Michel's Motors

[Michel]

Right, I have had a mad "spending spree" on Amazon, GSF and eBay this evening. As GSF has 54% off this weekend, I ordered all filters, oil, and cabin filters plus spark plugs. It may have been serviced 5 months ago according to the wodge of paperwork, but if I do it myself, I know it will have been done right!

Also ordered, as James offered to pop by with the Lexia, an aux-in cable for the RD4 headunit. We successfully made one of these work in the 207, so it will hopefully be just as easy in the Picasso.

2 replacement keyfobs - both from different sellers, £3 each. I don't expect the earth, but even if I can use the button half of each of them, it will suffice.
Gearlever gaiter. The current one is worn and manky, as per usual for a C4 anything of this age!
Rear Bumper protector. The top edge of the bumper is scuffed and chipped, as is usual with stuff being slid in and out the boot. A protector will neaten up all the damage cheaply
Air-con control panel for driver's side. Like the locking switch, mine works fine but is worn on the buttons. It'll look much nicer with a mint one! Me being fussy..
Supposedly canbus error free sidelight bulbs. I put these on the BMW I had, and used them as DRLs. Much better than the standard W5W tat that was in.

[CitroJim]

Nice one Mike and glad you didn't bag the EGS - I think that was a wise move. I should of read this before posting all those EGS pics on the other thread

Ditto... I think your post on that topic has put us all off EGS for ever Richard...

I'd enjoy a totally failed EGS as a project as long as the failed EGS comes complete with a car in otherwise excellent condition for free...

It would be an interesting challenge... I was the first to find a home remedy for a failed 4HP20 and I'd love to do the same for EGS

[Michel]

Nice one Mike and glad you didn't bag the EGS - I think that was a wise move. I should of read this before posting all those EGS pics on the other thread

Ditto... I think your post on that topic has put us all off EGS for ever Richard...

I'm not sure. I've driven the older VW DSG 'boxes, and they are a lovely thing to drive, in something like a Passat TDi Estate. I believe the theory and some of the workings are the same.

Would an EGS cost much more to repair than a 4HP20 would have done back when they were failing at around 100k ? I doubt it really.

[CitroJim]

Would an EGS cost much more to repair than a 4HP20 would have done back when they were failing at around 100k ? I doubt it really.

Possibly not Mike, it's more the challenge of it that appeals to me

[RichardW]

Supposedly canbus error free sidelight bulbs. I put these on the BMW I had, and used them as DRLs. Much better than the standard W5W tat that was in.

The sidelights are those stupid H6W jobbies - the ones with the offset pins that cost a fortune and last about 5 minutes as they are really overpowered for their size. Replaced ours with LEDs some time back. They have resistors, but the OS one has failed, so the bulb comes on dimly when the BSI wakes up / is going to sleep....

[Michel]

Did the pollen filters. Also changed the air filter. A prime example of why I rarely trust garages and why I do as much as I can myself.. previous owner was billed for changing this air filter in March this year... unless he lives in a coal mine, it's not been changed for years, if ever..

Pollen filters were Denso branded which leads me to believe they were also original

[CitroJim]

That's shocking Mike

[Michel]

I've got a set of plugs for it but they look like a sod to change. The engine is canted over backwards and they're in between the two cams as per normal but it's under the scuttle and I don't have the correct combo of extensions and sockets and UJs to change them! I bet they've never been changed.

[CitroJim]

The engine is canted over backwards

Shades of the old Simca 'Suitcase' engine that became the PSA X series engines and the predecessor to the TU series

No, the harder they are to swap the less it is likely they have been done...

It's a testament to modern plugs and engines just how long they last these days. Remember when plugs were completely done after a few thousand miles such as horrid old things like the Champion N9Y and the like?

Latterly I've seen plugs that have clearly not been disturbed for years and thousands upon thousands of miles and they look perfect and hardly worn... Especially from ES9 V6 engines where the rear bank plugs tend to be ignored due to the difficulty of swapping them...

Mike, what engine is in the Picasso? Do you have its code or designation? I'm curious to know what a really modern PSA petrol engine is like now...

[Michel]

It's not quite as bad as a suitcase engine Jim. I believe the code is EW7A . It's the 1.8 Petrol 16v, 129bhp version.

[RichardW]

Book time is only 30mins - same as the pollen filter, so you should be able to do it in 10!!!

Access to the top of the engine is much improved by removing the the wipers and scuttle panel, which is not that hard.

[Michel]

Book time is only 30mins - same as the pollen filter, so you should be able to do it in 10!!

There's no bits to drop into oblivion when changing the cabin filters. There appears to be a good few when doing the plugs. If a thing can be dropped and lost, I am that person who will lose it.

[Zelandeth]

I have to confess that my 107 is still running the original plugs after 60-something K miles. They've been out three times I think, but looked absolutely perfect and didn't even need the gap reset, so just went back in! Admittedly the first time was also necessary as the shop had given me totally the wrong plugs...

I do have the right ones in stock now, so have sworn to actually change them at the next service.

It's often a bit of a testament to the ridiculous voltages that modern ignition systems can provide as well...so long as the plug doesn't get shorted out you'll probably get a decent spark.

... certainly got a right fright from the coil pack on the Lada when it triggered with nothing attached during testing - good few inches that sparked over till it found a ground path (me). I didn't want to do the math to work out the voltages involved. It was a good meaty crack though, nothing like the weedy little snap I've seen when testing old style systems for HT levels...

[Michel]

Book time is only 30mins - same as the pollen filter, so you should be able to do it in 10!!!

Access to the top of the engine is much improved by removing the the wipers and scuttle panel, which is not that hard.

Do you know if it has a fuel filter Richard , and if so where?

[RichardW]

Can't see one on service.citroen....