Tales of a C3, a Goddess and some BMW's.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 07 Jan 2011, 09:14

Thanks mate.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 07 Jan 2011, 13:29

Dear Richard and family,
My deepest sympathies.

Post by **RichardW** » 07 Jan 2011, 13:51

Sorry to hear that Richard.

Post by **CitroJim** » 07 Jan 2011, 14:01

Deepest condolences to you all Richard...

KP · Post by KP » 07 Jan 2011, 21:04

My feelings go out to you and your family Richard.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 07 Jan 2011, 21:07

Cheers guys.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Jan 2011, 21:15

Very sorry to hear that Richard.

Post by **myglaren** » 08 Jan 2011, 01:44

Commiserations on you losing such a decent father in law and friend.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 08 Jan 2011, 23:40

Thank you for the goodwill messages chaps, Dawn and Danielle are finding it quite difficult ATM but as always with these things time will be the healer, as you say Steve, Alec was a good friend and an excellent Father in Law to me, a sad loss.

My latest HDi has recently been gobbling up the miles shuttling between home and Bournemouth, I've now done 1,200 miles in it since buying it a month ago which is a higher average than I usually do but its been going quite well with just the niggle of having a combustion knock when cold and having a slight stutter/misfire under light throttle settings making it appear as if the engine was labouring if travelling @ 30 mph in 4th gear or 40 mph in 5th, by comparison my previous HDi drove quite comfortably under those conditions.

Needless to say this has tested my grey matter as I'm very fussy about how my car's run, any less than spot on will not do for me so I've been exploring possible causes and remedies, as I mentioned previously one possible solution was to get the ECU downloaded with later software but for some reason my Lexia couldn't communicate with the ECU whenever I tried to do that. I then spoke to a couple of dealers about getting them to try doing the download but the answers were rather cautious, one stated that in some cases the ECU can end up being wiped and unable to start the car so unless the car is running very rough leave well alone. Another possible solution I've been exploring is to have the ECU remapped and in the process gain another 26 bhp or so which rather appeals to me.

I then remembered that in my stash of spares I have a brand new ECU which I bought via Ebay some time ago so working on the principle of as I've got it I may as well try it I programmed it today using Lexia and have now fitted it to the car. I'll be doing another run down to Bournemouth in the morning to collect Dawn so that will be a good test drive, I did take it for a quick spin this evening and I think the engine is smoother and quieter but its too early to be sure. It was quite interesting seeing the totally different display on Lexia Diagnostics between the two ECU's, the menu options were also very different, fingers crossed its done the job. On the old ECU fault codes could simply be cleared but on this new one it asks for the mileage to be recorded, the software number on the new ECU is much later (I can't recall it offhand) the previous one having the first version. Prior to the ECU change I did fit a new air mass meter but that didn't make any difference so I've refitted the old one.

Another job ticked off the list today was to remove that silly spring under the brake pedal and replace it with a length of 15mm copper tube, I then found it quite amusing as to how quickly you become used to the characteristics of a car as I found the brakes rather sharp thereafter.

Its quite amazing how one person can affect the reputation of a company, when I bought the HDi I visited my local Citroen dealer at Slough asking for the immobilser, key and radio codes as they weren't written on the card when the car was new, the chap I met was very unhelpful and left me with the thought of not wishing to go there again but then on Friday I revisited them and met another chap who was unbelievably helpful (I believe he was a mechanic passing by the parts desk) so from thinking that I wouldn't care to go back there I now have the opposite impression.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Jan 2011, 08:46

You do get some very unhelpful dealers, or people, it just depends who you see. The Citroen dealer closest to me is rather useless, the service desk is out the back, but your not allowed to go through, so every item you need the guy has to walk back and forth from the parts dpeartment to the showroom so he can check his computer, this is maybe the reason why he doesnt seem bothered about things. As i asked him for a headlamp washer cover for the Xm ages ago, he came back and said they are no longer available. When i was in the next local Citroen dealer, 20 miles further, i asked agin there, "oh, yes, no problem, ill get you one ordered" They even gave me maximum discount too and it came within a few days.

So now i only go to more helpful garage, mind its not the first time ive had to travel further to dealers to get better service.

Post by **myglaren** » 09 Jan 2011, 09:44

Citroenmad wrote: When i was in the next local Citroën dealer, 20 miles further, i asked agin there, "oh, yes, no problem, ill get you one ordered" They even gave me maximum discount too and it came within a few days.

So now i only go to more helpful garage, mind its not the first time ive had to travel further to dealers to get better service.

Would that be TCC Chris?
They always seem to be very pleasant and helpful.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 09 Jan 2011, 23:34

Good news on the HDi with the new ECU fitting as it had a good test today, -2°C this morning and no combustion knock with cold running as well as smoother running at lower speeds i.e. 30 in 4th and 40 in 5th, it also appeared to have a little more sparkle around 70-80 mph on the motorway run down to Bournemouth. Previously the car felt a little breathless above 70 so it appears the later ECU/software has done the job

I wonder how many other HDi's are still running around with similar/older software giving a poor impression of HDi engine performance

I'm gradually getting there with this car, its only selling my last HDi and buying this one that I realise just how much work I did on the previous one to get it up to scratch

I've yet to sort out the little coolant leak from the additional heater and check the rear brake calipers for corrosion between the mating surface onto the rear arms. When that's done I'll fit a replacement steering column I have as there is a small amount of slack in the column upper bush causing a degree of movement at the wheel when negotiating poor road surfaces, strange one that when the car has only completed 50k miles yet my previous HDi had done 149k but was still OK in that department. When that's done I'll start work on making the bodywork more presentable.

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 10 Jan 2011, 00:14

Bit late, sorry to hear of your loss Richard.

If you need any advice about your car bodywork just give me a shout, happy to help.

Gareth

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 10 Jan 2011, 00:29

Hi Gareth, I appreciate your empathy, strangely enough I've had you in mind for sorting out the bodywork issues

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:54

stupid question i'm sure but how do you see what the software version is?

good work in getting an exclusive HDi estate again