MikeLane

Just heard that the French Government wishes to impose a ban on cars manufactured before 2011 from entering Paris. As one can imagine, the French public is protesting!! Amongst other things car owners affected are asking the Government to indemnify them against reduced trade-in values.

From "Tyre change" Post: "It may have been last year in a BBC report of an insurance claim where they refused to pay out since the owner had put a sticker on the side of the car and not told them." Better to have a raised premium than the insurance Co. refusing to pay out as the vehicle has been "modified" without informing them.

I've noticed that wind direction and strength has a large effect on mpg. Travelling into a strong headwind from Calais to Rouen my indicated mpg was 47mpg. Then wind direction changed and strength dropped and, 350 miles later mpg indicated 57mpg. Actuel fuel usage turned out to be just over 12 miles/litre (about 55mpg). (Where possible I use cruise control - especially in 30 mph areas and 30, 44, 56 and 69 in France where the police are alleged to penalise people exceeding speed limits by 1kph!)

In view of the "insurance" comment in the "Tyre Change" post, should one inform the insurers of this mod?

"It may have been last year in a BBC report of an insurance claim where they refused to pay out since the owner had put a sticker on the side of the car and not told them." Almost unbelievable! Is this termed a "modification"?

Glow plugs (pre-heaters)?

I remember that, many years ago, there was much dicussion about "water injection" into cylinders, the theory being that this would turn into steam and effectively increase the compression ratio and hence mpg. After a correspondent said he'd run his NSU Quickly (a moped) for 632 miles using 2 gallons of water and a capsule of (petrol) lighter fuel, the magazine editor closed the topic!

According to the brochure the Mk2 (Facelift) Exclusive was fitted with "Xenon dual function directional headlamps with washer jets". It was an option on the VTR.

Is it Eolys for Mks 1 & 2 and AdBlue for Mk 3 (X7)?

This has pappened twice in 18 months on my brother's Megane estate. In this sort of application manufacturers should use extra flexible (or superflex) multi-stranded wire.

Not sure whether I believe this. Running petrol cars on extremely weak mixture usually causes difficult starting, pinking, burnt valves and overheating (and not VG performance).

(1949 BSA Bantam) (1954 Norton 500 Model 7) 1938 Vauxhall 10 1954 Standard 10 1957 Fiat 1.9 (in Singapore) (+1949 Triumph Thunderbird) 1962 Triumph Herald Estate 1969 Vauxhall Victor Estate 1982 CX Familiale 1985 BX 1.6 TRS 1992 BX 1.9D 1996 Xantia 1,9D 2005 C5 1.6 Hdi VTR

The trouble with measuring anything in dBs is whether it's a measurement of power or Volts (or Amps) that one's expressing. +3 dB in Watts (power) is twice as loud but in Volts or Amps it's 40% more. (Just thought I'd........)

Turn the radio up? (Sorry - as you say, this is a complaint made by several new to Citroen owners. Ive only had Citroens for the past 30 odd years so I suppose I don't notice it. However my brother's and son-in-law's Renaults are quieter - but not so comfortable!)

Before you do anything more, just squirt a good dose of switch cleaner (or WD40) down into the switch barrel through the keyhole and work the key in and out a few times, turning it to the "igntion on" and "off" positions. It could be (as it was with my Xantia) that the switch is gooed up and sticks "on". If it doesn't help then you've lost nothing, but if it does.....

The Tesla Model 3 looks interesting: 210 miles between (super)charges and will retail in the States from $35000.

Somewhere there must be a solenoid (or actuator) which unlocks the door when you use the key or push the fob button. This may be sticking so try spraying it with WD40 to free it up.

GSF Car Parts Ltd Units 21-27 The Fort Industrial Park Dunlop Way Birmingham B35 7AR Phone: 0121 626 7981 Might be worth trying?

"and three minutes is plenty long enough to be useful" Not sure what you mean by this. My (Mk2) C5's radio turns off after about 10 mins if the engine isn't running. It will do the same if I simply start the engine and then switch off (however I need to have the ignition on).

As you say it's fashionable! We have a 60W tube in our kitchen (which gives excellent light but is turned OFF whenever we leave) and low energy bulbs everywhere else. I too have heard of problems with the blown in type of cavity insulation. After time it all ends up at the bottom of the cavity blocking it and causing damp patches and mould inside.

I have the "driver's door not unlocking" problem if the car has been unused for a couple of days. It seems to need a fully charged battery but always unlocks with the key and locks with the "plip". I've sprayed the keyhole and all the lock parts I can see without taking the internal panel off but I think the problem is a sticky solenoid. Anyway it seems better now and usually opens with the "plip". The boot locking/latching mechanism could perhaps also need cleaning and lubricating. I'd give it a good spray with WD40 and then brush it clean with a toothbrush before oiling or greasing it.

"The other week on radio 2 they were discussing the hydroelectric power stations that run water downhill through turbines during high electric demand and then during the night pump the water back up" Another argument I heard in favour of this was that at night electricity is "cheaper". This probably means that Hydro generating companies would be buying power from other, not green, generators so...... (Perhaps from the "Oh so green" Nuclears!) I wrote a blog about them!!! https://justmikelane.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/going-green/

There;s a lot about the cleanliness and efficiency of electric cars and other vehicles. Also that diesels (which, not so long ago we were told were the "greenest" vehicles) should now be banned ! I wrote the following to some comments made by a chap who is "rabid" about his new Zoe and Teslas (one of which he'd just test-driven). All very well to suggest banning diesel cars but what about HGVs? I can;t see them wishing to stop every couple of hundred miles or so to "top up" their, necessarily enormous, batteries. Another point: the latest version of the Zoe takes 30 mins to get an 80% top up at a 45 KW charging point. 24 Zoes charging simultaniously will consume over 1MW. If electric cars become common, from whence cometh the power required? And during Winter batteries are less efficient so will need to be recharged more frequently. Perhaps diesel powered hybrids are the way to go!!! At least these drivers won't be inflicting Brownouts on the rest of us!

On a lot of cars the AddBlue filler is next to the diesel under the filler flap. Only the Blue additive filler nozzle will fit it though. This doesn't appear to be the case with Citroen! I seem to remember that, some years ago, one could by Blue Diesel at most filling stations for a couple of centimes more. Is that still possible ?

Just found this: http://www.citroendorchester.co.uk/about-us/dealer-news/adblue-top-ups-at-dealer/ Not sure whether the quoted £9.99 includes the Adblue (probably not!) but it seems that Paul is right - Citroen don't want YOU to top up the reservoir!