I mentioned here that the petrol gauge drops as I drive along burning gas. After I topped up the tank last week to nearly half-full, it slowly dropped back down again. Four times in the last three weeks, for no apparent reason, it rose back up to show the correct level.
I checked to see if opening either the filler cap or the covering door was enough to trigger a correction, but it seems not, leaving me none the wiser.
Last week I needed to check the mileage for a journey I’d just finished. I’d just switched off the engine, so I replaced the key in the ignition and turned it to the ‘run’ position for several seconds, but without actually starting up. Very shortly into my next journey, the gauge was reading the correct level, making me wonder if messing with the key had been significant. More investigation is required…
[Update: It seems the fuel computer must be set to show 'range remaining'. Investigations continue]
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Strange Goings-on in the Fuel Tank
When I got the Coupé back from Essex LPG, there was very little petrol left in the tank. It uses petrol to start the engine and pressurise the LPG fuel lines, so I put £10-worth in.
I noticed on Wednesday that the fuel gauge was gradually drifting downwards, and by the time I got back from Norfolk it was firmly below the red line. The fuel computer’s estimate of remaining range was also dropping, but only by about a quarter of the actual distance I was covering.
This morning the fuel computer insisted that there was zero range remaining, and the petrol gauge remained firmly stuck to the bottom of the red line, so I added £15-worth. I was surprised to see this moved the needle to the half-tank level...
Talking to Alan this morning, it seems that both the gauge and the computer update themselves by monitoring how much fuel is supplied to the engine, and only reset when more fuel is added to the tank. Unaware that what is being supplied is Autogas rather than unleaded, they then show inaccurate figures.
I’m sure that there is more to this than I’m aware of at the moment, but for now it seems the only way to find out how much petrol I’ve got is to add some more…
I noticed on Wednesday that the fuel gauge was gradually drifting downwards, and by the time I got back from Norfolk it was firmly below the red line. The fuel computer’s estimate of remaining range was also dropping, but only by about a quarter of the actual distance I was covering.
This morning the fuel computer insisted that there was zero range remaining, and the petrol gauge remained firmly stuck to the bottom of the red line, so I added £15-worth. I was surprised to see this moved the needle to the half-tank level...
Talking to Alan this morning, it seems that both the gauge and the computer update themselves by monitoring how much fuel is supplied to the engine, and only reset when more fuel is added to the tank. Unaware that what is being supplied is Autogas rather than unleaded, they then show inaccurate figures.
I’m sure that there is more to this than I’m aware of at the moment, but for now it seems the only way to find out how much petrol I’ve got is to add some more…
Cooking on Gas
Having got the car back on Thursday 3rd, I then left for a fortnight’s holiday with the family in Scotland. The Coupé won’t carry either the child seat or the roofbox, so I had to leave it at home while we took the Astra on the long trek up North.
I’m back to work this week, so off on my new commute in the Coupé. I’ve had it for nearly a month and a half and only driven it a couple of times, so it was good to get behind the wheel.
I’m no Jeremy Clarkson, so I won’t attempt to go too deeply into the handling characteristics, besides which the A14 (straight dual carriageway, lots of speed cameras) isn’t the best place to test the performance envelope. There are two things I missed from the Astra, though:
The first, strangely, is the rear wash-wipe. With condensation in the mornings and dusty rain in the afternoons, rear visibility is not great. The Coupé is eight inches wider and eighteen longer than the Astra, so I’m still getting used to getting in and out of parking spaces. With five cars in the space previously occupied by four outside the house (not all mine, I hasten to add!), I need all the rear visibility I can get.
The second point is the sound system. The factory-fit Peugeot radio is okay, although the reception on FM isn’t great, but I do miss my DAB and MP3 player.
I’m back to work this week, so off on my new commute in the Coupé. I’ve had it for nearly a month and a half and only driven it a couple of times, so it was good to get behind the wheel.
I’m no Jeremy Clarkson, so I won’t attempt to go too deeply into the handling characteristics, besides which the A14 (straight dual carriageway, lots of speed cameras) isn’t the best place to test the performance envelope. There are two things I missed from the Astra, though:
The first, strangely, is the rear wash-wipe. With condensation in the mornings and dusty rain in the afternoons, rear visibility is not great. The Coupé is eight inches wider and eighteen longer than the Astra, so I’m still getting used to getting in and out of parking spaces. With five cars in the space previously occupied by four outside the house (not all mine, I hasten to add!), I need all the rear visibility I can get.
The second point is the sound system. The factory-fit Peugeot radio is okay, although the reception on FM isn’t great, but I do miss my DAB and MP3 player.
Converted...
I’d booked the Coupé in with Essex LPG for conversion on April 23rd. Alan was slightly cheaper than the Greenfuel quote I’d had, at £1650, but it was going to be a four-hour journey to drive the car down to him and then get a train back home. When I mentioned this to him he immediately offered to collect it from me and take it back to Essex on a trailer. Everyone’s a winner.
