Xsara - airbag light back on 😂

[schonker]

Great work!

[Ghosty]

Excellent progress! 

[stuboy]

well done

 

[beko1987]

First drive from cold this morning to go to tesco before I have the kids for a week and I can't. 

Got up to temp in about 4 miles and stayed there! Topped up the coolant before setting off after the drive on Saturday, and tightened the vac pump stuff back to the bulkhead. Will check the coolant again when it's cool. It's not gone death black yet, still very pink so the OAT suggestion is hopefully it... 

It came out like new veg oil, but watery. And the header tank filled with foam as it circulated, although squeezing the rad hoses pushed it all out. 

Oil change can be another day now. Its overdue but been changed every year, and going by the condition of the car I believe it so itll be fine! Can finally reset the service indicator then, it's currently showing - 13,400...

Having the battery off for a day also seems to have fixed the outside temperature sensor, which now reads an temperature and not 1degree. Ace! I was just going to ignore it but now I can push my button with pride and it'll work! 

[beko1987]

Yey! Also put all the windows down a few hours before he arrived after over a month of not really moving as it stank of stale smoke and mould... 

 

[beko1987]

Fitted! It's like having new eyes looking out that screen. As much as I wouldn't have touched it if the rock hadn't hit it I'm bloody glad I did, it was a bit trashed anyway

[Kiltox]

New windscreens are amazing 

[loserone]

Get it rainX'd asap.

[beko1987]

2 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

New windscreens are amazing 

Had a new one on 3 of the last 4 cars I've had... And one of those went to the scrapie 6 months after. Hoping to get some more use out of this one! 

 

[Talbot]

Having a new screen in a car is really lovely.  I've had to have a couple of new screens in the past and it's always been a revelation.   One of them was a complete pain though, as it had a heated screen, and after fitting, only 50% of it worked, so it had to have another.  And that one didn't work either.  3rd new screen, and finally it worked.

[beko1987]

I gave it a quick wash on saturday! Started off nice and cloudy, so I assessed the job

Still many many oily handprints from the cambelt change

The first thing I did was finish off the other door shuts that I didn't do last time. Not quite to the same standard, but I had other things to be getting on with

Wheeltrims off!

and I cleaned the wheels and tyres

Cleaned the backs of the trims with brake cleaner, g101 and some brushes, just to stop my hands going black whenever I have to remove them more than anything

Then rinsed it all off, re-fitted the trims to the wheels and cleaned the fronts

Lobbed some iron remover on them all

and made a snowfoam mix

Wheels weren't too bad, they all got another scrub 

and it was foam time!

Then tightwork time and fuck me it was all black and grim!

Then a good rinse and fill the bucket with a strong shampoo!

Washy washy!

That done, I then realised I had some clay left

so gave the entire car a good claying! So much shit came off, the entire car was covered in yellow

Mug of boiling water kept it pliable

This was a quarter of the bonnet

Before doing the lower half of the doors, I put some tardis in a spray bottle

and went around the car again, just finishing before the tardis ate the internals of the spray bottle...

Got the remains of this sticker off too

All clayed, I re-foamed and washed, rinsed and pottered for an hour whilst it dried! Helped it a bit with a drying towel as it went though to stop watermarks, the sun was out now

One thing that always bugged me was the state of the roof and bonnet. Scratches everywhere, the roof has had egg or bird shit on it for a long time too as the paint is fucked in places, but we're just after a quick smarten up, so with the last of my menzerna...

I got rid of stuff like this

and made the whole thing very respectable again

I also covered the entire fucking car in polish splatter because im shit at polishing cars (really want a DA whenever funds allow) so the washing took a bit of a turn, and I gave the whole thing a good light polish with Black Hole (did get the super resin polish out but it was fucking hot now, and Black Hole is lovely to work with when the paintwork is very hot, and it melted away the polish splatter)

All the glass got polished

And the trim got restored

Everything buffed off an absolute treat, so it was time for 2 coats of wax

And now, it looks very respectable!

I celebrated by going into town and buying fry up ingredients, which was lovely!

Still not done the oil change, nor looked at the boot electrics, nor refitted the engine plastics, nor many other things but meh, their not important! Was going to pressure wash the mats and clean those too yesterday but it was such a nice day, everyone was out in their gardens and I just didn't feel like shattering the peace with the pressure washer and vax going all day so I chilled out instead and refurbished some Dysons.

 

[beko1987]

IN a rare fit of enthusiasm I did some work on the car this morning!

Started by swapping wheels, 2 tyres are a bit fucked, so I went to put the 2 good ones on the front, and the others on the back.

Could also check the brakes, and their fine for now, but could do with changing all round. Enough meat on the pads for me to not be worried yet. I also copped a glance at the spare for the first time

Wheel swapping occured

 

Etc. Then I had the spare down and fuck me it's the original to the car...

