My Citroen GSA continues to fight me. Time to go?

[@nigelbarratt6825]

As a mechanic and auto electrician for over 50 years, I find myself wanting to give you suggestions and advice but can't! I'd say, not having looked at it, most of your electrical issues are probably down to bad earths. The intermittent starting problem could be as simple as a bad earth at the engine or body end of the main negative battery lead, and the malfunctioning of the sidelight/indicator could again be a bad earth, which makes them do weird things intermittently, with one bulb finding an earth through the other one effectively in series depending on what you have switched on. A common one is as simple as a bad earth between the bulb and the holder. If I was nearer I'd happily come and sort it for you but Birmingham's quite a way away. Apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs!

[@vidfletch]

I'm not a mechanic or auto-electrician, but right from the start of this saga, I have thought bad earths!

[@cjmillsnun]

Does seem like a classic dodgy engine earth to me.

[@DubSe7en]

You can use jumper cables to make a few earth's and see if things improve?

[@geoffsclassiccars]

Also notorious french fuseboxes

[@iainmacleod4007]

Totally agree, the problem will be a number of bad earths and badly corroded connections. I prefer to test 12V car electrics with a 21W test lamp. A voltmeter is no good as if a connection is hanging by a few strands you will still read 12V whilst there is no load on the item you are testing. The 21W test lamp puts a near 2A load on the test which proves the circuit under load conditions. Bad connection and the lamp glows or fails to light. Been doing French car electrics for years and gained a lot of experience in sorting problems. I could certainly sort many of these issues but too far away in South Scotland unfortunately.

[@mbak7801]

The colour marked nut. Do not remove it, just add another nut on top with a crimped circular terminal. As others have said sort out your earths. Do not try and analyse anything just clean everything up and even run an earth bus if you have to. That would be a very cheap repair. Ignore the alternator noise. Give it about 300 miles and it may go away. Cars have to be used. Do not complain if you have problems after leaving a car to rot for months.

[@FantaLaStrada]

I agree too that stuff will be messed up when you don't don't drive the car. There could be corrosion on the contacts, etc... Good idea with the color marked nut. So obvious! The only way he can fix it is to go through it methodically, but with all his projects its not going to happen. I've been there and also failed.

[@jusb1066]

It's been up for a while but you also have to up your game when it comes to maintenance and diagnostic. You need to be more methodical in testing earth's and supply, if you test them at the same time you don't know which wrong., And you keep having trouble with battery terminals

[@Mr_G977]

Ian, stay with the car. Your problems come from chasing voltages (as others have commented) instead of checking for good low resistance current paths along wires. I am a professional electrical engineer. the electrics on these cars are fairly standard. I got to know then well as I had 12 of them and used to sort them out to provide cheap motoring for friends. The issues will be high resistance connections (like the 12v battery clamp) that drop the voltage away when on load. The spade connectors used at the time work fine until they are disturbed, then they need careful cleaning before putting them back. Back in the day I had 12 GSA's and once sorted found them to be exceptional cars. That little engine (65 bhp) on song will take the car up to 110 mph. Rust was the big problem . A good auto electrician should get her sorted. It will be worth the effort, because the car is such a wonderful drive. Once sorted then a good tune up as I could hear the tappets are too wide. They should be 8 and 10 mm but I used to set mine at 9mm all round. Change the main jet from a 97 to 100 and the car will come alive, as the fuel economy was over done and left the engine a bit fuel starved. Make sure there is no oil starvation to the cams. A good GSA engine will sound like a sewing machine on tickover. Oil pressure from the pump is a bit low since the car was designed for a four speed box and the five speed box was a knee jerk reaction to the 1974 energy crisis. Drive the car hard and the oil pressure for the cams will stay good. In the UK cams used to go for a pastime as folk drove the car too low down the rev range with the five speed box. I have the full Citroen workshop manual set in two volumes so could help with the factory wiring diagrams . A major defect and a potential killer is a leaking exhaust since the heater works by drawing air over the exhaust in an encased section (both sides) . So the cabin can fill with carbon monoxide. Usually leaking oil would save you by pouring smoke throu' the heater vents but if you have a clean engine as I did then the first sign that the car was out to kill you was starting to fall asleep while driving.

[@joshonthetube]

[16:00] voltage doesn't mean anything when it's not under load. If you have a bad connection, the voltage will drop to zero as soon as it tries to pull some amps.

[@spainter1985]

Certainly frustrating at times but they appear to be relatively minor issues, if you havent got the time or inclination it might be best to farm it out to someone you trust and then you can get back to enjoying it once again. By far the coolest car on the fleet!

[@benbb5786]

Its never been the same since you fried the other alternator. Think its time to pay for some proper expertise or sell it to someone who will give it a good home and sort the issuses. It is such a cool car. 👌

[@PenryMMJ]

It would be a shame to see Giselle leave the fleet, she's a very quirky car, and very HubNut. But if I remember rightly Giselle was purchased as you planned a road trip to France for a big Citroen anniversary meeting, that never took place because of the covid travel restrictions. Getting her road trip ready now would be a big commitment, so it does seem like the right time to move her on. Hopefully she'll end up with someone that's got the time and resources to get her back to top condition. It won't be me, Ian is like an F1 mechanic compared to me.