He’d estimated that the conversion would take about a week, but due to a problem getting a part from a supplier in Wales, I didn’t get the car back until the following Thursday. He did deliver it to me, saving me another four hour journey, which was good.
The conversion looks like a neat job; an 80 litre (nominal) tank fits nicely under the parcel shelf, but still gives me good access to the spare wheel. The filler valve has been neatly fitted onto the rear wing, close to the petrol cap, and the switch is tucked away under the radio.
He’d estimated that the conversion would take about a week, but due to a problem getting a part from a supplier in Wales, I didn’t get the car back until the following Thursday. He did deliver it to me, saving me another four hour journey, which was good.
The conversion looks like a neat job; an 80 litre (nominal) tank fits nicely under the parcel shelf, but still gives me good access to the spare wheel. The filler valve has been neatly fitted onto the rear wing, close to the petrol cap, and the switch is tucked away under the radio.
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Got it!
Well, yesterday was the big day. The trip from home to Southampton was an eventful four -and-a-half hours, via London in the rush hour, the less said about which the better.
As I mentioned, I had settled on the 2001 2.0 'S', which was for sale with Nicholas Johnston Cars. I had a bit of trouble last week because Nick was keen to get his hands on some money, and was being pressured by another buyer who wanted to turn up with cash the next day.
The Coupé was ready and waiting when I eventually got to Southampton, so after stopping for a coffee and to sign some paperwork, I was off. Nick Johnston was a nice guy, with half a dozen or so cars he was selling from home. He's serviced and MoT'd the car, including replacing the timing belt, and it's been thoroughly cleaned both inside and out.
The bodywork is in fantastic condition for a six year old car. There's a tiny fine scratch on the driver's door, and a very small ding to the nearside rear wing, but it's small enough that you can only see it if you look carefully along the wing - from head on you'd never spot it. Inside is clean and tidy, the upholstery is in great condition and all the switches and buttons work. The passenger door trim is a bit loose and the trim on the inside of the driver's door mirror has been removed and inexpertly put back, but otherwise it's immaculate.
The 130 mile drive back from Southampton was effortless, taking only just over two hours - a pleasant change from the train down. It was long enough to find a comfy driving position and to get used to the controls and the pedals, but it was motorways and dual-carriageways almost all the way so I can't really comment on the handling. I'm sure I'll find an hour or so in the next few days to check out some of the quieter country roads around home.
So, after fur months of waiting and over two of blogging, I've finally got a 406 Coupé. And here it is.
Apologies to Nick Johnston for pinching the picture off his website, but since the car is sold I don't suppose he needs it any more...
As I mentioned, I had settled on the 2001 2.0 'S', which was for sale with Nicholas Johnston Cars. I had a bit of trouble last week because Nick was keen to get his hands on some money, and was being pressured by another buyer who wanted to turn up with cash the next day.
The Coupé was ready and waiting when I eventually got to Southampton, so after stopping for a coffee and to sign some paperwork, I was off. Nick Johnston was a nice guy, with half a dozen or so cars he was selling from home. He's serviced and MoT'd the car, including replacing the timing belt, and it's been thoroughly cleaned both inside and out.
The bodywork is in fantastic condition for a six year old car. There's a tiny fine scratch on the driver's door, and a very small ding to the nearside rear wing, but it's small enough that you can only see it if you look carefully along the wing - from head on you'd never spot it. Inside is clean and tidy, the upholstery is in great condition and all the switches and buttons work. The passenger door trim is a bit loose and the trim on the inside of the driver's door mirror has been removed and inexpertly put back, but otherwise it's immaculate.
The 130 mile drive back from Southampton was effortless, taking only just over two hours - a pleasant change from the train down. It was long enough to find a comfy driving position and to get used to the controls and the pedals, but it was motorways and dual-carriageways almost all the way so I can't really comment on the handling. I'm sure I'll find an hour or so in the next few days to check out some of the quieter country roads around home.
So, after fur months of waiting and over two of blogging, I've finally got a 406 Coupé. And here it is.
Apologies to Nick Johnston for pinching the picture off his website, but since the car is sold I don't suppose he needs it any more...
Wednesday, 4 April 2007
What a Week!
Well, I finally got a call from Potential Future Boss #1 last Friday, telling me that I would be offered the position we had discussed. So, time to stop faffing around and actually buy a car.
I've been looking at used car adverts for three months, so now was the time to leap into action and buy myself a shiny Peugeot 406 Coupé.
The first car on my list, mentioned here, had been sold, as I predicted. The next one, I noticed just as I called the dealer, had red leather upholstery (why??!).
The next three all had sunroofs. None of these were mentioned in the text of the advert, nor were they visible on the photographs. In one case,the advert ran to eight lines of description of the car, including the surprise news that the car had power steering, but failed to mention the sunroof. As I established a while ago, sunroofs are a no-no.
