My First Breakdown

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

I knew it would come at some point, its par for the course when you drive around in a 20 year old car,

I just did not want it when i was driving home after a nightshift in the morning rush hour.

Up untill now I have not really had any trouble with my car,

 

I was sat at the front of the queue waiting for the traffic lights to change to green, they started to change so I went to put it in gear and that was when I realised I was in trouble, the gear stick now felt like a mixing spoon. so the hazzard lights were activated, unfortunatly the driver behind was to close to be able to make their way around me, and the lights now changed back to red without anyone making it across.

I got out and started pushing my car to try and move it out of the way, luckly because we live in a modern world where eveyone loves to help someone out before long I was surround by no one, the lights are red and even if they changed again I am blocking the way but still they all just sat there looking at me (I love this world today)

I did manage to move it over enough for the other cars to get past, its quite amazing how quickly a queue builds up from such a short delay.

 

I poped the bonnet and could see down the back of the engine the offending gear rod, I pushed it back on with ease and thought my troubles were over, I got back in started it up and put it in first ready to go, the lights were now green so off I went into second no problem then I went for third, then there it was again that stiring spoon feeling again.

So hazzards again and bonnet up, the rod is off agian, I put it back on and decided that this time third or above is now a no go, I only live a few miles from work so no big deal, I set off again on my way home but now there has been a crash and I am now forced to take a longer way home down a dual carrage way (in second)

I eventually made it home and now my car is sitting in the garage awaiting repair, at least it should be a straight forward job, I think.

 

Just thought i would share my first breakdown with you,

overall not really to bad.

 

Ben

[dodsworth_gti 11]

two of mine used to do it regular for some reason,even after replacing the rods,i used to car zip ties incase,quick easy 'get me home' bodge

 

when it happened to me i used to get into third and leave it there

[richsmells 2]

Funnily enough, my first breakdown was caused by the same thing, but on the M27. Get on the phone to Miles

Edited January 22, 2011 by richsmells

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

What made it worse was once I had got home I had to take my girlfriends pet rabbit to the vets, So I had to walk about 4 miles with a rabbit in a box when all I wanted was to go to sleep after working all night.

 

I have been looking at some aftermarket rods on ebay the ones with the two clips so hopefully it will not happen again.

[pug309twin40s 1]

miles sells them and there very good, they clip on then have another pin that goes in to stop them popping of.

[dumbiron 0]

miles sells them and there very good, they clip on then have another pin that goes in to stop them popping of.

 

Also fitted to the door rams on our forklifts at work , well they were

[dale205mills 39 7 Cars]

The joys of owning a 205, have you got the matching burn marks on the wrists, due to a hot manifold meeting bare skin.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Not too bad for a first breakdown, which is lucky considering the circumstances. I'd be mortified if I broke down in rush hour traffic and caused massive tailbacks! So yeah, could have been worse, like it cutting out and refusing to start etc.

 

Ironically, the only time I've had a gear rod come loose was with one of Miles' special clippy ones. Not a product flaw though - they are excellent rods - no, in my case the lock nut had come loose (should have thread locked it ) and the vibrations slowly worked the rod loose until it popped out of the end. So unlike most failures with standard rods, where they pop off the balljoint, in my case the cup was still firmly on the balljoint but the rod was flapping in the breeze

Edited January 22, 2011 by GLPoomobile

[Richie 32]

Same thing happened to me in the Birmingham equivalent of the Bronx at 4am with a drunk girlfriend who thought it was funny. Seriously didn't think we were getting away alive, loads of gang bangers walking past us.

 

Anyway, more importantly, hows the Rabbit?

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

dale205mills

Yea it did get a little hot reaching down the back, made me jump a few times!

 

Richie

The rabbit is back with us all good and well, he had his teeth done they do not line up correct, so grow to long.

from what I understand they use something like a dremel to grind them down.

This is the third time they have been done.

 

About the car I have been looking at rods from Pugracing and Constella, am I right that Miles is pugracing?

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Yes as said either drop me a email or give me a call

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

Ok thank you Miles, I have sent you a message.

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

this was my first 205 breakdown too many moons ago.

 

happended to me right in the middle of a busy roundabout

 

ended up putting it into 3rd by hand and burned the clutch to get home (this was before i knew anything about 205's btw)

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Thats not a break down! Although I'v never had a proper breakdown. The worst I'v had is corroded connections so the started refused to spin up. Only other I'v had which isn't really a break down is when I lost all my coolant. I hit a (big bugger) Rabbit and it bent my radiator backwards into my alternator fan, cutting the hose and loosing all my coolant, I drove the 6 miles back to my mates garage though, just stopped quite often when the themp gauge went high and poured water all over the engine I had only just fitted my temp guage as well

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Richie

The rabbit is back with us all good and well, he had his teeth done they do not line up correct, so grow to long.

from what I understand they use something like a dremel to grind them down.

This is the third time they have been done.

 

Ours had this done 3 weeks ago, I left the vets £112 lighter

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Don't rabbits teeth just keep on growing?!

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Don't rabbits teeth just keep on growing?!

 

Yes but as they eat the teeth wear down. If the teeth don't quite line up then part of the tooth doesn't wear down, resulting in a longer piece of tooth that stops them from eating and can also pierce through their tongue or cheek.

 

But yes their teeth do keep growing so I'll probably have to shell out that amount of cash every few months.

[omega 82]

Yes but as they eat the teeth wear down. If the teeth don't quite line up then part of the tooth doesn't wear down, resulting in a longer piece of tooth that stops them from eating and can also pierce through their tongue or cheek.

 

But yes their teeth do keep growing so I'll probably have to shell out that amount of cash every few months.

 

might be cheaper to buy a dremel and do it yourself.

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

This is now the third time our rabbit has had this done, each time just over £100. Bargain.

[DaveW 6]

Its a break down he had the bonnet up

[carbers205 1]

I remember this happened on my old 405. Fortunately a) it stuck it in third so I could get to where I was going fairly easily, I had my jacket in the car so no arm manifold burns for me and c) I had my toolbox with me so a big zip tie later and Im away. Couldnt even call it a breakdown really!

[JayCC 0]

One of the 10mm bolts for the rocker cover unscrewed itself on mine last week in rush hour . Pulled over, tightened it up, topped up about 1/2 litre of oil and off i went again

[danpass15 6]

I broke down on the motorway in my 205 on sunday night - the alternator packed up and eventually I was running on one cylinder by the sounds the engine was making and eventually came to a hault only 2 miles away from the junction I needed to get off at! |This is the 3rd 205 I have owned and the alternators have broken on everyone! I dunno what that says about me and 205s lol