Car questions

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Where would you reccomend? is the wheel arch still a good idea? I wouldnt have counted the wheel arch as a structural component but im still a novice at this so what do I know

Underneath the waterbottle on the bulkhead.

If it was me, I would make an L shaped bracket and bolt it underneath the large nut on the shock turret, the module could then be easily attached to the bracket with no drilling in to hard to access / structural areas.

As this is effectlively the chassis you could also use it as an earth for any wiring.

Hope this helps.

[paulyoung666]

a build up of 'mayo' on the oil filler cap could well be a result of the engine not getting warmed up properly , the only real way to check is to see if the water level goes down

[iadom]

There appears to be plenty of room just behind the nearside headlamp, just in front of the HT coil. you could even bolt it to the same bracket.

[Millay]

my view is any car hat has been steam cleaned is best kept away from, a tatty looking engine means genreally there has been no works undertaken around the engine bay, wheras a clean one could be hiding any number defects.. kinda sounds irish, but think aobut it...

[ZrByte]

Ive decided im going to mount the siren on the bulkhead behind the battery near the coolant tank (I think someone suggested putting it near there allready).

Ive also noticed that when I checked the gunk on the underside of my oil filler that it seems to be more yellow than white, is that significant?

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Ive also noticed that when I checked the gunk on the underside of my oil filler that it seems to be more yellow than white, is that significant?

yellow or white makes no difference. Still indicates moisture in the oil. Do you ever do long journeys? You can get a build up of moisture in your oil if you only ever do short journeys as your oil is never get hot properly and not drying out. If you do, do long journeys then it would indicate a possible leaking head gasket

or you put water in the wrong hole

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by gary_580

yellow or white makes no difference. Still indicates moisture in the oil. Do you ever do long journeys? You can get a build up of moisture in your oil if you only ever do short journeys as your oil is never get hot properly and not drying out. If you do, do long journeys then it would indicate a possible leaking head gasket

or you put water in the wrong hole

lol, im not that daft, or am I

I normally only do a 2 mile journey at the most at a time, the engine normally gets about 3 - 4 hours to cool between journeys so I would considder those short runs.
Though I do have a few long journeys coming up, this thursday I will be doing a 28 mile roundtrip, and in three weeks I will be doing a 120 mile roundrip. would a series of long runs cure this? (at least until I start doing short runs again).

[Hom3r]

Try an get a HAYNES car manual, they are invaluable for all users, it will tell you what maintenacne check to do and when.


Also try and see if there is a collecge near you that does basic car maintenance.

I did this a few years ago and doing working on my car helped me get it thru the MOT . the minor work that needed doing formed part of the course work. (there were as many women as well as men, they said they did it because they travelled on dodgy roads)

Originally Posted by ZrByte

lol, im not that daft, or am I

I normally only do a 2 mile journey at the most at a time, the engine normally gets about 3 - 4 hours to cool between journeys so I would considder those short runs.
Though I do have a few long journeys coming up, this thursday I will be doing a 28 mile roundtrip, and in three weeks I will be doing a 120 mile roundrip. would a series of long runs cure this? (at least until I start doing short runs again).

i'd guess that this build up is as a result of your 2 mile journeys (you have legs you know )

if your confident enough, take to rocker cover off and see if there is emulsified oil all along the cover. If there is wipe it out and then check again after the long trips.

If your not confident to do that i would remove the oil filler cap, completely clean it out and keep and eye on it (check it before each trip) certainly a 60 mile trip is going to help but wiping it out first will help more.

[iadom]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

lol, im not that daft, or am I

I normally only do a 2 mile journey at the most at a time, the engine normally gets about 3 - 4 hours to cool between journeys so I would considder those short runs.
Though I do have a few long journeys coming up, this thursday I will be doing a 28 mile roundtrip, and in three weeks I will be doing a 120 mile roundrip. would a series of long runs cure this? (at least until I start doing short runs again).

You should try to give it the old 'Italian tune up' at least once a week. 20 to 30 minutes on the nearest motorway is highly recommended for keeping your engine's innards clean.

Originally Posted by iadom

You should try to give it the old 'Italian tune up' at least once a week. 20 to 30 minutes on the nearest motorway is highly recommended for keeping your engine's innards clean.

good advice that is.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by iadom

You should try to give it the old 'Italian tune up' at least once a week. 20 to 30 minutes on the nearest motorway is highly recommended for keeping your engine's innards clean.

Think I might start that soon, have easy access to the motorway so its not like I even have to go out of my way. Though I dont think I can afford to give it a full 30mins I guess some is better than none, no?

Originally Posted by gary_580

i'd guess that this build up is as a result of your 2 mile journeys (you have legs you know )

if your confident enough, take to rocker cover off and see if there is emulsified oil all along the cover. If there is wipe it out and then check again after the long trips.

If your not confident to do that i would remove the oil filler cap, completely clean it out and keep and eye on it (check it before each trip) certainly a 60 mile trip is going to help but wiping it out first will help more.

