Raid Arctique 2014

[macAU]

Some of the 17 CXs participating in the Raid Arctique have already travelled through Norway heading to Kiruna in northern Sweden.

I'm off to change the oil, filter and coolant before a final check of the car.

[macAU]

Replaced the oil and filter, cleaned out radiator and replaced the coolant. Car got a general check over before we headed to Dublin. Here after five of the party went to Riverdance we said goodbye to two passengers who were heading back to Perth. We, the five remaining, packed the car ... and packed it was with five suitcases, five smaller bags plus other loose items.

I did try to maintain a day by day account of our venture on
http://www.frenchandfantastic.com.au/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; in the General Discussion section under the topic " to the emerald isle and beyond"

So if you want the full details, more or less, check it out

We are safely back home, to a real winters day - for us anyway. It has been cloudy with heavy rain most of the day. Fire alight since early this morning and too wet to do anything outside.

[macAU]

Watched the Hoegh London come into Fremantle this afternoon. Safely onboard was OKE 749W, the Familiale that took us around Eire before the journey to Lapland and Raid Arctique. By now it should be on the dock awaiting Customs clearance then the AQIS inspection tomorrow.

Have been fortunate enough to even get some pictures from onboard. Our youngest son knows the shift boss of the crew unloading the cars for Fremantle. Tried to upload images but got a 'board attachment quote has been reached.' message.

[myglaren]

There is a guide to uploading photo's to the forum here.
Yell out if you hit any snags.

[macAU]

Thanks for the directions Steve. I'm not in a position to upload to other third party sites so it will have to wait.

[myglaren]

[macAU]

After days of shuffling paper the car was finally released from quarantine and has been collected by our son. It is now safely parked at our daughters until we return to Perth. There I have it booked for an inspection before I can register it. Need to repair the rear muffler, gaskets for the exhaust manifold, replace a front ball joint and probably change the headlights. They are yellow and I'm not sure they will be accepted here. If it is just coloured globes that will be easy. Changing the whole units a pain. Fortunately I do have some spares here - will have to take to Perth.
http://www.citroencarclub.org.uk/drupal/node/8340" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Familiale parked after being picked up from the wharf.

[myglaren]

Hope the transition through customs wasn't too painful.

[macAU]

Never had a peep from Customs so paying $200 to a customs agent may be the reason after the grief I got trying to do my own documentation. It was AQIS with the quarantine process that was slow. Everything has a 'lag' - fill in a form and send it, then they respond to the agent, then the agents sends it on to you. Attend to the form and return etc etc. So after the initial inspection on Monday where they found the car presented a biohazard it wasn't cleared until Thursday a.m. They were unhappy with the carpets and found a pine needle under the bonnet.

Re the inspection for registration: I've been told that the front muffler won't pass because it has a patch welded, presumably over a hole. Patched mufflers are an immediate fail

[macAU]

Update on what has happened with "Pascale" chosen because 'She is French!'

Last week booked the car in and attended to the steering - pulling left. Corrected by rotating the steering column two splines. Re-set the fine adjustment and re-fitted the cabin air intake system. Cleaned the engine of grease and oil. Patched a spot of rust under the RHrear sphere. Attempted to remove the C-matic control/solenoid. Five bolts loose but the sixth was impossible to loosen. In the end it was left in case we managed to shear the bolt.

Following day took the car to the examination centre for the inspection. Drama with them not able to locate a VIN. Eventually the car was inspected and failed:
1) no flywheel cover
2) movement in front LH wheel
3) dribble of LHM on handbrake cable
4) engine area not clean enough - actually I think it was more the patina of Citroen age - LHM and grime caked on - effective rustproofing but ...
Demanded an automotive engineer's certificate.
Required the addition of a VIN number to match the importation documents.

Caught the bus and train home after arranging to go back to the mechanic on Friday. It was to replace the accumulator sphere. After the inspection added the need to identify the LHM leak (turned out to be a disconnected return line - re-attached!) find out what was responsible for the 'movement' at the front wheel (tie rod - part ordered) and fit the flywheel cover.

During the week managed to get "Grace" - the sadly rusted CX in the shed off the ground. Battled to remove the flywheel cover but did get it off after undoing the exhaust and moving the down pipe a little. It was fitted on Friday as we attended to the other matters.

Had contacted an automotive engineer and arranged to have the inspection done and report prepared on Friday afternoon. After four and a half hours with no reponse from said engineer nor replies to my messages I gave up. Now need to locate another engineer. I had a quote from a second one who wanted three times the money of my chosen one - for an hours work. He also talked of the extra cost of a test to check the noise form the car!!!!

Still can't believe the necessity of an engineers report on a car, admittedly not sold here, that has other examples already registered and on the road here. The examiner could confirm that it has not been modified and is standard.

Now delayed on my return to home hoping to line up an engineer on Monday. The re-inspection of the four faults can now be done at my local inspection station. Can't wait to get it home. Tomorrow will be the Classic Car Show at Whiteman Park in the north of Perth. Organisers expect 1200 vehicles ranging from buses to motorcycles, military and domestic of all ages. Taking two of my grandsons plus one of their mates.