Well, haven't been around these parts for a few years. I owned a Multipla a while back. Recently I owned a Citroen Berlingo with the doomed 1.6hdi engine in it. BIG mistake! It blew two turbos in six months, all repairs done by a main agent under warranty. I had to threaten them with court action to get anything done though, then they dragged their feet and on each occasion kept the car for two months. The second time I told 'em to keep it, I didn't want it back. I lost a pile of cash on it as they only paid me bottom book for it but as I couldn't get a courtesy car out of them I'd already bought a Y reg 1.4 Scenic as a runabout. What a cracking car it's been as well, I'm p'xing it against the Doblo and got a real good price.
The Dobby is an 02 1.9 JTD ELX with 74k on the clock and in reasonable nick for the money I paid. I've seen them with 150k on the clock and wanting stupid money. Hopefully this will be a nice motor and last me for a while.

I picked the new motor up today. For the money it's ok, not perfect but ok.

First impressions are:-
1, It's streaming with condensation inside!
2, The heater is warmish (like the Multi)
3, The clutch is high but not slipping and took a bit of getting used to.
4, The check strap is missing from the drivers door.
5, The tailgate doesn't lock.
6, The heated rear window doesn't.
7, The headlights look like they've been sand blasted!? But they seem quite bright and passed the test ok although the left one is star searching and needs adjusting.

Those are the obvious things that I noticed, there might be more I don't know. I have to check if the cambelt has been done and quickly (there's loads of history to wade through.) It drove ok on the 20 odd mile ride home in mixed traffic from 60mph dual carriageways to rush hour city traffic.

The vendor told me the inside had been wet vacc'd hence the condensation but I'm not sure, he might be hiding something. Tomorrow I'll check the pollen filter in case it's the original one and the heater matrix for a leak.

I wonder if the tailgate lock and heated screen might be broken cables going into the tailgate? So hopefully a simple fix.

Warm heater and low temperature gauge is probably a dodgy stat. Cheapest I can see round here is 50 quid but might be cheaper on the bay.

Check strap might get one from a scrapper.

Tyres are brand new.

I've pottered round for a few miles now and filled up with diesel today. I reset the trip and was doing 67mpg going home! Haha I know these things settle down over a day or two.
I removed the old pollen filter yesterday along with a few dozen dead flies and various seeds and bits of crap. I don't think it had been changed for a few years. The good news is it was a doddle to do, the easiest one ever. Just look under the glovebox, remove two screws and the plastic cover and out she comes! Simples! Just got the new one to put in after a spot of dinner. I'm hoping that was the cause of all the condensation which has since dried up however feeling around the heater area it was dripping wet so won't know for a few days. I've ordered a new thermostat which will be here soon and a new check strap for the drivers door. I think for now I'm going to put a bottle of KSeal in the rad to cure any leaks and see how it goes.

I put the new pollen filter in and drained some coolant out and put the KSeal in then topped back up with antifreeze. Inside is bone dry now with no sign of condensation anywhere. I felt up under the dash round the heater and that is all dry as well. I need it to rain now. If the condensation comes back I'll know it's leaking in. Coincidentally the aerial is missing and the base looks damaged so that might be my next investigation. We'll see.

Certainly rained today! But I'm happy to say the inside is still dry. The wipers need slight adjustment as the driver's side drives me nuts because it's too low and slaps the scuttle!
I've ordered a thermostat but today on a 15 mile drive the needle was between 1/4 and 1/2 and very steady so I'll see how it goes for a few days as they look a right pig to change.

The driver's door checkstrap arrived this morning. If you've never done one it's a bit of a pig but perfectly do-able. Start by removing the plastic trim from the sill and A post under the dash. There are two philips screws holding it to the sill and a stupid push in clip that snapped off when I pulled! I also removed the fuse box lid which simply unhooks. In the steel side panel there is a large rubber grommet visible from under the dash and through the fuse box aperture. The door cables feed through this so it can't be removed but must be swivelled round so the checkstrap arm can be fed through and into position. There are cables all over the place and it's tight getting it through but with persistence it will go. You then just fit the old bolts to the new strap then refit the large grommet, plastic trim and fuse box lid. Working nice and easy it took about an hour. It's not technical just fiddly.

Next I looked at the tailgate problem. Someone had been here before me and there was a loose connection in the tailgate itself on the lock solenoid. I tightened the connection and everything worked. It was a nice afternoon although chilly so I lubed the tailgate hinges and door hinges. All in all a good day.

I work strange shifts so yesterday and today I was out of the house at 5.30am to be greeted by thick frost and freezing temperatures. I had to scrape the screen to see. I put the demist on recirc and fan speed 2. Within half a mile the bottom of the screen was clearing nicely and after my 4 mile drive to work the temperature gauge was on 1/4 and the heater was blowing out pleasantly warm air which makes me think the stat might be ok.

I had to drive to Bristol today and back which was a bit unnerving as I want to get the cambelt changed. However it ran great and averaged 56mpg. I know these computers aren't all that accurate but I reckon it was probably doing 50mpg. It used about 1/4 tank on the gauge and the distance was about 170 miles so can't grumble. I did notice at an indicated 70mph my true speed according to the satnav was 64!

Hi Demag.

My speedo over reads more than any car I've owned before.

I have to do an indicated 78mph for GPS 70mph. Indicated 60mph is GPS 55/56mph.

Ah must be a common trait then.

Well some knob twanged the door mirror the other night. I saw him coming down the middle of the road and pulled into the gutter but he still got me. Some old fart with a bobble hat on in his own little world. He never attempted to stop but was only doing about 20mph. Luckily the glass held although it has three cracks across it.
I have been looking at the history of this Doblo and noticed it had a new speedo fitted at 83000 miles and it's now on 70 something! So what I thought was a reasonable mileage motor is definitely not! Also considering it was mot'd two weeks ago there is a diesel leak under the bonnet, the nearside dip bulb wasn't fitted properly and was pointing skywards and the back box is blowing and looks ready to fall off the car. But! I quite like the old thing and have already made a few improvements to it. And the mpg is phenominal! Still showing 58mpg. So in reality is probably around 55mpg. I've already moved a couple of large but not heavy loads in it which it coped with easily. It's booked in for a cambelt and water pump and oil and filter next week and possibly a new clutch soon after.

Waterpump and cambelt done today. While there I also asked them to do an oil and filter change. It was definitely smoother and not so clattery tonight.

I'm surprised at the power of this motor. We went into Birmingham yesterday I was following my son in his Insignia so had to give it the beans once or twice. In fact I'm not sure if I twigged a speed camera on the way.....

It got new front brake pads on Wednesday, quite an easy job as well. Getting the wheels off was a pain though, I don't think they'd been off in years.