in the same small Suffolk town as the car came from.

3,533 · October 16, 2018

Is it essential to disconnect the negative lead when changing an alternator?

I always have in the past and realise it's good practice, that said I need to change one on my brothers 2010 Twingo at the weekend (Joy!) and naturally he has no idea of the code from the radio... I'm trying desperately to engineer a plan to avoid the added ballache of pulling the radio out for the serial number followed by scouring the internet for hours/paying someone to unlock it.

36,729 · October 16, 2018

Is it essential to disconnect the negative lead when changing an alternator?

The positive feed to the alternator is usually always live to the battery. So if you can guarantee that you will never accidentally short it to the body, its ok. However if you do, you're going to get a rather large bang, a lot of heat and if you're lucky you blow a fuse. Basically yeah, a bloody good idea to disconnect the battery.

7,140 · October 16, 2018

Is it essential to disconnect the negative lead when changing an alternator?

I always have in the past and realise it's good practice, that said I need to change one on my brothers 2010 Twingo at the weekend (Joy!) and naturally he has no idea of the code from the radio... I'm trying desperately to engineer a plan to avoid the added ballache of pulling the radio out for the serial number followed by scouring the internet for hours/paying someone to unlock it.

I've never used one but if these work it could be £15 well spent

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-22277-Socket-Memory-Saver/dp/B008H14SH0

16,454 · October 16, 2018

Is it essential to disconnect the negative lead when changing an alternator?

I always have in the past and realise it's good practice, that said I need to change one on my brothers 2010 Twingo at the weekend (Joy!) and naturally he has no idea of the code from the radio... I'm trying desperately to engineer a plan to avoid the added ballache of pulling the radio out for the serial number followed by scouring the internet for hours/paying someone to unlock it.

Pull the stereo, bare the power cables with a Stanley knife and the use croc clips and a SMALL 12v battery (two of the old square 6v ones are ideal) and then disconnect main battery. Then just use a bit of insulation tape afterwards.

3,533 · October 16, 2018

@SiC, Cheers. I appreciate the possible dangers, I suppose I just needed someone to tell me I was being daft.

You've served as the voice of reason, I'll stop being lazy and do it properly....Looks like I'll be trying to find a suitable radio removal technique/tool to suit Renault shite followed by a spell of internet code scouring (Double joy)

3,533 · October 16, 2018

I've never used one but if these work it could be £15 well spent

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-22277-Socket-Memory-Saver/dp/B008H14SH0

Pull the stereo, bare the power cables with a Stanley knife and the use croc clips and a SMALL 12v battery (two of the old square 6v ones are ideal) and then disconnect main battery. Then just use a bit of insulation tape afterwards.

Thanks chaps, both innovative solutions and not ones I was even aware of, still on balance pulling the radio and paying one of the Ebay 99p code pirates is probably still the lesser of the evils.

14,045 · October 16, 2018

Which engine oil flush should I use? Trying to lose a very slight tick and hoping something like Wynn's will do the trick? Apparently not recommended on engines over 75k miles though and the Probe has done 131k.

I've used Wynn's in the wife's Corolla at 150k, it was fine and got a lot of crap out the engine. I changed the filter, refilled with some really cheap shitty oil as a flush which was in it for about 2 weeks before I drained, load more crap came out of it, another new filter and refilled with a fresh batch of the 5w30 semi-synth it was designed to use.

I don't think you'll have too much of a problem with it. Corolla runs sweet as a nut at 175k with a flush every other change.

24,103 · October 16, 2018

If the stereo is the original one for the car you probably won't need the code from my experience of stuff post 2000 ish, it'll recognise it's still in the original car one way or another, presumably through some datalink to the clocks or somert.

3,533 · October 16, 2018

If the stereo is the original one for the car you probably won't need the code from my experience of stuff post 2000 ish, it'll recognise it's still in the original car one way or another, presumably through some datalink to the clocks or somert.

That would be wonderful. As mentioned it's a 2010 car so finger crossed for that.

16,454 · October 16, 2018

Which engine oil flush should I use? Trying to lose a very slight tick and hoping something like Wynn's will do the trick? Apparently not recommended on engines over 75k miles though and the Probe has done 131k.

I wouldn’t risk any flush on an engine unless you have done it from new at every change (and to be honest I don’t do it even then) as it can loosen all sorts of crap and do a lot more damage than good. Just keep changing the oil regularly. I have heard people suggest using oils for diesels as it has a mild detergent in it but personally I would just stick to the normal stuff and change often.

14,045 · October 16, 2018

Just realised Corolla's cam belt is due soon. Is the 4E-FE engine interference or safe in the event of losing at roulette?

1,495 · October 16, 2018

If I rocked up at Dover and asked for a return to Dunkirk without having booked it in advance would I get screwed on the price?

I would be going on Thursday and coming back Monday. The Thursday is a school day but the Monday isn't because it's inside half term.

The vehicle is just an ordinary car, no trailers or roof racks or anything.

