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Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by andyhyoung on January 28, 2013, 7:51 pm

Year of Manufacture *: 2006
Engine Size and Code *: 2.0

Customers original complaint was dipped beam headlights very poor.He called one of the breakdown guys,as he thought there may be some issue with the battery/charging/alternator circuit.Breakdown man said possible battery/alternator/wiring fault(what else would they say?)take it to a specialist.I carried out a few basic checks.Battery ok.Charging voltage ok no load at idle.Re-test system under load.turn on headlights,no dip beam.Surprise,surprise,both headlamp bulbs blown!!!.

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by John White <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1071' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 31, 2013, 9:05 am, in reply to "Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Tony White

We had a customer bring his Rover 75 in a few weeks ago, both headlights not working on dip, he had also fitted new bulbs,we checked fuses, wiring etc, traced to headlight bulbs blown, he had replaced the main beam bulbs, he went away sheepishly,but returned with a tin of biscuits & a few cans of beer. Customers eh!!
John

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Pete Mutlow <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1569' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 31, 2013, 5:29 pm, in reply to "Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"

1. Many years ago I had a chappie with a Fiat that was bad starting from cold. Tuned it and got the call that it was still bad starting from cold. Cutting a long story short, this happened a few times and being mobile, the 50 mile round journey was becoming a chore. The vehicle always started first go with me, but this time the customer hovered to see how I started it. He was rather embarrassed when he suddenly realised it was a manual choke and not automatic choke. OK, the choke lever was flush with the facia so I suppose he had some excuse!

2. Chappie had changed plugs on his car because it was running badly. After changing plugs, it was worse than ever and called me. He had gapped the plugs with a 25thou gap with a feeler gauge but not using the thickness of the gauge...... but the width! Never seen plugs with such a large gap!

Regards

Pete M

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Ian Baxter <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1560' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 1, 2013, 10:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Ian Baxter

2. Chappie had changed plugs on his car because it was running badly. After changing plugs, it was worse than ever and called me. He had gapped the plugs with a 25thou gap with a feeler gauge but not using the thickness of the gauge...... but the width! Never seen plugs with such a large gap!

love it

Ian

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Peter Mutlow <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1569' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 2, 2013, 8:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Peter Mutlow

And then of course there was a chappie with a very tidy Volvo 340 (1.4) who had it tuned by me once a year. He seemed to have an obsession with the tappets and always asked if they were ok.....which they always were. One day he was a couple hundred miles away in Kent, and the said vehicle developed a severe misfire. He was convinced it was the tappets. His vehicle was transported back home where-upon he rebuilt the cylinder head and replaced the tappets etc. On start up vehicle was the same and he called me. £3.50 worth of condenser and my time fixed it.

Regards

Pete M

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by geoff taylor <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT5467' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 2, 2013, 10:13 pm, in reply to "Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Geoff Taylor

just thought i would add my 2 pennorth many years ago a chap with a triumph acclaim engine cut out the AA attended and informed him the distributor was the fault. it was recovered where it was found to be broken cambelt not allowing the distributor to turn, on been informed the belt had been replaced and all was well. because the AA had said the disributor was at fault he insisted on renewal.obviously more money than sense,the general public ?:

geoff taylor

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Craig Hewison <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=ukat3409' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 4, 2013, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"

One from last year:

V6 Omega automatic,cant remember the year! "Can you look at my car theres something wrong with the exhaust, I think its blowing" "no probs sir - i cant find anything wrong with it!" surprised, he took it away. Later that day he phoned back "I wasn't convinced about my exhaust and so I've been listening to it and its got a massive misfire" he brings it in and we cant find a misfire anywhere, unconvinced he comes to garage to demonstrate where upon he sticks his foot through the pedal at holds it on its limiter at 7k rpm, "listen its got a right miss!!!!" after trying to explain to the elderly gentleman that thats a rev limiter he's listening to and its meant to do that he declares "listen sonny i was messing with cars before you were even born and i know a misfire when i hear one!" and then marches out of the garage muttering "bloody kids think they know it all"

Crsig

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Michael Whitworth <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT5568' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 9, 2013, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Mike Whitworth - Administrator

""listen sonny i was messing with cars before you were even born and i know a misfire when i hear one!" and then marches out of the garage muttering "bloody kids think they know it all""

Isn't it funny how the customers always seems to know more than us but can't fix it himself....

And if he doesn't know more his mate does in the pub or his cyber mates on the Google forums!!!

M.O.M. Miserable Old Manc

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Mick Partington <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1907' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 15, 2013, 11:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Michael Partington

Plugged into a Peugeot 2006 model (was a while ago, so excuse lack of details)

Power steering light on after they had changed the pump.

Basically it said ECU corrupt (replace ECU) Code wouldn`t clear.

Filled it up with fluid and it worked perfect

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by david cogan <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT5506' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 26, 2013, 9:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
David Cogan

old guy came back many years ago with his rover 213 and said we have ruined his clutch or gear box because he couldnt get gears,he was well kicking off we said try moving your seat foward so you can depress the clutch pedal went away moaning.another guy came back a couple of years ago in a fiesta saying we had broke his radio we had a look at it and it was turned off and he didnt even know how to turn it back on

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Luke browne <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1817' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 8, 2014, 8:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"

Had a middle aged woman book her car (Nissan Almera I think?) in with us twice in two weeks for a lack of power? After finding nothing wrong for the second time we decided A road test with the customer was best, so as she could recreate the fault, got in, she started it and began to pull away....the rev counter was at a steady 4000 rpm before the clutch pedal had even left the sound deadening!! The accelerator continued to nose dive whilst the clutch pedal was eased up with the greatest of caution!!
I think by the time we had started to move the rev counter was close to 5500rpm!!
As we pulled up from the "road test" I turned to the customer and said " have you ever considered an auto?"

