Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[MattBLancs]

Quite likely the battery protection unit, they are a common failing!

Do you think an Audi one would fit?

[Huskyxantia]

Ive noticed this price pattern of late ,are we being pushed towards the German market ?

[myglaren]

Mostly blamed on Brexit.
My daughter just had her Kia Pikanto in for a look at her handbrake not holding, her son is learning to drive in it and that is of course a problem on the hill starts.
Oil and filter change too.
£400. The labour cost was very low, £85. The cost of the brake parts was astonishing, especially a replacement leaking brake pipe.

[MattBLancs]

On a similar note, the other 308's key battery:

viewtopic.php?p=821215#p821215

It does appear to reference 1620 - they want to relieve you of over £15 though, so I'd go elsewhere!!

Vs
Halfords £1.35 each,

eBay £2.89 for ten, delivered!

I'd to think long and hard, but in the end, the prestige of genuine Peugeot milliamps just wasn't strong enough, so eBay cheapies it is!

[mickthemaverick]

Careful with ebay batteries Matt, the last time I bought a card they were all old stock and virtually dead!!

[MattBLancs]

Careful with ebay batteries Matt, the last time I bought a card they were all old stock and virtually dead!!

Good shout, multimeter on the go when they arrive (due tomorrow! Quick considering only clicked But it Now late yesterday evening) will see if any dates on the packaging too.

I've been ok with eBay batteries this far, but a good shout to be careful

[mickthemaverick]

I'd suggest multi meter on mA scale and connected in series with 1k resistor across the battery and iirc they are 3V batteries so should drive 3mA through that resistor. Any lower and they are low on charge. Measuring the open circuit voltage of the cell will give you a possibly false impression!!

[myglaren]

If you have a Boyes shop they were a quid when I bought one for daughter's C3.

[MattBLancs]

Not heard of Boyles - had a quick look, none that close to me. Halfords trade card takes one new CR1620 down to £1.35 that'll likely be most convenient alternative if the eBay ones prove rubbish.

A rather chilly Leyland at -4°C has highlighted the blue 308 heater is pretty poor output. A coolant flush might be in order see if I can improve things a little. It's well behaved in terms of getting up to temperature etc but the current header tank contents has more of a "murky could be rusty" rather than "murky, probably that pink coolant stuff" appearance. It's such a shame we moved away from that lovely old blue stuff: at least it was obvious what you are looking at!!

[mickthemaverick]

Don't know if that was a typo or a misread Matt but the company Steve means is Boyes not Boyles. Like you not an option for me as my nearest branch is in March in Cambridgeshire!!

[myglaren]

I had a look and there don't seem to be that many shops.
First encountered them while in college in Scarborough, several stories including a restaurant where we often went for lunch. Perhaps the biggest attraction was the self-pleasuring monkey on the top floor, amused many of the kids and appalled the parents.

Didn't realise that that had been to only store, although it was at the time. Was surprised to see one open in Whitby, then one in Chester-le Street, near me.
There are now 75 shops, mostly in the north.

[MattBLancs]

Don't know if that was a typo or a misread Matt but the company Steve means is Boyes not Boyles. Like you not an option for me as my nearest branch is in March in Cambridgeshire!!

Auto correct strikes again! I did search the map for the right name:

[mickthemaverick]

Back to the batteries, I made a big mistake today. I needed to replace the battery in the Subaru's key fob as the range has been steadily decreasing over the last few months. I knew I needed a CR1620 and when SWMBO popped down to her daughter's Hairdressing Salon I asked her to pick one up from the locksmith next door!! She duly did so and paid £4.99 . Teach me to go myself in future for anything with the remotest connection to technology!!

PS I checked and it is £7.50 for 4 in Tesco where she went for milk after the locksmith!!

[myglaren]

They do seem to be more expensive and harder to find than the more usual CR2032.

[MattBLancs]

Cheap CR1620 (x10) arrived and fitted in the key (Sarah had done it before I had knocked off work), we will see how it performs.
Packet is "Eunicell" and states Exp 12/2028, so should be ok.

No car jobs today - we're due 15.8mm of rain, all day, courtesy of Storm Bert, so some DIY jobs indoors instead.