Ask a Shiter

[Bobthebeard]

Just getting the Honda Accord ready for the MOT. Needed two tyres on the front as part of the readiness.

Being skint at the moment the local friendly garage have offered to supply and fit two new Gallopro YH18 tyres for £75 plus vat.

Chinese obv. Never heard of them before. Am no stranger to budget tyres and have never had a problem with any of them in the past. I don't drive fast or need anything special.

Anyone any experience with these tyres? If positive then I need some tyres on the other cars.

[dean36014]

Quick question, how do you use one of those snow foam wash thingies. I have the attachment for the jetwash, and a bottle of fluid but no idea how you make it all work. Is it another snake oil thing?

[Tamworthbay]

Quick question, how do you use one of those snow foam wash thingies. I have the attachment for the jetwash, and a bottle of fluid but no idea how you make it all work. Is it another snake oil thing?

On mine you just plug it in then turn the selector on the side for how much foam you want.

[Tamworthbay]

Does anyone know of an early V70 in a scrapyard? I want a few small bits and every one I contact on ebay either doesn’t want to know or wants the pretty much the new price for them.

[tommytwo]

DodgeRover, thanks for your post. Yes, I have two good batteries, one only 9 months old, both Calcium technology.  I have spent the last two days researching how alternators work, and sometimes why they dont. You may well be correct that I have a wiring issue. I have so far only tested the charging rate with a fully charged battery. I also meed to check that the frame of the alternator is making a good earth.

 

I really need to see what things are like with a half discharged battery. 14 volts should be enough to start charging the battery. With lights on, the voltage only drops to 13.91 at idle so the alternator is putting out some charge. I plan to fit an on board volt meter to keep an eye on things and  I have also looked into fitting an external regulator. My alternator is a non serviceable unit and contains the regulator which controls the voltage so I would need to remove it or disable it somehow. The ECU also senses voltage and may be the reason I have been plagued with high idle problems. It raises the revs because it senses a low battery state and is trying to put more charge into the battery. The alternator does not appear to have a its own battery sensing wire.

[DodgeRover]

The alternator appears to be working fine, if the battery is showing 13+v under load at idle.

What other symptoms are you having.

[Sir Snipes]

Wouldn't shenanigans from the rear lights be a moody PCB? Did you measure voltage at the plug or the lamp sockets?

[skattrd]

Has anyone got or have access to a Mercedes Star (or clone) diagnostic thing I could get the use of briefly?

 

I've tried to get the fault read using the snap-on code reader at my local garage but it just gives a generic a/c fault. Apparently only Merc ones can tell me which bit is actually faulty, probably a stepper motor.

[tommytwo]

The symptoms I am having are a battery that will barely start the car, after being put on the car 3 weeks ago, fully charged.  I tested it and it showed 12.18 volts. This battery is only 9 months old. I swapped it for another fully charged spare battery. It is always possible that my newest battery has  a fault. This battery came with a 4 year guarantee so I may look into getting it changed.

[alcyonecorporation]

Explain to me why a cracked head makes a car run like poo, please.

 

I have a headache and should be able to work this out. PLS U HLEP?

[DodgeRover]

Explain to me why a cracked head makes a car run like poo, please.

 

I have a headache and should be able to work this out. PLS U HLEP?

It depends on where and how it's cracked, I would suspect combustion gases, compression going where it shouldn't ie into the oil/ water jacket or neighbouring cylinder causing a lack of decent compression/ explosive action on the suspect cylinder.

They can however run absolutely fine with visible cracks just with a thirst for water if pushing along...

[chodweaver]

I would say, first and foremost, because pressure that should be exerted on the piston crown to be converted to torque at the crank during the power stroke, is instead leaking away through the crack to the rocker cover or the atmosphere. But also, similar to a vacuum leak in the inlet pipes, on the intake stroke not all of the vacuum is working to suck in fuel/air mixture via the valve, but being able to suck in air through the crack as well. This will be less marked than leaking positive pressure on the power stroke, but even small vacuum leaks can really mess up an engine's ability to run smoothly at idle, or under load, or both.

 

Eta. Add to that modernz' all-controlling ECUs and various sensors - MAP, MAF etc - trying to second guess what changes it should make to fuel mix and ignition timing to run at peak efficiency, the wild card of a vacuum leak will really fuck it up.

 

/pub bore with little or no real world experience

[Dirk Diggler]

My V70 D5 is pissing diesel from what appears to be high on the tank (haven't had it on a ramp yet) it's a 2002 with the metal canister type filter.

 

I'm figuring I'm going to have to drop the tank for a looksee; the filter and housing seem dry

 

I know its not been grounded; is there a weak spot on these for leaks?

 

Thats Saturday morning decided

 

I know there's only 5-10 litres left in it but it still appears to be leaking high up

[dieselnutjob]

Is this really for a 604 it's not like mine or any others I've seen before.

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Retroviseur-Peugeot-604-v6/153222329044?hash=item23acc332d4:g:zOAAAOSwWgdbx0yW

[320touring]

Looks like a tyre failure on the GSA tonight. Low speed, passenger rear.