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Jon Morgan <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=ukat3190' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 10, 2014, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Jon Morgan

1. Customer rang up saying her car was making a warning chime as she's driving along, "what warning is displayed on the dash? we asked. "None", said she.
We told her to drive it in and we'd listen to it. She duly arrives I trot out with a scanner (to see what fault is logged) jump in & shut the door.
Before I could turn the ignition on she says, "there it is did you hear it?" - She was stood outside the car & I was inside, I didn't hear a thing. So I get out of the car and heard a 1 second beep every 15 seconds or so (car is now shut & ignition off) - the noise is coming form the area where she's stood, I walked around the car & she followed me muttering "there it is again, can you hear it?". Everywhere I went she followed & so did the noise. "Do you have a mobile phone on you?" I asked, "why" she said followed by "oh no" - Blonde + Car + Mobile going flat & beeping = Bad mix.

2. Last week, I serviced a 2011 Passat Auto while the customer went shopping, he turned up just as we finished, so I parked the car on the forecourt by the reception door for him, (less distance to walk). He paid his bill, got in the car & started it - a couple of minutes later he's still sat there, but he's looking down, to the side, up, back down again etc..... I walked over & asked if there was a problem, he replied, "I can't find the handbrake" - he'd had the car from new!
He was neither blonde, female, no big knockers, etc strange how he got a sterner look than the blonde who ticked all the boxes in the first example who received a shrug a smile & a quick take of vital statistics?

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Steve Sneap <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT5333' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 11, 2014, 12:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Stephen Sneap

Middle aged Nigerian woman over here studying to be a doctor came in with 2.0 Primera SRI.. Lets call her Esther for that is her name!" Mr Steve my car she make bad noise at 70 or so "For that is how she spoke. .Thinking possible wheel bearing took it for a drive and found nothing gave it back to her
.A few days later she's back suggesting that I might like to get my ears tested as the noise is so bad ... so this time she drives to show me...Puts it in second gear pulls away up 70 still in second 5ooo rpm ...Shouts over to me THERE!! CAN YOU HEAR THAT?
Put it to her that she might consider using more than one gear after all there was 5 to choose from (to be fair the previous owner had changed the gear Knob for a pretty acrylic type with no "H" pattern..) Bless.
Steve Sneap

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Andy Mason <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT2936' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 12, 2014, 8:40 am, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Andy Mason

I collected, from the customers house, a 3 year old Toyota Prius, which the customer had owned from new, serviced it and returned it to her driveway. Posted the keys through her letter box and returned to work.
The next morning I had a phone call saying there was something wrong with the car as it would not move.
I offered to go out and have a look, but was informed the Rac were already on there way out.
20 mins later had the patrolman on the phone telling me that the lady customer wasn't aware it had a foot operated parking brake, which I had applied, and she obviously never had
Andy

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Colin Hedger <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1335' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 23, 2014, 10:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Colin Hedger

In the mid 80's (showing my age now!) I taught Motor Vehicle Maintenance evening classes in Slough.It was intended as a basic maintenance course for idiots but I always ended up going more 'in depth'.Some of my (adult) pupils later became my customers.

One year, 6 months after the course ended one of my ex pupils rang:"Colin, my mini is using loads of oil, can you come and have a look please?"
"what do you call loads? , because they normally burn a bit I said"
"Two days ago I put a litre in , then yesterday a litre and just now another litre and its hardly moved on the dipstick"

"Blimey, that must be REALLY smokey or you must be leaving puddles of oil everywhere I said, don't drive it till I get there".

When I got there, she opened the bonnet and unscrewed the SU carb damper and said "look it hasn't moved on the dipstick!"

I think she must have been doing her knitting at the back of the class in that lesson!

Colin.

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by paul goswell <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT5240' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 28, 2014, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"
Paul Goswell

had a old boy years ago insisted he had a rattle in his centre consul, on road test with me driving he insisted it had moved to his pasenger door, i got into the pasenger side and he drove but it had moved again,turned out it was a loose battery in his left hand hearing aid.

Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #

Posted by Pete Mutlow <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/ukautotalk11/info/user=UKAT1569' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 2, 2014, 4:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Citroen Picasso 2.0 2006 -The curious case of the misleading diagnosis - Fixed #"

Fella had a perceived problem with the fuel consumption of his car. He had been to a few tuning companies and I eventually pitched up. Did the tune up and couldn't find much wrong which resulted in another call about a week later with the same complaint. I asked how he was measuring the fuel consumption and it turned out he fed a one gallon container with petrol and fed it directly to the carb. When the fuel in the container ran out he then checked the odometer which showed silly MPG. I then carefully explained that as the carb had a return pipe back to the fuel tank he was basically transferring the fuel from his container .....back to the fuel tank.

You have to smile

Pete M

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