What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[StevenRB45]

400 quid warranty is paying the 900 quid...but only auth it at 4pm so making a profit in month 1 of the 12 month warranty.

But of course snow next week...and the car with snow tyres is stranded in Newcastle and due to my wife being on over time we could kinda do with that. Probably going to have to take a holiday Tuesday morning so we can pick it up for her commute Tuesday evening in the snow.

Someone remind why I haven't sold/burnt this little **** out yet

 

[Cheest]

I'm back to roller skating after the 'Unpleasantness of February'. It's like having to relearn how to do it. I went from smooth moves to a jerky newbie. Things feel a bit dicey when I get out on the rink floor.

I had to shelve my Roces hardboot inline skates because of a seam that runs across one of my surgical scars made skating uncomfortable. I bought a used pair of K2 soft boots inline skates, though comfortable, we are not getting along. The wheels are too soft which makes them too 'grippy'. I grew up with 'clays' which are very hard wheels and gave a bit of 'slip' in the corners.

Last night I broke out my quad speed skates. I hadn't been in a rush to use them because there is zero ankle support. Things were a bit better. Not great. I'll give them a go for the rest of the year to see if I can get at least some of the old form back.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

400 quid warranty is paying the 900 quid...but only auth it at 4pm so making a profit in month 1 of the 12 month warranty.

But of course snow next week...and the car with snow tyres is stranded in Newcastle and due to my wife being on over time we could kinda do with that. Probably going to have to take a holiday Tuesday morning so we can pick it up for her commute Tuesday evening in the snow.

Someone remind why I haven't sold/burnt this little **** out yet

Reminds me of Doug DeMuro with his Range Rover. $3k warranty and over $20k of repairs in the life of the warranty

 

[StevenRB45]

Reminds me of Doug DeMuro with his Range Rover. $3k warranty and over $20k of repairs in the life of the warranty

It's not quite that bad....

Although if you were tot the total up since 2021 it would probably start with 5.

I understand why most of them are battered/ bodged at 10 years old...

Although it would technically be cheaper at an independent garage who could use aftermarket parts that come at less than sub assembly level.

Eg. Top mounts went...these are 30 quid a side, Citroën only supply complete units total cost about 2k with labour. Same with the ARB would probably have ridden again with new bushes...they don't supply bushes so full unit at 1100 quid or whatever it was. For 700 quid it's likely they are paying a full heater box with blend doors and actuators..not just the blower motor.

Weirdly though it's not that expensive to run...if was paying it would be but instead I have triggers expensive broom while having only actually paid for 1 set of brakes, tyres, a timing belt, water pump and a pair of CV boots on top of servicing which is probably a reasonably similar list to the Golf .

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I don't know what it is nowadays but you can't seem to buy anything that's good quality that lasts, so I put in a new driveshaft a few weeks ago & all has been fine until yesterday when a slight sleep started to emerge, I had a genuine Fiat inner CV clamp to go on when I put the shaft in but strangely it didn't fit I thought it's probably because it's a pattern boot & I had a spare new original birth CV clamp which fitted no problem, I noticed that this clamp was absolutely pants as it wouldn't stay clamped & started to work it's way lose so I've tightened it a couple of times since yesterday to which point I got p*ssed off with it, took it off & replaced with a suitable pair of cable ties which is fine as the boot stays in place & doesn't rotate with the shaft, went for a longish drive & it's doing a much better job than the useless crappy clamp that's actually designed (supposedly) to do the job, I can see why some people use cable ties for this instead of the metal clamps as they are just s*it & some aftermarket boots come with cable ties anyway so I thought that'll do, it's all coming back out in March to do the clutch anyway so I'll see if I can get something better but for now it's all good, dry & not seeping which is the main thing .

Cable ties on driveshaft boots? depends on the boot. There seems to be two different types of rubber in common use. The traditional, quite soft and rubbery ones, which have been around as long as I can remember and are often found to this day in budget priced kits. But there is also a much harder type which seem to be a standard factory fit preference now. The older type can be very easily deformed with your fingers when checking for splits whereas the new harder ones are so "stiff" I'm reluctant to manipulate them too much as they feel like they may crack. The older "soft" type can be adequately retained in place with cable ties done up nice and tight. The newer type put much more strain on the clamp and, if secured with cable ties, will often slip off the joint thus allowing the grease to leak out and dirt to enter.

