Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[CitroJim]

I like to play safe Mike... I even take care on my AX

[RichardW]

Just lift up the red tag and it will come off. It probably doesn't matter too much, but allowing a min or two for the BSI to go to sleep, and then allowing it to wake up before loading it up with the starter seems sensible!

[Zelandeth]

Have to admit that I've not usually gone through the whole song and dance, but my process for any "modern" has been to leave car off, key out of ignition, unlocked but closed with bonnet open (and a window just in case of crazy locking shenanigans) for ~20 mins to ensure anything is asleep, then to disconnect the battery.

Once reconnected I leave everything untouched for 5-10 mins (aside from silencing the alarm if necessary - hello Vauxhall, I'm looking at you) before resuming normal play. If it's something I absolutely don't trust, it remains connected via jump leads while the battery is swapped.

Didn't get as far as dealing with the battery today, but did get the new wipers fitted.



I hate seeing this style of blades on older cars, but really don't object to them on vehicles like this where they absolutely could have been original spec - and I do have to confess that they do work better.

I noted that the pivots on both of the arms on the Partner were very stiff, which I'm sure wasn't helping the performance of the system, so they were thoroughly lubricated. Streak and screech free windscreen clearing has been restored. I'm sure for about three months given the rate modern wipers degrade, but I've tried! We've got a drive up to Glasgow coming up in a couple of weeks and I really wanted it sorted in advance of that as squeaky wipers is one of those things I have absolutely zero patience for - and if it was raining during that trip that would have driven me insane.

The wipers on this thing are subject to a distinct irritation of mine with the design - in that the passenger side really needs another 4" or so of sweep so it ends within the field of the drivers side wiper. As it is the tip stops several inches short and results in any time you're travelling less than about 30mph, water from the top of the passenger side wiper sweep dribbling down pretty much straight across your field of vision. It's really annoying. I don't know if this is something they all suffer from or if there's a bit of lazy LHD to RHD design going on here. The unswept triangle is large enough to land a small aircraft in though, and I think is definitely among the worst I've been aware of on any modern car.

I do have a question regarding the Partner though, which requires me picking the brains of those of you with more understanding of these modern vehicles, and access to part number listings etc. Probably the single biggest shortcoming in the Partner (okay - aside from an easily accessible aux in for the stereo I can tether a Bluetooth device to) is a lack of cruise control. I've been meaning to deal with this for a while, as I *believe* it's relatively straightforward to do. Should be a matter of procuring a COM2000 module with all of the necessary functions included, installing that and getting everything coded in via Diagbox. Not likely to find one actually pulled from a Partner/Berlingo with cruise, as that seems to have been an even more rarely specified option than AC!

I originally had someone who was going to send me a unit which they assured me was appropriate - however it's been several months since I last heard from them so I've given up on that source now. I have found one fairly inexpensively which appears to have everything I need (finding one with front fogs, cruise AND a rear wiper seems to be a chore), with part numbers shown:

122759 63
96640 635 XT

Can anyone suggest whether this is likely to work? Or if not does anyone know exactly what part number I need to be looking for? Would be real nice to have that ready for the trip north.

This afternoon I added roughly 4.5kg to the weight of the Trabant in the form of rust proofing added to the floors.





Will need to touch in a few areas with a smaller brush, but most of it is now protected at least. Feel better about that than bare surface rust covering about 80% of the surface. Two coats of rust converter did go on there before the sealant today so I've done what I can.

Telling my OCD that I really don't need to apply something near to body colour over that once it has dried as 100% of this will be hidden under the carpets...

[RichardW]

You only need the cruise stalk, it just plugs into the COM2000. Some versions of the 1.6 don't support cruise however.... Not sure if you can tell before you install the stalk and try!

[Hell Razor5543]

Because it is a Peugeot you may not be able to fit easily cruise control to it. Michel wanted to fit cruise control to a Peugeot, and we got the correct stalk for it. However, that stalk also had the 'Limit' function, and this needs something else set up on the accelerator to allow the limit function to work (and we did not know what to do there). Because of this we could NOT get cruise control to work at all. I, however, was able to fit a cruise control stalk to my Mk1 C5 (which does not have the 'Limit' function), 'tell' her that the cruise control stalk was fitted, and it then worked.

The stalk itself is a simple component to fit. You will need to either cut out a slot in the lower steering column cowling or get a lower cowling with both slots factory cut from the scrapyard at the same time as you get the stalk (if you get it off another Peugeot Partner or a Citroen Berlingo). Drop the lower cowling away from the steering wheel (there are only a couple of screws holding it in place), and then look on the lower left of the COM2000 unit. There should be a simple dust cover in place. Remove it, and you can now slide the cruise control stalk into place. There is a simple latch to hold it there. Be aware that if (for any reason) you want to lift up the upper cowling you MUST remove both the stalk for the cruise control and the one for the audio to then open up the latches that hold the upper cowling in place (and don't then make the mistake I made of sliding the stalks back into place before re-fitting the upper cowling!). You can then (through Planet Peugeot) test that the stalk is working properly before getting the Partner to use it.

This should be a suitable stalk.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175428759079 ... BMhrP-j6Vj

[CitroJim]

I was surprised to see the Berlingo Multispace I was working on yesterday had no cruise fitted...

You only need the cruise stalk, it just plugs into the COM2000. Some versions of the 1.6 don't support cruise however.... Not sure if you can tell before you install the stalk and try!

I noted the Berlingo above (a 59 plate 16V DV6) had a choice of two different engine ECUs when I was looking around in Daigbox. Maybe this is the reason?

I find the limit function a lot more useful that cruise and would be worth seeing if this can be implemented...

No chance of rust in the Trabbie's floorpan now Zel!

Yes, the reason for the poor wiper sweep is a lazy RHD/LHD conversion. Many PSA vehicles suffer from it... Even my AX to an extent and that only has one wiper!

My C3 is OK but when you have a windscreen the size of a shop window it's not hard to get it fairly good...

[Zelandeth]

Interesting. I definitely remember somewhere someone said you needed to swap the whole module rather than just plugging the stalk in. Intriguing. Well we'll try the cheaper option first then! Not that having a spare COM module on the shelf would be the worst thing on a mid 00s PSA vehicle.

Regarding the throttle pedal, that's an odd one. On one hand I can see why there might be a difference, as both the cruise and limit functions can be overridden by fully depressing the throttle. However equally with this being a fully fly-by-wire system why in earth would you need an additional sensor when the car already knows to within 0.1% what the throttle input is anyway?

Cars with factory cruise did have a different instrument panel which featured a little LCD panel to show the cruise/limit functions, but I've been told (again, can't recall where) that the system will still work without that. Not that I'd necessarily mind swapping the cluster as the silver dial faces are kind of annoying to be honest and are near impossible to read in a lot of lighting conditions. Think the panel itself is shared with the 206.

[Hell Razor5543]

As I understand it, the 'Limit' function is designed to prevent the vehicle from exceeding the speed that is set. This means that, if you were to set the 'Limit' speed to 30MPH, pressing the accelerator all the way down will not take you past 30MPH (useful if you are near a school, for example) although tapping the brake or clutch pedal may disengage the 'Limit' function. I may have heard (but I CANNOT confirm this) that the extra component on the accelerator pedal is used within the 'Limit' function to 'interrupt' the signal, thereby holding the speed down to that set in the 'Limit' function.

On my first C5 (which was a Mk1) the LCD display that shows the milometer (between the speedometer and rev counter) would also then show you the cruise control information. Cruise control was NOT fitted when I got the car, but the LCD display was as standard. My current C5 (Mk2) also shows the cruise control and limit control information there.

[CitroJim]

As I understand it, the 'Limit' function is designed to prevent the vehicle from exceeding the speed that is set. This means that, if you were to set the 'Limit' speed to 30MPH, pressing the accelerator all the way down will not take you past 30MPH (useful if you are near a school, for example) although tapping the brake or clutch pedal may disengage the 'Limit' function. I may have heard (but I CANNOT confirm this) that the extra component on the accelerator pedal is used within the 'Limit' function to 'interrupt' the signal, thereby holding the speed down to that set in the 'Limit' function.

Your understanding is nearly correct James... I find it invaluable in Milton Keynes where much of the city is NSL with occasional limited areas. I keep my Limit armed and ready to go at the push of the button as soon as I enter any speed restricted areas. It's a potential license saver

The Limit can be overridden by a form of 'kickdown' on the accelerator pedal so you may be right about the extra 'component' on the throttle pedal although I expect the 'component' is implemented as a dv/dt function in software. If you quickly 'floor' the accelerator pedal Limit pauses but not if you do it slowly...

Normal cruise disengages in the usual ways..

[mickthemaverick]

I think I might regret this contribution next Tuesday but I'll make it anyway!!

I've had cruise control on numerous vehicles since my Lancia Beta Spyder with its crude hand locking throttle system. I would think I've only used it beneficially on half a dozen occasions, almost always in the small hours and only on Motorways. I don't like it. It does the one thing that I hate most about driving, it takes away an element of control from the driver which in turn reduces the necessary concentration. I believe that reducing the necessary concentration is always a bad thing regardless of the method. If you are not up to concentrating fully on the job of driving for whatever reason then you shouldn't be driving!!!

As for the limit function being a license saver, we are all already equipped with such a device, it's called a brain!!

[Zelandeth]

Armed with information from the internet I was able to release this battery clamp.



Yes, you do just lift the red tab up. Though precisely why is still beyond me if you're not going to equip both terminals with that facility as it doesn't actually save you having to get the tools out.

Anyhow, as mentioned the old battery was both struggling in the cold and had previously been identified as undersized anyway. Here's the old and new for comparison.



