Confessions of a Citroholic

[RichardW]

Picasso light show....so I'm expecting a rear sensor fault and a corroded cable...

And so it was. Computer pointed to the LH rear sensor, and with the wire popped out the conduit, I spotted this

Seemed like it was just rubbed through and touching so I taped it up and put it back together....to be greeted with a permanent fault. Stripped it back out, and put a connector in, wire just fell apart, I think I had scraped out all the copper! Trip out this afternoon and no warnings needs new rear pads though....

[CitroJim]

Love that Richard! Well found

[RichardW]

Took the rear pads out the 3008 today, as an occasional squeal was pointing to them being stuck - which indeed they were, needing a little percussive persuasion to free them! All cleaned up and sliding nicely now, and plenty of meat left for a good while yet. Whilst it was jacked up, looked at the drivers side front spring, which it turns out is also broken... only lost a small piece off the end, but broken nonetheless, so that will have to be done - it's the original AFAIK, so not too bad, will need a top bearing whilst it is apart!

Then went on to look at the C4 - OSR tyre has had a slow leak since it was fitted last year, checked the outside bead, but no leak evident, then tried to take it off to have a look at the inner bead / check for a foreign object, but the locking bolt is not having it was on my list to replace them anyway, but a bit more urgent now, since I need to get in and do the rear pads! Will get a set ordered up and change the other 3 before I go at that one and mangle the key! The air box is also rattlng, so will need new mounts when it gets serviced later in the year.

Followed up with a 30 mile ride - spring like, first outing in shorts and fingerless gloves since about October

[CitroJim]

Followed up with a 30 mile ride - spring like, first outing in shorts and fingerless gloves since about October

Ditto my ride on Saturday Richard, such a joy not to be wrapped up like the Michelin Man

[RichardW]

It's OK, normal service has been resumed, 5°C, grey and raining today...I'm staying in!

New spring, top mount, wheel bolts and pads on order, Getting out the recalcitrant doesn't seem too hard, it should come out with a reverse flute socket if you are careful not to hammer in / break off the drive ring first - and even if it does break off, then you can tack the two bits together with the MIG to get them out. We shall see....!

[RichardW]

Parts have arrived... I've managed to persuade the damaged bolt out with the key. So can get on with the brakes now.

[CitroJim]

Excellent!

[RichardW]

More excitement than needed this morning.... Set off to replace the rear pads on the Picasso, plug in the computer and put the calipers in service mode, whirring noise as expected, going on for a bit, now really going on! OS motor is whining away, but NS has stopped. Back out the service option and still going; try the first application option - still going. Somewhat in desperation, try the service mode again and it stops. Jack up and check OS is released, and after I took the caliper off can press it back so it has wound it back. Proceed to change the pads, plug the computer back in and try the first application of the handbrake option to which it just says 'Error'. Hmm. Check faults and there is a permanent fault on caliper coherence, which won't clear. More in desperation than hope I just pressed the button to apply it - short, normal, whirr, all the lights go out and it says parking brake applied?? On and off a couple of times, and it seems normal, jack up the OS with it on, and yes, it's applied. Back into the faults, and it has now gone intermittent and let me delete it, and all seems to be working normally. WTF happened there!?! I'm a little but suspicious that the motor may be on its way out, but who's to know whilst it is apparently working. I tried to disconnect the motor, but I couldn't figure out how to release the connector, if anyone knows let me know! There is a little grey tab that pulls back, then it looks like there is a tab to lift up, but I can't get any movement out of the connector?

[mickthemaverick]

That sounds like the connector has 'frozen' Richard. I'd spray some electrical contact cleaner into the plug as best as you can and then having lifted the tabs start wiggling!! What was the matter with a good old handbrake cable that operated the handbrake one wonders!! Good luck with it!

