CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[CitroJim]

I'm expecting to have to do the job on the opposite door at some point...

Spray some WD40 in there and have Autumn exercise it, will probably be beneficial and grind the corrosion away.

It may not be beneficial Steve

Could be worse - a bunch of VWs have a metal panel riveted on the inside of the door that you need to drill out to get to anything. Ideally without putting a drill straight through the wiring loom which is helpfully right behind one of the rivets. Cheers VW, so helpful.

So much for German engineering As far as I can see, it's just 'standard automotive' and nothing remarkable at all...

I've never got along with cable operated windows - they've almost invariably ended up with me very nearly smashing the window in frustration when I've had to work on them.

Indeed and I could see a circumstance where had the window stuck in a different place, smashing the glass might have been the only option. The priority for Audi was definitely on assembly and not repair. I doubt they're unique in this... In fact, I know

I now have the new regulator assembly and expect it to take no longer than about five minutes to fit. It's a pattern part and I was intrigued to note that the stud I had to take the angel grinder to on the original part is already suitably shortened to allow it to be installed with the window glass in place...

I'll be doing the job late this afternoon so it's done before I go away on holiday...

[CitroJim]

The Audi is now with me for attention later today. Last evening was taken up with spending quality time with the family

Strawberry and I took a trip down south to visit Mick. It was a very very good and very enjoyable morning well spent

Before I can set to work on the Audi I firstly have a bit of parkrun timekeeping to do and then take Steph out for her birthday treat Another busy day!

[CitroJim]

The Audi is sorted and as predicted, it was a very quick job. 20 minutes from start to finish.

I was a bit worried at first as the window didn't seem to be going right down. Happily, it's normal and what the other one does.

The longest and trickest job was replacing a piece of trim I really didn't strictly need to remove

Moving the car had me foxed for a bit - Foot on brake pedal to release the electric handbrake before it would make forward progress was not intuitive. Give me a proper handbrake any day!

Some of my current parkrun volunteer stats:

Today will see my 473rd after my visit to Junior parkrun

Then I'll be busy getting ready for my little holiday

[Huskyxantia]

Last time I mentioned the A word on here I got booed at . Great work on your volunteering Jim
I used to Marshall for motocross club for a while ,nice when dry, hell when it turned wet , my washing machine definitely learnt its detergent lol , almost got hit a few times buy certain riders whom thought they were above the rules , till I drew them up for a ban , see how they grovel to get the band lifted

[NewcastleFalcon]

Some of my current parkrun volunteer stats:



Today will see my 473rd after my visit to Junior parkrun

Then I'll be busy getting ready for my little holiday

I see a collection of numbers there Jim, and unfortunately the love of the random link has me thinking what can be generated based on those numbers.

So I took the FCF's most viewed thread "Pictures of the Day" which has currently 909 pages, and translated the numbers into pages, and wondered if there were any appropriate images on the pages to select.

The Falcon eye selected this little exchange from 2018 which links to the "busy getting ready for my little holiday theme" At the time I don't believe you had at that point ventured up to Northumberland....but you did of course subsequently!

I often have a browse of the galleries on Geograph which collects pictures from every 1km square in the UK.
This one caught my eye this morning. "A path through the dunes".

With no further info on its whereabouts I knew instantly it was Northumberland. No settlements or man made structures to give away the location just a massive amount of beach and that sky...typically North Northumberland.

Regards Neil

your response...

That's a lovely picture Neil...

I keep hearing good things about Northumberland... Especially to tour on a bike...

I must try to plan a visit some time later in the year...

[Zelandeth]

Now, try the setup Nissan have with their electric parking brake. You also need to have your foot on the brake to release it. Fine in an Auto, but a right nuisance in a manual car!

[PaulC5]

The electric hand brakes on our 308 and Skoda release themselves as you set off. If you wish to release them yourself for any reason they both need a foot on the brake pedal as you press the hand brake switch - this makes sense as it stops the car moving under gravity as you do not have as much control as for a normal hand brake. Often when I used the C5 with a normal hand brake at the first junction I would forget to release the hand brake if I had been using the 308 quite a lot.

[MattBLancs]

Yes, my blue 308 is the same - one little further description: it does this only if you increase the revs slightly, from ~750 idle to about ~1000 rpm is enough, if you've no pressure on the pedal at all mine won't release.

I'd not realised how often I'd utilise the torque available at idle, 'till the 308 kept "refusing to take the handbrake off"

[Huskyxantia]

Yes, my blue 308 is the same - one little further description: it does this only if you increase the revs slightly, from ~750 idle to about ~1000 rpm is enough, if you've no pressure on the pedal at all mine won't release.

I'd not realised how often I'd utilise the torque available at idle, 'till the 308 kept "refusing to take the handbrake off"

This would make for a great how to video

[Zelandeth]

The electric hand brakes on our 308 and Skoda release themselves as you set off. If you wish to release them yourself for any reason they both need a foot on the brake pedal as you press the hand brake switch - this makes sense as it stops the car moving under gravity as you do not have as much control as for a normal hand brake. Often when I used the C5 with a normal hand brake at the first junction I would forget to release the hand brake if I had been using the 308 quite a lot.

This one would eventually automatically release, but it required application of enough torque to release with quite an unpleasant jolt. Certainly no use when you're in traffic. It would also half the time beep at you to warn you that the handbrake as still on.

I still maintain that the electronic parking brake is an answer to a question that nobody asked.

[myglaren]

I still maintain that the electronic parking brake is an answer to a question that nobody asked.

Stop-Start too!

[CitroJim]

I need to visit Northumberland again Neil Currently right down the other end of the country for a few days

Interesting to read all about electric handbrakes.

Indeed Zel, they are the answer to a question nobody asked

I'm pleased all my cars have proper ones...

[PaulC5]

The worst thing about electric hand brakes is it makes maintenance on the rear brakes more difficult if you do not have diagnostic equipment. Could also be expensive if the electrics fail.

[bobins]

What I find more concerning about the electric handbrakes is that there will be plenty of motorists out there that think they are a great idea as they always found conventional handbrakes a little tricky to deal with

[MattBLancs]

Yes, my blue 308 is the same - one little further description: it does this only if you increase the revs slightly, from ~750 idle to about ~1000 rpm is enough, if you've no pressure on the pedal at all mine won't release.

I'd not realised how often I'd utilise the torque available at idle, 'till the 308 kept "refusing to take the handbrake off"

This would make for a great how to video

Leave it with me, will have a go at some point