My boot has broke
Discussion
The arm mechanism on the boot has broken, you know, one end is attatched to the car and the other end to the boot lid so when I pop the boot it should gracefully raise itself to the open position.
Well, the end that should attatch to the car has come off so the boot is just about unlatching but I've had to use a screwdriver (very very carefully I hasten to add) to prise the boot lid up enough to get my fingers under it.
So are we talking a simple repair procedure or replacement of the arm, and if replacement where from?
Wish I hadn't bothered taking the roof down now as got thoroughly soaked to the skin AGAIN, (thats twice in one day) trying to get the boot open just to put the damn roof back up again. Ahhhh, you have to
Well, the end that should attatch to the car has come off so the boot is just about unlatching but I've had to use a screwdriver (very very carefully I hasten to add) to prise the boot lid up enough to get my fingers under it.
So are we talking a simple repair procedure or replacement of the arm, and if replacement where from?
Wish I hadn't bothered taking the roof down now as got thoroughly soaked to the skin AGAIN, (thats twice in one day) trying to get the boot open just to put the damn roof back up again. Ahhhh, you have to
Hi Maz,
Not sure if this'll help, but, check in the boot to see if the retaining clip has fallen of the bottom connector of the strut - if that makes sense?
Looks like a semi-circle bent bit if metal.
If it has should be easy enough to put back on.
If you can't find it (and thats all thats missing) a trip to the local scrap yard should bag you a few.
Chris
Not sure if this'll help, but, check in the boot to see if the retaining clip has fallen of the bottom connector of the strut - if that makes sense?
Looks like a semi-circle bent bit if metal.
If it has should be easy enough to put back on.
If you can't find it (and thats all thats missing) a trip to the local scrap yard should bag you a few.
Chris
If you need to get one from a scrappie the last time I got one of the ends, there's a little plastic sliver you have to prise out the back first, which then allows you to unclip it.
Make sure you keep the little plastic bit as it has to go back in when you refit it to your car.
Once the end is unclipped it just unscrews from the end of the hydraulic piston.
If its different sort then this is all poo.
Chris
Make sure you keep the little plastic bit as it has to go back in when you refit it to your car.
Once the end is unclipped it just unscrews from the end of the hydraulic piston.
If its different sort then this is all poo.
Chris
Thanks for that lads. I guess I need to ask for a tool kit and the 'How to fix your S3 yourself for beginers' book for my birthday, either that or hunt me down a nice fella 
I'll investigate the boot issue tomorrow as I've had enough of being rained on today and it's time for some liquid refreshments.
I'll investigate the boot issue tomorrow as I've had enough of being rained on today and it's time for some liquid refreshments.
That happens on mine from time to time, the bottom of the gas strut can be pushed sideways off the mounting 'ball joint' affair that attaches it to the car. In my case usually because I've put something in the boot which pushes sideways against the strut while the boot was closed. I never have any trouble putting it back on, which may indicate that it's quite a loose fit, which may explain why it keeps coming off! I don't find it particularly difficult to open the boot using finger tops in the gap between the boot lid and the body, I'd very *very* cautious about putting anything hard in that gap.
It's a very snug fit, no way you can get finger tips anywhere on it to lift the lid up.
Right I've been out and had another look. The arm is still connected to the boot lid, but where and what exactly is it meant to connect to on the car? looks like it should be a ball & socket type affair from the loks of the socket on the arm (like I know what I'm talking about)
Obviously the arm is now in the full extended position, strong little suckers aren't they.
Right I've been out and had another look. The arm is still connected to the boot lid, but where and what exactly is it meant to connect to on the car? looks like it should be a ball & socket type affair from the loks of the socket on the arm (like I know what I'm talking about)
Obviously the arm is now in the full extended position, strong little suckers aren't they.
Hi Chris
We have matching TVR's !!!! Your's probably has less scratches on it than mine.
I'll check out the boot thing tomorrow, it's getting too dark now to go poking about in dark spaces, the locals are a tad strange as well think there's been a touch of inbreeding somewhere down the line with one or two of them 
All I will say is that if I fail to resolve the problem then watch out if you're going to Gaydon next week, bring your spanners
We have matching TVR's !!!! Your's probably has less scratches on it than mine.
