Michel's Motors

[RichardW]

You could nearly have driven the Picasso through that gap!!

[Michel]

Mad isn't it?

The service and work it had done on 17/03/17 came to a grand total of £1217. That apparently included a timing belt and associated bits.

Also had all 4 wheels balanced today as I always do when I get a new car. Nearly every car I've had has had a wobble around 70mph, including this one.

[myglaren]

Mad isn't it?

The service and work it had done on 17/03/17 came to a grand total of £1217. That apparently included a timing belt and associated bits.

Also had all 4 wheels balanced today as I always do when I get a new car. Nearly every car I've had has had a wobble around 70mph, including this one.

Both my C5s have had a wobble at around 70mph and have been repeatedly balance with no improvement - until I had Sailun tyres fitted.
That was two years ago and the fronts were recently renewed again - tyres don't last long on the front
The place that fitted them couldn't balance them and advised me to have them done elsewhere ASAP.
I never did and there is no wobble whatsoever. Car drives better on the Sailuns than anything previously fitted - most far more expensive than these.

[Michel]

There seems to be many tyre fitters incapable of using a balance machine properly. I've never, ever had an issue with mine when using Total Tyres in Binfield over the last 9 years. Every car I've bought to keep more than a few months goes down there for wheel balancing (£20 for all 4) and tracking.

[Michel]

Also got my cable to get the aux port installed on the Pic. Needs Lexia or Diagbox, I suspect I'll have to wait until next Tues or Weds when Mr. H. Razor is off again

[GiveMeABreak]

I've always had issues with balancing on the C5 - all models, except the X7. There was one chap (independent) who I always bought my tyres from - he wasn't the cheapest, but he knew how to balance a C5. I think he did it on the vehicle IIRC.

[Michel]

Today despite the freezing cold, I managed to please my wife by getting her a new shiny knob... and gaiter!

I then fathomed out (thanks Marc) how to remove the A/C panel and install a replacement with all the icons still on the buttons.

[CitroJim]

Excellent

It's the little things that make all the difference Whist they may not affect performance and function they do make a heck of a difference to how content you feel with the vehicle...

[RichardW]

I just had a thought... what you need to do now is clean out the scuttle drains, before the water gets into the car!



A particularly delightful job if half a gallon of freezing cold water runs up your sleeve as you pull the drain out!!

[Michel]

Thanks for that Richard! That can be Wednesday's amusement.

As an aside, as my Focus ST is not the most economical of commuting cars, and I'd rather not expose it to too much salt and winter idiots, I splashed out a whole £240 on this little gem.. it is remarkably rot-free, 59,000 miles, owned by a vicar since new..

[Zelandeth]

Seriously, a rust free Ka? Drown the thing in Dinitrol! Now!

In all fairness though, they're one of the best handling little cars out there, go find a twisty road and you'll put a grin on your face I reckon - and then never want to sell it!

[Michel]

Seriously, a rust free Ka? Drown the thing in Dinitrol! Now!

In all fairness though, they're one of the best handling little cars out there, go find a twisty road and you'll put a grin on your face I reckon - and then never want to sell it!

I've just driven it the 20 miles to work, mostly on b-roads. What a hoot, seriously, on those sort of roads, it's utterly fantastic. Anyone who says Kas are rubbish has never driven one. It's more fun than the 290bhp of the Focus on these roads, that's for sure. Obviously on an open A-road with more room, the Focus would be far, far better, but.. ha ha, it's put a massive smile on my face! It's got 4 mixed unheard of brand sh1te tyres on too.

[Zelandeth]

Absolutely agreed. They're definitely on my "would have if I had heaps of space" list following delivering two for the garage back in 2003 or so.

What engine is it? Both of the ones I've driven were still running the old OHV Valencia engine, imagine the lighter and revvier Detection in that chassis would be an epic match. Well...if we can't have the three pot two stroke it was designed with in mind anyway...

Looks good in white too I reckon.

[Michel]

It is indeed the old Valencia/Endura-E, that's coarser than a Glaswegian docker after a night on the drink.. in a clean engine bay!

[Zelandeth]

Never realised the old Valencia got multipoint injection! Was monopoint lifted straight from the Mk IV Fiesta in the last two I drove. Imagine that will breathe better.

That looks almost oil tight too, which is downright weird to see...

Just keep an eye on that top radiator hose to the thermostat housing, looks like that may have been weeping...could be old deposits from an old leak though.

That looks like a real keeper that does if that engine bay is anything to go by...well bought.