When you realise you've been working too long on Xanitia

[c.morewood]

I was working on my late mums 2008 C3 today. Back box, oil and filter change, replcement wheel arches.
At the end of a long day I was putting the front NS wheel back on after replacing both wheel arches.
But the wheel was moving???. the hand brake was on .. I pulled it tighter.. the wheel still turned??? I took the wheel off again thinking the brake cable must have broken..
I looked and looked again. I couldn't find the brake cable.. nor could I find the cable actuator lever..
Then I realised I was working on a C3..
I had a little chuckle to myself and realised I'd spent too long working on Xantias.

[mickthemaverick]

I had a similar issue back in the 80's when my competition Samba lost drive on the morning of a grass autotest I had entered. Not having the time to look at the Samba I just took the Xantia without thinking and wondered why I was having so much trouble in whipping it round the cones on the handbrake!!

[CitroJim]

Love it Chris!

I'm a bit concerned a 2008 C3 should need new wheel arches though... Why? Not because of rust I hope...

[myglaren]

There is the beginnings of rust on my daughter's 2011 C3.
I wonder if it also has DPF and the bluestuff.

[c.morewood]

I'm in Shetland ATM Jim. The car has stood next to the sea for 10 years. I'm amazed it hasn't fallen apart yet. I've had to replace 2 wheels already due to the rust. It might last another one or two years.. its only done 70k miles. Its a lovely car but full of rust.
@ myglaren No bluestuff, not new enough for that just a 1.4Hdi that pulls like a train, if you have a back box!!
When you live away from the sea you can't comprehend how quickly the continuous winter salt air, together with high winds, will attack a car. Its almost like a sand blast.

[CitroJim]

Ahh, that explains it Chris I know well what sea air does to the steel bits of static caravans pitched just back from the beach!

For a C3 to have lasted 10 years under such conditions is good

[myglaren]

My daughters C3 came from Whitley Bay so that could be a reason. We are only six miles from the coast though.

[CitroJim]

My daughters C3 came from Whitley Bay so that could be a reason. We are only six miles from the coast though.

I always remember my dad advising never to buy a car from anywhere near the seaside...

[myglaren]

My daughters C3 came from Whitley Bay so that could be a reason. We are only six miles from the coast though.

I always remember my dad advising never to buy a car from anywhere near the seaside...

Don't forget that i come from Whitby, as close to the seaside as it gets.

Should have been there today, brother's birthday. Car is wandering around in other parts of the country though.

[c.morewood]

With the greatest respect, you haven't seen anything till you've lived through a Shetland winter. The sea is airborne half of the time, driven by wind that'll knock you off your feet. There are no trees to slow it down. The salt eats away at everything up here we replace the outside lights every 2 to 3 years. Even galvanised gates rust up here!

[Rp0thejester]

With the greatest respect, you haven't seen anything till you've lived through a Shetland winter. The sea is airborne half of the time, driven by wind that'll knock you off your feet. There are no trees to slow it down. The salt eats away at everything up here we replace the outside lights every 2 to 3 years. Even galvanised gates rust up here!

Have you tried putting your wife outside and see what happens? If good results, I'm moving there!!

[CitroJim]

Gosh Chris That's some serious weather! Your description of the sea being airborne sounds very descriptive!

Ryan: