Bluey's tips and tricks thread

[Blue406]

Its come to my attention that I'm full of useful little tidbits that make the daily nuances of motoring a little less of an annoyance. So, ever the good samaritan, I thought I'd start this thread and update it as I go along, finding new tips to make driving your 6 a little more pleasurable and remember old tricks.
I welcome the addition of tips and tricks from other members, providing that they know 100% they work (ie they've done it themselves).
I don't want to see any "increase your BHP" or chav stuff like that. Please limit your additions to pratical solutions to problems. And please follow the format I have used.



Tip No 1 – Door sill rubber strips

We all know the pains in the butts the seemingly flawed designed rubber seals are on the front passenger and drivers door sills are. You clip em with your heel and off they come. You replace the clips, but another nudge with your heel a week later and its back to square one.

Well, a solution I have found is to use Silicon Adhesive. Available in a little white toothpaste like tube from Halfrauds. Cheap and effective. It is strong enough to hold the rubber strip, yet flexible enough to give when you inevitably clip it with your heel.
Just be sure to give the door sill and the rubber strip a good ol' clean. Apply the silicon then close the door to hold the rubber tight against the sill. Give it a few hours to really set and Presto.

Tip No 2 – Windscreen degreasing

We all hate it when it rains, you use your wipers and you can't see sh*t. Road grease gets the better of us a lot of the time, especially in Winter with all the anti ice stuff local councils dump on the roads.
Holts Exterior Windscreen Cleaner comes to the rescue.
This handy glove box sized spray shoots out a white foam that eats through just about anything that is stuck to your screen. For stubborn bug splats, give it a good rub with a clean cloth.
Then simply rinse off with some clean cold water or, if its raining, use your wipers.

Tip No 3 – Interior and Exterior plastic Trim

Well, there comes a time when the black plastics on your 6's start to look a little tired.
Armour All is the best solution I have found for rejuvenating all plastics and rubbers. You can even use the stuff on your tyres, although there is an Armour All Tyre foam for that.

Tip No 4 – Windscreen interior cleaner

The only solution I have found to really clean your windscreen and side windows has Autoglym's Glass Cream. Wipe it on, let it dry, buff it off. Your glass is then crystal clear and smear and smudge free.

Tip No 5 – Stop leaky back light clusters

We all know that the light clusters adorning the back of the saloon can be prone to leaking.
The best way I found to stop this is to remove them, clean the rubber seal and the section of the bodywork that the lights fit in thoroughly. Then, smear a bit of fresh motor oil on the rubber seal and then refit the clusters tightly. The oil acts as a water barrier.

Be careful not to over tighten the bolts as they can shear, and that leaves you with more headaches

[mjb]

Tip No 2 – Windscreen degreasing

We all hate it when it rains, you use your wipers and you can't see sh*t.

I keep a bottle of washing up liquid for just this purpose. Just dribble a bit over the windscreen, rub it into a wet windscreen with a rag or some kitchen roll, throw some more water at it and job's a good 'un.

[Welly]

Tip No 4 – Windscreen interior cleaner

The only solution I have found to really clean your windscreen and side windows has Autoglym's Glass Cream. Wipe it on, let it dry, buff it off. Your glass is then crystal clear and smear and smudge free. - and your dash is covered in white powder

[Blue406]

Tip No 4 – Windscreen interior cleaner

The only solution I have found to really clean your windscreen and side windows has Autoglym's Glass Cream. Wipe it on, let it dry, buff it off. Your glass is then crystal clear and smear and smudge free. - and your dash is covered in white powder

simple solution, stop being a lazy git and wipe it clean!

[neildavies]

Bluey's Tip No 6 – Windscreen Wiper Removal

Do not under any circumstances try to prise your wiper arms off using the windscreen as a leverage point.

This is only useful if you run out of Holts Exterior Windscreen Cleaner, and you can request that AutoGlass fetch you a whole new screen. Not a very cost effective method though

[Blue406]

git

[Welly]

Bluey's Tip No. 8 - How to aquire used parts for your 6

Go to your local scrap metal merchant and climb up amongst all the cars until you spot a 406. Then remove as many 'as good as brand new' bits as you can physically manage and pay next to nothing for them. Also make sure you 'pocket' as many fuses, relays,switches and sensors as you can fit in your trouser pockets and leave the site without looking suspicious.

[Blue406]

Bluey's Tip No. 8 - How to aquire used parts for your 6

Go to your local scrap metal merchant and climb up amongst all the cars until you spot a 406. Then remove as many 'as good as brand new' bits as you can physically manage and pay next to nothing for them. Also make sure you 'pocket' as many fuses, relays,switches and sensors as you can fit in your trouser pockets and leave the site without looking suspicious.

Joke or no joke, thats actually VERY good advice.

Bluey's wise words:
Buy brand new when your car is new. By used when your car is old,

[mjb]

Bluey's Tip No. 8 - How to aquire used parts for your 6

What happened to tip no. 7?

[Captain Jack]

Bluey's Tip No. 8 - How to aquire used parts for your 6

Go to your local scrap metal merchant and climb up amongst all the cars until you spot a 406. Then remove as many 'as good as brand new' bits as you can physically manage and pay next to nothing for them. Also make sure you 'pocket' as many fuses, relays,switches and sensors as you can fit in your trouser pockets and leave the site without looking suspicious.

Yes I still need to get that damn relay for the fog lamps, as the one that I used is actually used for A/C and rear screen heater.... Pug want over 50 quid for it.

[turbolag]

a smear of vaseline around the rear light gaskets is better, as you don't risk the material being attacked by oil.

Baby wipes are excellent for cleaning the interior hard plastic surfaces - they get the grime out well from the 'leather' moulded finish in the plastic, but leave the surface naturally clean, like new, and not a fake plasticky shine.

If your car has rear discs, keep the calipers scrupulously clean to avoid premature seizure (oo-er matron!). Clean the caliper with a paintbrush and lashings of soapy water when you clean the car.

Avoid aftermarket pattern exhausts - OE pug ones don't cost that much more, fit right first time, are properly silenced with no nasty buzzing or resonance, and are surprisingly good quality.

Use good quality oil, especially in the HDi's, and change it
scrupulously at the recommended intervals. There is nothing to be gained from doing this more frequently. OE quality Purolator filters cost half that of OE pug, which don't cost much themselves.

HDi's like a regular dose of STP or Redex fuel system/injector cleaner.

Keep an eye on tyre pressures, especially on the rear - it's a heavy car and it makes a bik diffence to the stability and handling.

On D9s keep an eye on the inner hidden surfaces at the bottom of the doors, especially the fronts. The cars have galvanised doors, bootlid and bonnet, but it's not hot dipped, it's simply galvanealed base stock steel. This area can rust on D9s with metallic paint.

Don't dismiss the D8 if you're after a bargain. The older generation engines are still good, but the D8 is better built and enjoys far better materials and paint than the relatively tinny D9.

[TooT]

Top tip for V6 owners - win the lottery before getting a new cambelt fitted. £££££

[Welly]

D9-er's: Become very good friends with a Super-Mechanic of low hourly rate.

[jameslxdt]

D8-er's: just drive it and love it