 

[FiatMatt94]

Cable ties on driveshaft boots? depends on the boot. There seems to be two different types of rubber in common use. The traditional, quite soft and rubbery ones, which have been around as long as I can remember and are often found to this day in budget priced kits. But there is also a much harder type which seem to be a standard factory fit preference now. The older type can be very easily deformed with your fingers when checking for splits whereas the new harder ones are so "stiff" I'm reluctant to manipulate them too much as they feel like they may crack. The older "soft" type can be adequately retained in place with cable ties done up nice and tight. The newer type put much more strain on the clamp and, if secured with cable ties, will often slip off the joint thus allowing the grease to leak out and dirt to enter.

The new shaft has the older type soft boot exactly like the original oem part I removed, I've been keeping a very close eye on it & so far it's doing really good as it's staying in the exact place I put it unlike that useless clamp which kept coming undone & twisting round the boot causing it to seep, now it's bone dry with not a drop of oil leaking

 

[The Panda Nut]

The new shaft has the older type soft boot exactly like the original oem part I removed, I've been keeping a very close eye on it & so far it's doing really good as it's staying in the exact place I put it unlike that useless clamp which kept coming undone & twisting round the boot causing it to seep, now it's bone dry with not a drop of oil leaking

I bet you need a tool to get the clamps on at the right tension. Uneconomic for home maintenance.... what a suprise.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I bet you need a tool to get the clamps on at the right tension. Uneconomic for home maintenance.... what a suprise.

I've got one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-PRO-T...WpirkzzrCv1t3R-bB-ruAmVLLuV7Le70aAlPnEALw_wcB It tightens the clip and "squashes" it at the same time thus ensuring it gets really tight. Very difficult to do without something like this.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

It's not quite that bad....

Although if you were tot the total up since 2021 it would probably start with 5.

I understand why most of them are battered/ bodged at 10 years old...

Although it would technically be cheaper at an independent garage who could use aftermarket parts that come at less than sub assembly level.

Eg. Top mounts went...these are 30 quid a side, Citroën only supply complete units total cost about 2k with labour. Same with the ARB would probably have ridden again with new bushes...they don't supply bushes so full unit at 1100 quid or whatever it was. For 700 quid it's likely they are paying a full heater box with blend doors and actuators..not just the blower motor.

Weirdly though it's not that expensive to run...if was paying it would be but instead I have triggers expensive broom while having only actually paid for 1 set of brakes, tyres, a timing belt, water pump and a pair of CV boots on top of servicing which is probably a reasonably similar list to the Golf .

You bought a pair of CV boots more than me but I did buy a washer pump which was probably a couple of quid more.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I bet you need a tool to get the clamps on at the right tension. Uneconomic for home maintenance.... what a suprise.

I have the propper tool to do this, it was surprisingly cheap, bought it when I re-greased the CV boots on my old silver Mk2 punto and had it in the tool box ever since.

I've got one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-PRO-T...WpirkzzrCv1t3R-bB-ruAmVLLuV7Le70aAlPnEALw_wcB It tightens the clip and "squashes" it at the same time thus ensuring it gets really tight. Very difficult to do without something like this.

Basically the same as what I have.

 

[StevenRB45]

You bought a pair of CV boots more than me but I did buy a washer pump which was probably a couple of quid more.

With hindsight the auxiliary steering rack..sorry roll bar was moving side to side and popping them.

A third was replaced at the time of the roll bar..but the warranty did that one.

Also you've not added on your AC clutch.

But yeah would I buy one of these used without a warranty at 7 years old?

 

[FiatMatt94]

I've got one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-PRO-T...WpirkzzrCv1t3R-bB-ruAmVLLuV7Le70aAlPnEALw_wcB It tightens the clip and "squashes" it at the same time thus ensuring it gets really tight. Very difficult to do without something like this.