 

Spare has now been fitted by my brother (he loved the lack of requirement for a jack).

 

He was not keen on trying this

 

I'm awaiting info when light, and will need to source tyres.

 

I believe they are 145r14, originally Michelins. Can still get the xzx for £120 a corner, but appear to be old stock..

 

Anyone any suggestions for reasonably priced alternatives that may have been made this century?

[Eddie Honda]

Michelin or Nankangs. That's yer lot.

 

Edit to add: oh and occasionally Firestones.

 

Vintage Tyre Supplies or Longstone Tyres.

 

Er also Sonar whatever they are https://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/car-tyres-145-80-15.html

[Eddie Honda]

I should check the dates on mine c.2012 I bought 3 Michelins from Longstone.

 

Wouldn't have thought tyres at full retail would be out of code.

[sierraman]

Am I right in saying taxis need mot testing every 6 month?

[Tickman]

Looks like a tyre failure on the GSA tonight. Low speed, passenger rear.

 

Spare has now been fitted by my brother (he loved the lack of requirement for a jack).

 

He was not keen on trying this

https://youtu.be/4HK2nTRvm_s

 

I'm awaiting info when light, and will need to source tyres.

 

I believe they are 145r14, originally Michelins. Can still get the xzx for £120 a corner, but appear to be old stock..

 

Anyone any suggestions for reasonably priced alternatives that may have been made this century?

145 r14 is the size that the Minor should have and it is usually replaced by a 155. The Minor specialists supply the 155 £40ish per corner.

[Eddie Honda]

145 r14 is the size that the Minor should have and it is usually replaced by a 155. The Minor specialists supply the 155 £40ish per corner.

Aye, but the GS has 15" rims

[320touring]

145 r14 is the size that the Minor should have and it is usually replaced by a 155. The Minor specialists supply the 155 £40ish per corner.

As Eddie Honda says, I may haz dun a typo and need 145r15..

 

Confirmation expected today if my bro can get a picture..

[Eddie Honda]

It'll be 145/(80)-15.

[artdjones]

Aye, but the GS has 15" rims

155/80/15s are quite hard to get,too.

[Lacquer Peel]

It'll be 145/(80)-15.

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/sonar/primax-sx-608/145-80-r15-77t-57792

 

Sonar Primax £40 each.

 

 

About Sonar

 

SONAR TIRE,

the late starter who wins

 

The one who arrives first at the finishing line and wins the trophy does not necessarily have to be the one who starts first in the race. It is often the one who catches up from behind to lead the race that deserves to win the legendary title of the champion.

 

In 1996, a late starter yet full of confidence, SONAR joined the tire manufacturing race. Since inception, it has created many brilliant sales records, e.g. 37000 tires in 1996, a million in 2006 and 1.1 million in 2010. With its solid product strength, SONAR proudly sits on the top of every best selling list.

 

Origin of the brand:The Eagle Shaped design with sky-blue background color.Sonar represents an Eagle flying freely in the infinite blue sky.Brand position:A flying Eagle searching for his prey with the precise sonar;

It represents Sonar tires provide great comfort when cruising. 

 

SONAR’s unique innovativeness not only exists in its product design and quality which bring safety and pleasure to the driver, but also in its business practice of spontaneously responding to market demands and focusing on the creation of high quality products. To provide consumers with what is beyond their expectation is the brand’s philosophy and ultimate goal of SONAR TIRE. That is why SONAR strives to become the leader in this race. This little miracle in the field of tire manufacturing is backed up by SONAR’s confidence in its extraordinary product quality and its earnest promise to its customers.

[320touring]

^^Confidence* inspiring

[320touring]

I should check the dates on mine c.2012 I bought 3 Michelins from Longstone.

 

Wouldn't have thought tyres at full retail would be out of code.

Where it says DOT2013 Next to the xzx, that means date of manufacture 2013. £109 for a 5 year old tyre..

 

[Eddie Honda]

Pah, that's nothing. I've a Volvo with 30 year-old Michelins. Great* in the wet.

[Tetleysmooth]

Let's see if I can get an answer here.

My car is a 2003 Volvo C70 2.0 GT auto.

I want to change the thermostat, but most of these advertised are like this:

 

 

What I'd like to know is can the two halves be split and a stat be fitted normally, without buying the whole unit, which is eye wateringly expensive.

 

 

[DodgeRover]

Looks like a tyre failure on the GSA tonight. Low speed, passenger rear.

 

Spare has now been fitted by my brother (he loved the lack of requirement for a jack).

 

He was not keen on trying this

https://youtu.be/4HK2nTRvm_s

 

I'm awaiting info when light, and will need to source tyres.

 

I believe they are 145r14, originally Michelins. Can still get the xzx for £120 a corner, but appear to be old stock..

 

Anyone any suggestions for reasonably priced alternatives that may have been made this century?

Camac or Bridgestone look to be about £55 new the bridgestones are an 80 series so it would be best to go for a pair although the difference between 80 & 82 is minimal.

[Eddie Honda]

^^^ yeah, but they aren't 15"...

 

It's a GSA and not a DAF