Davie's french attraction.

[daviemck2006]

Being so close to the sea is good for me, was born and brought up beside sea, come from a fishing family, I was a deep sea fisherman for years as was my dad, most of my uncles and both my grandfathers. I think the sea runs in my veins. If I am inland for any length of time i miss the sea, and I always go looking for little harbours wherever I go.

A question for you fellow c4 owners, or even anyone with reverse sensors. I had been chucking down rain this evening, when I started car I had to reverse straight away and the parking sensors gave me a steady buzz, nothing behind me. I'm putting it down to the sensors having water in them. they were all right by the time i got home. Is this normal?

[Fake Concern]

I agree, you only get proper air near the sea! I grew up by the sea until I was age 12, then moved to the seaside again 12 years ago. I am working in london (Greenwich, so the river is a close link to the sea) & when i come home in the evening, it seems like a holiday.
As regards the parking sensors, I have had the same thing on both my C4s, went back to normal as it dried out.

[daviemck2006]

Today hasn't really been the best day I have ever had. It has made my mind up that I will be moving from this godforsaken block of flats before many more days pass. My ex and I have now sorted out the conditions of our split and selling the house and I now know how much I can spend on another house.I have been looking and something is on the pipeline.

However, back to today. I am already pissed off cleaning bird droppings off the car every day. Cant get it in the lock up because it is full of all the stuff out of my shed. 12.30 today decide to go to shop for some stuff. Out of flat approach car and it's a wonder all you guys did not hear me swearing. The drivers door mirror hanging on wires, the casing lying on ground, The bottom of the shell broken, the door scratched and the windscreen trim loose. Only now about 11 hrs later am I calmed down a bit. Took photos, taped the remains of the mirror up and headed for the police station. Noone there, just the non emergency number 101 displayed on the door. Phoned that, got a lady operator. She took details and said you need to ask all your neighbours if they saw anything. I asked why do we have police if I have to do that myself. She says they wont do anything unless I give them a name. I says what if it was one of them and then they are high and attack me? Well report that to us then. I am mad. Very mad. WTF have we got a police force for??????? Been looking on the bay, can get a pattern mirror for £36 in primer, a genuine one in silver from a breaker for £75 or a genuine citroen vts coupe one in black for £100. Dont think the scratch will polish out so could need a smart repair or respray, window trim will stick down with silicon I would think. I'm still mad.

The sooner I'm away from here the better. Flat next door which was empty until last week seems to be the problem ones. Two polish guys and one woman moved in and the noise they make all night is un believeable. I have emailed my landlord to complain as have at least 3 others that i know of. The joys of living in rented flats rather than a decent house with drive in a quiet area GRRRRRRR

[daviemck2006]

Is the sensor for the outside temp in the drivers door mirror on the c4? does anyone know? Temperature readings going mad, heater going mad. Just since the mirror was damaged. It is fixed on a bit better now, would hardly know its wrecked, only a small bit of tape showing, and electrics not working. I have now offered on a house, well verbally to the owner and he has accepted verbally so another flitting in the offing. Due to this and the high probability that I will be returning to work next week, albeit it only part time, I went to the auctions tonight and have bought a cheap runner for £750. What is it, try pug expert van 2.0 hdi 03 reg 83000 miles on clock but in need of a big clean up. However no rust, mot til 02/14 and tax 09/13. It will do for a runner for work, and I'll bribe my son and some of his mates to provide labour for moving this time. Only going 1 mile so doesnt matter if it takes heaps of runs in a little expert. I paid 350 to move to this place, I was ripped off quoted 200+vat extra added on cos it took longer and there was more stuff than you said. Just got insurance on the van at a good price so I will be picking it up tomorrow and finding out how good or bad it may be. I can see my lockup getting emptied into the van and the car going in there and only coming out when needed.

[bxzx16v]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Davie , good luck on the house front . I had a dispatch hdi which are the same as the expert , very good van with the hdi engine .

