GENERAL
Conversion Nm to ft-lb
Q My torque wrench only shows foot pounds. I need to tighten to 120Nm. Could you please convertto foot pounds for me please?
David Wood
A Yes, this is not a problem the conversion is: 120Nm = 88.5075 ft-lb. I like to say I use a complex slide rule or other calculation but the truth is I used this website – it’s much easier. https://bit.ly/CMrbncs
GENERAL
Towing modern vehicles
Q Having read about poor Martyn Knowles breaking down and lately, experiencing an intermittent fault on my own 2002 automatic MX-5 causing it to breakdown at the most inconvenient of places (traced to a faulty crank sensor) and having to be carefully towed home, I started to wonder how you are supposed to safely tow today’s modern automatics, PH EV, Hybrids and even EVs?
Also, how easy is it to release the electric handbrake if your battery goes flat?
Thanks for the great work you and the rest of the team do on the mag. In fact, your imparted wisdom helped me track down the faulty case on my MX-5.
Nigel Rogers
A Modern design does add to the problems that can arise with an immobilised vehicle. There used to be two types of automatic gearbox, those with a rear pump and those with a front pump. Early automatics normally had a rear driven pump and as such when being towed, the gearbox was lubricated and so no damage would ensue. The gearboxes with the front pump, could not be towed as there was no lubrication around the box when the propshaft was turning but the engine was not running. Modern vehicles are much more complicated and have a wider range of gearbox arrangements. Hybrids with electric drive options also add to the complications which could arise when towing.
Vehicles with an electric handbrake can also pose a problem. Some of the vehicles using an electric handbrake do have an option for this to be released to allow for the movement of the vehicle when the battery is depleted, but on some this is not the case.
Because of the wide range of vehicles, the only general advice that can be given is to not tow. Recovery firms which cannot lift the driven wheels off the ground will normally use a flat-bed to recover any stranded vehicles.
They can also circumnavigate the problem of a locked-on handbrake by using slider plates or dolly wheels to get the stranded vehicle up onto the flat-bed.
Advice as to the recommendation of towing any individual vehicle can normally be found in the owners handbook. The MX-5 handbook as an example states: Don’t tow the vehicle pointed forward with driving wheels on the ground. This may cause internal damage to the transmission.
GENERAL
Clean air zone
Q I have a Fiat Ducato 2.3 diesel motorhome which has a Euro 5b status. It looks like I am going to fall foul of Manchester’s new clean air zone (covering nearly 500 square miles) as my motorhome is a 2015 Euro 5 engine. I live in the city and will get charged every time I venture out in it! I believe that Euro 5+ and above will be exempt from the charges (for now).
My question is, what are the technical differences between a Euro 5 and 5+ system and what would be involved in upgrading my vehicle to a 5+ (and so avoid the charges)?
Ian Pedley
A Looking on the governments website for driving in a clean air zone, it would appear that your motorhome would attract a daily charge in Bath, Birmingham and Bradford, but would not in Portsmouth or at the moment Manchester. As you mention this is due to change shortly.
The change from Euro 5 to the required Euro 6 standard does need to be undertaken by an approved installer on the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme register. A full list of these as well as answers to most questions can be found at this link https://bit.ly/CMBuEST
The work would involve the addition of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust after-treatment system, and this does need to be approved.
Unfortunately, whilst many possibilities are available for commercial vehicles there are limited options for private vehicles. And any modification to the vehicle not carried out under CVRAS would require a test conducted by the Department of Transport to confirm the compliance.
The cost of adapting and testing the vehicle may far outweigh the daily charges that may be incurred whilst using the vehicle.
If you do live or have a business in the Greater Manchester area, there
