Michel's Motors

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
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Michel
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Re: Grand Picasso Goodness and Suzuki Silliness

Unread post by Michel »

CitroJim wrote: 24 Apr 2018, 08:16
I can understand the self-preservation thing Mike.


I found myself wheelie-ing and getting my knee down yesterday on my little ride. I thought I'd grown out of that. Perhaps the novelty will wear off..
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Michel
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Re: Grand Picasso Goodness and Suzuki Silliness

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CitroJim wrote: 24 Apr 2018, 05:51
The Scenic looks like a good buy...


A good buy, Yes. It is, however, the most unpleasant vehicle to work on that I've ever come across, and I've worked on some right old autoshite!
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Zelandeth
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Re: Grand Picasso Goodness and Suzuki Silliness

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Michel wrote: 26 Apr 2018, 23:31
CitroJim wrote: 24 Apr 2018, 05:51
The Scenic looks like a good buy...


A good buy, Yes. It is, however, the most unpleasant vehicle to work on that I've ever come across, and I've worked on some right old autoshite!


That was true of the earlier Scenics as well - and in fact the same seems to be true of a lot of the "snub nosed" MPV things. I remember swearing a lot at a Honda Space Shuttle trying to change the aux drive belt for much the same reason - I seem to recall dismantling what felt like about 75% of the car by the time I could get at the thing.

The old Merc van I had at one point was similar - but at least that you could unclip the engine cowling in the cab and get at stuff that way. ...Even if I did own it for about a month before I discovered that.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
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Michel
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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Well, it wasn't as though I had much interesting to write about before I sold the Grand Picasso and got the Megane Scenic instead. I've even less now, as the Scenic just seems to work. It's not wonderfully economical, but I'm still averaging 38.1mpg, which I don't think is bad for a 1.6 VVT petrol auto mostly being driven around town. I've booked it in for a timing belt, waterpump, aux belt and a full coolant change when I get back from France at beginning of June. The 107 also just goes. I'm going to sell it in a month or so, once the Scenic has proven it's reliable and no horrors are found with it while it's having those jobs done.

I have "borrowed" a friend's (oddly, the same friend that Jim was asking about the Peugeot Expert power socket) Xsara Picasso HDi to use as a delivery vehicle for doing a bit of Amazon Flex when I'm off shift, as I did last year. It currently is sat on my road, awaiting an interior clean. It's *DISGUSTING*. Got mould in it! It's been sat for 5 months, so I said I'd sort it out and use it, with the "sorting it out" being the hire charge. It needs a new starter and a clean inside. I'm waiting for the steam-cleaning valeter to come next week, then I'll get the starter sorted.

My motorbike just goes too. Well, it is Japanese, and so far, the only thing that's caused it to break down is me, not realising turning the key all the way past off puts on the parking lights and makes the battery go flat. It's seemingly impossible to bump start a 650 V-Twin when it's cold..
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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I hope that's a 2.0 HDi and not a 1.6; as the starter on the 1.6 is next to impossible!
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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How much does the steam cleaner charge, and when is he doing the Picasso?
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur
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Re: Picasso Procrastination

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Michel wrote: 08 Nov 2017, 16:21 Key done. Fob was £2.89 off eBay
new to reading this Thread and quoting a post a few pages back. Reminded that daughter's C3 in in a shocking state, so ordered a pink one to be delivered to her; she'll be well pleased.... and might even remember to bring it over for fitting eventually :-D
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Michel
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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Hell Razor5543 wrote: 11 May 2018, 08:14 How much does the steam cleaner charge, and when is he doing the Picasso?


Well, he charged me £30 for the Meriva, £40 for the Grand Picasso. He's said £50 for this, because it's utterly, utterly shocking. Put it this way, it's so foul I won't drive it without wearing disposable gloves. He's coming tomorrow at 10am, much to my annoyance, because I would much rather be asleep at that time as I'm working tonight.
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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I will pop on over then, to see what he can do. I will be helping Mum tomorrow, but I don't have to be at her boat until midday.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Michel
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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Hell Razor5543 wrote: 14 May 2018, 21:01 I will pop on over then, to see what he can do. I will be helping Mum tomorrow, but I don't have to be at her boat until midday.


I may or may not be in. If I'm not in, I'll be in at 10:45.. A good sign I'm not in will be that the flying banana won't be there.
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Michel
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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Well, as Mr. H. Razor will attest, the steam cleaning man came, and *wore a mask* while cleaning the Xsara Picasso, it was that grim. It does, however look amazingly clean inside now. I have also washed it, repeatedly, and it's also clean outside, for the first time in at least 18 months. I corrected all the tyre pressures, stuck it on the battery charger I bought from Zel, which has rescued the battery and the car is improving again. It now needs a new starter motor (yes, Richard, it's the 2.0HDi, they're a piece of cake), a service - all parts ordered from GSF, including oil, on their 60% off deal, for £30.87 - that's oil filter, sump plug washer, air filter, fuel filter, pollen filter and the correct oil. A bargain, if I do say so myself. I'll be doing that next Tuesday or Wednesday. The aircon man who did the Scenic is also coming to check the air con out on the Xsara Pic. I think it only needs gas, as the compressor seems to kick in when it's activated. It just doesn't blow cold.

Does anyone know what I can use to soften rubber seals up? The massive sunroof is a bit wind-noisy, I'm pretty sure it's simply because the seal has gone a bit hard while the car has been stood for months and months.

My other vehicles - the Scenic goes ok. I've booked it in for a timing belt on the 5th June when we get back from holiday. We are flying and hiring a car, not going in the Scenic, so no rush for it. Automatics are utterly fantastic. I must be getting old!

The 107 will be being MOT'd next week and going up for sale. It has a full history, 103k miles, and will have a 12 month MOT. It had a full service about 3500 miles ago, with new plugs and all filters. It's a 5-door model with AC and leccy windows on an 08 plate if anyone is interested for £1500 here, before it goes on Autotrader at an inflated price to allow messers to knock me down. It's spotless and well worth it. I'd quite like to keep it and SORN the Renault for the summer, but her indoors says one car only, thanks..

The flying banana Suzuki. Well, curious. I had found myself being surprised at how quick it was when I first came back to bikes. Now, I'm finding it a little slow, even wringing it out to the red line in the bottom 2 or 3 gears, which is almost as concerning as me finding it too quick! I suspect it'll hang around for a couple more months, then something along the lines of a Honda Blackbird 1100XX or Haybusa will arrive on my doorstep.

Someone got me a great T-Shirt....
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Zelandeth
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

Unread post by Zelandeth »

One old trick for softening up flattened rubber seals if they're easily removable was to stuff them in the washing machine on a hot wash.

I admit to being highly sceptical of this - but I tried it on those on my Lada Niva (which had issues with letting in a laughable amount of water around the driver's door when it rained), and it worked a treat. Can't vouch for it working on all types of rubber etc...but it worked for me the one time I've tried it.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
Hell Razor5543
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

I was surprised that Jason was not wearing a HazMat suit when I popped around! Mind you, the Picasso does look a lot better (as does the inside of my C5).

I did pop over to the scrapyard, and they have a few Scenics and Picassos there. I did try and find the pollen filter cover on one, but I don't know if I was looking in the right place (or the right model!). It might be worth taking a look for yourself.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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Michel
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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I have never been in an Aldi until today. I have bought bits and pieces online before, but never actually been in one. It's like paradise. I spent a happy 30 mins in the specials aisle while SWMBO did the shopping.

I bought one of their solar chargers to see if it keeps the 'bikes battery topped up while we are away. The alarm tends to drain it over a week or so if it's not used. Two croc clips on the battery, route the cable out under the rear seat and use the suction pads to attach it to the number plate..
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Michel
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Re: French car fatigue and a Japanese crotch rocket.

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In other news, the 107 passed it's MOT. Didn't plan on taking it as I thought it ran out in Oct. Found out yesterday that it was actually 19th June so called up on the off chance they could fit it in before I went on hols. Yes they could. It passed.