Recall sorted and Exhaust Gas Regulator....

Well, the Monster is back, and the recall has been done.  But that didn't clear the error.  No - the annoying little monster did that as I was driving to Arbury this morning.

When I started the car, I got the ping and the warning message (as well as the engine management light on the dashboard.)  OK - I knew about that - it was going to be sorted out.  What I didn't expect was for the damned thing to disappear as I was driving!

So, muttering all sorts of things about the error, I dropped it off to be dealt with by the capable engineers at Arbury, and went shopping with Mum (I'd been smart, and booked the morning off, so I didn't have to rush about like a headless chicken to try to get back to the dining table!)

As we're still in lockdown, it wasn't as if we could head off to Solihull for some retail therapy (to be honest - I've not missed that!)  Instead, it was wildy exotic - off to Morrisons to do the food shopping.  There were some things that we couldn't get, so we headed to Warwick to Tesco to finish off (and I was able to get the obligatory coffee - can't resist Costa coffee...)

We still had time to kill, so we were able to go to a couple of garden centres, and as we were heading back to Leamington, my phone rang.  It was Molly, calling me to let me know that the Monster was out on a road test, and should be ready to collect.

That suited me fine, so Mum and I headed to Arbury, so she could drop me off and head for home with the shopping....  I went in and spoke to Molly who told me the news....  The recall was sorted (software only) but the bad news....  The EGR valve (aka exhaust solenoid) was playing up again.  

Despite the car clearing the error, it had left a record in the ECU so that they could have a look and see what it had recorded.  (Always said the car was plug and pray!)  It turned out that the EGR valve was playing up, so they took it out, cleaned it up and reinstalled in.  

If it throws the same error again (and doesn't go into limp mode - where a snail can overtake you shaking it's little fist at you as it goes past you) - then I have to call Arbury to get it booked in and they will have to sort the EGR.

But, at the end of the day, as long as the little monster runs, I don't mind.  

And time to call it quits - I am fed up with staring at the computer screen.

Back when I get chance...

Karen

Write in dust all you say
Look for the answers you know you can trust
One day they might blow away

Car check

Well, I've checked the car, and at least the battery hasn't drained overnight.  That's one good thing. The bad thing?  Still got the engine management light (and ping). 

Now all I have to do is speak to Arbury to see if I can get the Monster in earlier than Thursday, as I don't really want to risk having to wait for the car over the weekend, when I have plans made.

That, and the fact that this puts added stress on Mum's car with mine being unreliable at the moment.  All I can hope is this is something stupid, because I really *don't* want to have to change the Monster...

Time to call Arbury and see if I can get the car in earlier.

Back when I've spoken to the service team.

*****Update - 08:40 - Spoken to Molly at Arbury Leamington.  The earliest I can get the Monster in is Thursday.  But, they will do the recall work before starting to look at the diagnostics for me, as the issue may be something to do with that, and they don't want to charge me unnecessarily for the diagnostics if the issue is cleared with the recall.  

At least I know that the car is OK to drive, as I didn't experience any loss of power - but it was had to tell as I was only ½ mile away from home when this error triggered.  So, all I can do is pray this issue is sorted, otherwise there is another bill landing on my feet courtesy of the expensive little Monster.

Karen

Oh it gets harder to decide
Fingers crossed there's no time to celebrate

Who are you saying maybe it's our fate?

And when you said you've never lied

Another set of warning lights

Great.  Just what I *didn't* need to get.  Coming home last night, I got a "ping" from the car, then the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, and the dreaded "Engine fault - have vehicle repaired" message came up.

I know there is a recall on the Monster (hell, the car is booked in for Thursday morning) but this is now starting to get annoying.  I need a car that is reliable, and much as I love the Monster, it's becoming a nuisance.

If this is another problem, I may well have to start looking for a replacement car.  Which, with the current lock-down is not really viable as I need to test drive the new 208, to see if I like it...  And if I don't?

I've got no idea what to look for.  

Ah well, I'll have to see if the battery is dead this morning, and if it is...  Then Peugeot can fix the issue at their own expense.

Back later (when I have checked the Monster)

Karen

When things never happen like you wanted

Dark nights always keep you in the shade

Some words would be better left unspoken

No joke there's a price that must be paid

Recall on the Monster

Not the sort of letter that I really wanted to receive – especially on a Friday afternoon.  An envelope from Peugeot with the words “THIS IS NOT A CIRCULAR – SAFETY RECALL INFORMATION”

Great.  Now what’s gone wrong?  So, I open the envelope, and the following was revealed….

As part of our quality monitoring programme, we have identified that your vehicle requires a software update to prevent a potential reduction or loss of braking assistance.  This software update will improve the diagnosis capabilities of the braking assistance system.  This will prevent any risk of reduction or loss of braking assistance.

Your vehicle is equipped with a three cylinder 1.2 Puretech petrol engine, recognised for its dynamic performance as well as for its low fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.  To improve the efficiency of the internal engine components, this engine is fitted with a timing belt, which operates inside the engine lubricated by the engine oil.  If your annual mileage is greater than 9,000 miles and your usual trips are shorter than 6 miles, we recommend arduous service intervals which include replacing the timing belt very 62,500 miles or after 6 years, to help ensure the reliability and durability of the engine.  Combined with using the recommended engine oils, adhering to the servicing intervals and refraining from adding other products (e.g. additives) to the engine oil, will ensure the durability of the timing belt.

This safety recall consists of updating the software and a check of the condition of the brake vacuum pump and the timing belt.

This precautionary work is considered essential and will of course be completed free of charge.

Please contact your chosen dealer, quoting safety recall code xxx, who will be able to book an appointment to carry out the safety recall and give you further information if required.

So, the little monster is booked in for the work – the only charge to me will be the sanitizer (nuclear warfare for bugs) – a whole £4.75.  I don’t mind that at all – and cannot fault my dealership for the service that they have given.  They gave me the first slot (at a time and date that suited me) so that I can drop the little monster off and let the engineers work their magic. 

Time to call this quits – I’m being summoned for dinner.

Back when I get chance.

 

Karen

Hold on, there’s a new way a-coming
Looks like it’s arriving tonight
There’s no more hiding or running
There’s no more walking on ice

Listening to Podcasts

 Something that I have gotten into whilst I have been in lockdown.  Podcasts.  Not the sort of thing that I would usually do, as I find most podcasts a waste of time (and space on my phone).  

However, on the recommendation of a friend, I downloaded a podcast called Black Box Down.  This is a pair of amateur plane enthusiasts discussing some well known (and not so well known) air crashes – ones such as the Concorde crash, and the British Airways flight that crashed just short of the runway at Heathrow, as well as crashes such as the so-called "Gimli Glider".

I know that I've seen quite a few of these investigations on Nat Geo - Air Crash Investigation - but this is an interesting take on the investigations.

I've also been listening to quite a gentle series - Paws and Claws.  This is an interview series fronted by Bill Turnbull, and he's talking to various people in the news (and celebrities such as Johnny Vaughn) about their pets.

It's really funny (and touching) and you can tell that Bill is a trained journalist - the questions are not boring and he manages to extract funny little anecdotes from his guests about their pets.

Ah well - time to call this quits.  Another podcast is calling...  And this one promises to be a real cracker...  Power the Maxwells...

Back when I get finished with my podcasts...

Karen

There's a chill wind at your back door
And the fire cracks on the damp floor
You hear footsteps but you're not sure
On a storyteller's night