DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[MattBLancs]

Ah yes, I see now it's not a flat in one dimension - didn't spot that earlier (need to zoom in on this phone screen)

Are you planning on using the original fittings? I'm not sure if these coolers are high pressure, or just on a return leg back to the header tank (so, close to atmospheric) ??

[mickthemaverick]

The circuit has it on the return so just uses sprung pipe clips, I'll probably replace those with jubilees or maybe horseshoe clamp style clips which I have in stock. At least there is no excessive pressure to worry about.

[Steve Walsh]

Oh I wouldn't hold its original destination against it!

I've just realised how to get over that issue:

Get it in its new home like that = M for Mazda!

Matt

here is one I am in the process of making for my C5, No longer available from Citroen. PS Cooler/Return. Waiting for a brass bar to be delivered to make a couple of hose connectors

[mickthemaverick]

For a minute there Steve I thought you were taking up the trombone!!

[Paul-R]

The jazzy bit must sit behind the kidneys,

I remember reading someone disagreeing with that description. They likened them to be more like a wombat's nostrils!

[MattBLancs]

The jazzy bit must sit behind the kidneys,

I remember reading someone disagreeing with that description. They likened them to be more like a wombat's nostrils!

They were never what shape I believe a kidney to be, but I'm going to avoid kick starting a discussion on BMW grille "evolution" as it'll end up with the modern things (Google "BMW ix" if unaware but I would say ignorance is bliss in this case!)

[mickthemaverick]

The clips I needed arrived today so it was time to sort the power steering fluid cooler on the MX3. The story is easier told in pictures:

You will remember the new BMW 3 Series cooler

Before I started

Before I started

Before I started

Getting that one out proved to be a bit of a pig but getting the replacement in was even more so!! I had to modify it slightly and then wrangle it into place and the final result is definitely function without finesse!!

After completion

After completion

After completion

After completion

Once I was able to inspect the old one I was even happier that I had set about replacing it:

It really was on its last legs:

Nevertheless another job sorted and the satisfaction of doing the main stealer out of another £735.00 + VAT

Total cost to me was £18.26 and I have half a bottle of Devron 2 in stock for topping up!! Result!!

[myglaren]

A very economical result Mick.

[CitroJim]

Great work Mick

That old one must have been close to failure!!!

[Peter.N.]

Had a job on a friends 406 the last couple of days, no power steering or charge. Found that the inside of the crankshaft pulley was rotating but the outside not and a strong smell of rubber. The bonding had failed between the inner and out parts. Ordered a new one a week ago, actually received it yesterday, the carrier couldn't find the house apparently even though I had something else delivered by them that I had only ordered 2 days previously.

Tried to fit it yesterday, the bolt was too long wouldn't tighten up, found the new pulley was about 1/2" thinner that the old one, put a big nut over it plus the original washer and that was OK. Tried to fit the belt - it was too short, there are apparently several lengths although I gave all the information to the firm. Apparently there are several lengths according to the air con compressor fitted.

Put an length of stiff wire 'L' shaped into the belt tensioner with it fully backed off to lock it while we we fitted the belt then couldn't get it out as it had bent it over inside the tensioner.
My friend had in his car a tool for removing horses teeth - he is an aerial rigger, anyway it did the job.

He had been driving round all the week with a spare battery in the passenger foot well connected to the the main one via a pair of jump leads which went out of the N/S window und under the bonnet, he had been charging them up every night.

I have had more weird things like this happen to me in the last 6 months than I have since I started driving, the last on was the alternator clutch fell to pieces and the outer part dissapeared, this was on another friends 406. I ran them for 10 years and they very rarely gave any trouble.

Sorry for no pictures, know it doesn't fit the description of the thread, I will put some on if you like. Just needed a rant.

Peter

[MattBLancs]

Seems to be common 406 and indeed Peugeot thing - pulley is a "harmonic damper" and relies on the rubber bonding to both inner and outer. Can sometimes give "squeaky fan belt" noises, to which changing the belt makes no difference! (Because it's that rubber ring squeaking not belt slip) also in mild cases gives squeak only on full lock (max load on the belt drive basically triggering the noise)

I've got to the stage of painting a line on any of these pulleys I come across , even if good! - then if I hear a noise can quickly see if the two halves of the line have parted company before blaming the belt!

[CitroJim]

V6 Xantias are good at pulling the same trick too... It could go unnoticed for ages until the aircon was engaged - the loud squeal gave it away...

Peter, I feel your pain - having done (and struggled with) the same job many times... It does feel a bit like pulling teeth so that was a very appropriate tool to use!

[moizeau]

Had that issue on my 406 2.1td. It would squeal on start up and then after 30 secs shut up. The heat must have glued it back together. In the end it just let go and the outer steel part of the pulley was flopping around on the inner. After that I used a white paint marker on the pulley traversing the rubber joint.

[CitroJim]

Mr. Citroen used a dual mass pulley on the 2.0TCT (Activa amongst others) engine... The silly sausage put the timing index hole in the outer annulus...

Use it at your peril... It was about as accurate as a horoscope... Even though the rubber appeared to be firmly bonded and a white line painted across never deviated it was always wrong... Often by a considerable and dangerous amount... I still have a solid pulley in my drawer of special tools used to accurately time these engines...

[MattBLancs]

Had that issue on my 406 2.1td. It would squeal on start up and then after 30 secs shut up. The heat must have glued it back together. In the end it just let go and the outer steel part of the pulley was flopping around on the inner.

Yes, have heard described fault like that too, little bit of heat expands the inner is a snug fit again.

Am sure I've read it can throw aux belt off, with a Russian Roulette set of outcomes: outboard "hmm, alternator light has come on, steering is heavy" Vs inboard = fouled cambelt bye bye engine.

V6 Xantias are good at pulling the same trick too... It could go unnoticed for ages until the aircon was engaged - the loud squeal gave it away...

Yes, come to think of it, it's predominantly the 406 Coupe V6 owners who have mentioned it.

That 2.0TCT timing hole design fail is a terrible idea, what were they thinking!?!