Falcon's Bargain Basement Motoring

[NewcastleFalcon]

In preparation for "The Mobile Mechanic cometh" I couldn't let it lie, and have now purchased the "cone" water pump.
You see, the lower plastic timing belt cover on the 6 bottles of wine Clio, has a cone accommodating bulge in it.

So in spite of every bit of evidence from at least 4 independent different sources, including the vin number based original equipment from Renault's own chosen representative on Tyneside, telling me it has the "telephone dial" pump fitted, I have my doubts still.

I hope it is the "telephone dial" one as in the Gates kit. If so I'll just return the "cone" pump to GSF for a refund. Lost nothing.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Good plan Neil, you're now fully covered for every eventuality

[NewcastleFalcon]

for redirected POTD viewers

Original 70,000 plus mile Clio Timing Belt
Still looks pretty good, nice teeth but but does have a few wrinkles if you bend it double on the smooth side.

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

So we are waiting with baited breath, which pump was it?

[NewcastleFalcon]

So we are waiting with baited breath, which pump was it?

For thread continuity
a) The Falcon was 100% right that the original equipment water pump fitted to the Clio D4F 712 1.2 16V 2003 was indeed the "cone" type.

b) The Car Parts Shop, GSF, another local factors in the "Parts Alliance", BG Motors the Renault Specialist from Broadstairs Kent, and Renault's official representative in the North East who said the "telephone dial" pump was the correct one to be fitted were.....also 100% right. It also fitted.

c) The Gates Timing belt kit (Belt, Tensioner, Water pump (telephone dial), Crankshaft pulley bolt) was fitted by mobile mechanic today.

d) took my belt and braces just in case "cone type" pump I had purchased back to GSF as it wasn't needed, and got a full refund.

Next time I cant be bothered to do a job on the a car (highly likely!) I wouldn't hesitate to use Paul again.

The old bits still in quite serviceable condition as it turned out.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Excellent!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bargain basement Micra got the nod today. Small car in a big landscape

Neil

[myglaren]

Now look what you've done!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bargain Basement Micra MOT time again.

74,951 miles at last MOT 78,720 now 3,769 miles in the year, pretty near the 4,000 I stick on the insurance proposals. Hopefully another 4,000 miles on the potholes of the UK will not have changed much, so I will shove it in and see what needs doing.

Need to do this though, some time ago the ABS sensor popped out of it's slot and I did a temporary fix which turned into a semi-permanent one, but it has popped out again. The sensor wire fitting isn't that precise or tight in the little slot in the hub and nothing as far as I can see other than friction with the "slot" retains it with other than a push fit.

You don't often get the detail in youtube vids but found a very helpful one from ScrewsNutsandBolts who have quite a few on the Micra K12. Just depositing a couple of screenshots of how it fits, in a "using the thread like a public convenience" manner to help me get it right!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZs8O4x ... n&index=3

The Slot exposed

The Sensor wire in position

Neil

[CitroJim]

All best with the MoT Neil ?

[NewcastleFalcon]

All best with the MoT Neil ?

Thanks Jim, I'm more of a shove it in see what needs doing, rather than anticipate what the tester might come up with and fix it beforehand. It's in on Friday, lights washers wipers horn and all the simple things checked, but even then you never know what standard of "orange" will be acceptable for the rear indicators

At least with the detached hybrid, we remain mobile if a few jobs are necessary, and I have deliberately staggered MOT's with the Micra early August and the Leaf late September.

Bit of a bargain basement extravagance running the 2, but the Micra always comes in useful and in general earns its corn.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Good plan on the staggered MoT dates... All mine are in the bleak mid-winter

[NewcastleFalcon]

Aleady done a bit of last minute MOT prep this morning.

Just a quick spray of wd40 equivalent on the nearside headlight to give it the clear as a bell look, following a bit of resurrection by the Mick Method and many grades of progressively finer wet and dry a couple of years ago.

The other....one of the numbers on the rear plate was fading a bit and showing a bit of yellow background in parts so out with the paints and paintbrush

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Good luck with that Neil!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

To be accurate, I didn't use the full "Mick Method" a couple of years ago. Too tight-fisted to go beyond the 2500 grit wet&dry and fork out for a pack of 3000 grit and a bottle of Windolene The abridged "Mick Method" proved good enough!

July 2022

With the absence of Windolene at Chez Falcon, and me reluctant to turn into a Windolene buyer I think that's it for the wet and drying of the headlights from 240/400/800/1200/1500/2000/2500. They look considerably better than most Micra's of that vintage on the road, and a quick application of WD40 just before the test should have them looking clear enough fingers crossed

Neil