Falcon's Bargain Basement Motoring

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks Mick. Sent you a PM

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Off I went today on a fairly pointless "run-out" to replenish my stock of Redex. Went to 2 Lidls where previously there were many double bottle packs for £5, none left of course and ended up buying one bottle from ASDA for £4.50 ish.

Anyway...that was the negative side of what was otherwise a very encouraging approaching 50 miles round trip.

Had Thierry Henry been in the passenger seat for the drive I'm sure his verdict would have been "The Clio is back Neil, Va Va Voom!"

No boy racer stuff, just a normal drive with the car behaving as I would expect no drama's no hesitation or stuttering, no Engine Management Light on the dash, no trouble codes thrown up, smooth and quiet, and a steady tick over at idle.

Might get the fairy liquid out and wash the bird poo off it as a reward!

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bird poo removed,,,

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

In the reduced to clear section at another Lidl today, couldn't pass up my chance to become a Redex Tycoon.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Another little piece of the jigsaw arrived today.

Should be able to make a better job of the knock sensor connector now!

First time into the intimidating world of specialist electrical bits and pieces. Looks to be the correct thing I have selected from afar!

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Quite remarkably fits the knock sensor like a glove!

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Having got the appropriate connector and pins from the internet, ventured in here for some wire! I don't know of any other such shop anywhere, in a back street behind the seafront at Cullercoats. Last year I came out with a white paper bag of battery terminal sized crocodile clips and several dupont connectors to build a traction battery test harness to use with LEAFSpy to confirm the SOH of the 24kWh Battery.

The Shop

Last Year's White paper bag!

Todays purchase was just a length of wire so didn't get a paper bag!

With the status quo with the Clio running being positive, and the Heath Robinson wiring of the old knock sensor,
(which would appear to be measuring an off the scale resistance), very probably not sending any info to the ECU, and given that this situation appears to have zero effect on the current smooth running of the Clio, I may well just leave well alone while honing my pinning crimping and wiring skills to wire up the new connector with a couple of tails to meet with the existing loom if required, and keep the new knock sensor and the new connector in reserve should they be needed!

Neil

[myglaren]

There was a shop a bit like that on High Bridge in Newcastle. They would draw circuit diagrams on the paper bags for you, also worked out the costs on the paper bags too.
Aitken Brothers if I am not mistaken, brilliant place.

Looks like this is it now

A bit of nostalgia about them here:-

[NewcastleFalcon]

Pinning the electrical connector much simpler than de-pinning, just had to make sure the orientation of the female pins matched that of the male pins of the knock sensor. The sensor and connector and wiring tail all done successfully, but as previously posted being kept in reserve. Marginally satisfying, appreciated the point in the right direction from Bobins with a link to a possible supplier. Used a different one in the end but nice to know where you can get stuff like specific connectors/female/male pins of various configurations.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Not sure where to stuff it yet, may just be in the BB Clio Window! Haven't decided on the £xxx yet.

Clio ad (click to enlarge)

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The BB Clio still performing as it should and was returned to my daughter today to be moved on as she sees fit. First port of call is likely to the Mark2 Clio enthusiasts group. Just like on here many like to see their old favourites rescued and used rather than prematurely scrapped. Plenty of useful life in the BB Clio should easily do double the 86,000 miles so far in the right hands.

Meanwhile this is the new kid in town, very nice too...

Neil

[MattBLancs]

Oh that's a lovely colour!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Oh that's a lovely colour!

In official car paint, and maybe nail varnish colour names it is known as Aconite, but to you and me its purple!

Neil

[myglaren]

I keep trying to grow Aconite but the seeds never germinate
My neighbour had a load of poppies that his wife had planted seized by the police. Opium poppies (I have tons of them) and they also took the Aconite from his garden too, allegedly extremely poisonous, second only to Hemlock root and grown in Alnwick Garden's poison garden.

Must have another go .

[Paul-R]

I believe that Aconite is poisonous so beware licking your car.