Bargain Basement Motoring

[NewcastleFalcon]

very impressive service all round
Hens teeth sensors
Ordered yesterday morning arrived today
Well done BG Motors Renault Specialist
and APC.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Excellent!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks Jim. I have come to the conclusion that a physical trail round a number of scrapyards is a complete waste of time due to the , now paucity, of Clio 2's of the BB Clio's vintage. The buying process couldn't have been easier and gave the firm some very positive feedback. What I like as well is their good old-fashioned politeness in thanking customers for the feedback given.

I have proved the wiring to all the usual components but without a OBD tool which can read the SRS ECU, and the "tests" it carries out of the components of the system I can't be sure of whether the usual suspects of those side-impact sensors are responsible for the SRS light on.

Now is of course a bit of a Schrodinger's cat-esque moment with as of now 2 possibilities.

Alive
The replacement sensors may prove to be the components which solve the airbag light on.
and
Dead
The replacement sensors may prove to be the components which don't solve the airbag light on.

I may delay the moment of truth while the first possibility remains, and take a bit time to re-prove the wiring before
the "box" is opened up


Neil

[CitroJim]

I agree Neil, I've bought stuff on-line from breakers and it is indeed a far better experience Last time I went to a scrapyard to ferret for a part I came away with more than I realised in the form of an infection

Let's hope all now comes good with the BB Micra

[NewcastleFalcon]

Let's hope all now comes good with the BB Micra Clio

Thanks Jim. Just one minor correction Jim, it's the one French car in the "Falcon maintenance fleet" not the Micra. The truly bargain basement and now classic "6 bottles of wine" Clio is the car I am attempting to get through its MOT

Neil

[CitroJim]

Let's hope all now comes good with the BB Micra Clio

Thanks Jim. Just one minor correction Jim, it's the one French car in the "Falcon maintenance fleet" not the Micra. The truly bargain basement and now classic "6 bottles of wine" Clio is the car I am attempting to get through its MOT

Neil

Sorry Neil, I'm overdue for my SpecSavers appointment!

[NewcastleFalcon]

I have proved the wiring to all the usual components but without a OBD tool which can read the SRS ECU, and the "tests" it carries out of the components of the system I can't be sure of whether the usual suspects of those side-impact sensors are responsible for the SRS light on.

Now is of course a bit of a Schrodinger's cat-esque moment with as of now 2 possibilities.

Alive
The replacement sensors may prove to be the components which solve the airbag light on.
and
Dead
The replacement sensors may prove to be the components which don't solve the airbag light on.

...and the results are in

The replacement side-impact sensors did indeed pass the SRS ECU self-test, and the airbag light properly extinguished as it should.

Neil

[CitroJim]

Magic

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks for your comment Jim and those calling in to take an interest. So two of the very tricky to resolve problems in bargain basement car maintenance have been sorted for now.

1. The misfire.
2. The airbag light on.

Next in order of difficulty to resolve, not a MOT failure point, but sorting out has been habitually kicked into the long grass. Ignored since December 2017, page 1 post 1 of this thread when the 6 bottles of wine transaction was done and the BB Clio came into the Falcon Maintenance Fleet. Need to get a Round Tuit first though to get the job started.

3. The soggy carpet. (Usual suspects on the Clio the sunroof and the door seals.)

Clio on Day 1-ish December 2017


Neil

[CitroJim]

Take the entire interior out to dry it Neil, then run the car with just a front seat for a while. You'll then be able to see where the water is coming in and you'll be able to see it fixed before the nice dry interior goes back in.

I used to do exactly this with soggy Xantias and 205s.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Take the entire interior out to dry it Neil, then run the car with just a front seat for a while. You'll then be able to see where the water is coming in and you'll be able to see it fixed before the nice dry interior goes back in.

I used to do exactly this with soggy Xantias and 205s.

Thanks Jim. That's the approach needed no doubt, but therein lies the main reason its been kicked into the long grass. The car is in the family maintenance fleet but it doesn't reside at chez Falcon and now it is very much a vital used-every-day car. Even grabbing a couple of days for a bit of MOT getting through once a year is a logistical nightmare.

The first step given a bit of decent weather and organising a window of opportunity is tackling this known problem along the lines of Martin from Resto Restore.



Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Three items to sort after the MOT tester did his work today.

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits [8.2.1.2 (a)]

Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect Offside front [4.2.1 (c)]

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (clamp snapped) [6.1.2 (a)]

Even bargain basement motoring requires a bit of maintenance spending from time to time. Local car parts shop has come up what I consider to be a reasonable price for next day delivery of the full Clio Exhaust System and all the hangars and brackets and clamps at £220, the bulk of which is the front downpipe/flexible section and catalytic converter combo. Yes that comes as one bit.

After 21 years-ish of service, about time it was treated to a new cat.

Neil

[CitroJim]

That's not so bad Neil... That cat lived a good life and still worth a bit in scrap

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks Jim, the next hurdle does rank high in the DIY car maintenance firmament, of the jobs you really don't want to do. In summary not much more than remove the two bolts or nuts and studs from the manifold to down pipe, a few clamps holding the pipes together, and dropping it down off the hangars/brackets.

I do have these now to aid with access, but if I can bundle the new exhaust bits up and get someone else to do it pronto and for a reasonable price it could save a lot of anticipated sheared-off fastenings swearing.

Neil

[CitroJim]

I must admit I always nowadays farm out exhaust work Neil. It's one job on a car I hate doing...