3 registered members (achineth, KevinW, 1 invisible),
118
guests, and 3
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums69
Topics113,597
Posts1,341,071
Members1,801
|
Most Online731 Jan 14th, 2020
|
|
|
Finally back on the road!
#1654956
30/12/2021 00:33
30/12/2021 00:33
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617 France, Charente
paulw
OP
Club Member 1326
|
OP
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617
France, Charente
|
After what seems like an age (actually it is over 5 years!) the coupé has finally had a new gear lever housing fitted.
Sorry tale - the nylon housing cracked, whilst in France which left it stranded out our house before we actually moved there. Once I had a safe, dry and secure place to work on it (our barn), I did manage to get almost everything removed but the housing itself. Not easy when working with the car up on 4 ramps. Then did my back in, couldn't find anyone willing to help, the COVID put everything on ice for a while!
Finally today having found a mechanic, we managed to get it replaced and put everything back together again. Huge relief. It has been run a couple of times each year, just to ensure the oil flows round and the barn is warm, dry and been an ideal storage place, but definitely looking forward to actually getting it on the road again.
It has no rust, apart from minute surface rust underneath, just 45k on the clock, so needs to be used and loved again!
Paul
Paul W.
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: paulw]
#1654997
02/01/2022 07:10
02/01/2022 07:10
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 629 Bulgaria
french_coupe
Club member 773
|
Club member 773
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 629
Bulgaria
|
Nice one Paul. Good news.
lost in space
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: Countrycruising]
#1655024
04/01/2022 17:24
04/01/2022 17:24
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617 France, Charente
paulw
OP
Club Member 1326
|
OP
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617
France, Charente
|
Having got the Coupe finished and ready for its first trip out after 5 years, thought I'd share some pictures of it in the 'garage'! I don't think that it would have stayed in the best condition without being able to store it here - no humidity in summer and no condensation during winter either. The only thing I had to look out for were bird-droppings from our resident Redstarts! Very nice, great effort getting the old girl back on the road Thanks, but thanks are due to you for providing info on how to tackle the cracked gear lever housing (a few years ago mind)! Turned out that quite a few things were not as shown in either the workshop manual (part upside down) or on the car. Also ended up as a two-man job, but it's done. Another milestone today as it is now insured - bit different here as it's the car that's insured not the driver. I have unlimited mileage, but if I decide to keep it off-road for a month, then a quick call and the premium drops to 20€ pm (about £16), but with full cover still. I can now drive it, but it will want the equivalent of the MOT asap so it can get registered and new plates. Sadly losing the old 'FCZ'....
Paul W.
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: Countrycruising]
#1655046
06/01/2022 11:44
06/01/2022 11:44
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,784 Auld Reekie
Edinburgh
Club President, member225
|
Club President, member225
Forum veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,784
Auld Reekie
|
Yes aren't mates great taking the piss about our projects slow progress Ha - tell me about it!
BumbleBee carer
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: paulw]
#1655544
02/02/2022 15:03
02/02/2022 15:03
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617 France, Charente
paulw
OP
Club Member 1326
|
OP
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617
France, Charente
|
Still not been out for a proper drive as I was unsure about the temperature sender and the alternator.
It's been rather cold over here for a week or two, getting down regularly to -3 and a couple of days to -6, so its winter quarters stayed closed! Oh, had some fun with the washer bottle too - filled it up and then watched as it quietly drained itself over the floor. I did manage to catch some of it, but not a lot.
Seems that whilst it has been laid up, the washer motor takeup pipe quietly disintegrated, so it was pouring out from where it pushes into the grommet. One new motor later and after removing the reservoir to clean it and remove bits of plastic from inside, that problem was solved.
Had a chance today to run up the car to full running temperature and the gauge woke up and registered the correct temp, so another problem averted.
The alternator, I'm not so sure. Putting a meter on the battery didn't seem to register a change when revving up and the dash gauge reads 12 volts, or just under when running. I think it should be more like 13 - 15. If I can mange it (can only just see them), I would like to get the meter on the alternator itself. Somehow though I think it may need a replacement - being laid up may have introduced some corrosion and it may already have been a bit knackered anyway. At least a reconditioned unit isn't that expensive (about 140 - 160€ depending on make) and then just needs fitting.
Think I'll give that job to someone else.....
Paul W.
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: Rob07]
#1655549
02/02/2022 22:05
02/02/2022 22:05
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617 France, Charente
paulw
OP
Club Member 1326
|
OP
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617
France, Charente
|
Great news Paul, you must be chuffed to have your coupe up & running again . It looks very nice in the photos, you've obviously looked after it well. I would say it's as much relief as anything else, finally getting it back together! Sitting in it after so long is a little scary; seems so low down and I'm having to get used to the minuscule wing mirrors once again, oh and the fact that you can't see the end of the bonnet and it's like a twenty-point turn to turn it round! My usual drive is a Peugeot 3008 which gives a road view equivalent to sitting on the roof of the Coupé....... I am lucky to have somewhere safe to keep it and would you believe it has only done 17,000 miles since I bought it in 2009, with a grand total of 45,000. Still running it in!
Paul W.
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: Master_Mariner]
#1655660
08/02/2022 16:21
08/02/2022 16:21
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617 France, Charente
paulw
OP
Club Member 1326
|
OP
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617
France, Charente
|
Great News to hear your coupe has ventured outside again after such a long time.
A small service, alternator replacement and perhaps some new rubber...and here is to an enjoyable spring and summer in La France'. The D65 looks like a perfect summer road to get her out on in the better weather!
Best,
MM
Indeed, there are quite a few excellent drives around and most of them will be pretty quiet too. I think we drove about 30Km the other week to Charroux from Ruffec and only saw 2 cars on the same side as us! Paul
Paul W.
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: paulw]
#1655661
08/02/2022 16:29
08/02/2022 16:29
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 629 Bulgaria
french_coupe
Club member 773
|
Club member 773
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 629
Bulgaria
|
Hi Paul,
It would be interesting to hear how you get on with the registration after Brexit. I did a few cars over the years and it was easy enough. Hopefully the process is no harder these days.
Is there any import duty to pay now, and if so, how do they calculate it? Knowing the French the calculation will be interesting. At least there is no emissions tax that you will have to pay. This is really good in France. The older the car the less you pay!!!! Once the car is 10 years old its zero emissions tax.
Frazer
lost in space
|
|
|
Re: Finally back on the road!
[Re: paulw]
#1656553
23/03/2022 12:00
23/03/2022 12:00
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617 France, Charente
paulw
OP
Club Member 1326
|
OP
Club Member 1326
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 617
France, Charente
|
Well after an age the Coupé has finally made it back to where it belongs, on the driveway! Everything has been done and after a final oil change ( I went for 10W60 Mobil 1) and a flush through of the brake fluid it's now ready for spring / summer. There are a couple of paint chips on the front bumper that will need sorting Here it is ready for a drive later today - After so long (5years +) it does seem very strange..... Paul
Last edited by paulw; 23/03/2022 12:02. Reason: Image too big!
Paul W.
|
|
|
|