[@stevek3036]

I totally feel your pain as I work on my older car myself and had to replace the alternator last week - many hours work. Regards alternator output you will not get 14 volts on start up on an otherwise good but flat battery until it has been able to charge for long enough. Sick batteries with sulphated plates (high internal resistance) will come up to alternator output very quickly - kind of counter intuitive but good batteries will take current and not raise in voltage quickly. This may explain what does sound like an alternator working flat out? . I'm going to suggest that the yellow paint on the alternator is actually not a seal but to let you know that the mystery yellow earth lead is where it should be connected to? That aside you had a very bad car day, Miss Hubnut caught the mood and came through by not making light, or being too negative, just there to support you!. In summary I do really feel that you have a few too many cars to maintain. The GS is a special car so sleep on the final decision and maybe consider moving on a few of the others to make space and give you more time to focus on the remaining fleet?

[@chrisstuart9425]

Oh Ian! I know how you feel and it's difficult to get the love back when it's gone. The last car I had I ended up hating it so much I wouldn't drive it, the wife ended up driving us about 😂. In fairness, it's the one car in your fleet that should go, it needs far too much time and money than you have I suspect, besides, TWC needs some lovin' and like many on here, I know you love that fabulous little vehicle 👍

[@casiofi]

I get where the frustration is coming from but think Giselle deserves another chance. Being parked up for so long with known issues is bound to lead to more popping up. Some dedicated time spent going thoroughly through the electrics, and properly investigating each issue, then getting some miles on the clock will do her a world of good. If she still won't play ball, then yes ebay/fire. The threat of that has fixed many a car.

[@tridaks]

It's not about getting 12 volts, it's about making sure the required current can be supplied, and is fully capable of reaching the consumer, AND can return to the battery. Have a look into testing circuits using voltage drop, and high resistance testing as well as just basic 12v feed; ie you may show 12v on your meter if you have one lead on the car body, and one probe on the the supply to the component, but that doesn't mean the component's actual circuit will complete.

[@UPnDOWN]

It's likely to be lots of corroded electrical connectors mate. Having the same fights with Alex's D Special (#notaDS). One minute something works, the next minute it doesn't. Anything that gives me grief now gets chopped out and a new connector put in. Chin up.

[@HubNut]

The lamps seem to be suffering due to crap contacts within the lamp units themselves. I should never have touched them!

[@EdsPlasticCars]

I had a couple of cheap new alternators make a noise like that but they quietened down after a few hundred miles and were fine

[@avit24]

A hint to test a wire you need to get to both ends of the wire...

[@Phiyedough]

I always feel sorry for the Matiz. My 2008 Chevrolet Spark has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. It has been my daily driver for the last 11 years.

[@AR.24]

Actually I found Hubnut looking for Matiz videos. The only car that I don’t want to leave the channel, and yea its sad thats its not moving at all for more than a year I guess.

[@cornishhh]

I've known several people who have had a variety of Daewoos and no one has had much good to say about any of them.

[@hunchanchoc8418]

They DO seem to have a reputation for reliability, the Chevy Spark.

[@seanp3113]

I am a mechanic and I don't like diagnosing faults over the internet. However, I feel your pain. If I lived local I'd offer my help. My money is definitely on an earth issue. It looks like it is back feeding, which may explain why you used to have a battery light permanently on. You have a faulty earth so it is finding the next best route, hence all the weird symptoms. Until you find it you won't get anywhere. I would start with the main leads from the battery. Use your jump leads to by pass those on the car. It could be a broken main earth. I have seen it on much newer vehicles. Try doing a simple voltage drop test on the battery cables and go from there.

[@davidwallace785]

I have 2013 spark. 30000 miles this year 😂 a true warrior

[@CaptHollister]

A joy to drive, a pain to own. 16:06 Yes ! a Red Dwarf paraphrase. Earlier today, I was watching Roadkill Garage in which Steve Dulcich took a hammer to battery posts explaining that every time you clean them you also reduce their diameter a little bit, eventually clamps no longer fit properly. A couple of lightish hammer strikes makes them slightly shorter and fatter which allows clamps to fit snuggly again.

[@Radfordperson]

Won't do the battery any good though!

[@Kai-Peter.Schellhase]

Could literally feel your frustration coming through the camera. I think it’s definitely time for you and Giselle to part ways.

[@rachelwaine3909]

Enjoyed the Red Dwarf reference to the battery!

[@dyanissimo1972]

I own a GS and a GSA. Both run perfectly. I think only a small thing is not wrong with it. A new headlight switch could be the fix with the correct connection of the alternator with the cable under the carburettor to the starter.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

I've never seen you hit rock bottom like this mate with ANY car, throughout the 4 years that I've been following your channel. We've all got a breaking point Ian, when 'enough is enough' - I truly think that GSA is yours. Get rid mate - life's just too short for that amount of ongoing aggravation - in time, money and not to mention, your sanity!

[@robinwells8879]

Gosh Ian! I have never seen you so dejected. Hang in there my friend. The problem with having many cars is that they hate inactivity and you can’t drive them all all the time. The issue is probably ever so simple but when fixed it will just acquire a new issue. Engine to body earth? The fleet needs rationalising perhaps to where you can exercise the whole stable weekly. ❤. What about #passtheGSA starting with Rich! No ulterior motive obviously. 😂

[@arieplomp8906]

Don’t sell her! So much content for the channel! She didn’t made herself, blame her maker and all the previous owners who did some fiddling on her! Give her about 300 second chances and she will be fine! And then the romance will be back again ❤! 😂😂😂 Love you guys! 😻

[@boydberends5974]

I know this feeling so well. When my dear money slurping 1986 CX Gti Turbo broke down for the xteenth time I sold it and turned my attention to older bog standard cars, like Fords, with older bog standard Lexuses as my youngest infatuation. I never regretted it. Or, to paraphrase Churchill: If you do not own a Citroen at 25, you have no heart. If you still own a Citroen at 35, you have no brain

[@JohnnyPaton]

I've got a ZX at 50. It's pretty straightforward tbh but then again that was the point I suppose.

[@malcolmherbert5127]

I own a 1980 Citroen CX, does that mean I have no hope?

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

@@JohnnyPaton to be fair a ZX isn't really a Citroen, it's a 306 with a Citroen badge on it.

[@boydberends5974]

@@malcolmherbert5127 Probably not if you use it as your daily, like I did. A the end you will have no hope plus a heap of expensive French steel 😭

[@mattphillips4419]

"It's dead, Dave" - a Red Dwarf fan, too! I've had days like that, but you bounce back. I hope you can get over this, whichever way it goes.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I really appreciate the captions on this! Some of the back and forth could do with a little em-dash before switching the person speaking, but all the descriptions of engine noises and stuff is top notch! So many people rely purely on the automated subtitles. (And I guess they were the original transcription which you fixed-up, because "would've thought" became "would afford", but that's the only mistake I caught!)

[@burntbeer7370]

Thank goodness Miss HubNut remembered the ptchoo !

[@chrisaris8756]

Whenever I had moody French cars I used to find the threat of extreme violence used to work wonders!! But that was Renaults maybe Citroen are braver!!!! I think I’d sell it to someone I really don’t like.

[@gaddmeister]

From Hello Happy to Hello Grumpy 😂😂

[@2BugsandaBack]

I've been there! I had a Mk1 Touareg which I got sick of repairing over a period of about 18 months. One day, after refitting the rear diff again(!) I just stood up and decided I was done with it. Sold it a week later and have never regretted it.

[@AndrewwMK]

Really love the GSA. Really tempting. Trouble with cars is not when you have 1 problem but 5 or 6 to fix. That aultonator looks like 1 causing 4. 5 being the bonnet. 6 being because french.

[@nekite1]

Got sick of my Alfa (because Italian?) with its problems. Now have a Honda - zero problems👍

[@nigelh4617]

16:05 Red Dwarf 😉

[@iancairns7398]

I was almost expecting you to hit it with a tree branch.

[@petercrosland5502]

Oh my God, I actually did that to a Renault 4, for being " ungrateful ".

[@chrisrand5185]

I feel your pain and frustration. Sometimes you just have to walk away and come back to it later. I am close to calling in an auto-electrician to sort my Renault 17, but my inner hubnut resists.

[@ErnestoWood]

Hi Ian, glad that my tip helped you solve the problem with the front lights. Don't give up on your beatiful GSA, they are fantastic cars and getting very rare now. Electrical problems are simple to solve, but time consuming and very frustrating. I recomend you to give every electrical contact a good clean, check that is secure and apply a squirt of WD-40 or similar to protect fron humidity and corrosion. It should take around 4-5 hours to do the whole car. I repeat, don't give up on Giselle just because simple electrical problems !!!

[@Dominic-mm6yf]

Much as I adore them the GS and GSA will have a few problems and garages were not keen on servicing them at the time.

[@simonk337]

As soon as you get that feeling it is time

[@anthonystevens8683]

I feel your pain Ian, I really do. There comes a point when enough is enough. I love Giselle and hope she stays but sometimes the time comes to call it a day. I know I've done it in relationships, jobs and vehicles. sometimes we can see the inevitable and in my case have taken the initiative and I think I was correct on most occasions. Take care and be well, don't let this one get you down. Easy to say and not easy to do. Sometimes you just need to draw a line under it and move on.

[@siriax1691]

Salty Ian is UTTERLY HILARIOUS, omg we need more salty ranting Ian!!!!!!! I laughed out loud HARD at the bonnet catch. Please more videos like this, literally crying with laughter here!!

[@Sid3300]

Maybe the time has come for the GSA. You’ve had a rough relationship with this car for a while, it’s gonna start getting like Foxanne where you keep it because of your audience rather than because you like it.

[@edsilvester]

We’ve all been there. This is now officially my favourite hubnut video. I relate completely.

[@jaggass]

I feel your pain Hubnut as my 1st MK2 Clio used to die when i turned the key and that was also riddled with other electrical problems. Eventually i sold it because i had enough of it going wrong. I ended up getting another MK2 Clio which turned out to be more reliable but still had the odd electrical fault. It's not to say every French car is terrible but the electrics and build quality put me and the family off from getting another one. I'll stick with Japanese for now as my Corolla E12 is so reliable and nice and simple to work on.

