Told you 405s never break down...

[carlo]

 

Driving back from a long job happily thinking how much I love this car and how little it's cost me in three years, when all of a sudden there's a strange hot sulphur-like smell, and when I try to move there's no drive from the auto box, forwards or backwards.  Cue an hour wait in a narrow lane for a tow truck, am awaiting the final death sentance from the garage this morning but it don't look too good does it?

 

Have to give this car credit, it even tried its best to get me nearly home, just a mile away, before dying.

 

Now the choice is whether to switch over to my lower mileage blue saloon (yes, it's always good to have a spare one tucked away), or consider the extravagant option of swapping its entire engine/gearbox over to the red one - which has a sunroof, reliable air con and seems to drive even better.  (Well it did anyway)

[Jim Bell]

*diesel 405s never break down.

[carlo]

Mind you first one that has gone seriously wrong in eight years

[Junkman]

There is a white one for sale on Ebay.

 

Seriously, you should use this as a parts donor and activate the blue one.

Oh, and send me all four hubcaps off this one, of course.

[Station]

I'd personally change the box if it's been really good.

[John F]

It's probably just a badermatic problem, which isn't surprising as auto gearboxes are EVIL, and are responsible for more misery than anything else in history.

 

It will probably return to full functionality if you just murder a few babies.

 

(... and remove the stuck 20p from the selector mechanism)

[HillmanImp]

Broken down once in 8 years! Just goes to show all french cars are shit etc etc.....

 

A new box can't be that much for one of these can it? Will probably be cheaper to buy it and get it fitted than buy an new car?

[carlo]

Well the engine in the red one leaked oil profusely, and now the gearbox would appear to have gone.  I have a perfectly good, lower mileage engine and box in my blue car and the thought of swapping it over appeals to me as the blue one just doesn't feel 'right'.  Will get a quote today anyway.  Some may feel I'm a bit daft, you do get that way about certain cars though don't you.

 

The twins:

 

[Jim Bell]

Sounds like a plan. Go with what you love.

[nacho man]

Do it! they look like a fine pair of French beauties.

[beko1987]

Its the autoshite version of a black cat crossing the path of a blackbird or whatever it is!

 

Must admit I saw a K2 micra on the back of a flatbed on the M40 once, was cautious that day...

[carlo]

Local garage reckon about £400 should cover engine & box swap - seems pretty reasonable to me?

 

Only concern would be possible ECU/immobiliser issues when all back together, cars have those keypad immobilisers.

[Junkman]

That's easy. Let me know if you (or the garage) run into problems in this respect, I know how it works.

[carlo]

Do you know of any potential pitfalls then Mr J?

[Junkman]

Not really, no.

[dieselnutjob]

Local garage reckon about £400 should cover engine & box swap - seems pretty reasonable to me?

 

Only concern would be possible ECU/immobiliser issues when all back together, cars have those keypad immobilisers.

swap oily bits but not electronics