Say your accelerator jammed

Chris Whelan wibbled on Wednesday 10 February 2010 09:18

Yes - and simple to implement.

On an aside, I did like the green lamp at the end of the indicator stalk... Not so sure about the dipped/main beam foot switch though.

Despite being overloaded with way too many crap electronic boxes, the Touran does have one very useful feature - a proper "low oil" warning, as opposed to "no pressure, your engine is now buggering itself" light. Just as well, diesel tourans seem to eat oil... But a very sensible feature... Wonder if they could have implemented that in the old days before electronic sensors?

Tim Watts gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Easily - and some manufacturers did.

Citroen had an oil level gauge that came on for a few seconds after first turning the ignition on, then went off again. Definitely on CXs, BXs, XMs, probably on others. On some (CX GTi turbo, possibly BX 16v?) it was oil level for those first few seconds then changed over to oil pressure.

Adrian wibbled on Wednesday 10 February 2010 10:31

A very good idea...

The only time I've had a low pressure light come on was when (ironically) the pressure sender cracked and let all the oil out of the engine - luckily in a car park so it didn't damage itself (old Maestro).

=A0

Citroen used to have a guy at end of 2CV line with specially weighted boot to kick shut the bonnets.

But don`t think they thought about changing brakes from the 950 petrol...

There is , what in retrospect seems like seconds but was probably a lot less in actuality, a bit when you are in denial, throttle jamming wide open is thankfully rare.

Lovely, probably wasn`t expression used in circumstances ;-)

Cheers Adam

They were very fragile though; the green lens would break, and leave a white light that was far too bright at night.

I much prefer foot operated dip switches; they are useful when turning in to a road whilst on main beam, and needing to dip whilst still moving the steering wheel. After all, your left foot is the least used limb when driving!

Chris

Adam Aglionby gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Such is the story. I've never seen a sign of a bootprint on a 2cv bonnet.

Yes. My '57 Bentley had one. Press a button beside the fuel gauge to read oil level. Think it had a float similar to the fuel tank in the sump. A warning light would have been a simple addition.

My SD1 has a low oil warning - but has never worked. I've checked the electronics so guess it's the sensor. But can't obtain the correct part as a replacement. And don't actually know how it works.

Its indicative of Citroens build quality that the story persists.

Cheers Adam

I had an add on gadget on one of my very early cars, it was a replacement dipstick which was hollow, there was a little hole in the side just below where the oil level 'should' be, attached to the top was a plastic tube, this lead to a push button on the dash, when you pushed it down it blew air through the dipstick and when released it tried to suck back up, if there was oil over the hole the button didn't pop back out, if the oil level was low and below the dipstick hole then the button popped right out showing a red warning stripe. It worked really well and saved lifting the bonnet too often.

should be.

neutral ????

Foot under pedal and pull it back up.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Chris Whelan saying something like:

Old bugger I knew related a story of a marine diesel used as a generator driver in the Sudan. It started to run away, so he took several belts at the inj pump with a sledge hammer, to no avail (probably sump oil burning at that point). He then ran away, along with everybody else and waited for the crunching banging noises which happened not long afterwards. Apparently some flying bits took down the shed roof.