Moogies Mutterings - French Stopping

[Pillock]

Earthing through the towbar electrics?

If you take the bulb out and check the resistance between the two contacts in the bulb holder, it should be high. Really high. If it's low, then your brake light feed wire is finding another route to earth, which is where all your electricity is going instead of through the bulb. I'd certainly look quite suspiciously at any scotchlocked add-ons though, for the sole reason it shows whoever did it knows fuck all about automotive electrics

[The Moog]

Cut out the towbar splices and taped them up for now. Remove them properly later.

 

Getting 12v feed into drivers side cluster so that all works ok but on the second plug which provides power to passenger side I am getting less than 1v.

 

Checked the continuity of the input and output on the light circuit board contacts they all match and beep accordingly. Is this what you mean by resistance?

 

[Pillock]

I meant if you set the meter to "resistance", it'll actually show you the resistance figure - lower means it's more directly connected (i.e. touching them together gives close to 0).

 

The two contacts on the bulb holder should not be connected together - this would be a short circuit, and it would let electricity get to earth without going through the bulb giving your low voltage reading. If you bung it on resistance, and check the two contacts, it should be a high number.

 

After that, the other alternative is that the electricity is barely getting through. See if you can check the wire BEFORE the towbar connections as those scotchblocks can often fracture the wires. Try to trace the wire further towards the front of the car, is it 12v there?

[ruffgeezer]

well I've never seen a caliper mount do that! I'd have offered some spares from the field, but the only estate is my squashed hdi which has bigger brakes again!

 

 

In true French shit style, the c5 has sprung several electrical dramas since it's purchase.

[The Moog]

So attacked it all with contact cleaner and qtips. Cut out the tow bar wiring and taped it up. Added a new groun to each side and now got brake lights both sides and the only one I am missing is passenger tail lights. The feed for the passenger side comes from the drivers side. Voltage in is ok but the feed out to the passenger side is only registering 1 v.

 

Ordered bulb holder from ebay to see if that solves it. If not I will splice a wire from the incoming feed on drivers side and send it straight to to passenger.

 

Still waiting delivery of caliper for xantia so hopefully will all be done by end of week.

[The Moog]

Got on with pug today as still waiting for the caliper carrier to arrive. First job was to try and sort out the smoke on starting. Removed intercooler to get at the last two fuel lines I had to change. Ran a braided hose from grenade to filter and then a clear hose from filter to pump. Of course it made no difference.

 

I can see air in the fuel when it starts and if I give it full revs I see bubbles in their as well. I think next step is to remove filter housing to check for leaks.

 

Headlights still being a pig and randomly not working. In the inner wing there are three wires that are randomly hanging in thin air. I assumed that these were left from the removal of the resistor that goes on these. But after hunting around inner wing and taking off the fuse box, I found the resistor behind it. Plug had melted on it so snipped it off and chocolate blocked the two brown wires together so that is fixed.

 

Found time to bung a set of new pads on the front as well. Done 3000 miles in it already and at around late 40's mpg car has certainly earnt its £250 purchase price.

 

Although I reckon by time all the bits and bobs are finshed it will owe me around double that.

 

Next things are;

Remove fuel filter to find leak

Bleed brakes

Fix rear drivers light

Fit alloys

Bung some veg in the tank.

[The Moog]

Xantia caliper arrived today excellent except it is a saloon one not an estate one.Fucknuts.

 

The cost of shipping back will be more than the caliper is worth so we will see what the breakers say.

 

The difference is like 20mm so close yet so far. Will get back to some guys on ebay to see if they have got it.

[Bobthebeard]

Two minutes and it was out

[img=http://i.imgur.com/dUQM7LA.

 

A tame walrus is often useful for holding removed car parts for photographic purposes.

Also great for lolloping clumsily around the garage looking for fishy snacks, chasing off errant penguins, replacing seals etc. Useful creatures all round and great* as pets. Keep them off the sofa though.

[The Moog]

Pug 306 threw a wobbly today. It has done 600 miles in the last 24 hrs happily. Then after stopping for lunch it wouldn't start. I thought that it was imobiliser but taking off battery ans putting it back on made no difference.

 

Symptoms were battery lights came on but no glow plugs, clock died amd no start. When I removed the key the battey ligg dimmed but stayed on and so did glow plugs. Spent 30 min fiddling with the battery until it decided to play ball.

 

I think the threat of the AA and a box of matches encouraged it.

 

All seemed hunky dory till on the way home all the electrics died, no lights, brake lights, indicators etc. Being dizzler engine kept going. Stopped in car parkand left it for 5 minutes then it all came back although making some funny buzzing noises.

 

I am not sure what is causing it but I think that it might be earth issue. Earth connection at front looks shit so have replaced it and cleaned it all up. Hoping it isn't something like immobliser as that will be a nightmare.

 

If it isn't that then I am tempted to bin the car, it has got too many niggles and has already saved me more than the cost of the car in fuel.

[The Moog]

Xantia is back up and running after the saga of the brake carrier. Took about 20 minutes to fit including 10 of those swearing at the hand brake cable until I realised I had put it back on! 

 

As one french issue is solved another beckons. Now with the xantia out on the road if you push the brake pedal, it does a little gallic shrug (nothing) then decides to apply the brakes after it has put down its Vin. Scary to say the least! 

The brakes themselves are fine as the handbrake holds well and when the eventually engage they stop quickly. The car has been sitting for about two weeks without being used and has been run up to temp before use. 

 

Any suggestions? 

 

In other news the Pugs ground seems to have solved its sulking. For now... 

[The Moog]

After discussion with Ruffgeezer I changed the lhm in the xantia and ensured it was bled through. that sorted the brake issues. The fluid came out browner than a brown thing so happy that is one job down. Over last week I put 1200 miles on citroen and it is returning 45mpg which is good.

 

List of jobs to do includes fixing blower motor (only works on high) and sorting out paintwork. It is flat and seems to absorb stains

 

It rained here in a sandy type rain and now paint looks like which is after jet wash and cleaning. Missus doesn't like the colour so thinking about rustoleuming it.

 

Currently in the middle of rewiring the pugs rear lights. I couldn't get the second tail light to work even after changing the bulb holder. Aldi had a soldering iron for sale so took the pluge and wish I had one it earlier!

[dollywobbler]

Soldering irons should be an essential part of the Autoshiter's kit. Makes wiring repairs a lot more robust! Best if you can find some OMG LETHAL old solder. Far better in the old days. Just don't eat it.

[The Moog]

Been trotting along avoiding using it for years. Wish I hadn't now. Iron and stand were mega cheap from aldi. Pug certainly is making me learn about electrickery. Need to get it finished so I can flog it.