Confessions of a Citroholic

[van ordinaire]

In the immortal words of someone who stopped to assist as I was pushing a dead Meganne off a roundabout onto the verge "What's the problem? I'm a mechanic, I've got a computer!"

EV's? Nope, no spanners, not allowed to use'm, elf'n'safety doncha know! Looking at a whole page of stuff in the Sealey trade catalogue, essential for any aspiring EV technician, all you're allowed to do is place it on a rubber mat, cordon it off & display appropriate warning signs.

[Zelandeth]

Hot brake could be caused by the bearing if there's a bit of play in it as it can allow the disc (along with the wheel) to tilt slightly, so it will tend to rub against one of the pads.

Had this happen on my first Nova. Stuffed bearing replaced and the previously hot enough to melt wheel trims brake ran perfectly cool.

In fairness, it was a car for on the farm only...and I was 12 - and the car was free - Wouldn't let anything actually on the road get that bad!

[CitroJim]

EV's? Nope, no spanners, not allowed to use'm, elf'n'safety doncha know! Looking at a whole page of stuff in the Sealey trade catalogue, essential for any aspiring EV technician, all you're allowed to do is place it on a rubber mat, cordon it off & display appropriate warning signs.

many a true word spoken in jest Van

We're all becoming a bunch of risk-averse softies... Gosh, here we have a dusting of snow and -4 and the local wireless tells me the region is at a total standstill and we should all stay at home in the warm...

Bloody whimps... I cycled everywhere yesterday...

[Mandrake]

We're all becoming a bunch of risk-averse softies... Gosh, here we have a dusting of snow and -4 and the local wireless tells me the region is at a total standstill and we should all stay at home in the warm...

Bloody whimps... I cycled everywhere yesterday...

I hope you have proper M+S rated tyres on that cycle Jim, otherwise it might be dangerous in these conditions...

[CitroJim]

We're all becoming a bunch of risk-averse softies... Gosh, here we have a dusting of snow and -4 and the local wireless tells me the region is at a total standstill and we should all stay at home in the warm...

Bloody whimps... I cycled everywhere yesterday...

I hope you have proper M+S rated tyres on that cycle Jim, otherwise it might be dangerous in these conditions...

Yes, my good old Conti Gatorskins Bloody excellent tyres and largely puncture resistant too...

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/ty ... skin-tyres

Despite having no tread as such, their grip in the wet is impressive

I guess their bike tyres are more highly regarded than their car tyres...

[RichardW]

I had a thought today that I could swap the hub off the 307 onto the C4, since the 307 had a new wheel bearing and ball joint only about 30k ago. What are the odds that it's the same part...???

[RichardW]

It appears to be

[Mandrake]

Is the car that is leaving going to the scrap man ? Are you going to try to fit the faulty hub back to the scrapper car or just hand it over as an extra bonus piece ?

[RichardW]

Had a decent run out in the new C4 at the weekend, up to Tyndrum in the highlands. It's really very quiet - and with lots of low down pull, and very long gears it's easy to find it's going much faster than you think! 6th is geared out to only 2000 rpm at 70 mph, yet it will pull 6th from below 50, even though the engine is still tight. Computer was showing 55mpg there are back, which is not bad considering I wasn't really hanging back. Ride is smoother than the old one, but still on the stiff side one up! Steering is a little dead at straight ahead, but it seems to hang on round the bends. It's got daft 'mood' lighting in the overhead console in the front - I found it very distracting, so had to work out how to turn it off! Headlights are OK, would benefit from some high output bulbs - not a patch on the MK1s mind you, they are the best halogens out of the box I have ever had.

[lexi]

It sounds good. Did they put that 8v engine in the later C5?

[RichardW]

Turns out the C4 doesn't need a new wheelbearing - it was just the disc heating up and making a rumbling / vibrating noise just like a wheel bearing! MPG has also recovered from 38 to 45 since getting a new caliper fitted!

[RichardW]

Fixed the stuck front seat in the old C4 today - turned out that the adjuster bar had been pushed down so far that it was stuck under the plastic side trims on the seat, so it couldn't be pulled up to disengage the ratchet on the runner. I imagine that one or other of the small feet has stood on it.... Took quite a lot of percy-whatsit to get it back on the right side of the trim!!

307 started first time, even though it was below freezing, snowing, and it hasn't been started for 3 weeks! Took off the MAF which I will put on the C4 as the one on there is a bit dicky, and I took off the accelerator pedal as Fake Concern it going to try it on his C4. The engine will still start, but it idles at 1200 rpm, and it gives "Engine management system faulty" messages

[CitroJim]

That 307 really doesn't want to die Richard

[RichardW]

I am musing on replacing the old C4 later in the year. There is about 8k left in the tyres, which will take me to the early autumn, and >120k. A new set is £500, and would take it to near 140k. It also needs to the DPF sorting out (although I am going to try MikeT's trick of doing a forced regen and just telling it that I have replaced the thing!), and could do with a new thermostat. Seemingly it is still work about £1k trade in! My feeling is that the £500 for the tyres and the trade in would be better in invested in something with half the miles, and perhaps a bit more snow capability (given we had 3 goes at 8-10" of snow this winter, and I am expecting more in the next few years, as there is a solar minimum coming). So I was looking around a bit.... Pug do something called Grip Control on some of their cars. This is just an alternative programme for the TC which maximises grip, and they come (even in high spec) on sensible 16" rims with all-season tyres. It's quite common in the 2008, less so in the 3008. I think the 2008 is a bit small, so a 3008 would make sense - it's also got a bit more ground clearance. There is a hybrid version of the 3008 which is 4WD due to the electric motor driving the rear wheels when required - which gives the snow performance, and 200BHP and ridiculous torque when all applied, but a) it's got an EGS box and b) that amount of complexity is unlikely to age well. I looked up the price for a new battery:

Reference Description Quantity Price - VAT Price + VAT
1614150280 BATTERY 1 5652.88 GBP 6,783.46 GBP

It's only a NiMh affair as well probably (although there is a replacement, so maybe it's a LiIon).

That's that ruled out then!

3008 with Grip Control a bit few and far between however, so will need to keep a watch out. Perhaps just a 'normal' one and a set of chains will do!

Left field entry is a 4WD Dacia Duster.... I am strangely attracted to it; but it does mean abandoning a lifetime of PSA cars. Not sure I am ready for that.... It is mostly French (Renault) under the skin though. And it's cheeeep for what it is!

[CitroJim]

I really don't envy you trying to choose a new car Richard.. As I say, next time I need one I'll be going completely on colour and size...

Small and bright! That'll do me