A weekend full of it................

With the stereo fascia job complete it's time for me to move onto the two niggling jobs that are far bigger than I ever imagined.

Firstly, the electrics have been massacred.
Secondly, the ABS system is a little more complicated than I thought it would be.

Ok - let's leave the electrics alone for a second and talk about the brake system and ABS.
I was under the impression that the ABS sensor could be removed and cleaned up, however today have been told that's simply not possible, by removing it you'd almost certainly damage it in removal.

So the new plan regarding the ABS sensor, is to take off the brake caliper and disc to improve accessibility to the ABS sensor.
When access has been improved, spray with brake cleaner spray, cover it. Hope for the best.

I am in two minds whether to put the wheel back on after this job is 'complete' because I can not fire the engine up and check the status of the ABS warning message because the electrics are in pieces.......

So, with a weekend to myself I am hoping to get all these jobs done. It is cold out there and I hope I can hack the cold temperatures without losing too much feeling so I can finally finish these jobs.

Wish me luck, I've got a feeling I need it!

Oh - and the over alls came today, check me out lol! 

Just a woman, but doing as best I can!

I must also THANK all those who are offering on-going support, help and advice with regards Miss Pug's critical condition. It is still touch and go but I hope I can breathe some life back into her with the help of my friends :) :)

And on other news, I think I am just going to take a sponge and a bucket out there to clean the sexy but dirty Miss Pug. I was going to get a pressure washer but I am still deciding which to get and well, it's really annoying to see a car which I love dearly in such a messy state. I need to sort her out. Badly.

A good work woman never blames her tools...

Okay well I am going to start with this blog with another THANK YOU to the kind gentleman kind enough to donate some of his tools to me - I feel highly honored and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I have met many a new friends on the 406oc.co.uk forums, without their kindness of bearing with me, their explanations and spot on information I wouldn't be where I am today.
As many of you will know, I am a bit of a sticker junkie at the moment (possibly have over done it but what the hell it's MY car 'n all!) I have decided to buy a sticker to support the forum and proudly display it on my car.
I haven't decided where is best yet to stick it, but I am thinking the rear quarter window, I am again yet to decide which side. I would like to display it where it'll be seen most, so I think we will go with the ''off-side''.

So, getting back to the title of this blog... a good work woman never blames her tools..
Well - there is nothing 'good' about me, therefore I am exception and I can blame my tools (Come on, typical woman behaviour coming back eh?)

Today the generous postman brought me my 19mm 3/4 drive socket (which I have been waiting for for ever and in fairness, they took the piss with slow delivery and I no longer need it for the job I bought it for..........), I also got my coloured selection of insulation tape, the 406oc sticker, the donated sockets / tools, wire cutters stripping pliers and the soldering gun.

I am a woman of few talents so I thought I'd just ''try'' and strip the wires on the already removed connection boxes.
As useful as a chocolate tea pot................. literally.
They do not properly join in the middle and as a result, to strip wires is incredibly difficult.

What a useful tool........... not.

 Maybe they are supposed to be like that? I have never owned a pair of these before so couldn't be able to tell you. All I know is, they should be up to the job: and they are not.
Unless it's me not up the job...............?

Anyway, with that out the way......

More to add to the tool box on wheels.

Coloured electrical insulation tape (to replace the coloured connection boxes)

LOOK at all this :) :)

Soldering gun :)

THE KINDLY DONATED TOOLS: Thank you! 

THE KINDLY DONATED TOOLS: Thank you!

THE KINDLY DONATED TOOLS: Thank you!
(Oil filter removal tool and spark plug removal tool pictured here)

THE KINDLY DONATED TOOLS: Thank you!
(3/8 drive sockets - Wooooo hoooo!)

I HAVE DECIDED THAT: I will NOT be replacing the electric sockets.

I have based this on several reasons.
Pros:
* Seat can be removed IF it needed to be with great ease.
* I wanted to keep the car looking as it would of done leaving the factory.
* It looks genuine and proper. (word of the week that, ''proper'')

Cons:
* These type connectors are very hard to get hold of, in fact I found no where that sold these. Clip together with the slide feature on the back to 'slide back into place' on the car.
* There are NOT many people who want the front seat removed, if they want more space they generally lower the back row of seats, get my drift ;)


I have overloaded my tiny brain with too much information these past few days, trying to find the right connectors (I DID find the Anderson Powerpoles looked the part, but on writing to the company itself, I was told they were not suitable for airbag electrics, apparently.

