Is it a Supercar?... No it's a van....Or evil mistress
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 7:56 pm
I've had Citroens before, indeed I still have a XM Classic. When I take it to Classic Car shows a steady trickle of people will wander over and wax lyrical about the quirky french and their innovation. Recently I purchased a 2002 Berlingo as a donor vehicle to replace a rear axle on a 2008. When the truck delivered it I could see that the underneath is in mint condition. The trade auction info claimed it had done 2400 miles but they have no real proof. However, looking over the van there is a couple of battle scars that appear to be a result of something dropped on the front wing and deep scratches on the bonnet. The cab is very clean and the rear is spotless. The clock showed 70% so I set off in silence, after 10 metres the tyre noise disappeared too so it was a push back to the workshop to put the charger on. While it was charging I had a better look round and under the bonnet, within minutes a small crowd had gathered. "Never the like had been seen" has been the type of comment. A steady stream of interested people continues. The condition of this Berlingo has saved it from donation so I'm thinking this is good, my modest outlay could be a good investment.
2 hours later with curiosity getting the better of me I unplugged and zoomed off, 3 miles later power loss and limp back. Overnight charge and full of excited anticipation. Jumped in turned the key got the clunk into drive..... nothing from the go pedal! Batteries Kaput Motor packed up from lack of use was the concensus from the interested onlookers. Time to do some research then. £8000 for batteries, motor "who knows" Oh well I could still use the back axle. No said Paul a garage owner in one of the other units, there has to be an explaination why was it running yesterday and not today and batteries and electric motors rarely fail suddenly. So I learnt how to reset the auxhilary battery and away we went again. What a bargain this little van is! (fickle or what?)
Drove for another 15 minutes and the Range Rover was awakened to pull this heap of French junk back... again. Jack and spanners to dismember the rear axle at the ready. No echoed Paul let me have some time with this madame. Meanwhile ebay produced a diagnostic tool to accompany Paul's sophisticated kit. After some lateral thinking and Paul's methodical patient investigation "Voila" he disconnects the Battery Temperature Sensor plug and Sparky comes to life again, and does everything she is supposed to do 50+mph 30mph backwards whizzed around for 30 minutes with 60% left and the charging light came on like an emerald twinkling on the dash "Magnifique". The search for a battery temperature sensor is on and wifey is eyeing Sparky for allotment duties.
Special mention to Paul of Trust Automotive, Burntwood, Staffs. If you have a problem with your Lecky, petrol or diesel power, he's the man to fix it.
To be continued.
2 hours later with curiosity getting the better of me I unplugged and zoomed off, 3 miles later power loss and limp back. Overnight charge and full of excited anticipation. Jumped in turned the key got the clunk into drive..... nothing from the go pedal! Batteries Kaput Motor packed up from lack of use was the concensus from the interested onlookers. Time to do some research then. £8000 for batteries, motor "who knows" Oh well I could still use the back axle. No said Paul a garage owner in one of the other units, there has to be an explaination why was it running yesterday and not today and batteries and electric motors rarely fail suddenly. So I learnt how to reset the auxhilary battery and away we went again. What a bargain this little van is! (fickle or what?)
Drove for another 15 minutes and the Range Rover was awakened to pull this heap of French junk back... again. Jack and spanners to dismember the rear axle at the ready. No echoed Paul let me have some time with this madame. Meanwhile ebay produced a diagnostic tool to accompany Paul's sophisticated kit. After some lateral thinking and Paul's methodical patient investigation "Voila" he disconnects the Battery Temperature Sensor plug and Sparky comes to life again, and does everything she is supposed to do 50+mph 30mph backwards whizzed around for 30 minutes with 60% left and the charging light came on like an emerald twinkling on the dash "Magnifique". The search for a battery temperature sensor is on and wifey is eyeing Sparky for allotment duties.
Special mention to Paul of Trust Automotive, Burntwood, Staffs. If you have a problem with your Lecky, petrol or diesel power, he's the man to fix it.
To be continued.