306 / 405 Hybrid roars from Strength to Strength.

[RoadworkUK]

Good day to you.

 

Little mentioned on here is my Wife's pride and joy.

 

 

It's a 1995 Peugeot 306 1.4. It's the Club Sport edition, with only three doors to increase torsional stiffness, and absolutely no extraneous weight anywhere to be seen. Indeed, the heaviest thing on board is the enormous analogue clock where the rev. counter would be in less sporting editions.

 

 

Resplendent in Bermuda Blue, it isn't even encumbered by the added weight of metallic paint particles.

 

This is the only car my wife has ever owned in twelve years of motoring, and we're determined to keep it that way.

 

Unfortunately, last December it was the unwilling victim of an unpleasantness caused by a Vauxhall Corsa and was duly written off. Not to be defeated, we bought it back as salvage, I had a day of fun with some hydraulic rams and a bit of filler and it was back on the road in short order.

 

I can't remember if I did a thread about it or not. If I didn't, I'm sorry / you're welcome (delete as appropriate)

 

 

Until I get around to finishing the job it's running around wearing a fetching primer-grey lower back tattoo, and has been in this pleasingly shonky state since January, since when it's done several thousand additional miles including a camping trip to Cornwall.

 

This afternoon, though, a fault befell it.

 

The steering column caught on fire a bit, and wisps of acrid smoke danced afore my wifes visage. Immediately after this she noticed that the indicator column stalk is now inarticulate and fixed in place.

 

I've removed it and stared at it for a bit and not even my most accusatory of glares can fix it, so now I need to source another.

 

 

It looks like this, and The Internet says that someone called Euro Car Parts is able to source one for something like £50, though there's no guarantee that they won't actually order a bass guitar and a loaf of bread instead because the part number is roughly similar.

 

Does anybody have one knocking about from a bridged example of the breed that might suit?

 

Kash wayting 4 kwik sail 2nite M9!1!!12eleven (edit: I believe that should have all been in capitals)

 

Thank you.

[Dave_Q]

Explosive Cabbage to the beige courtesy phone.

 

The Cleland_bros will almost certainly have one, whether either of them are in the country currently I don't know, I believe KruJoe winters in Thailand and Will mentioned some backpacking somewhere.

 

Still worth a PM.

[strangeangel]

Maybe worth consulting the Brothers_Cleland??

 

EDIT: Beaten to it!

 

Nice car BTW

[RoadworkUK]

Autoshite is the Nth Emergency Service!

 

Thank you. I'll transmit a polite request.

[RoadworkUK]

On reassembly the indicators now still flash when you hold the stalk, but don't look. Red alert now downgraded to Taupe.

 

Follow-up question:

 

The drivers seat is slightly scuffed in a few places, which affects the interior ambience.

 

 

I have little doubt that many thousands of these seats have been baled without a second thought, and I'd rather like one.

 

If anybody espies a suitably minty replacement, in matching TV-interference with specks of Sizewell bogey upholstery, please let me know and I'll give you a big hug.

 

Thanks some more.

[dollywobbler]

Jeepers. How scared was your wife by that smoke?!

[RoadworkUK]

Jeepers. How scared was your wife by that smoke?!

 

Shrugged it off. She's surprisingly hardcore, you'd never guess to look at her.

[MarvinsMom]

that  is a great line..... i'm going to try and remember that one!

[fatharris]

I think I remember a thread on this cars resurrection - possibly on retro rides.

[RoadworkUK]

I think I remember a thread on this cars resurrection - possibly on retro rides.

 

You know what, it was on here!

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/23283-a-heartwarming-tale-of-306-love-part-ii-judgement-day/page-2

 

Totally forgot I started a thread on it. I should really have added to it rather than cobbling another one together.

[mouseflakes]

If I ever get a 306 it will have to be that colour.

[RoadworkUK]

If I ever get a 306 it will have to be that colour.

 

It is rather special, isn't it? French Racing Toothpaste.