Something hit a nerve with their reply too ''you must utilise the correct original connections or you could create more problems than you already have.''

If this tosser knew the problems I was having with the bloody electrics then simply - this would NOT be possible and by any standards how the FUCK can I ''utilise the correct original connections'' when I have cut them out the car now? Knobber.

I clearly stated in the eMail to them that I was having problems with the electrics on the car and needed some advice with regards this ''powerpole'' bollocks.

So -  more trouble than it's worth i.e going to just solder this bitch up and hope that's the proper job done.

One at a time, one at a time - please

One at a time please. One at a fucking time.
This is the kind of measures I have to resort to, in order to complete the ''electrician'' side of me and Miss Pug - at this point I should point out, she's damn lucky I have grown attached as I have.
I have a lot of respect for Miss Pug, She got me to where I am today. That fateful day, 1st March 2012. The day that went on to change my life (and my childrens') from that given moment onwards.

The day their ''Father'' chose to scream at my little girl close range, the day I decided ''enough was enough'', The day we escaped and fled for our own safety.
I can't and won't go into too much detail on here because this is purely about Miss Pug but the car enthusiast in me was always pushed aside.

I used to try to work on my 205's and get the 'Oh give it here you stupid woman' if I so much as scratched my head or went for the wrong bolt - I suppressed the car enthusiast in me for 10 long years, it was great, I left nearly a year ago and I went to my first ever motor show last year and as I walked into the field of all these beautifully polished cars and proud owners I felt warm and fuzzy inside, a little when you meet up with a good friend, you're there to look at these works of art, these people who are proud to be showing you their cars and within a few feet I saw a 205 Rallye, my heart skipped a beats, I made a B line for it, took many pictures of it - as I did many of the other cars there (especially the Peugeot's).
My love of cars is at times uncontrollable, I went out on Saturday evening and as I was brought back home, pulled up on the drive and I saw Miss Pug again my heart skipped beats, I proper love my cars, they become one of the family and I treat them as anyone should treat their car, with gentle love and respect (and of course, the odd thrashing as and when the moment takes me)

Now, so far I have done so many jobs myself on Miss Pug and although I am a long way to finishing them I am also proud of my efforts and complete tasks.
A few men have been sexist towards knowing what they obviously consider to be a very male job being done by a woman but then there have been some lovely gents supporting a woman who likes to look after her car. My neighbour for instance longs for another Peugeot, he had a few 106's the latter being written off with a deer. He made the comment yesterday 19/02/2013 that I am always out there in all weathers (very true, remember the battery and heavy snow fall incident?) and I seem to know what I am doing, I of corse laughed that off and replied 'well, I don't know about that but I certainly try!'
I of corse, am getting a lot of help from the guys on the 406oc.co.uk forum. In return of my gratitude I have bought their sticker and aim to put it inside the cars rear quarter window (in the boot essentially)


So, getting back the original reason this post was created, one at a time please kind Madam.

I have officially ''DONE IT'' (Not that, naughty!) I have CUT the seat belt pre-tensioners connections off the car. I have brought them in the house for closer examination.
I must admit that I am going to re-wire new connections and then reconnect the battery and carefully start the car to see if it cures the AIRBAG flashing light at me. If, I happen to re-wire ALL the connections and it persists (I doubt it will to be honest because last year when this fault first happened [July time I believe] a simple ''wiggle'' of the wires under the passenger seat would NOT of cured it) I will have to look at the pre-tensioners, or even consider a whole loom re-wire.
I honestly don't think it's the pre-tensioners or the loom, I honestly think the re-wiring of the connection boxes will cure this problem and now I know more about it I think it'll be a fairly easy job to do. I admit I have not consulted Mr Haynes on this problem but I do have a forum full of men behind me with this job and whilst I am not happy about being the bomb defuser on Miss Pug, it's my only option lol.

Ok - let's get heavy with the pictures again. (Please do NOT take notice to the pink laptop, I am ashamed it's in my possesion but I did not warrent spending an extra £20 just for a white one!)

This is the moment of NO RETURN. Not for these RENAULT connectors anyway, lol. (Heck get that crap out my car!)

This picture shows both connections together, as they were under the passenger seat.

As you see the 2 bars on the top of the connection box, it literally slid out of the housing on the car.
I had been told it was either stuck on with cable ties, or pressed in - but these, are slide in and out type.

Please pay no attention to the indentation of the cable, I had grabbed and tried to use something totally not suitable!

And on other news: I managed to get my nuts off (or bolts as the case maybe)
I have been having troubles with these for an age.
Then decided to use these extra lb's to my advantage.
I hooked up the winder that came with the car and I had to use ALL MY WEIGHT to get the darn things off, even then I had to jump on one or two to get the buggers un-done.
As you can probably tell by fat fingers in photographs, I am definitely a big lady but on this occasion it has paid off (just wish I'd thought of this before ordering the breaker bar and other shit) Oh well, we live and learn or if you're me, you just live. LOL

Ok - photo update on the wheels:

Victory was mine today Miss Pug :)

My Victory :)

Ok perhaps not necessary to take the other side off, but if I do end up replacing the pads, plus I want a good look under here anyway.

I am also well aware that working on the brakes you should always take precautions. Fair play I use blue latex gloves for a lot of the work on the car anyway but when you are dealing with the brakes, especially the disks and pads and cleaning - there is always a risk you can disturb asbestos. So you *MUST ALWAYS* buy the proper filtration masks, eye wear and protect yourself.
I thought I better just point that note out.

On another note though, I have removed the upper caliper bolt cover but I don't have the hex tools to undo it - Oh for fuck sake - more tools I need and yes, I officially resign! I never seem to get anywhere with these jobs, it's do a tiny bit, oh shit need that tool - abort job. Same old, same old - sick of it and yes I will moan about it. My blog 'n' all.
Over and out until I get some fucking hex sockets...........

More shit on it's way

I knew it would be wrong of me to assume that I could get away with actually managing to now finish the jobs in question.

New parts on their way:

* Soldering gun (yes - I bite that bullet)
* Assorted coloured cable ties
* Crimping tool
* Soldering wire.

4 basic things that any house hold should have you'd assume?

More shit to move house with - fan-fucking-tastic.

Oh well, if it gets the job done I really don't care BUT I just hope I can do this now. I don't trust in myself.

God help me if it is the seat belt pre-tensioners. That's one job I wouldn't like to do particularly.

Well I never!

Firstly I just want to say I am not surprised the electrics have ''gone wrong'' to some extent.
I managed to take the electric plug out the connector on the brown socket (seat belt pretensioners) and I was shocked at what I saw. The dreaded Renault logo.
Yes - it's true. That bastard Renault have been at my electrics, I knew someone had been at it because of the tape, the sign of a true Renault. LOL

Right - well, I admit the Renault logo on the plug connector is the LAST thing I expected to see, but I realize that this is WHY they are at fault now.

I know Renault parts are probably really cheap but FFS, did us Lions have to resort to such measures?

It then became quite clear to me that upon opening the connection box (and whilst taking two chunks out of my fingers) that I will need a soldering iron to complete this job: Yet another fucking tool I don't have.

With that coming to light I need to look at if I just do away with these connection boxes and re-wire them to something else, just a general re-access the situation.

I did decide to clean the engine cover, back and front.

I won't lie this was a filthy job and I was glad to be wearing my gloves, lol.

Before.

AFTER (when feeling braver will clean the oil cap......)

AFTER: what a difference?

Missing: rear end weather strip.......

And on other notes: Found out I am missing a rear end weather strip!
I knew I had to go around that salvage yard for something ;)

Access

Well, even though I could not believe it, the screws holding the seats into the chassis ARE a T35 head.
I have been having a lot of problems recently with not having the tools I need for the job, and sadly this isn't a one off either.
Last year to gain access I needed a T26 for one of the bolts under the front bumper. Luckily I got away with using pliers and removing it, all be it, painfully slow.
Why not sell the Torx as one big set instead of only a select few and the rest being classed as "specialist tools"?
Damn right I'm pissed off.
I start a job "darn I don't have that tool" start another job and "I don't have that tool either" and quite frankly it's now starting to take the piss a bit.