By yesterday, I had narrowed the choice down to two vehicles:
A 2001 (Y) 2.0 S, cloth interior, 73,000 miles. Advertised at £3800 but £3500 agreed.
-or-
A 2000 (W) 2.0 SE, electric heated leather seats, cruise control, etc. 97,500 miles. Advertised at £3500.
My scoring system penalises the 'SE' for the extra 24,500 miles (~£600) and the extra year (£700), but gives it £600 for the extra kit. So, in order to be of equal value to the 'S' model, it would need to be reduced to around £2900.
I called the dealer, Rude Car,this morning and offered £3000 cash, which they politely declined. The car had come in only yesterday, so they weren't willing to drop the price at all. No sale for them today.
I've arranged to collect the 'S' from Southampton next week, once it's been MoT'd. The dealer serviced it and replaced the cam belt when he received the car, so no worries there.
I've also got a nice quote for the insurance by changing the car on my existing policy and taking out a new policy in my wife's name for the Astra. Net cost, about £490, which is £200 or so less than I'd thought.
The LPG conversion is also provisionally booked at Essex LPG for two weeks' time.
Full speed ahead...
I've been looking at used car adverts for three months, so now was the time to leap into action and buy myself a shiny Peugeot 406 Coupé.
The first car on my list, mentioned here, had been sold, as I predicted. The next one, I noticed just as I called the dealer, had red leather upholstery (why??!).
The next three all had sunroofs. None of these were mentioned in the text of the advert, nor were they visible on the photographs. In one case,the advert ran to eight lines of description of the car, including the surprise news that the car had power steering, but failed to mention the sunroof. As I established a while ago, sunroofs are a no-no.
By yesterday, I had narrowed the choice down to two vehicles:
A 2001 (Y) 2.0 S, cloth interior, 73,000 miles. Advertised at £3800 but £3500 agreed.
-or-
A 2000 (W) 2.0 SE, electric heated leather seats, cruise control, etc. 97,500 miles. Advertised at £3500.
My scoring system penalises the 'SE' for the extra 24,500 miles (~£600) and the extra year (£700), but gives it £600 for the extra kit. So, in order to be of equal value to the 'S' model, it would need to be reduced to around £2900.
I called the dealer, Rude Car,this morning and offered £3000 cash, which they politely declined. The car had come in only yesterday, so they weren't willing to drop the price at all. No sale for them today.
I've arranged to collect the 'S' from Southampton next week, once it's been MoT'd. The dealer serviced it and replaced the cam belt when he received the car, so no worries there.
I've also got a nice quote for the insurance by changing the car on my existing policy and taking out a new policy in my wife's name for the Astra. Net cost, about £490, which is £200 or so less than I'd thought.
The LPG conversion is also provisionally booked at Essex LPG for two weeks' time.
Full speed ahead...
Monday, 26 March 2007
A private affair
I've never bought a car privately - our two previous cars and our current one were all bought from dealers. Only the second, a rather good looking 1994 Mazda 323F, was sold privately, so I'm rather new to the whole business of buying cars from complete strangers.
As I've been looking for my 406 Coupé, I've assumed that I'd be looking for a car from a dealer. Most of the cars on Autotrader are from dealers, and the £500 penalty I've added in my scoring system has ensured that only trade sales were likely to get a look in.
Until now. A quick surf before bedtime has revealed that a car that I saw a few weeks ago, a silver 2000 (X) 2.0 SE has dropped from £3699 to £3199, and has acquired an 'ono' to boot. This is now firmly top of my list, £200 ahead of the pack.
So - do I understand the additional risks of buying privately? I'd certainly be getting a full independent inspection, which is likely to cost £150-£200. The cost of this is already factored into the scoring system. A bit of negotiating might also get me back vaguely in line with my budget, which would be attractive.
It's probably a moot point, as the newly-reduced Coupé is likely to attract a lot more attention - or maybe al the attention it's already had has been put off by some hideous flaw. Time will tell.
As I've been looking for my 406 Coupé, I've assumed that I'd be looking for a car from a dealer. Most of the cars on Autotrader are from dealers, and the £500 penalty I've added in my scoring system has ensured that only trade sales were likely to get a look in.
Until now. A quick surf before bedtime has revealed that a car that I saw a few weeks ago, a silver 2000 (X) 2.0 SE has dropped from £3699 to £3199, and has acquired an 'ono' to boot. This is now firmly top of my list, £200 ahead of the pack.
So - do I understand the additional risks of buying privately? I'd certainly be getting a full independent inspection, which is likely to cost £150-£200. The cost of this is already factored into the scoring system. A bit of negotiating might also get me back vaguely in line with my budget, which would be attractive.
It's probably a moot point, as the newly-reduced Coupé is likely to attract a lot more attention - or maybe al the attention it's already had has been put off by some hideous flaw. Time will tell.
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