Ten minutes, job done.



I really do need to sort that power feed to the horn, it is bugging the heck out of me.

Engine spins over WAY faster on the starter now, so yeah I think the old one was actually struggling even when it wasn't so cold - it was just more obvious then.


In other news, some fancy Western luxury has now been fully installed in the Trabant.





Will have to see how accurately it tracks.

Also found enough of the little plastic clips to properly resecure the little rubber shield over the cooling fan so it doesn't rattle any more.

[CitroJim]

I think I might regret this contribution next Tuesday but I'll make it anyway!!

No, all good debating material Mick

I rarely use cruise and in my journey to and from Somerset last week it did not get used at all. Like you, occasionally, when sitting on an empty motorway early in the morning in good weather I will but that's about it. I feel I'm not quite in full control with cruise on. But then, I know my driving skill limitations and try to always drive within them.

As for the limit function being a license saver, we are all already equipped with such a device, it's called a brain!!

My brain is not 100% functional Mick. It needs a bit of help, not only in driving but in many areas of my life... So on that basis, I'll explain my reasoning...

In the early days of owning Polly the limiter was most definitely a license saver! Thing is, compared to my others, especially my erstwhile Saxo, she's deceptive in what speed she's doing and it took time to get a feel for how fast she was travelling and to get used to reading, for the first time ever, a digital speedo. I'm fine now and can judge her speed fairly well but in those early days I'd often find myself seriously speeding in 30 and 40 limits. I'm still very much a newbie when it comes to driving modern cars and my competence to do so, as you well know, took me a long time and much effort. I remain no fan of digital speedos. Proper ones with a needle can be read at a glance whereas, for me, digital ones cannot; I have to take a good look and study it. Maybe all this is connected to my particular set of cognitive deficiencies and the little assistance the limiter offers me is invaluable.

And, in Polly, I still find it's so easy for the speed to creep up unawares. No such issue in Pix or Bluebell!

Armed with information from the internet I was able to release this battery clamp.

Pleased you managed it Zel

The new battery looks a bit more up to the job... All you need now is some proper cold weather again to see if it's done the trick

And pleased to see Tayna continues to deliver excellent service They really are unbeatable...

[Zelandeth]

Regarding cruise, I find it's most valuable in modern vehicles which are capable and geared such that it's so incredibly easy to creep up 10-15mph on the motorway with barely any perceptible difference in noise or anything - especially with virtually every gantry (at least on the bits I'm usually on day to day) having speed cameras in. Especially with the joys or variable speed limits meaning 10+ miles doing 40 does happen quite often. Plus I find when I'm spending 6+ hours trekking up the M6, it's nice to be able to dedicate a bit of extra brain power to keeping an eye on what the idiots around me are up to rather than having to specifically keep tabs on my speed.

The Partner at 70 is doing about 2200rpm and you do have to actively *make* it stay there, which is something I've found with every car with a fly-by-wire throttle to be honest. The Renault in contrast once you're up to a speed, it will pretty much stay there unless there's a significant gradient change without needing much modulation to the throttle setting.

It's also something I know Abby would like for when she uses it for work. Having spent 10+ years driving in the US cruise control is just something she's learned to drive with as everything there, even scraping the bottom of the barrel generally has it, so it is something she misses.

[MattBLancs]

Good description of what Hub Nut terms "the triangle of doom" (wiper dribble when the passenger blade sweep does not overlap the driver's side blade path) I don't think it used to bother me but since being altered to its existence, it sure does now!

I go in and out of phases of using the C5's cruise control, only motorway use for me. It mostly shows up quite how incapable everyone else is at maintaining anything resembling a constant speed and so a repetitious cycle of "over take, then over taken by" the same dozy so and so who then wakes from his/her comatose state to storm past at say 80mph then drifted off again and coast down to 65mph again!
(They are quite often habitually in lane 2 also....)

[Zelandeth]

Good description of what Hub Nut terms "the triangle of doom" (wiper dribble when the passenger blade sweep does not overlap the driver's side blade path) I don't think it used to bother me but since being altered to its existence, it sure does now!

I go in and out of phases of using the C5's cruise control, only motorway use for me. It mostly shows up quite how incapable everyone else is at maintaining anything resembling a constant speed and so a repetitious cycle of "over take, then over taken by" the same dozy so and so who then wakes from his/her comatose state to storm past at say 80mph then drifted off again and coast down to 65mph again!
(They are quite often habitually in lane 2 also....)

Here's the scale of the triangle prior to my changing the wipers (which has helped... slightly). My hand is showing how far above the driver's side sweep the passenger's side stops.

It's enough you're not going to fix it by tweaking wiper sizes. You'd need to bend and reposition the passenger side arm as well, and you'd end up with it parked halfway up the screen.

If it weren't for the fact that the resulting dribble invariably runs straight across the middle of my field of view at about 45 degrees it would be less annoying.