My dad will have the tool as he's a mechanic with over 40 years experience, it's him that's doing my clutch in March when I go to visit him as I've now moved out to the other end of the country also he has all the tools to do the job & I'll get him to give her a little once over whilst I'm there, I know how to do most things on cars as he has taught me quite a lot over the years & I used to go to work with him when I bunked off school but sometimes there's the odd thing I have to admit defeat too & ask him , if I had the equipment I could do the clutch change myself but I'll let him do it as he'll have it done in no time, I can also be quite slow so I think it's best he does it

 

[PuntoHowTo]

With hindsight the auxiliary steering rack..sorry roll bar was moving side to side and popping them.

A third was replaced at the time of the roll bar..but the warranty did that one.

Also you've not added on your AC clutch.

But yeah would I buy one of these used without a warranty at 7 years old?

oh yeah forgot about the AC pulley. Was another £50 for a used pump off Ebay which I scavenged the part off.

That all being said. your car is two years newer than my golf. The Golf has done over 100k miles now, and while you've not paid for much you have had a lot of work done on warranty which I've not had the luxury of.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

My dad will have the tool as he's a mechanic with over 40 years experience, it's him that's doing my clutch in March when I go to visit him as I've now moved out to the other end of the country also he has all the tools to do the job & I'll get him to give her a little once over whilst I'm there, I know how to do most things on cars as he has taught me quite a lot over the years & I used to go to work with him when I bunked off school but sometimes there's the odd thing I have to admit defeat too & ask him , if I had the equipment I could do the clutch change myself but I'll let him do it as he'll have it done in no time, I can also be quite slow so I think it's best he does it

I did the clutch on my mk1 cabrio on my own on some axel stands with a set of spanners.

The only "special tool" it could be argued you would need is a clutch centering tool but the one I had didn't fit so I made my own with a couple of sockets. On the sei its probably exactly the same process given the engine and mounts are all pretty much the same, and the age of the cars not all that different.

 

[StevenRB45]

oh yeah forgot about the AC pulley. Was another £50 for a used pump off Ebay which I scavenged the part off.

That all being said. your car is two years newer than my golf. The Golf has done over 100k miles now, and while you've not paid for much you have had a lot of work done on warranty which I've not had the luxury of.

Oh yes, I'm not saying it's better (also my time chasing down issues is not free)...it's just theres more than one way to skin a cat.

In truth I'm hoping at some point the wife can be encouraged to part with it preferably before it can no longer be warrantied at 10 years old.

As let's face it the running costs would be similar to an old Range Rover.. without the positive of it at least being an old Range Rover. Of course at a independent you could fix it for a lot less... in theory but in practice while it's still free..well might as well keep getting free repairs.

You never know maybe I'll score a new engine in year 9...

 

[PuntoHowTo]

You never know maybe I'll score a new engine in year 9...

maybe it will need one the way your Mrs drives it?

I shouldn't Joke our Mini doesn't have a warranty either

 

[StevenRB45]

maybe it will need one the way your Mrs drives it?

I shouldn't Joke our Mini doesn't have a warranty either

According to the Citroën owners club I should already be on about engine 3...

The man who looks after Puretech things has asked for first refusal on it many times.

I've declined on the basis while it is technically looked after like no other 7 year old Citroën..erm well

 

[FiatMatt94]

I bet you need a tool to get the clamps on at the right tension. Uneconomic for home maintenance.... what a suprise.