However, on other news I do have some great news!
I had been alerted to some scrap yards in Bicester, Banbury or somewhere over that way (at least 2 buses away from where I live). Last night I found out that we have one here in my very town, how amazing is that? I suddenly don't want to move house. Lol.
Currently they do not have any 406's and I need to check the compatibilities between a D8 and D9 model, I am sure that some parts are generic I.e made for ALL 406's but many will not be. Different engines = different parts, connectors etc. My car, on the whole is just that, whole.
However I do want a rear rubber (ha ha!) for the roof, I only noticed I was missing it last week. It's the N/S rubber seal that's on the roof rail. I could just so with "nosing" to see if other 406's have anything I fancy lol.

So back to the job in hand:
Seat now disconnected from the chassis and when my neighbour kindly fcks off I can get the door fully open to get properly in there.

Job 2: wheels (ABS) waiting on 3/8 drive extension bars and a 3/8 drive 19mm socket.

There are pictures of my new phone case, the T35 and my victory with the T35 screw removed :-)

Take care

We live in a sexist world

Had an interesting conversation with my Parcelforce man earlier, he knocked on the door as I was about to leave for school (08:30) I thought it was someone I best avoid.... so I ignored. Forgot my breaker bar was coming today didn't I?
Anyway, a minute or so later I peeped and saw no one waiting by the front door so we made our move.
However as I stepped out, the parcelforce man appeared from no where... and then the conversation went like this....

PF = parcel force man

PF: 'I've done as I've told and put it in the garage now' **I have a note saying to leave them in the garage!**
Me: 'Ah thanks hun, It's only my breaker bar'
PF: 'Why don't you just take it down Oakes?'
Me: 'Why should I? It's a lot easier if I do it myself, plus car isn't MOT'd, Insured, or Taxed'
PF: 'Ha ha, I see, you mean you get your fella to do it?'
Me: 'What fella? I kid you not I do the work on this car all by myself'
PF: 'What, you? really?'
Me: 'Yes... Look - steel toe caps'
PF: *Pennies dropping at this point* 'Well if you know what you're doing, I don't. What have you got to do?'
Me: 'I need to clean up and access the rear brakes, particularly the ABS sensor, do some wiring under the passenger seat and a fascia transplant on the stereo'
PF: *Stunned silence for a few seconds* 'Well, good luck to you, I wouldn't know where to start on mine, I spent £750 on it earlier this year on the power steering'
Me: 'Let me guess, it's not a Peugeot'
PF: 'Correct'
Me: 'Oh well, that's what you get for not getting a lion'

I guess we live in a very gender stereotypical world still, oil and grease is typically a man job therefore why would a woman want to break her nails and get dirty? I must admit, I have met a few men recently who admit they don't know what they're doing therefore do nothing to it....
I must also admit, I am just a woman and as much as I do NOT know what I'm doing I don't let that put me off, I rather get stuck in and work out how she's working for myself (it now has put doubt in my mind to sell her after the MOT I admit) than not do anything and PAY someone else to do a job I am equally as capable to do - Okay, may get stuck along the way, hit a few problems and do it much slower than a professional mechanic would BUT it's part of the fun, right guys?

I don't care if people can't accept me for who I am, I maybe a woman but I love to get my hands dirty, I love nothing more than finishing a job with job satisfaction, if I did it all on my own, great - If I had to ask advice or even get some muscle power, not bad. Finishing a job on the car then thinking how many pennies that's saved me in the garage, or finishing the job with knowing you are not just one of these 'oh shit the car needs to go the garage' kinda people - job satisfaction and I love every minute of working on Miss Pug. I am however, finding it highly fucking annoying that I am still without SO many tools - many of which I can not afford to replace again. Never know, I may meet a ''sugar daddy'' soon............. or - have I already met one?

With a house move, MOT and court approaching - my life is as hectic as it always is. Move shit to add to the mix recently, but nothing I can go into detail on here - and in fairness, it's nothing to do with Miss Pug.

Fascia Transplant

Yes - You read right, fascia transplant time!