[@andrewhaines3259]

Yes, French cars are notorious for poor electrical quality. I had 5 Clios and a Megane. The Clios weren't too bad. My 172 sport was a hoot and I had a good one for 4 1/2 years until it popped a spark plug because some knob that serviced it didn't tighten it up correctly. I got it repaired, then traded it in for the Megane as we needed a bigger car for the children. Now that was a sh☆te car. No end of problems. I drove around with pieces of wood to hold the windows up, as the temic units kept failing, then other issues until I took to the garage with a juddering issue and discovered the steering rack was knackered to the point the mechanics advice was to drive it, extremely carefully down to the scrap merchants immediately! I could have been driving and got to a roundabout and turned one way, and the car would have gone the other. We went Mazda after that and not looked back!

[@jaggass]

I do miss my MK2 Clio RSI i had because it had a lovely interior and a good engine but not it's electrical problems and it eating C.V joint's all the time. Got an A3 TDI after that. It was ok until the DMF and gearbox starting to fail so i thought i need something that's going to be cheaper to run and be reliable so picked an E12 Corolla up 5 yrs ago. The best decision i've made car wise.

[@stiglnsborgsaxbjrn3392]

@@jaggassToyotas of old will live forever if you treat them well. One of mine is a Starlet from 1997 with almost 400.000 km on the clock, being used on a daily basis, passes MOT without problems, I never had any issues at all. Unfortunately they do not make them as good as this anymore. Cheers from Germany

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

@@andrewhaines3259parents had several Renaults and only one had constant electrical issues, namely a driver’s electric window switch, electric sunroof switch and the plip central locking system . Turns out the switches and looks were Italian made and the plip kept dying because the button kept being pressed by the keys in dad’s pocket. It was a fairly chunky device.

[@afberglund2764]

My 2005 Toyota won't start. Diffucult fault finding, something electrical 😢

[@paultasker7788]

On the plus side she did start first time. So your work on the carb has paid off. Might be best to get an auto electrician to fix the wiring though.

[@RikMcCloud]

I honestly feel your mood. I had a 207 GTi that constantly needed something doing to it. Eventually the gearbox mount broke and it left me stranded two miles from home. I parked the car up for a year and eventually when the MOT ran out, I sent it for scrap because I knew it needed a ton of work doing to it, it wasn't worth the money, never would be and I was done with it. Get rid and find something that gets your passion going again.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Some cars are very definitely like that, my old A40 Somerset was the same, took forever to get it running right (electrics, head gasket etc) and when I finally got it running ok, the rear wheel came off while driving along. That was the last straw. It's not worth sticking with something if it drives you nuts continually, there's always something else out there to buy and play with. Ideally something older which has simpler electrics, no brittle plastic fittings - my personal hate.

[@iangrice329]

There dose come a time where you have to say goodbye for sanity sake. But try dome new battery cables and clamps first. Love the snigger after mentioning lubricated jelly 😅

[@garydale3233]

Yes, I do definitely understand the frustrations with electrical problems. I currently have one on my wife’s Jeep

[@timelwell7002]

The BX was a much more reliable and mechanically straightforward car than the GS or GSA. As a pragmatist, my advice would be to pass Giselle onto some other Citroen nut, and if you wanted a replacement for her, find a good BX. Just a thought...

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

I would be inclined to agree but I'm biased. A BX was the first car I ran for any length of time and more or less on a shoestring budget with no mechanical knowledge. I had a friend occasionally change the oil in it and it needed a few bits each MOT time, but it took me to many parts of the country and got me to and from work for years without missing a beat. I'm not talking years ago when they were new either, this was less than a decade ago. It finally shat itself a mere half mile from home the day after I signed paperwork for my new car. LHM fluid everywhere, it wasn't good. I had to scrap it because I literally couldn't give it away and I still miss it. All of that said, from what I can remember Ian isn't all that fond of BXs.

[@Perthshire]

The fleet needs more regular turnover to maintain interest. Repairing the same cars for years is getting repetitive

[@Candisa]

I would hate to see Giselle go, it's such a typical Citroën: lots of design cues and obviously the hydraulic system of the DS and CX, but also a boxer engine like the 2CV, the funky dashboard and controls... I went from barely realising the GS(A) exists to seriously considering replacing my 2CV with one... But then I started to see what a pig Giselle is to diagnose and work on compared to Elly, and I think it's one of those Citroëns I rather see than own, just like the Ami6 (love the looks, but it's just a 2CV with a different body), DS and CX (a bit large and usually riddled with rust) or Traction Avant (a bit too ancient and nice, would be scared to take it out). I think I agree with the suggestion of getting a BX instead. My dad had an MK1 diesel estate back in the day, nowadays you mostly find MK2s, which are a bit 'conventional', but that does make them more serviceable and daily usable, while still getting the hydro experience before they started to make it behave more and more like any other car (like the Xantia). They can be found cheaply as well...

[@danieltaylor3755]

Yeah buy a BX

[@merledoughty5787]

Oh they can give electrical problems as well having had a couple of them. My Zantia gave some silly problems like the speedo set up and problem, which resulted in losing the remote control to the radio Honestly Japanese vehicles have possibly the most robust electrical systems ever, I have yet to have found a problem in a 20 year old japanese vehicle. Fords give problems, my Aussie Falcon which has one of can be problematic. like power windows stopping due to some silly fuse.

[@davidflamee]

Old lamp clusters can require a lot of fiddly fettling to bring them back to life. Meticulous cleaning and consistent grounding. Looks like the replacement alternator could be a bigger issue in your case. Certainly sounds noisy, is it just the newness, and needs breaking in? Aldi baby wipes are handy and cost effective around the workshop. Wouldn't use them on my babies but in my experience probably the best for general purpose use. The GSA, I hope you give it another chance, feel sure you can crack these issues. Good luck either way.

[@jonathanhamilton8465]

If you can't make it run take it to someone who can fix it and make it run right. Looks a lovely car don't understand why you give up so easily.

[@JohnnyPaton]

It's the nature of his videos these days. He's not got the tinkering time any longer due to other commitments so frustration builds as nothing gets done. Plus the cars are never used and problems begin. Hubnut used to be brilliant but it's changed due to his family circumstances which is fair enough but the addition of other cast members has ruined it.

[@disleyade5470]

Seeing it reversing back with the headlights on brought to mind "Christine", the haunted Plymouth Fury from the Stephen King film. On a lighter note I bet if you ran it for a bit and let the alternator bring the battery to full charge it would go quieter. Sometimes alternators that are working hard get a bit noisy - don't know why!

[@Mrcento]

There's probably going to be a loose connection on the back of the alternator or starter, managed to do similar many a time on other cars and usually has the same kind of symptom that when you try to kick the starter the electrics all die and stay dead, resetting battery clamps 'fixes' it temporarily until another start and 'thunk'.

[@martinneumann7783]

Oh dear, what a pain in the neck! I've read a few of the comments. Bad earth or contact corrosion or a worn out control unit, that what I was thinking while watching this video. But I can only assume; I'm not a specialist, not at all. I wish you all the best, Ian. To get her back to life again or to sell her to a good new home. See you - Martin

[@simes205]

This and the Deuche interest me the most and have the most character. We had 2 GS’s in period!

[@biker_dan]

Ian, I would guess you need to secure and clean earth strap and make sure it goes to the body and engine with a good connection . It all seems earth related. Also sounds like alternator belt is too tight causing the noise. The lights earth would be better routed to the earth lead too. Don't give up mate..

[@TheFilwud]

This reminds me of my time with a Citroen GS, which ended with a failed journey to work due to a broken alternator belt then a broken exhaust on the way home, arriving at my garage holding the exhaust on the roof of the car as it had broken at the front end and the exhaust was digging into the road. A failed attempt at getting the belt changed was the last straw. I can still remember bellowing at the car, walking round it while kicking and stoving every panel in as I went. I am not sure what the neighbours thought! One more of my cars met a similar fate, although the car wasn't the trigger that time, that one got destroyed because I couldn't start my outboard motor, which bounced off the car when I lost my rag! then the old stoving the panels in routine kicked off again. Glad to say I am calmer these days, well mostly!

[@SingletrackScene]

I’d welcome seeing another car in the fleet, having replaced the GSA. It’s been entertaining seeing you tinker - which is the best content, but you have to be enjoying it too! Maybe a Saab or Volvo estate!

[@imnotamechanic3491]

On the topic of wipes, I bought a big tub of Everbuild Wonder Wipes from Toolstation at least 2 years ago and they are still coming out moist and doing a great job (box says 6 months). Only thing is you have to put your other hand on the hole when you pull them out to stop the next one coming out, but I suspect most are like this.

[@dustybiker9602]

get rid and spend the time and effort on that poor little invacar, ive been waiting years for u to sort in fully as its 1 very special little gem

[@Mark-and-Jane]

We've all been through this, time to make it someone else's problem 😢

[@siwynjones]

I think most of us have been there with cars. My dad was a lorry mechanic, and told me if I ever bought anything French, Italian or British Leyland, I’d have to fix it myself. I’ve had 30 years of humdrum motors, but I did own a FIAT X1/9 as a second car for 7 years, and Ian in today’s video was me every April when I got it out from hibernation. After 7 years I sold it and bought a Eunos Roadster; it’s boring and predictable, but being able to successfully fix one broken component without all of the others trying to join in is a luxury I never had with my X1/9. Apparently, life’s too short for boring cars, but it’s also too short to be constantly falling out with quirky ones.

[@polvandennieuwenhof9137]

I feel this. My cx has brought me to this point also. Every time i get a spark of joy out of driving the bloody thing it breaks again. Sometimes i wish i stuck with 60's and 70's opels.

[@HubNut]

I had a better day today. Keep the faith!

[@siriax1691]

I still keep watching the bonnet catch bit and creasing up laughing, please Ian more rants.

[@0161pumaste]

sorry to see more gremlins with the gsa ian, but you're halfway there, come back to it another day to sort things out, and get a fresh mot, then you can sell it on for a good price. its in lovely condition and runs great, so dont give up 🙂

[@kledderman]

Nuts. I buy a Giselle shirt and this happens. Start a separate crowdfunding and get her to Chevronics. Please. Hearing Giselle run and seeing her drive is pure undiluted joy.

[@carlmarkwyatt]

16:10 subtle Red Dwarf reference 😂

[@PaddyWV]

How about a long distance "Citromec' collaboration? Forty odd years ago my Dad decided to convert our Genuine Italian Fiat 850 from left to right hand drive. It fought him every step of the way and I'm not sure it would start for him after that. Good job my Mum did the driving!

[@kevinnye5132]

As my dad used to say , if a car is making a funny noise turn radio up and talk to your Mrs because she will drown out all noises know to man or beast Ian 😁👍🏻.

[@EdFrankes]

Know the feeling. That's how i got rid of my Acadiane. After a lot of work and expences, she brought me and my caravan to Italy and back, no issues what so ever. Back home, a couple of weeks later, the NEW 1-2-3-ignition just died. I wasn't in the best mindset back then and just sold her off for next to nothing. I was fed up. Ofcourse, i had tonnes of regret afterwards. Not imediatly, but after a couple of weeks. I missed her. Oh well.... such is life...

[@Synthmonkey]

Geez ! I feel your pain and frustration in this video ! I had a Citroen BX behave in a similar way. Damn, why do cars do this to us when we put so much money, blood and sweat into them ? I hope what ever you decide to do with the GSA gives you a happy outcome.

[@rolandleusden]

I have a 2CV AK400, when I bought it, it had tons of electrical issues also, mainly due to bad wires, corrosion and rotted panels. Replaced a lot of wiring, created an earth strip with a piece of solid copper bar and wired everything to it instead of using the chassis for earth, never had problems again.

[@andrewphillips432]

I've got a really good idea about the GSA get a professional to luck at it 😂

[@660einzylinder]

I feel your pain and frustration, my Ford Popular has fought me for almost the whole of the four and a bit years I've owned it. Despite spending huge amounts of money and countless frustrating hours of my valuable time, it's no better than when I brought it home in 2019. My 91 year father suggested I sell it to retain the last vestiges of my sanity, I am taking his sage advice and the 103e is now for sale. When it worked, it was great fun, but it just didn't work as it should as often as it should.

[@hunchanchoc8418]

Crikey! Surely there can't BE that much to go wrong on a Ford Pop ?!?

[@rolandleusden]

Are you in Europe or the UK ? If in Europe I might be interested.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Well, for what it’s worth, I still think she’s beautiful, and you obviously relish driving her when she works! Walk away, take a breather and approach afresh!

[@conesuela1]

The brand new alternator I recently fitted to my Vanden Plas 1300 sounds exactly the same. It's obviously a thing.

[@andrewcarnell601]

Yellow mark on the alternator for yellow cable - maybe?

[@JakobKsGarage]

Yes just sell it. You can always find another one in southern france, maybe older with steel bumpers (GS not GSA), a nicer outside colour, a nicer more original cabin and some more eye pleasing wheels, if you feel you miss one. Steering wheel in the continental side adds to the quirkiness I owned a 79 rust brown metallic with orange cabin and the black crosshair dashboard, that was a nice old car.

[@Extreme_Rice]

Am I the only one who thinks black is a good colour for a GSA then?

[@MrPabsUk]

Over the years I`ve found "because Italian" & "Because British" stuff is much easier to get to the bottom of, & because of that, I`ve swerved the "because French" stuff for a good decade... That said, I`ve been offered a 1981 "because French" item thats been sitting for 20 years, which I am begrudgingly considering due to its ULEZ exempt status.. I suspect it`ll end in tears, but, I`m still considering it .. Thanks a lot Sadiq..

[@alanlansdell7533]

That issue with the battery terminal is not unusual, you get a small contact patch which acts a bit like a fuse giving you exactly what you are experiencing when you turn the key, have a cup of tea Send the noisy alternator back and fix the battery terminal and earths properly maybe with help from an autoelectrician, one of your garage owning friends must know oneI reckon you will be much more satisfied than selling the car broken for a loss.

[@KiwiStag74]

Oh, boy do I relate when you're talking about falling out of love with a car! I heard you mutter one of my own time-honoured phrases when working on Stacey (my Stag) - "Why is it that everything I do on this damn vehicle take at least twice as long as working on any other car? And why is it a fight to fix ANYTHING that needs done?" Those two phrases pretty much sum up WHY one can fall out of love with a vehicle and when you have had enough of the vehicle, ANYTHING you need to do suddenly becomes filled with dread and foreboding. I've considered it a love-hate relationship for a couple of years, but I think it's more that I just cannot be bothered dealing with the seemingly unending requirement of my attention that this car demands.....and how one (seemingly) little problem can spiral into a many-faceted and many houred fix.....so I too have a car up for sale. I am one of the sick people who fell in love with a Triumph Stag. They look good, they sound good and they are a beautiful cruiser on a sunny day with the top down. On the other side of the ledger, they are a finicky, recalcitrant, narcissistic and sadistic car to own. Take my Stacey (please!) - and she doesn't even have her original engine any more, but one from a Leyland P76 V8. I flew to the other end of New Zealand to look at her, bought her after a half hour drive and another half hour looking over the usual rust areas etc and drove her up both islands - a total of 1176km (730 miles) - to get her home. Had an issue with a loose alternator wire and a weak clutch spring on the way and by the time I got to Takanini (southern Auckland), the passenger's side engine mount had collapsed and her shocks had shown me that they were not in a great state either. So, much money was spent on adjustable Koni shocks, engine mounts and a few bushes my mechanic found that were also worn. The alternator issue didn't go away...until I replaced that and the tired battery. The engine was still turning over very slowly on crank and the starter would quit completely after 20 secs or so, so a new starter was ordered. Now, to replace the starter, the exhaust had to come off...and it promptly broke into several pieces, necessitating a full new exhaust from front to rear. I got the carburettor rebuilt at the same time as the car would misfire if idled along at 50km/h (30mph) in 4th. The mechanic also tested the inlet manifold / gasket for leaks and found several. The valley gasket - a rare and expensive part no longer being made for the P76 - was leaking badly on 3 of the 8 cylinders, so through the car club, I managed to obtain the last one in New Zealand and it got fitted. Several bolts snapped in the removal of the inlet manifold, requiring helicoils to be fitted to the aluminium heads upon the new gasket's installation....so another large bill. The car went much better for the attention, but soon started showing other areas of need - the windscreen, soft top and door seals all leaked and it was rather embarrassing to turn up to a car show and get out almost as wet as if I had driven there with the top down. After replacing these seals, the gremlins moved to the electrical system and the overdrive would randomly kick out and / or just not kick in when asked. After multiple fuse cleanings, I started on tracing the wiring and found it was the harness that went up the gear stick that was at fault, so replaced this with much swearing. A month or so later, I was out on a drive on a road that had been affected by storms that had happened several months prior. The section of road was covered in clay dust from the hillside and potholes were many, so I was creeping along at 20km/h (12mph), but none of these potholes were as deep as the drop off the edge of one section of road onto the loose metal surface - a full 300mm (one foot) drop. I'd hit the brakes, but Stacey slid on the stones and her nose dropped hard into the hole, crushing the mufflers against the floor and destroying the clutch slave cylinder - bending the clutch fork back so far that the clutch was only half engaged. In this state, I could not drive it up any gradient without the clutch slipping badly, so had to wait 5 hours for a tow truck to find me and take us 90 minutes back to home base. After being at the mechanic's shop for 3 months, she came home good as gold again, so I put the roof down and went on my 64km (40 mile) round the block loop to enjoy a bit of what I had been missing, whereupon Stacey thought she would show me how much she appreciated the attention by showing me how tired the inner seal on the brake master cylinder was and my foot went to the floor approaching a hard left hand bend. No gradual spongy pedal that lets you know you've got trouble - just straight to the floor, do not pass Go and do not collect $200. I spent more than that on the replacement master, as I had it sleeved with stainless steel and got a stainless piston fitted as well. So, back on the road again and now the car is making a strange clonking sound from the front end that feels like it is coming from the bulkhead - pretty much right under my feet. The nolathane bushes on the drag struts were disintegrating at a phenomenal rate, so off the road she went again while I waited for replacements to arrive from the UK. Back on the road and we got a thousand or so km in before I was driving home from my mother's place in Whitianga (way up the east coast of the Coromandel peninsula on roads that aren't for the faint hearted) and noticed people behind me flashing their lights. Stacey then slowed up promptly and stalled all on her own accord, which confused me all the more until the bloke behind ran up to me and told me she was on fire! Sure enough - the extension on the nose on the diff had parted from the diff itself, poured hot diff oil on hotter exhaust pipes and ignited. Not to be outdone, the pinion and quillshaft bearings had seized and spat bits of metal back into the diff housing, causing it all to lock up and rock forward, punching the driveshaft into the back of the overdrive. I cannot tell you how tempting it was to take my emergency can of petrol out of the boot and throw it on the flames… So, a tow truck was again required to get my car from the middle of nowhere back to home base and then over to the mechanic. Another 3 months and one rebuilt diff later, she's back on the road, but now the electrical gremlin is back and has decided that the distributor - a Lucas 29D8, which was only made for the P76 - had gone past its use-by date. Replacing this with an electronic distributor, the car runs so much better, but the gremlin had moved on by then and got into one of the horns and the high beam stalk. The horn sounded when I tested it, so I replaced the short wiring harness for both horns - no joy. It seemed that this horn only wanted to work if it was the only horn in the loop - even though it was getting 12v straight from the battery via a relay - so I replaced it. This involved removing two grille sections and the inner headlamp from the passenger's side, feeding your arm and a 1/2 inch spanner in via the gap in the lower valance and watching your progress through the headlight hole. I went to take the cowl off the steering column to look at the headlight stalk and two of the three screws came out fine. The third refused and allowed the screwdriver to chew out its head. After finally getting it apart utilising every known epithet I could think of and a fair few I invented on the spot, I found the issue was a dirty connection on the high beam connection and this was fixed fairly easily.....and the cowl holds on with two screws just fine thanks. Back on the road again and I'm now hearing a sound or harmonic / feeling a vibration that sounds and feels like an ill-balanced driveshaft. Again, I am picking that it was due to the diff issue, but hidden in the other vibrations / sounds while the gearbox mount was broken. This still needs addressing **SIGH** After the last drive, I heard the fanbelt squeal when the lights were on, so went down the following day to adjust the tension. The adjustment went fine, although I noted the alternator was getting perilously close to the battery bracket. So....I removed said bracket, made some adjustments on that using a grinding wheel, giving it a good half inch or so of tolerance instead of about 2mm, and tried to put it back in. The risers on the bracket would not go back into where they were designed to go. Neither of them. They FELL out of the retaining lugs, but won't go back in there and I have done this at least half a dozen times before, so I know they DO go back there.....but they just refuse to. The car has sat parked until I feel like a few hours of frustration can be tolerated again. Yep - I have had enough......and like you, I'm out of love for the car. I think I will just admire Stags from a distance from now on. The price of ownership is way too costly on my mental health for me to enjoy the times in between the car's eccentricities and regular attention needs / demands. Sad but true. I want to keep her in the hope it will get better, but I've given it six years of my life so far and have had only 20,000km (12,500 miles), whereas I parked my Triumph 2500S two and a half years ago having done over 35,000km in it almost trouble free to that point....and it handles better. Good luck with the sale of the GSA. All the best.

