rob88h

This could be the recirc/air flow position baffles. They’re electrically controlled and the teeth skip then they shit their little brains as they don’t know what position they’re in. It could also be why you don’t get very cold cold. Normally you get the clicking when you key on, and if it stops you can trigger it selecting reverse or the recirc button. The gearbox for it is in a box behind the glove box. I only know about this because had to fix it on my mum’s 64-plate and there seemed quite a bit of info on it on the forums once I started digging.

Thoughts and prayers.

My mother always taught me; “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” That’s why I could never be an MOT tester. Clean Pass for everyone 🤣

I often forget how much and why I love my alternative motoring-lifestyle. Running* six heaps is all too often just a never ending barrage of jobs of varying priority and can easily leave you wondering “why?!” </fate_tempted> The Mini is a joy and recently I had to make a 150 mile journey - in the words of Ewan McGregor, Choose Shite

I’ve ordered the tee-piece/y-piece for the rear - not from Chevronics, but at Chevronics prices. I sort of hope that’s the bit I need, yet at the same time I really hope it’s not as I’ve read horror stories of the subframe having to come off. I hold some hope in that I’ve seen ONE YouTube video where the chap manipulates it out off camera with the subframe still in place. I cockily feel I’ve recently levelled up my blind-on-yer-back-three-elbow-dexterity from all the behind dash HVAC fun I’ve been having on some of my Focus’s. Anyway, during the meanwhilst, I got busy with the toothbrush, kitchen roll and period correct cleaner. I’ve finally finished this bottle off. Fairly sure it was older than me. [Will flipadip this photo later] With as much cleaning as I had time, Gunk and patience for done, I removed the twin return line bundle from the strut. It has served its time. New Vs old below: It “locates” over this hole. I’m presuming this is factory and nothing is missing? It certainly is a curious bit of engineering, but obviously it’s good enough. I think* it only deals with returning LHM when going from high to low. I read (from research on the back leaks) that one is LHM one is for air vent if needed, but how it works is beyond me - from one hole out of the strut LHM could easily go down either hose. Unless it’s maybe like an LHM return ring main. I may be rambling here, but you’re reading it! Shit attachment strategy aside, the new one is probably in the right enough place and it is strapped in. New lines are on. Lovely. That’s definitely one Fail fixed, but possibly two as to me the strut seems fine and I think all the leakage was from here. Nearside Front Shock absorbers has had a serious fluid leak or not (5.3.2 (b)) Nearside Front Suspension pipe [was] damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i)) Corrections submitted to the .gov MOT history website. Switch to night, don a head torch and the trackrod end is now removed. 20.5 turns for reassembly reference - to hopefully maintain some level of tracking and prevent the front end from looking like it has rickets. The old gaiter [fell apart] when removed. The new one went in trouble free and seated pleasingly. Especially pleasing as I thought this was going to be a pig of a job. But then again I do still need to crimp the inboard clamp and put the trackrod/ ball joint back, so opportunities to encounter some sort of battle still. Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) - The Man from the Ministry, March ‘24 Not any more, bitch . (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) - Me, April ‘24

A shot of Esperos ☕ EDIT: Congratulations @hammy. This kind of behaviour is exactly why I visit his forum.

@motorpunk to the petrol pumps please.

Part arrivals has not gone well. After a week of having been "dispatched", the steering gaiter is suddenly un-dispatched as they never actually dispatched it due to the technicality of not really having it. Sorry for the inconvenience blah blah, but there goes my chance at the free retest window. I've gone for EU Spares now (I know Auto Doc horror horror), but I picked the above supplier rp_parts_uk to try and avoid shipping problems with it being [presumably] a UK stockist, and that didn't serve me well. @wesacosa did find the part on Amazon, but the delivery time was outright hilarious. So while I wait some more I thought I'd stick my head under the rear for this final leak. Offside Rear Suspension bellows leaking Fluid leaking from bottom of bellows. (5.3.5 (c)) It's not apparently coming from the bellows, it looks to me like its tracking down another LHM line. As I'm full of optimism and not getting a puddle or drip I'm suspecting it's low pressure/return side. Following the lines, it goes up and round the rear beam and into the nether regions of shite access. I might have more luck with the rear on axle stands. Currently the front is on stands and the rear is on Low as to not crush me, so I can't really get under the back to get much of a better look right now. I've heard about some flaky tee piece in the return at the back that could be a problem, and also some news on rear levelling height corrector leaks (see a few posts ago The Leader's propensity to sticking its derrière in the air for no reason) Question to Citroen hydropneumatics fans (and RR hydropneumatics fans): What should I use to clean all this to hide it from the man at the Ministry to help me find the source of the leak and assess its severity over time.

Less than a year has passed but I had to do this job again; on the other Focus this time. It's still just as hateful, even with the practise. One improvement I made was to use even more padding for my back as a lay upside-down across the sill with my head in the footwell and my hands behind the dash for an hour doing a job akin to pulling a kidney stone through a urethra. Hot and Cold can be requested and provided now. Lousy Smarch weather. I also took the opportunity to strip out the digital radio as the signal was just as pants as the main radio.

