Ask a Shiter

[LightBulbFun]

On the new MOT categories what would anyone expect a front broken coil spring to be - Major or Dangerous?

 

the rear broken coil spring on DWs Mazda is under Repair immediately (Major defect) if thats worth anything?

[Stroller133]

Thanks. If fails on more items might scrap the car, so hopefully can drive it home. If just the coil spring and minor items like wipers etc it will get fixed.

[scaryoldcortina]

A broken front spring is a dangerous fail, as is a spring which can unseat itself.

[Stroller133]

A broken front spring is a dangerous fail, as is a spring which can unseat itself.

Thanks - that a bit of a blow! What about EML lights are they now fails?

[scaryoldcortina]

Depends on the age of the car for EML, after 2004 for petrol and 2008 for diesel.

[Stroller133]

2005 Diesel FTW! It’s not been on for a few days but likely to light up during the test.

[catsinthewelder]

The Mk2 Focus with a 1.6 TDCI timebomb makes an awful lot of noise from the cooling fan after driving up the hill and parking.  Should the fan be noisy and run for 5 minutes?

[scdan4]

Question to see if what I and the garage think is the issue or not...

My old 1995 Tipo has failed the MOT on emissions. We had issues last year but it just went through. This year it will not go below 0.36-0.6% with maximum allowable amount of 0.3%. Initially it was over 0.7%.

It’s had new plugs, leads, air filter, checks for air leaks and nothing seems to be wrong... it’s an early SPI 1.4ie so no complicated sensors and only one lambda (this reading seems fine on test). It’s had two doses of cat cleaner and a few ‘Italian tuneups’ which has brought it down but nowhere near enough.

It had a new catalyst about 18 months ago and garage and me are now down to thinking this must be the culprit. Does anyone think we’re right before I try to go down the warranty claim route for it? Not really sure what else it could be if not.

 

Clean the airflow sensor (s) with electrical contact cleaner, and clean the butterfly till it’s shiny.

[Asimo]

If a broken coil spring is an mot fail, why isn't a cut coil spring?

 

How could a tester tell one from t'other?

[Stroller133]

If a broken coil spring is an mot fail, why isn't a cut coil spring?

 

How could a tester tell one from t'other?

On my car the giveaway would the broken off piece is still there!

[steveo3002]

If a broken coil spring is an mot fail, why isn't a cut coil spring?

 

How could a tester tell one from t'other?

someone might have trimmed one coil from the end and its not obvious , vs a break in the middle of the spring allowing the broken ends to pierce the tyre and kill you?

[scaryoldcortina]

If a broken coil spring is an mot fail, why isn't a cut coil spring?

 

How could a tester tell one from t'other?

It is. It wasn't for a while around 2012 but cut springs and especially ones so cut they don't work as springs or can fall out of the cup are a fail.

[bramz7]

Just packed the Multipla with stuff for the tip and it's completely died on me. No lights, no cranking, nothing. It clicked when I turned the key initially, and had lights on on the dashboard.

Now it just won't do anything. Help?! Surely it can't be the battery?

 

Edit, it was the battery. Wtf.

[Shirley Knott]

Brake fluid

 

Does anyone actually change it every 2 years? In the past I've simply bled when replacing calipers/lines etc and ignored it otherwise (Probably not ideal, I'm not proud)

 

Now I'm in possession of a Sealey pressure bleeder I'm tempted to do the whole fleet, and yet simultaneously reluctant as the brakes are all working well and I hate stripping bleed nipples and the ball-ache involved with that.

[myglaren]

Mine certainly hasn't been changed in six years.  Seems to work OK.

May have been topped up or changed when discs and calipers were changed but not listed on the invoices.

[sierraman]

Brake fluid

 

Does anyone actually change it every 2 years? In the past I've simply bled when replacing calipers/lines etc and ignored it otherwise (Probably not ideal, I'm not proud)

 

Now I'm in possession of a Sealey pressure bleeder I'm tempted to do the whole fleet, and yet simultaneously reluctant as the brakes are all working well and I hate stripping bleed nipples and the ball-ache involved with that.