The car came with this fascia I am about to show you. Problem is the player itself was broken. It would not play or even read the disc. Not having a multi-changer in the boot I relied on this unit entirely to play the disc. I can't remember the other fault with it now but the main reason for getting rid was the fact the disc reader was broken. I ordered a already coded to my car stereo off eBay and it arrived.

Unfortunately, during transit one of the corners was bent (it stayed there but still, a cracked corner looks awful!) and the over all condition of the fascia I had bought, well, it's fair to say it was either off an older vehicle OR had just been subject to a lot of use and sun fading.

I am therefore, planning to transplant the original fascia back onto the newer player.

All didn't go according to plan when taking this apart so when I take the stereo out the car I must get it spot on next time.
The volume button wouldn't give over and come away as a nice little volume button usually would. I then proceeded to yank the circuit board off - again, because the stereo was in effect broken it was of no real concern to me how well the board came off anyway.

Once the circuit board was out of my way I could then proceed to do more un-screwing of the little gold plated screws and as I took off the clear plastic light defuser the bigger buttons came out easily. However the little ones had to be gently persuaded with a flat screw driver head. (I was using wooden cocktail sticks but when it snapped I thought I needed something a touch harder, wink wink).

A lot of un-screwing later...........

Not bad, not bad.

All done. Just have to remove the stereo in the car and continue!

Will have to wait until the removal tool comes so I can continue, but when it has I shall update this post with all the latest as it happens :)

Update: 19/2/2013
Still waiting for the removal tool. Did concoct my own version which failed miserably so will have to wait for the darn thing to arrive before I continue with this job BUT I have taken pictures to show you what I am talking about with regards the condition and the 'snapped corner' issue.

The ''new'' stereo fascia: fitted in the car at present.

You can totally see why I want to change the fascia back now can't you?

Said corner that was damaged, supposedly in transit.

Another of said cracked corner

Damn right I want the fascia transplanted!

Still - let's wait on the blinking radio removal tool................

**UPDATE** The transplant is now complete.
Now, I am not going to pretend it was all plain sailing because although they are the same stereos it appears the badly beaten fascia was actually NEWER than mine! They had slightly different circuit board connections. Where as the original stereo was able to be disconnected from the board the new unit wasn't. It was soldered into place. Making it a little tricky to hold the unit up while unscrewing the screws from the board / fascia.
Anyway, panic over and I completed the job.

New unit, connected to old fascia.

Comparing the circuit boards. (Top one suffered damage as I took it apart, good job it was knackered anyway, lol).

Top picture and middle picture: Damage to new unit
Bottom picture: OLD fascia now fitted on the new unit.
Looks like it is new :)

Pleased with this accomplishment :)

AAA (Axle stands, ABS, Airbags!)

Last year I had to put the front end up on Axle stands to work on the O/S fog light.
This year (and further to the diagnostics) I have had to raise her back end (LOL) to work on the ABS Sensor Unit and take the wheel off.
I also need to defuse the bomb (Air bag ECU and wiring), Okay, technical over-reaction there, I need to check the electrics and if possible: hard re-wire them.

Job 1: ABS sensor unit.
Having a bit of troubles getting my nuts off, they have either been seriously over torqued or over the years my muscles have wasted away. Either way the breaker bar is in the post - should be here tomorrow, Monday 18/02/2013.
The purpose of this job is to take the wheel off, examine and clean off the brakes. As well as sorting the ABS problem I need to check the wear of the brake pads and check the general condition of them for them to pass an MOT I may just as well replace the pads either side - while she's resting nicely on her axle stands (which are now supported by the axle beams may I add?).
Being quite a dirty job which carries the risk of ''bumping into'' asbestos I shall be taking no chances with this job. I will have the appropriate gloves, eye protection, even a filtration mask on to complete this job.

Axle stands supported on Axle Beams.

Axle stands supported on the axle beams.

Bottoms up Miss Pug!