If you do decide to move on the brown Nova, change your user name to whiteyugo and have no regrets. EDIT: As pointed out, perhaps whiteyugo could come off a bit racist... Best go with redsaab, or better still probably just keep the Nova.

High mileage 1.3 A+ Series conversion?

Sticky butterflies or now stuck again but more closed? Previously it was broken open allowing it to gobble all the air, but now they’re a restriction? (Legal disclaimer: I have no idea how this system works)

The Leader is back at mine now, the garage were struggling to get parts together to quote and I somehow found myself volunteering to take the car back and do bits to it myself, so I'd best get going then! It's a pity there is a car in the garage and a car in the carport, all up on stands, meaning the Leader has to be seen to on the drive. It's all getting a bit Onslow around here. With the neighbours curtains in mind (and the fact I only have x10 axle stands and refuse to but more) I'll look at the front then the back. Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) Yes, it is. Suspension unit leaking Pump leaking. (5.3.5 (c)) This one is a bit less obvious to see what's actually going on. There's a lot of cakeage and a few little drips forming on the lowest points, but the tide-line as it were looks like it could be above most of the pump gubbins. Also it's very moist around whatever this sensor in the block is. For me the jury is out on oil vs. LHM leaking in this whole general area. I'm suspecting both. The plan then is to clean it as best I can and see if I can learn where is leaking worst and what it is. Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b)) Nearside Front Suspension pipe damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i)) I'm hoping the former is caused by the latter. A leak-off pipe/return pipe (whatever they're called) is completely ruptured, and it looks like it's been spliced together once already anyway, so that definitely needs replacing. Then I'm hoping that if I clean it all up around here I'll find that the strut is actually ok and it's just this broken line that's dropped LHM down the strut/driveshaft/lower control arm. So then, some shopping has occurred. Using Catcar.info I've done some partnumber referencing and ordered the return lines, steering rack gaiter and some new track-rod lock nuts. I was going to order new track-rods as the ball joint is integrated and they presumably will come off for the gaiter to go on. It was £60 for a pair though, so I'll wait to see what mine look like when they come apart first. While I wait for deliveries I can make a mess with the cleaning around the LHM pump and nearside strut and maybe take a look at what's up with the rear offside so that I can get those bits on order too.

I’m pretty sure it’s just LP return shenanigans and some boots and seals here an there. The LHM level has never visibly dropped and it doesn’t leave puddles when parked up, so I’m confident it shouldn’t break the bank. It’ll be fixed - and I trust this garage, if they’re bringing my attention to it then it probably needs addressing… EDIT: Just to get this out there now, The Leader is for sale soon… Not because of this Fail mind, it went in for MOT so that I can sell it with all the things like this addressed.

I've been Citroen'd. Repair immediately (major defects): Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) Suspension unit leaking Pump leaking. (5.3.5 (c)) Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b)) Offside Rear Suspension bellows leaking Fluid leaking from bottom of bellows. (5.3.5 (c)) Nearside Front Suspension pipe damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i)) Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories): Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

The thrilling world of screen wash repair:

I Love these things. Here’s a picture of the one I had if you want some… “inspiration”

A view from the Mini.

I did book an MOT yet I didn’t get it ready! So that plan didn’t really work. Last night was pretty fraught as a result. Things that needed doing included: reinstalling the battery, de-bioharzarding the interior, reinstalling the carpets, preflight checks and delivering to the MOT garage. Changing the alternator can wait, we’re down to essentials, and yes, the interior clean is essential Home Bargains mould spray and Detol (because panic) were liberally applied to the interior surfaces with reams of kitchen roll. Now the interior smells of bleach and not that kind of textured furry smell that makes you want to cough. The battery plopped in nicely and I could only hope that it’ll hold charge overnight after completely draining it over the last few months. The carpets went in (they pretty much only go in once a year for the MOT these days). I checked all the simple bits like lights, horn, screen wash, “stuff”, ran a sponge over it and declared it suitable to take to the Tester. It started up easily enough but I couldn’t select gear again like a few posts ago. Bugger. So, I started it again in gear, hopping on the starter and it gave-in just before I crashed into the side of the BX it was facing on the drive. This is not going well. It did make it to the MOT garage whereby I left it with one of its children for company (in this weird Blair Witch esque photo thanks to life in head torches) Well, next day, imagine my surprise to find out that this little Mini Schitty passed its MOT with no advisories! Again! A very pleasing turn of events given my ill preparedness and general neglect over another winter out in the open for the poor thing. In theory this was the last MOT this wee beasty needs as well, but I’d still like to get it annual checks. Here we are back at home, again at night in Blair Witch mode. I feel like I owe this car some love, or at the very least more maintenance in thanks for putting in a good performance. Roll on daylight. + free time. + no rain.

I may just be on The Internet and not in The Real World, but what that gold one is missing in roadworthiness is its credit as an Art. I could stare at it all day.

Hang on, didn’t that Amazon blow up just the other day? And doesn’t it live way up North somewhere? Let me go and find a cap so I can doff it.

Glad you got the inlet butterfly thingies sorted too. The guy I bought this from at the Yoda/Lex garage said TADTS and it’s why the warning light was on… My philosophy was to just say “ok, Bob” and have no intention of doing anything about it, so it’s nice that a) it was all truths and 2) you got it fixed ok.