Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 52130
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 7017

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by CitroJim »

MattBLancs wrote: 11 Aug 2024, 11:44 Ready for later today:Image
:)
:) Because Sunday wouldn't be Sunday without a trip to the tip ;)
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 26795
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 14:30
x 5187

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by myglaren »

It's tripped and fallen over :)
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 52130
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 7017

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by CitroJim »

myglaren wrote: 11 Aug 2024, 12:17 It's tripped and fallen over :)
:lol: Clearly overloaded ;)
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

CitroJim wrote: 11 Aug 2024, 17:30
myglaren wrote: 11 Aug 2024, 12:17 It's tripped and fallen over :)
:lol: Clearly overloaded ;)
Ha ha, I've more than learnt my lesson there! Quite light stuff but the trailer itself is a heavy lump!

But more trailer action, my little trailer is lined up for an airport trip next week, so I thought I'd test the lights as it's not been anywhere for I think a couple of years!

All but left rear sidelight working. Which actually turned out to be miraculous frankly!

Trailer lamp cluster stripped down, very, very corroded spade terminals found.
I came off in me hand!
I came off in me hand!
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

That'll have been the issue won't it!?

Nope!!
Spoiler: show
it turns out that was the best bit of the wiring, here's the trailer socket:
IMG_20240811_173705370.jpg
IMG_20240811_173644737.jpg
IMG_20240811_173202847_HDR.jpg
A wonder any electrons made it through that mess!!
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 52130
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 7017

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by CitroJim »

Looks like it's been out at sea for a few years Matt!
Jim

Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2024
Posts: 6280
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
x 3217

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by bobins »

I think all trailer lamps and electrics are made out of a very special fast dissolving metal as they always end up like that :lol:
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

bobins wrote: 11 Aug 2024, 18:06 I think all trailer lamps and electrics are made out of a very special fast dissolving metal as they always end up like that :lol:
Yes, seems so!

Also every trailer lamp cluster I've come across seems incapable of keeping the water out. A tide mark at the bottom pretty much standard!

Yes Jim, if it was a boat trailer I'd probably say "fair enough, that's to be expected dunking it each launch!" But it's definitely only done land based things with me!! :lol:
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

Cored the cables bit further up and it's usual black, oxidised, horrible mess. So currently dunked in vinegar to try and find something copper coloured!

Fixings of new socket copper greased.

Heat shrinked the two cables (Erde / Daxara = cable from each lamp cluster all the way to the socket) together and another larger piece to shrink over the new socket's rubber end seal.

Whether it keeps the water out or just gives additional hurdles next time it fails...

...TBC!
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 15475
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
x 6624

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

I used to have the same problem on an annual basis with the boat trailer but in the end I found a method which lasted from its inception to the point of sale which was about 6 years. I encased each loom in bicycle inner tubing sealed at the connections with self amalgamating tape applied correctly as I was taught in the GPO. Once done no further failures occurred at all! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

17234009976033265191362708828548.jpg
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

All back together and....

Brake lights= functional both sides.
Tail light = still dead, left rear.
Indicators = right: faultless, left: comes on sporadically with percussive maintenance.

So a step backwards basically!!

I remembered that Daxara / Erde in their wisdom include an additional bonus moisture ingress point, I mean electrical connection, behind each tail light (or in other words roughly inline for a good deal of spray from the trailer wheels)
Funnily enough this does not look great.

And percussive maintenance has cracked (or alerted me that it was already cracked) the lens of the uncooperative tail light too.


So, off to Amazon / eBay and I'll change the lot.
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

Not stated, but bulbs checked obviously! (Multimeter on Continuity mode with help from my 5 year old who enjoyed manipulating the probes and triggered the meter to beep! :)
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

£40.86 has got me two full sets of LED tail lights, each with 10m cabling (so about 7 metres spare worth cutting off) and new sockets. So both small trailers can be fixed (it was the other small one's lighting which was playing up last time - though not pre-wired Erde nonsense there. That is a "Franc" trailer)

If arrives by Thursday I could potentially get that fitted ahead of the Friday Airport Trip as planned. Can fall back in my magnetic set as a backup plan.
More eBay stuff!
More eBay stuff!
:)
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 3619
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 1729

Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

Unread post by MattBLancs »

Odd: Two lots of £20.42 doesn't equal £40.86 but that's what I paid.

WHERE'S MY 2p GONE EBAY!? :shock: