JonLongstaff

So the final chapter is that the Roomster has gone off with Pete, who seems to be a throughly decent chap in real life as on the forum. Pete I hope the car got you home in one piece and I wish you many happy miles in the old dear. Now I just have to deal with the sellers remorse and accept that I will miss the old thing... All the best everyone.

I don’t want to break any forum rules here with anything else I might say so apologies if I already have. Can someone point me to the dos and donts please

Hi Pete I never thought of selling it considering the state it’s in. Is it worth the effort?

Just to put this thread to bed. Firstly thank you for all the advice and encouragement and offer of help. An electrical specialist had a look and measured things. His verdict was a new alternator, plus the battery is weak so will probably need replacing soon if not immediately. Add that to two errors on the lambda sensors in the exhaust, (probably leaky injector related) as with the cat that should also be replaced, and shocks that should be done too and it’s time to say well done good and faithful servant to the old thing. So long and thanks for the memories old girl. All the best everyone.

Looks typically difficult for anyone with normal sized hands. 🙂. I miss my 2cv….

Thanks Pete, just tried and the red battery light did light up as expected so I think we are at checking the alternator brushes as the next step aren't we?

Agree completely on anything more modern, they seem to get more and more complicated for no good reason, and that the only thing that can really replace a Roomster is another Roomster. Not validation to get rid of it, just want to make sure it sensible and realistic to try to fix the faults. It sounds as though we have 2 simple things to either do or get a garage to do, (might have to try another garage though unfortunately) , check the wire that runs to the alternator from the battery as per skomaz above, which I struggled to find yesterday, and check that the temperature lights are working correctly (which I think they are anyway). Far from getting rid, before it left us on the side of the motorway I was thinking about getting the cat and the leaky injectors fixed, if we can get it back to normal I still might. And thank you everyone for your input I'm going to have another look for that wire right now..

Fair point, the temperature gauge is not really what is bothering me, but maybe it should be. Alternators, other electricals, Oily liquid out of the exhaust is bothering me more.

Thought I posted that yesterday. Don’t want to cause an argument. My understanding of the blue light from the manual is that it warns you that the engine isn’t up to temperature yet. There’s a snowflake that appears in the little computer when the temp gets below 4 for the ice warning. Meanwhile does anyone think it’s time to let the car go? I’m starting till think so. Bear in mind that the idea of looking for a replacement fills me with dread..

Thanks steve, those checks I can do and will do tomorrow.

Re the temperature lights there are two in the roomster, one red one blue, the manual says they are coolant temperature coolant quantity lights. As far as I can remember the blue one has always come one when the engine has been cold and gone off once it has warmed up, I think the red one is for low coolant and overheating. Meanwhile when JR said you might be able to gain a little time and miles by freeing them off I'm starting to think that other than spending a decent chunk of money with inherent risk all we are doing is trying to eke a few more miles out of a car that is on the way out and the smart thing to do might be to weigh it in.

Yup it’s blue.

Latest update. First up I think the coolant warning was a red herring. I think the low temperature light comes on until the engine is warm and then it goes off. Meanwhile having sat running for half an hour yesterday, went back to the car this morning - started first time so the battery had held some charge. Seemed to run ok then the battery light came on and then went off again. Checked the obvious stuff under the bonnet, paused for a bit then going back to the car noticed a puddle under the exhaust pipe - slightly black puddle. The boy started the car revved it a bit and liquid came out of the exhaust pipe.We think it's a mixture of oil and petrol. What does the Briskoda hive mind think?

Thanks steve, those checks I can do and will do tomorrow.

Believe or not it wasn’t that long ago. I remember putting some in a couple of months ago. I’m no expert but we do try to do the what’s needed to keep the old thing going. I do think it’s time might be up though as we are now at the point where the more I spend on this car the less I’ll have for the replacement. I’m definitely upgrading recovery though!