Job 2: Air bag ECU / Wiring.
During the diagnostics test the Air bag ECU said it was 'incorrect ECU' which I think could be complete tosh and it's more than likely to be the wiring. Again, a common fault for the french cars to have electrical issues shall we say (until this day I haven't had such a thing - LIKE EVER).
However, I am working on tilting the passenger seat to access the wires more easily (and to evict said Spider who has gotten comfy). The aim of this job is to disconnect each wiring loom one at a time and to clean up the ends of the wires, replace in the sockets and re-plug into the housing. One at a time so I don't forget which one went where (yes, it would be easier if a red wire went into a red housing but this is the French we're talking about, I can't help but wonder what happened to Peugeot, in the 405 it was a piece of p*** to wire and fit a towbar, red = red. Blue = Blue etc. Not anymore... **weeps**)
Anyway, one at a time I am going to just try the cleaning up method, should that fail and the problem persist I will attempt a hard re-wire (God help me). I don't doubt my own mechanical skills because I am a lot more in the know than most other women (and some men come to think of it) BUT I still have too much to learn, without playing Electrician as well.
I suspect the hard re-wire job is to cut off those sockets and replace them with other sockets - Shall look into it SHOULD it be needed.
At the moment I am having difficulty getting the 2 screws off either side the front of the seat to get better access. I have Torx 30 and 40. However, it seems these screws are a T35. It's on order and will come in the next few days.
I must already note that the blue (side airbag) and brown (seat belt pretensioners) have black insulation tape already around them, so someone somewhere along the way has already had problems....

Hello hello? Black insulation tape.. Who has been at my electrics before me?

Job 3: ''Too sexy for her bolts''
This is a job that only arose today when I saw it, 17/02/2013.
On disconnecting the battery once more and upon watching a video from a fellow forum member (little did I know the youtube videos I were watching yesterday were of a fellow forum member) anyhow, I noticed he went into the engine bay to access and tighten the acceleration cable and clip.
I could hear by the video that clearly he had a diesel and sure enough, his throttle cable is to the right of the 'bay and he easily had access to his. So I wanted to check mine to see if I really was being a super blonde woman and was missing it ''all this time''.
Now I might add here, that all my other Peugeot's have been diesel hence - easier access to the throttle cable and clip. However, on this damn petrol it seems to be well hidden (mechanic friend says under the engine cover but I do not believe that, I just can't accept that information, lol).
Any how ~ for reasons beyond me, I was drawn to looking under and behind the engine and I was shocked at my discovery.
I found a very long, thick set bolt just lying there. Having a little rest. (with seriousness aside, my car is too sexy for her bolts!).
Now back to the seriousness, this is clearly a major bolt from somewhere, my job is to now find where this said major bolt has come from and to access whether it contributes to the the ''engine rock'' on idol, cold start up.

Miss Pug: Too sexy for her bolts ;) LOL

JOB COMPLETE: Air filter
Okay, just a small job but one that's completed none the less, also one that needed doing.
Fear not I also plan to do the fuel and oil filter (oil filter is desperate).

Woo - it came :)

Comparison: I don't need to tell you which is which!

Comparison

The old one: and yes - I did contemplate sticking it in the washing machine, lol.

**UPDATE**

JOB COMPLETE: ''Too sexy for her bolts''
It seems the bolt actually came from the gear box and is holding said gear box to the engine. I wonder just how long it's been sat there, having a little rest? Well I am sorry to say, it's ''resting'' days are over. I have shoved it back in the hole (technical term that!) and it remains in use again. A tricky job at first, my 1/2 drive torque wrench was too small (with just the socket on the wrench head) and then too long (with the extension bar on the head).
I then decided 'screw this' and I just kept turning the bolt until it became a little too hard. I looked at my 1/4 drive wrench and obviously the socket wasn't compatible but I looked for a smaller extension bar that came with the kit (no such luck) but I did find a longer 16mm socket that fitted the 1/4 drive wrench (horrah!) I managed to get traction and tighten the bolt up.
I am not sure if it should be in there under pressure from said torque wrench BUT I suspect as long as it's in tight (as I did it) it will be fine. It certainly can't work lose again (if it ever did) and it is secure and helping the gear box and engine stay in sync.
Here for the pictures ....

As earlier: Exactly how the bolt was found.

A major bolt (16mm head)

Top view: you can just about see the pool of oil, where it was recovered.

I think I see where it came from.....

Job Done

Thank you 1/4 drive wrench :)