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

[red_dwarfers]

3 days is 3 days, shame it didn't last longer. Hope the pysio sorts it out proper.

[DickieG]

My back is slowly getting better but still very weak but at least I'll now be starting a session of physio again on Monday, hopefully this'll help strengthen my back up for the long term, it's really taken me by surprise as to how long it's taking to get back to normal.

Car wise the tailgate central locking motor on my HDi started to play up by not unlocking consistently so I removed the inner trim to discover that the plastic liner had become detached from the tailgate (thankfully no water appears to have been let in) but as soon as I tested the CL motor it started working correctly so I'm left to assume that with the liner hanging loose it may have been obstructing the rods attached to the motor, anyway it's working fine now.

Wednesday was spent cleaning up the C3 to prepare it as Danielle's surprise 17th birthday present on Friday, she was a rather pleased with it She did rather well for her birthday as later that day she flew off for a weeks skiing in Austria, then after she returns I'll start teaching her to drive in her new car. Today I fitted cruise control to the C3 by enabling it using Lexia and simply fitting the cruise switch to the steering column, I've been out and tested it and it's working correctly.



Yesterday I carried out a Lexia session on a Xantia HDi 90 for a forum member and discovered a permanent fault on the ignition ECU of a faulty MAF sensor, interestingly the 'K' light wasn't illuminated and the engine appeared to be operating normally, however using Lexia to observe the engine parameters, as the engine was accelerated the MAF reading rose in a series of steps starting at a figure of just over 500 when running at idle. I substituted the MAF for a new one I have in stock and observed that the MAF reading at idle was now just above 300 and as the engine was accelerated the reading rose gradually in a linear curve. The only indication in the way the engine runs is that fuel consumption is a little high as over half a tank of fuel had been used after only 340 miles which is at least 60 less than I would expect to see at that point, time will tell what effect a new MAF will have on consumption.

[CitroJim]

Excellent stuff Richard, Danielle sure looks happy with the C3.

I have the same coming as Sian is rapidly approaching 17 (April) and she's mad-keen on a C3 too. Had a chat with her mum yesterday, who is a driving examiner and ex-instructor, and she's going to teach Sian to drive and insure her, just leaving me to find her a car. I'm going to delay it a while until Sian is close to passing her test. Her mum will know...

So, I'll be on the lookout for a C3 very I reckon... Not that new and not so shiny as Danielle's I expect... One that needs a bit of TLC will do me (and Sian) just fine..

That's a lovely result on the MAF Those MAF sensors do make a heck of a difference and impossible really to determine if they're OK or not without recourse to a Lexia. However if fuel economy and general verve is down with no corresponding K light then they're a good bet... Duff ones same to affect the 90 more than the 110. I diagnosed a duff one a while back on a Picasso with the 90 HDi and the owner reckons he now has a new car after swapping it...

[Citroenmad]

Your daughter looks over the moon with that Richard, very nice looking C3, they suit that colour well.

The day my parents surprised me with a car was one of my best days, couldnt get the grin off my face for ages!

No doubt she will be passing her test in no time, having such a good teacher.

Jim, you can do a lot worse than a C3, pretty strong and reliable cars generally and are very good value too.

[myglaren]

Nice one Richard, she's a lucky girl and looks appropriately pleased about it.
Love the hair

Whats all that white stuff on the ground though

[DickieG]

Whats all that white stuff on the ground though

Still got loads of the stuff round here.

[myglaren]

Whats all that white stuff on the ground though

Still got loads of the stuff round here.

Only seen about ¼" a few days back, positively balmy here now.
You should move

[Jodyone]

That forum member was me! Thanks again for your help, DickieG. I'll be fitting the new MAF if it's turned up when I go home this weekend. I'll be able to compare the following week's mileage simply, because it'll be much the same (600 mile round trip).

DickieG doesn't mention that he also fixed my remote locking, by recoding my fob with the Lexia. This has as anticipated exposed a problem with the alarm; when we discussed it, the culprit was thought to be the internal ultrasonic sensors- however, the car makes an ugly "beep" when I lock it with the fob. From reading here, that indicates a malfunction with the door closing sensors, no? If I have time next weekend at home I'll have an inspection- am I barking up the wrong tree, do you think?

I also have an intimate understanding of the mind-bending subtlety of the the internal door-lock knob attachment, and a few other bits about the car are clearer. A very useful afternoon for me.

[DickieG]

DickieG doesn't mention that he also fixed my remote locking, by recoding my fob with the Lexia. This has as anticipated exposed a problem with the alarm; when we discussed it, the culprit was thought to be the internal ultrasonic sensors- however, the car makes an ugly "beep" when I lock it with the fob. From reading here, that indicates a malfunction with the door closing sensors, no? If I have time next weekend at home I'll have an inspection- am I barking up the wrong tree, do you think?

Jody it was great to meet up with such a pleasant forum member I'd say you're spot on with your diagnosis of a door being responsible for the beep, the most likely suspect will be the boot lock switch, look for a small black switch microswitch under the boot catch, they often get displaced or the pin breaks off alternatively there's another one on the bonnet catch, IIRC it's on the O/S catch.

[Jodyone]

Well, here I am crashing a blog which is supposed to be about your cars, talking about mine. So- briefly and quietly: when you say "underneath the boot catch", do you mean the catch on the tailgate itself, or the catchplate on the car, with the depressing surround (I can think of no more accurate description..?!). After this- enough! I'll post queries on the Citroën forum, I promise..

When you mentioned the C3 up the road I didn't guess its significance. What a lucky girl Danielle is! I'm sure she'll love the car. And I hope you're all enjoying the new sofa.

[DickieG]

Well, here I am crashing a blog which is supposed to be about your cars, talking about mine. So- briefly and quietly: when you say "underneath the boot catch", do you mean the catch on the tailgate itself, or the catchplate on the car, with the depressing surround (I can think of no more accurate description..?!). After this- enough! I'll post queries on the Citroën forum, I promise..

No problem, this FCF after all, going off topic is a necessary requirement of membership I should have explained it more clearly in that I meant the catch on the car, not the one on the tailgate.

[lexi]

Sorry to hear of minor setback . Always a quandry between doing too much and too little.

Car tinkering involves such strange kind of stretching and straining without knowing it. I hate to admit it but the cars aint good for the back really.........then, what is?
I am thinking out in cold as well. Nerves muscle and tendon don't function at their best.........especially after trauma of surgery,
Always takes longer once you are past 30 Richard Good luck to the little Lady and car ownership.

[KP]

I spotted this on another forum and thought of you Dickie as i couldn't imagine a DS on a farther end of the spectrum to yours than this one

Apparently does a lot of euro rallies in it and loves it

http://citroen-ds-restoration.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CitroJim]

Wow! I'm in love with that DS Will I love the colour scheme and it really looks the biz

[DickieG]

Thanks for that link KP, an interesting read, you'd be surprised how I've taken mine around a few bends the door handles still bear the scars

It's also given me a nudge to get mine out of the garage as it's been in hibernation for months now.