[@michielstam6011]

I really understand your frustration. I am a GS owner myself. But I also want to say; take a step back. Think about it. It will be allright! These are not complicated cars. You don't depend on it, so take it easy and slowly and fix whatever needs fixing in your own time. It also makes for interesting KZbin content.

[@frednetherlands887]

Solving these issues would make for really interesting video series.

[@nakoma5]

Not worth sacrificing Mr. Hubnut's sanity.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

He's moved away from 'fixing' videos. I'm viewing less and less as a result.

[@JohnnyPaton]

@@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420 so many cars and so little is done now. It's all camping trips, family stuff and messing about acheiving nothing and as such the quality has declined markedly. The brilliant series of videos with TWC getting roadworthy, the Dacia collection caper and engine swaps on 2CVs are long in the past. It's up to Ian if that's what he wants to do but I've stopped watching now.

[@robhardie6687]

A trilogy of hour-long videos of Ian scrubbing the rust off bad earths? Not sure I agree I'm afraid

[@peterh4761]

I've had a few french cars and they have always been a lot more trouble than the equivalent VAG offering. That said I'm sure you will get to the bottom of it. Step away...sleep on it...come back and work through it one issue at a time. Its the only way.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Yeh time to move it on. You need some fresh metal on the channel anyway.

[@Passthejimjam]

Very relatable video - glad it’s not just me. Last car that left me feeling like this I sold and I’ve never felt better. Still have fond memories, but I no longer have to deal with any of its headaches. Hope you feel better about it soon and make the right decision for you

[@wxcferdts]

By the way, I can sense and see your frustration, and yes, do sell the car: it's not worth the aggro, and it doesn't bode well for the future. There's plenty of other cars to enjoy, and you've had her for quite a bit anyway ...

[@havingalook.]

I know I'm late to the party but put a ring terminal on the yellow wire, put it on that alternator stud and an additional nut, no need do disrupt the yellow paint

[@northdevonwildlifewithandy788]

I get a perverse pleasure from watching your struggles with that car.

[@vernonchubb8289]

Could you put two more nuts on the earth connection of the alternator and secure rhe cable between the nuts via a crimp lug

[@stepheng8779]

A lot of fuss for a fancy dashboard that doesn't work properly. Get rid save your headache, harsh but once gone you'll not regret it ❤

[@Tarten21]

Because Hub Nut and French you know you love her really Ian . Would be some great content fixing these issues for the channel.

[@Radfordperson]

Seems like alternator (apart from the bearing noise) is not right, you mentioned that the voltage is low when you revved the engine, also possible earth faults.

[@chrisrogers2848]

Those electrical problems are going to be due to high-resistance connections. You won’t find them with a multimeter, because the voltage will be fine without a load. As others have said, you need to use a test lamp to check that current can flow.

[@davidchandler8881]

Hubnut comparing your earlier videos with the present day it seems to me you've become less car centric as you've diversified into other interests. So perhaps you should just have one everyday car and focus on other people's cars instead when you're not reporting camping outings ect.

[@Mr8erg]

Honestly that trailer tent full of dogs is starting to look like the beginning of a downward spiral sadly.

[@markjackson887]

Hubnut used to be far and away my favourite YT content when it was Ian tinkering on his own. It was brilliant. Now he can’t do anything without his partner being there and I’ve lost all interest.

[@elliottpeters2996]

You cannot test an indicator feed with a multimeter as the refresh rate is too slow. That is why you had that dancing voltage. Far easier, and more accurate, to use a test light.

[@philw4625]

Noooo! Its the only ‘interesting’ car on the fleet! (2CV excepted, but i know you wouldn’t get rid of that!). I ‘get’ the Berlingo thing from your perspective, but most of us still see them about, usually cos were stuck behind one doing 35 mph ‘everywhere’…! (You know those drivers!!). Only acceptable if your next car is a massive CX!😂. That said, i can see she is fighting you pretty hard - makes for good content though?

[@daniellee9015]

Absaloutly brilliant video Ian miss hubnut ❤👍oooh dear these things are sent to try us and test us you can only go so far when you've had enough never mind Ian brilliant

[@notmanynamesleft]

CLUBIE the Citroen will be an appreciating asset to keep hold of I reckon and get her A1 over time,it's mainly cosmetic stuff and you've done some of the big jobs on her!

[@lsstuff735]

I've always wanted a quirky little citroen with the floaty suspension. I wish I could make a worthwhile offer for this.