I know I have legs but that is my trip to work, and I like to leave as late as possible
Dont mind walking home to be honest but then that does make it difficult to get to work again the following day

Probably wouldnt be confident enough to take the rocker cover off but I Do know someone who could help, I might give him a call.

Though in the meantime I'll do the oil filler cap.

Originally Posted by david.ewles

Try an get a HAYNES car manual, they are invaluable for all users, it will tell you what maintenacne check to do and when.


Also try and see if there is a collecge near you that does basic car maintenance.

I did this a few years ago and doing working on my car helped me get it thru the MOT . the minor work that needed doing formed part of the course work. (there were as many women as well as men, they said they did it because they travelled on dodgy roads)

I have 2 haynes manuals, one wich seems to be more of a mechanics aid and another for novices like myself (quite helpful so far).
I have also been looking to do a course like what you mentioned but all the ones Ive found seem to be geared towards employment rather then self improving. As such they all seem to require you to do work experience during the course etc (not practical for me), I obviously dont have a problem with doing the actual work (I take it thats part of the coursework/exams) but I really dont have time to do placements and such.

If I could find an alternative I would be more than willing to.

[Acropolis]

Haynes manuals can be useful, but dont swear by em they have been known to be wrong quite frequently, and bear the following in mind when using one.

How to read a Haynes manualââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¦





Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer anticlockwise.



Haynes: This is a snug fit.

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: This is a tight fit.

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.



Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...

Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start. Now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox.



Haynes: Pry...

Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...



Haynes: Undo...

Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (giant economy size).



Haynes: Retain tiny spring...

Translation: PINGGGG - "Where the hell did that go?"



Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...

Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part (and maybe a plaster or two).



Haynes: Lightly...

Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: Weekly checks...

Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it.



Haynes: Routine maintenance...

Translation: If it isn't broken, it's about to be. We warned you...



Haynes: One spanner rating.

Translation: An infant could do this... so how did you manage to **** it up?



Haynes: Two spanner rating.

Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, teensy weensy number... but you also thought the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you).



Haynes: Three spanner rating.

Translation: Make sure you won't need your car for a couple of days.



Haynes: Four spanner rating.

Translation: You're not seriously considering this are you?



Haynes: Five spanner rating.

Translation: OK - but don't ever carry your loved ones in it again.



Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...

Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.



Haynes: Compress...

Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on it, throw it at the garage wall, then find some molegrips and a hammer...



Haynes: Inspect...

Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"



Haynes: Carefully...

Translation: You are about to suffer deep abrasions.



Haynes: Retaining nut...

Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.



Haynes: Get an assistant...

Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.



Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark plugs removed.

Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Once that sinking pit of your stomach feeling has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.



Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.

Translation: Yeah, right. But you swear in different places.



Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...

Translation: Snap off...



Haynes: Using a suitable drift...

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: Everyday toolkit

Translation: RAC Card & Mobile Phone



Haynes: Apply moderate heat...

Translation: Unless you have a blast furnace, don't bother. Alternatively, clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: Index

Translation: List of all the things in the book, bar what you need to do.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Acropolis

Haynes manuals can be useful, but dont swear by em they have been known to be wrong quite frequently, and bear the following in mind when using one.

How to read a Haynes manualââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¦





Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer anticlockwise.



Haynes: This is a snug fit.

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: This is a tight fit.

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.



Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...

Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start. Now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox.



Haynes: Pry...

Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...



Haynes: Undo...

Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (giant economy size).



Haynes: Retain tiny spring...

Translation: PINGGGG - "Where the hell did that go?"



Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...

Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part (and maybe a plaster or two).



Haynes: Lightly...

Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: Weekly checks...

Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it.



Haynes: Routine maintenance...

Translation: If it isn't broken, it's about to be. We warned you...



Haynes: One spanner rating.

Translation: An infant could do this... so how did you manage to **** it up?



Haynes: Two spanner rating.

Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, teensy weensy number... but you also thought the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you).



Haynes: Three spanner rating.

Translation: Make sure you won't need your car for a couple of days.



Haynes: Four spanner rating.

Translation: You're not seriously considering this are you?



Haynes: Five spanner rating.

Translation: OK - but don't ever carry your loved ones in it again.



Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...

Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.



Haynes: Compress...

Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on it, throw it at the garage wall, then find some molegrips and a hammer...



Haynes: Inspect...

Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"



Haynes: Carefully...

Translation: You are about to suffer deep abrasions.



Haynes: Retaining nut...

Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.



Haynes: Get an assistant...

Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.



Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark plugs removed.

Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Once that sinking pit of your stomach feeling has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.



Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.

Translation: Yeah, right. But you swear in different places.



Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...

Translation: Snap off...



Haynes: Using a suitable drift...

Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: Everyday toolkit

Translation: RAC Card & Mobile Phone



Haynes: Apply moderate heat...

Translation: Unless you have a blast furnace, don't bother. Alternatively, clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.



Haynes: Index

Translation: List of all the things in the book, bar what you need to do.

Fantastic, I must remember to get a new set of molegrips and a hammer