I hate booking stuff because it hurts my brain but for many years I have anyway on the suspicion that it's cheaper. Due to to much work I haven't had time to get organised this time.

19,790 · October 17, 2018

The Volvo 940 Wentworth failed it's MOT. In fixing the brakes they have seen the wheel spacers on the front wheels. These have apparently been fitted because the Volvo steel wheels on the car are wrong and the wheels don't rotate without the spacer.

Because of this they won't MOT it with the spacer on, are these wheels...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F232961867518

... likely to fit without the spacer?

Oddly they are in the same small Suffolk town as the car came from.

Is it currently fitted with FWD Volvo wheels? Those 940 wheels will fit without spacers.

October 17, 2018

If I rocked up at Dover and asked for a return to Dunkirk without having booked it in advance would I get screwed on the price?
I would be going on Thursday and coming back Monday. The Thursday is a school day but the Monday isn't because it's inside half term.
The vehicle is just an ordinary car, no trailers or roof racks or anything.

I hate booking stuff because it hurts my brain but for many years I have anyway on the suspicion that it's cheaper. Due to to much work I haven't had time to get organised this time.

Yes, the booking office is a rip off.

I once stood in the Calais booking office & used their free wifi to buy a ticket online for the next crossing at about half the price I could get the same ticket from the sales desk.

11,506 · October 17, 2018

Just realised Corolla's cam belt is due soon. Is the 4E-FE engine interference or safe in the event of losing at roulette?

http://www.toyotalexusforum.com/toyota-technical/604678-toyota-corolla-4efe-belts.html

E family are NON bankrupters

*in good company with my 4A-F

2,279 · October 17, 2018

If I rocked up at Dover and asked for a return to Dunkirk without having booked it in advance would I get screwed on the price?
I would be going on Thursday and coming back Monday. The Thursday is a school day but the Monday isn't because it's inside half term.
The vehicle is just an ordinary car, no trailers or roof racks or anything.

I hate booking stuff because it hurts my brain but for many years I have anyway on the suspicion that it's cheaper. Due to to much work I haven't had time to get organised this time.

Price wont't be massively different (or it wasn't for me) - but security don't like it. You'll have at least a PNC check done on the vehicle, definite search and contents check - probably the full on job....... merely as they have no prior indication so checks can't be done in advance......

If you take the relevant owners docs and insurance it'll save a lot of hassle......

EDIT - mine was only €20 more at the desk - but I did show them that the online wasn't working - so that may have had something to do with it......

3,569 · October 17, 2018

Ok, I think I won't risk the flush, thanks for the thoughts!

6,583 · October 17, 2018

Has anyone used PartsGateway for, err... parts? When looking for a used brake servo for the Saab 9-3 this site popped up on Google. Assume that parts suppliers have to sign up/pay commission etc but it seems to work ok. Any experiences?

7,140 · October 17, 2018

Is it currently fitted with FWD Volvo wheels? Those 940 wheels will fit without spacers.

Quite possibly, the central hole is too small for the 940 so it won't rotate. Do Volvo only have FWD or RWD wheels?

1,849 · October 17, 2018

Are scrapyears paying for cars at the moment. What could you get for a Cmax. It can be driven their if that’s gets a better price.

9,661 · October 17, 2018

ATF question. The proton is going to have an ATF fluid change. It recommend Dex 3 in the Haynes manual. Is Dex 4 and above backwards compatible? Thanks

1,849 · October 17, 2018

Ford Etis - a while ago someone posted a link (Pillock maybe) to a website where you can find build specs of Fords. I think it was the ETis site, but it’s now restricted to registered users. Does anyone here have access and could look at a vehicle for me?

11,249 · October 17, 2018

Are scrapyears paying for cars at the moment. What could you get for a Cmax. It can be driven their if that’s gets a better price.

Yes scraps fairly good at the mo.

Check the usual websites

Cartakeback

Scrapmycar

There's loads more.

Ring your local frag yard too

37,659 · October 17, 2018

Are scrapyears paying for cars at the moment. What could you get for a Cmax. It can be driven their if that’s gets a better price.

£150-180 or thereabouts assuming it’s fitted with the Cat and the battery. Plus whatever you make from selling bits off it.

19,790 · October 17, 2018

Quite possibly, the central hole is too small for the 940 so it won't rotate. Do Volvo only have FWD or RWD wheels?

As far as I know the only difference between the 5x108 Volvo wheels RWD and FWD is the offset.

1,495 · October 18, 2018

I haven't done anything about the SORN status of the 604 for ages (I could actually tax it for free but can't bothered). I thought that you had to do SORN every year but there doesn't seem to be any expiry date on the checking website. Have they changed the rules again or am I just wrong?

1,849 · October 18, 2018

Yes scraps fairly good at the mo.
Check the usual websites
Cartakeback
Scrapmycar
There's loads more.
Ring your local frag yard too

Thanks local yard is £80 tonne dropped off some of the websites reckon £170 collected and up to £212 dropped off

I don’t think I can take it to be scrapped though, might still WBAC if it nets £100 and let them decide it’s fate!

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