You'd think they would make a tool for the home DIY mechanic that would be reasonably priced as I do pretty much all my maintenance as my thinking is why pay someone to do something you can do yourself, with all the work on the Seicento since I've owned her I've done it all myself & it's quite satisfying as every job I've done on it has made it so much better, so far the main mechanical & cosmetic work she's had

Whole clutch mechanism all greased up
(I do this on a regular basis)

New genuine Fiat fuel pump
New Brembo pads
Pair of new top mounts
Front & rear shock absorbers
New complete driveshaft
Both rear lights with seals replaced
Replacement boot seal
Pressed plates
Bosch wipers
A good service (plugs, oil, oil & air filters, gearbox oil)
New badges all round
Cinquecento Sporting rims currently being refurbished in gunmetal grey to break up the silver, they were fitted with 165/65/13 tyres but there's only 1 brand who make that size now which is not my most chosen brand so I'll be putting 155/70/13 as there is a lot more variety & I've seen these rims fitted with this size tyre so it should be good

& there is more but it's not coming to me at the moment the rest has just been little odds & sods to make her look & perform better, I think all in now I've spent around the £1,500 mark on everything I've bought in the 5 months I've owned her but when you think about it it's not really cost me as it's the money I got for the Panda. Yesterday I fitted a new temperature sensor, I suspected it was giving false signals to the ECU as she was having trouble starting whilst she was hot & when she did start it reeked of fuel out the exhaust so I got a new Intermotor sensor for just £8.50, took 5 mins to do & the results are great, no more hot starting issues, doesn't smell of fuel on start up, the slight misfire on idle has gone & she's generally a lot sweeter & smoother to drive next thing is I'm thinking of fitting some sort of simple temperature gauge as I'm not too sure I trust the 'oh crap' light as they call it there are some basic motorbike ones on eBay which have a little digital gauge which should be good enough & better than the 'oh crap' light.

 

[FiatMatt94]

I did the clutch on my mk1 cabrio on my own on some axel stands with a set of spanners.

The only "special tool" it could be argued you would need is a clutch centering tool but the one I had didn't fit so I made my own with a couple of sockets. On the sei its probably exactly the same process given the engine and mounts are all pretty much the same, and the age of the cars not all that different.

I could do it on my own but where I'm currently staying the driveway which is out the back is really tiny & not the most ideal for big jobs, the Seicento only just fits in that's how small it is , our neighbour has a Focus & she can't even close her gates & with the car in the drive there's not a lot of room to move about as they're not the widest & when you get into a job on the drive someone always wants to come past or you end up whacking your arm on the fence when your hand slips trying to undo a stubborn nut or bolt , where as my dad has a huge drive which could get about 4 cars on it with nothing either side which is ideal & also we'll get it done quicker with 2 of us. Last time we did a clutch on a Cento was my Cinquecento I had when I was 17 I remember it well as the bits went in a particular order first the quadrant broke, then the cable snapped the following week, then the clutch itself went the week which I thought was weird at the time as it wasn't slipping, the biting point wasn't high either although it was a bit heavy but I've had heavier clutches, when we removed the clutch all was revealed, what had happened was the friction plate had spat one of the springs out & it was jammed between the friction plate & pressure plate which was why I couldn't get it into gear. I think the easiest clutch I've ever done many years ago was on a really early MK1 Vauxhall Corsa which had like a half moon shaped section of the gearbox which you could unbolt & remove the clutch without taking the gearbox off which I thought was a great thing & then on the later Vauxhall's they did away with that idea & I always wondered why they did such a backward step as being able to take just a section off the gearbox to do the clutch without removing the box was great, whoever thought of that is a genuis & I thought at the time why can't all cars be like this

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I could do it on my own but where I'm currently staying the driveway which is out the back is really tiny & not the most ideal for big jobs, the Seicento only just fits in that's how small it is , our neighbour has a Focus & she can't even close her gates & with the car in the drive there's not a lot of room to move about as they're not the widest & when you get into a job on the drive someone always wants to come past or you end up whacking your arm on the fence when your hand slips trying to undo a stubborn nut or bolt , where as my dad has a huge drive which could get about 4 cars on it with nothing either side which is ideal & also we'll get it done quicker with 2 of us.

I would quantify this by saying I did the Punto with one side hard against a wall in the garage, arguably you only need access to one wheel and the front of the car, I’d dare say it could be done only with access from the front but much easier if you can take off at least one prop shaft first.

You could in theory undo the wishbone bolts and swing the wheel out and away to release the prop shaft. Without even undoing the wheels.

You’re just not hardcore enough lol