 

Interestingly, looking on Photoshop it's almost the exact opposite of Ferrari Rosso Corsa.

 

[garethj]

If your tags are Euro Car Parts and French, I can chime in that I got a replacement ignition switch from them for a Citroen BX.  "It's universal fit, sir" said the man behind the counter in that confident way people with no idea can carry off.  Universal for all BXs appart from diesels, or probably petrols.

 

When I plugged it in and turned to the first notch the starter motor did its thing, nothing happened on the second notch and on the third "start" position the ignition lights came on but the starter stopped.

 

I guess what I'm saying in two short paragraphs, is keep the receipt.

[BorniteIdentity]

There was one in this colour for sale last year.  I remember it vividly because, as a 15 year old, our fit AF neighbour "Kathryn" had one.  Everything was lush about her, including the way she spelled her name.  Anyway, I would tug myself dry over her - and she'd always give me a little wave in that knowing way*.

 

Sigh.  Halcyon days.

 

Please ensure this car lives forever.  It's fantastic.

 

 

 

*not whilst I was actually masturbating.

[Tamworthbay]

If your tags are Euro Car Parts and French, I can chime in that I got a replacement ignition switch from them for a Citroen BX.  "It's universal fit, sir" said the man behind the counter in that confident way people with no idea can carry off.  Universal for all BXs appart from diesels, or probably petrols.

 

When I plugged it in and turned to the first notch the starter motor did its thing, nothing happened on the second notch and on the third "start" position the ignition lights came on but the starter stopped.

 

I guess what I'm saying in two short paragraphs, is keep the receipt.

to be fair to euro car parts, they are universal in the sense that it won't fit ANY of the models listed, so technically it's true.

[Lacquer Peel]

I like Euro Car Parts, the only time I got an incorrect part it was my fault (two types of oil filter for a Vanette and I didn't check).

[Tamworthbay]

I like Euro Car Parts, the only time I got an incorrect part it was my fault (two types of oil filter for a Vanette and I didn't check).

You are lucky mate, I would say I get the right stuff about three out of four but there are some howlers as well, a windscreen wiper with the wrong number on that came out as an MX5 front shock and the fact I couldn't buy a tin of seam sealer I knew they sold as it 'wasn't listed for my car' so they couldn't find it. We tried a few numbers from the car park but the computer didn't want to play. The funniest I have seen was a screen dump from a mate with a Leaf which listed fuel filters.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

With ECP you really have to check before you leave the shop. The last time I was there, it went something like this:

 

Me - Hello, I need a set of brake discs for a 307

 

ECP - No worries mate, that's part number xyz, I'll get them now.

 

ECP returns and plonks down a tiny box that says "Brake pads"

 

Me - Sorry it was brake discs I needed

 

ECP - Yeah?

 

Me - Those are pads

 

ECP - Couldn't be mate, (double checks computer) yeah part xyz are discs, that's what you have there

 

Me - (Opens tiny box obviously not big enough for discs, remove pads) Look, definitely pads!

 

ECP - hang on while I get my supervisor

 

Supervisor - Yeah they are pads mate

 

Me - I know that, I want discs!

 

Supervisor - (checks computer) right it says here part XYZ are discs. (Looks at box) these are XYZ (looks confused) Erm I'll have a look in the store

 

Eventually returns with the discs.

 

I usually only go to ECP if they are cheaper than my local motor factors, or they are the only place open. I find the parts are usually decent enough and priced well, its just the hassle of actually receiving what you ask for.

 

My local factor on the other hand employ people who know what most of the parts are and don't have a "computer says no" mentality, which helps - usually if the computer makes a mistake they will spot it as they lift the part from the shelf and realise its not what it says it is......