I mean it's lovely, but I REALLY do not like it...  18 years old and never been used. I would swap for another steel that fits if anyone wants an original 2002 Michelin vintage retro OMGUNUSED tyre for reasons... Doesn't need to have a good tyre on it either as I want to replace this at the nearest opportunity

Toolkit is new and unused too

Anyway, onto the passenger side and BASTARD

Shame really as I wanted it on the front to replace this

But I've left it on the back where at least it'll be less horrible if it goes down on the back. It's shown no sign of going down ever, and look to have been there a while (I checked all the pressures the other week after 3 months of the car just sitting, all still fine!) But sods law if I stick it on the front ill turn the wheel over it and rip it sideways and byebye air

With that job abandoned I started poking at the tailgate wiring

And the 3rd wire I tugged came away in my fingers. With a fresh blade in old stanley I sliced the rubber boot clean off and found more

Some probing confirmed this to be the cause, everything had continuity up to this point

Fab, a lead was run, and every split wire chopped and re-soldered and heatshrunk. The boot latch wire has been apart before, so I chopped that repair right out and let a new bit of (old ford puma) wiring in

And with no other images, went and found ALLLLL the boot trim that @Talbot kindly didnt refit when he trouble-shot it, and fitted it all back in, not a thing was missing! Oh, and the boot now opens perfectly from the outside! I also cut a hole in the boot lid carpet panel to allow manual access in the future a bit more easily.

It still doesn't work on the key but I need to do a BSI reset, which I may pluck up the arse to do this afternoon. However the actual main big thing of the above is the rear washer hose is not kinked now the loom is tucked in correctly, so that's another fail for inop rear wash/wipe ticked off! (I'd have bodged it another way mind with new longer hose if needed...)

I then turned to the non working rear drivers sidelight. And the corrosion fairies have been here

The bulb glass was not connected to the metal base, pliers got it all off in the end

And yea, it all crumbled away a bit more when I tried to clean it up

And my bodge did not work.

But a good day none the less. I think I'm at the stage now where I:

Get 2 new tyres fitted
Ebay/facebookgroup/used tail light cluster/bulb holder and fit that

and hoof it in for an MOT. Barring emissions, or hidden rot or similar it's as ready as it will ever be! I just need to be a bit more confident of a pass this time, because as soon as it fails, it hasn't got a test. Need to find a friendly garage who would be willing to turn a blind eye to me taking it away on a fail too (but that's a problem for another day)

Then if it passes do the other 3 tyres, front tracking as that tyre shoulder is trying to tell me something I'm sure and maybe discs and pads all round which wont be desperately expensive, it'll only get Eicher ECP special stuff!

[beko1987]

Henry came out to play! Again no pics, I've not cleaned it since I did it at my dad's! Did notice the boot floor carpet not sitting 100% though

So had the trim off

And vacuumed all the sand out, laid the carpet down properly and adjusted the side carpet as this peice of trim clamps it down too and

Boom! Was halfway doing the rear drivers side when the motor in Henry started to splutter. I only fitted new carbons a month ago and it all seemed OK so I need to look at that, but pulled out the Moulinex E59 someone on here gave me a while ago and finished the job! 

Ran the v11 and it's mini turbo head over the velour too and sand poured out! 

I've left it with all the windows open atm as there's one more job I want to do. Currently having a cup of tea and starting to feel less light headed, it's got very hot and sunny here all of a sudden 

[beko1987]

Centre vent didn't work. Most of me was sure I fucked it when cleaning it not long after buying it, as I had the vents out and dismantled to clean

And yup, main flappage arm was detached. Popped it in, squirted a bit of silicone at it and now it blows air at my face like a champ, I can turn it off AND it turns back on again. 

Performing the dreaded BSI reset now. Cleaned a fuck load of corrosion off the battery terminals too so if nothing else, it'll be a worthwhile endeavor

[theshadow]

try carparts4less,same company as euro cheaper..

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, theshadow said:

try carparts4less,same company as euro cheaper..

Yea I'll set a spreadsheet up and see how CHEAP I can get with various when the time comes. 

Bsi reset didn't make the central locking work. Did it twice in the end, 2nd time with the key dismantled so I could be sure a button wasn't sticking down, but nothing. Fob battery has 2.7v so isn't dead and I took it as a sign to stop. I'd never lock it anyway, I don't buy cars I have to lock, and all 5 doors lock on the key (a vast improvement to the previous 4) so it was job done, I'm all packed away and showered and need to unhook my laptop as I'm in the office tomorrow. Can drive there in my nice clean (on the inside) car

[maxxo]

Good to see the Xsara getting some love!

tailgate loom breaks are an incredibly common failure on PSA cars from that era

also fantastic job on the cleaning, looks absolutely lovely.....literally like a brand new car

also is that an underslung spare wheel carrier on a french car that isn't siezed absolutely solid! my god that's amazing

[beko1987]

1 minute ago, maxxo said:

Good to see the Xsara getting some love!

tailgate loom breaks are an incredibly common failure on PSA cars from that era

also fantastic job on the cleaning, looks absolutely lovely.....literally like a brand new car

also is that an underslung spare wheel carrier on a french car that isn't siezed absolutely solid! my god that's amazing

There's even grease on the carrier bolt! I'd almost trust the spare it looks so clean.