Mark

[Fake Concern]

Davie, really sorry to hear about all this (despite my user name!) there can be times when it seems like the whole world is against you. I often think of a sketch from the tv series "Bottom" where Ade Edmonson philosophises "You're born, you keep your head down, you die. If you're lucky!" That about sums it up!
The temp sensor is in the drivers mirror, just found it in my Haynes manual. I think the black mirror seems the best bet from those choices, but there are lots of C4 VTSs for spares or repair on ebay ATM, why don't you contact a few of them & try to get one for a better price?
The van sounds good, but it comes to something when you can't even leave a car out at night in case it is inerfered with.
On the plus side, you are physically much better & being back at work will be good for your head.
Post pics of the van when you get it.

[daviemck2006]

I'll be picking van up today. It will have to be before and after pics as it does really need a big clean. I've done loads of miles in them before. Of the 806 synergie ulysse trio I have owned two and I worked with a taxi firm which used them and put over 100000 onto a scudo in less than a year. The only time one went wrong was when the owner put waste veggie inho a 500000 mile hdi and it conked after 1/2 mile. It cost him over £800 to get it going again.
Thanks for the replies regarding the temp sensor. Looks like I'll have to either sort wiring or replace the mirror. There is pattern mirrors cheap on the bay but will they have the correct wiring for the sensors on them. I think genuine is the way to go.

[daviemck2006]

Got my van home. First impressions really strong engine lots of pull. Gearchange stiffer than i remember from the miles i have done in these things. Brakes a bit spongy but work well. Power steering a bit noisy. Discs look new through wheels one may be slightly binding as wheel quite hot after 35 miles. New centre section of exhaust. Two recent tyres although budgets. Not sure what engine how do you tell if its 8v or 16v? Looks to be needind oil change and all filters and no record of timing belt so at 10 yrs old and 84k would be a good idea to change it if i keep it. Only planning oil and filters and big clean up for now tho. I'm quite happy so far.

[CitroJim]

Davie, I'm really sorry to hear of your experience at the flats. I know what you're going through as I had similar when my marriage first broke down. The flats were OK for a while until a psychotic druggie moved into one. he made my life hell (for reasons I still fail to understand even now - he was just a nutter) was I was forced to flee into an arguably worse situation but eventually I emerged from that and life is now good. We'll gloss over the three nervous breakdowns in between though...

My view on what should be done to such people who are causing you trouble is not printable. I hold strong views, having been a victim myself.

Good to see the old bill were really helpful. Now if you'd have been suspected of racial abuse they'd have been all over you like a rash but because it's you they couldn't give a toss. This country has problems and it needs to deal with them.

Sorry, as I say, I have incredibly strong feelings and when you consider what happened to me was getting on 15 years ago now even I'm staggered about how strong they remain.

Hope all soon turns out better Davie...

[daviemck2006]

Things will get better Jim. I've had the nervous breakdown bit too, twice. Once 10 years ago, and in january this year. I refuse to let these mindless morons ruin my recovery. In fact they have strengthened my resolve to move on with life now my back is stronger and head stronger. They made my decision to buy another house instead of renting far easier. Had I continued renting and the housing market improved I would have never been able to buy again, and the money I have from my share of old house would have disappeared paying someone elses mortgage. I have doctor on monday so hoping I can go to work part time after that. In the meantime I have the small matter of giving my oldest daughter away on saturday. More of gaining a son rather than losing a daughter. Funny how I started getting ill when my step daughter got married last july and now getting better when my daughter getting married. It's been a bad 10 months inbetween, but no more. I also turn 50 in a few weeks, folk says life begins at 40 and I have decided 50 is the new 40

[CitroJim]

Excellent Davie on your daughter... Not something I've yet done but it's a very special moment indeed...

Indeed, things such as what has happened does strengthen your resolve and lead to better things... Very much my case...

I can safely say that despite my ongoing disability things have never been as good. 50 is indeed the new 40 or even 30 Next month I turn 54...

[Fake Concern]

So it seems quite a few things to look forward to! Perhaps we could have an online 50th party on the forum!

[daviemck2006]

The day i give my daughter awaw has arrived. Im sitting in a posh hotel away to get dressed in a skirt. The bridal cars today are two scoobys. I tried for a vts but was ruled out because of a lack of doors. There would only be me and her would easy of managed!

[Fake Concern]

Have a lovely time even if you must slum it in those cars!

[CitroJim]

Have a lovely time even if you must slum it in those cars!

Ditto