[Tamworthbay]

I used to use our local,independent religiously, even if they were a bit more expensive. Then they got took over by a new bloke and he renewed all the trade discount cards, I have one from work but also use it for my own stuff as its a payment up front not account type. I was spending around £500 a year with them but he said that wasn't enough and wouldn't give me a new card. So now I use eBay, ECP and Halfords (who are happy for us to have a trade card), some places shoot themselves in the foot, why would I spend £50 on a part with him I can get for £25 somewhere the same distance away. I might spend £30 though to be sure of the right bit/ support the local place.

[Supernaut]

There's an L reg 5 door 306 in the local scrappy at the moment (well, last time I was there).

 

If I remember, I'll have a look this weekend. How do you remove the indicator stalk? Just remove steering column cowl and unplug / unclip it?

 

I've had two 306s in the past and fucking loved them. So I want to try and save the 306s!

[carlo]

I have a 1995 405 one here you can have for nothing if it fits - looks similar but can't be sure.

 

 

PM me if intersted

[RoadworkUK]

My wife celebrated her birthday recently, but she didn't want to draw too much attention to saying goodbye to a third decade (there's a clue to her age there but I won't give anything away).

 

So instead, she chose to celebrate the 21st birthday of her car, a cake was baked to mark the occasion.

 

My mother in law volunteered to do the cake decorating, so a design was duly sketched up with one of our camping trips together providing the theme, passed to her and translated into hand-piped icing.

 

 

The cake was delicious, and Nicola and the 306 celebrated jointly with friends and a barbecue, though the Peugeot refused to eat any of the sausages.

[P304r5]

That cake is excellent! We baked a cake for our Peugeot when it turned 40!

[PhillipM]

I've probably got the one from my old 306 somewhere, it also was the sporty 1.4 edition, with the 3dr handling upgrade (actually, they're pretty rare in 3dr 1.4's), so the stalk will have all the provenance that a car like this deserves to keep it's history in tact. Do you need the supporting paperwork for attending concours?

 

[RoadworkUK]

Cheers Phillip!

 

Offers for stalks are flooding in - Carlo ( I must stop typing Carol in error) has slung an extremely similar looking 405 stalk in the post for me, if it doesn't do the job I may have a word with you.

 

Provenance is something we've kept plenty of. It still has the original Arnold Shark book pack, which is nice*.

[RoadworkUK]

A package tried to arrive at my house on Saturday morning, but was foiled by my not being there.

 

It was a mercy package from one Carlo of this parish, nee this very thread.

 

 

Hearing of the recent incendiary antics of the indicator stalk on the 306, he rushed to the rescue with the offer of a replacement for the cost of postage. The only caveat being that it was a stalk for a 405. After a whirlwind tour of Google, punching in related keywords, I found absolutely nothing that confirmed cross-compatibility or otherwise.

 

So, YOLO, I reckoned, and quickly sent £3.30 in Carlo's direction. A look at the package reveals that he's 5p out of pocket.

 

 

So, two Philips and two Torx bolts later, it was out with the old.

 

 

"New" and old look near-as-dammit the same, except that the 405 version has a rather more funky-looking horn button at the end.

 

 

Vitally, the business end where it talks to the car seems virtually the same, too. There's the same number of pins, and assuming there's no arcane difference in pin assignment, all should be well.

 

There are a couple of extra connectors on the 405 version, though. So I ignored them.

 

 

Reassembly is the reverse of dismantlement, and not a Haynes 'Special Tool' in sight.

 

Not only an easy job, but a successful one, too! Full indicatory performance has returned, the flasher flashes and the horn horns, and the lights-on warning (which sounds the same as the warning you get at a level crossing) works tip-top.

 

Carlo, you're a Gentleman, and I owe you 5p.

 

 

[carlo]

Delighted!

 

Keep the 5p, but not too close to the handbrake.

[RoadworkUK]

Delighted!

 

Keep the 5p, but not too close to the handbrake.

 

Glad you reminded me. Now this is part 405 that's a hazard to be borne in mind.

[robinmasters]

That looks remarkably like a ZX stalk.

[beko1987]

Yes, very zx!