Doing the soldering I had All Vauxhalls R Shit in my head as I had to do the Zafira's door loom twice!

 

Almost got the Vax out and shampooed the seats it was so sunny, but I'm glad I didn't as that rear bulb holder needed to be found

[maxxo]

3 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

There's even grease on the carrier bolt! I'd almost trust the spare it looks so clean.

Doing the soldering I had All Vauxhalls R Shit in my head as I had to do the Zafira's door loom twice!

 

Almost got the Vax out and shampooed the seats it was so sunny, but I'm glad I didn't as that rear bulb holder needed to be found

FANTASTIC! i've spent most of today crawling around under a relatives extremely rotten 2009 picass trying to free the bolt, absolutely no chance of it ever happening i reckon

i was shocked how every PSA car i've ever really had a look at doesn't have a rubber gromit, or at least electrical tape on the metal edges where it's obvious the loom will rub

actually that reminds me i should probably think of a solution for mine before the inevitable happens

hmmm yes that's true, sadly i don't know of anyone breaking a xsara and as i'm a fool if it was a picasso i'd likely give you my light cluster haha

[beko1987]

The picasso bulb holder is mega different sadly. I've been trying to find pictures of the saloon bulb holder as if all the metal traces (which are thick metal) were the same to hold the bulbs I could extract one, fit to my bulb holder and solder the connections. But I'd want to see a pic first, and none of the ebay listings show the back of the bulb holder, and I dont want to throw money at shit

[maxxo]

sadly i have a feeling finding a xsara in a scrapyard might be difficult as they seem to have vanished rapidly in the last 5 years

interesting how it's corroded so badly, i know the lamp cluser design on mine is fairly different but i have zero lamp holder corrosion

still though it's fantastic to see a xsara estate in good shape! i dare say i see more xantia's around than xsara estate's

saying that saw a lovely red mk1 xsara hatch the other day

[beko1987]

Yes I feel its going to be a hard hunt, an example of why they probably get scrapped!

I do have a fairly brutal plan B formed and in motion incase various people come up short on local yards (mr @Wingz123 has already offered his services when he next passes a yard)

[maxxo]

i imagine you have a fair amount of fustration finding xsara parts, as you probably just get picasso parts

of course which are completely different in every single way

[beko1987]

6 minutes ago, maxxo said:

i imagine you have a fair amount of fustration finding xsara parts, as you probably just get picasso parts

of course which are completely different in every single way

Yes, it just adds to the hatred I have for them tbh! 

(was just reading your thread actually! Mines waaaay cleaner underneath and their probably made by the same metal/procedure/preps/paints etc) 

[maxxo]

4 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Yes, it just adds to the hatred I have for them tbh! 

(was just reading your thread actually! Mines waaaay cleaner underneath and their probably made by the same metal/procedure/preps/paints etc) 

I'm surprised how bad mine is underneath in some areas, is yours a rennes or a vigo built car?

yes i'd imagine all materials will be the same, due to being from the same area and origin most likely

i wonder how they drive in comparison as they are chassis and power train wise similar machines

[beko1987]

I'd have to take yours for a drive but I imagine yours will feel like a boat compared to mine, but probably ride about the same, same gearbox clutch and engine if its a 110 too I'd imagine 

[beko1987]

8 minutes ago, maxxo said:

I'm surprised how bad mine is underneath in some areas, is yours a rennes or a vigo built car?

 

Pass... What do you need a photo of to find out? 

[maxxo]

12 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

I'd have to take yours for a drive but I imagine yours will feel like a boat compared to mine, but probably ride about the same, same gearbox clutch and engine if its a 110 too I'd imagine 

you're more than welcome to

12 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Pass... What do you need a photo of to find out? 

the sticker with the rpo code and tyre pressures

[Talbot]

1 hour ago, maxxo said:

is that an underslung spare wheel carrier on a french car that isn't siezed absolutely solid! my god that's amazing

 

1 hour ago, beko1987 said:

There's even grease on the carrier bolt

It was seized, and fairly solidly.  One of the very few wins I had with this was to be able to un-seize it and copper grease it.

Really quite pleasing to hear that the rear wiring was a relatively easy fix.  Just needs the key coding back to the car now (be that a BSI reset or possibly needing a prod from a lexia)

I am stunned how clean you've managed to get it too.  Really amazed.  Glad to hear it's still providing great daily transport.  With how well you're looking after it, It's probably only half-way through it's life.

[paulplom]

9 hours ago, maxxo said:

i imagine you have a fair amount of fustration finding xsara parts, as you probably just get picasso parts

of course which are completely different in every single way

I might be teaching yous to suck eggs but,

If you type 'xsara -picasso' into ebay the minus sign will filter out all the picasso listings.

Not sure on other search engines though.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=xsara+-picasso+light+cluster&_sacat=0