No, I tested some that had been in 10 years a while back and it was still in spec. That’s to say the moisture levels weren’t at a rate it would boil.

[dozeydustman]

Crank (timing) pulley is the only thing stopping me getting the cam belt changed on the corolla. Is it a normal "lefty-loosey-righty-tighty" or left handed thread. HBOL says nothing, so I want to make sure before I get the breaker bar on it.

[rusty_vw_man]

Upholstery question for you lovely lovely people (and anyone else who also wants to join in).

 

1989 VW caravelle, with cloth seats. The foam inside is somewhat degraded so as fast as I hoover it, more orange foam dust appears through the cloth. If I keep going, I will eventually end up with no foam left I think. 

 

Is there a way to stop this short of new foam/covers? 

[Dead_E23]

Yes - stop hoovering it.

 

Seriously though, it sounds like the foam has got to the 'dry and crumbly' stage, and I'm not aware of any magic potions that claim to restore it.  Taking the seats apart to replace the foam will be a right pita, assuming you can even get new foams, so the best solution is probably to fit some period seat covers.  The oddly baggy, coarse feeling, brown tartan ones were a popular choice at the time.

[scaryoldcortina]

Crank (timing) pulley is the only thing stopping me getting the cam belt changed on the corolla. Is it a normal "lefty-loosey-righty-tighty" or left handed thread. HBOL says nothing, so I want to make sure before I get the breaker bar on it.

It will be, because a left hand thread would make no sense on an engine that spins clockwise.

[dozeydustman]

It will be, because a left hand thread would make no sense on an engine that spins clockwise.

Cheers for that. Just wanted to double check save wrecking the wife’s car even more!

[tooSavvy]

^^ I deffo read a 'helpful hint' on some Toyyo forum which had 'breaker bar wedged/coil lead off/turn engine on key/whanggg = loose'

[JeeExEll]

TooSavvy you should start writing workshop manuals.

That's a great concise description.

 

Could do an engine stripdown and rebuild description in about 5 long lines of text.

 

[dozeydustman]

^^ I deffo read a 'helpful hint' on some Toyyo forum which had 'breaker bar wedged/coil lead off/turn engine on key/whanggg = loose'

 

That thought had been going through my head.

[Dead_E23]

Make sure you wedge the breaker bar against the correct chassis rail, or you will end up with it wedged tightly against the ground with the weight of the car resting on it.  So I hear.  

[dozeydustman]

I'm still not sure about trying this. I've borrowed the breaker bar. I think my dad has a windy gun and compressor. I hope he can bring it down when he visits this weekend.

 

Made worse by my trolley jack giving way earlier. Thankfully I wasn't under the car.

[tooSavvy]

^^ but 'not like' for tj outage :/

 

 

Ahh >>> Bolt Loossey Vid

 

[DVee8]

A MOT conversation at work today with a mate who drives a Nissan vanette.

 

If you have a MOT exempt car that you decide to put in for a MOT,and it fails are you legally obliged to repair and re-MOT.

 

Morally if you have a correct moral compass then yes,but legally?

[dozeydustman]

^^ but 'not like' for tj outage :/

 

 

Ahh >>> Bolt Loossey Vid

 

 

Shouty American Tommy Vance looky-likey. I'll investigate further tomorrow. I don't think a 4E-FE engine would cause destroy a breaker bar...

[Dead_E23]

The breaker bar trick works a treat, but like I say, you must visualise it carefully before commencing or you will feel a tit.  (Not in a good way)

 

With the MOT exempt car, even if you don't put it in for an MOT and there's something that makes it unroadworthy you are obliged to repair it, else you risk getting in the shit if the police spot it, or really, really in the shit if it causes an accident.  This hero killed 4 of his own kids and got 2 years inside for his trouble.