[RichardW]

Picasso: Handbrake continues to work OK/ However, I can't help but think the motor is actually broken, and may cause trouble at some inconvenient time in the future! This is a later car, and there are only 2 wires at the motor, presumably a reversible power supply, and no position feedback (early ones had 4 wires). I guess that what happens is the computer applies power to get the motor to spin, then monitors the current, looking for a drop off when the brake is released, a rise when the brake is applied and the motor stalls, and when wound back for service it looks for a drop in current then a spike back up when the motor stalls at the end of the wind back. I can only think that there is some failure inside the motor / drive assembly which caused it to slip when it got to the wound back position, and since the computer didn't see a current rise, it just keep running it. Bit odd that there is no time out function, but there you go. So, it would appear that there is some sort of lurking failure inside that may become a problem at some time in the future! New motor is under £150 from Cit, so if I can find one cheaper, I may replace it. Thinking about it, I suspect that the connector clip is on the back, will need to get a mirror on it.

3008: I'm thinking that if I am dismantling the OS corner to get the strrut out (scuttle, wipers, undertray etc) I might as well do the cambelt at the same time. And the diesel filter is 25k old and 3.5 years, so might as well shove a new one whilst it's exposed. And it could do with a thermostat whilst the coolant is out - it has been a bit laggy sometimes in the winter. Better order some more parts... I was looking at cambelt kits, there seemed to be a myriad options, but I think I have nailed it down - there is a later version of the DV6C, which this is, and this kit seems to be described as 'with oval pulley' what ever that might mean! An SKF kit with pump and new crank pulley bolt is £140 direct, but I saw one for £80 which seems a bargain - last one I did I bought a bolt from Citroen - and had to buy 2, as they only supplied them in packets of two. WHY??? Who needs 2 crank pulley bolts???

[RichardW]

Figured it out I think...I saw a vid on someone winding this type of motor back by applying 12v to it - and when it got to the end the piston started to go round. Had a look at the pad, and...

The pin that is supposed to fit into the slot in the piston is basically not there and there is a definite circular witness mark. So, I'm sure the piston was just spinning when it was wound back rather than the pad pin holding it. Hopefully we haven't ruined the seal on the piston!

[RichardW]

Some hot melt glue bodgery today! The 3008 NS reg plate light has long been intermittent, and the fitting was broken away. I managed to get the outer panel off the lower boot door (not easy, the clips were very stubborn) - some one has been here before, there is a bolt missing from each side. The light sits on a plastic plate that sticks out, and was completely snapped off. A short time later with the hot glue gun, and a couple of aluminium support plates, and it's good as new. Found a bulb in the garage that was recovered out of some previous car

[CitroJim]

Excellent work Richard

[RichardW]

Proper spannering this weekend. OSF spring and topmount, timing belt, and diesel filter on the 3008.

Not too bad, getting the wing liner out was a trial as all the bolts seized of course! Had a moment with the bleed cap on the stat - being a clumsy bugger I dropped it, and it lodged on the 'box' on the front of the gear box. Took off one of the cables (reverse interlock maybe) and managed to get a screwdriver on the cap, but after a good few minutes where I ALMOST had it it sprang off and I couldn't see it. Then I couldn't find the cable again - like WTF?? Eventually realised it was resting under the battery, looking very much like one of the other cables! Did a few other bits, looked down, and there was the damn cap in plain view and easily reachable on the top of the gearbox

Got the belt on wrong on the diesel pump to start with, but it was not too hard to reset it.

Some hot melt glue bodgery too...the crank sensor has a plastic locating pin but it broke (or was broken already, didn't think I was that heavy handed with it). Anyway, it has a hole in it, so I put in a bit of Allen key, and put a spot of glue to hold it in. TBH, can't really think it's required once bolted up, but no harm in doing it.

Seems to be quieter, but I imagine that's placebo.

I did investigate the thermostat, but that appears to be another world of pain taking out the battery and tray ( which involves taking out the other wing liner ) so decided it can stay for now, and the stat has gone on the shelf.

Interesting point to note is that the bottom hose is in fact the 'top' hose and vice-versa - the rad is Up flow!

Got a new set of wipers to finish it off.

Eldest son came out, and said blimey how many tools do you need, well quite a few it seems!

Old belt actually looks fine, but you never know, and there was a little bit of crustiness around the water pump.

[mickthemaverick]

Nice going Richard, I like the look of your DIY ramp extenders, I might copy that when my current ones start bending!!