I'll check out the boot thing tomorrow, it's getting too dark now to go poking about in dark spaces, the locals are a tad strange as well
think there's been a touch of inbreeding somewhere down the line with one or two of them All I will say is that if I fail to resolve the problem then watch out if you're going to Gaydon next week, bring your spanners
Hi Maz,
Here's a quick pic of the fixing:
Scratches? - mines got loads on it, especially as I'm in the process of taking it all apart!! (see my website for details......) I suspect yours will be in better condition than mine.
Don't mind getting my spanners out (oh er!) and taking stuff apart, it's the putting it back together that I struggle with
Daft question - what's happening at Gaydon next week?
Chris
Here's a quick pic of the fixing:
Scratches? - mines got loads on it, especially as I'm in the process of taking it all apart!! (see my website for details......) I suspect yours will be in better condition than mine.
Don't mind getting my spanners out (oh er!) and taking stuff apart, it's the putting it back together that I struggle with
Daft question - what's happening at Gaydon next week?
Chris
Edited by Woody on Saturday 23 June 21:56
Thanks for the tip about where to shove the boot arm. 
Now there's no need to be shy just because you have a focus. A car's a car, it just wont make as much noise as some of us
Sorry to read that you've got holey outriggers........bummer. I've only had my S3 just over a week now and I sent it to a garage a few days ago for a good looking at and service. Thankfully my outriggers are good, well the whole car seems to be, just got a few jobs that need doing (like painting/waxolying outriggers etc, few hose replacements)usual stuff you'd expect from a 15 yrs old car thats been sat a while not doing much. Give it a day or two, something else will go wrong with it and there'll be another post from me on here.
Thanks for your help and the piccy, much appreciated. You guy's will make a mechanic of me yet. Might catch you at Gaydon then next Saturday, I'll be the only girl there no doubt.
Sorry to read that you've got holey outriggers........bummer. I've only had my S3 just over a week now and I sent it to a garage a few days ago for a good looking at and service. Thankfully my outriggers are good, well the whole car seems to be, just got a few jobs that need doing (like painting/waxolying outriggers etc, few hose replacements)usual stuff you'd expect from a 15 yrs old car thats been sat a while not doing much. Give it a day or two, something else will go wrong with it and there'll be another post from me on here.
Thanks for your help and the piccy, much appreciated. You guy's will make a mechanic of me yet. Might catch you at Gaydon then next Saturday, I'll be the only girl there no doubt.
your car - they're great fun 
coolcatmaz said:
Give it a day or two, something else will go wrong with it and there'll be another post from me on here.
They all do that sir, errr, madam 
One thing to bear in mind with the boot is that the strut is very easy to jam when anything in the boot shifts to the right and rubs against it. One way around this if it does jam is to do right hand donuts in a supermarket carpark at midnight with your finger on the boot release button. Just don't ask me how I know that..
I'd need some training in the art of donut spinning I'm affraid. All seems to be quiet on the S3 front, nothing fallen off or broke for a while........god, thats done it now.
Struggling to gel with it this week, had new tyres on the back and the correct tyre pressure put in all round, car is now light and twitchy which is taking some adjusting to. Its such a head turner though, especially when I stop somewhere (like for fuel) and start the engine back up. Probably helps that I'm a girl & tall with plenty up front
Struggling to gel with it this week, had new tyres on the back and the correct tyre pressure put in all round, car is now light and twitchy which is taking some adjusting to. Its such a head turner though, especially when I stop somewhere (like for fuel) and start the engine back up. Probably helps that I'm a girl & tall with plenty up front
They do have a charming habit of having things fall off, but they do make a glorious noise, and red is such an eye catching colour, even without any additional help
I found the S3C to be very twitchy (or not) depending on the make of tyres and they took a lot of bedding in as the rear end is so light. Used to run the tyres 2psi below what the fitters said was the book pressure on their advice and found that helped a fair bit. Plenty of threads here on the subject, (and almost certainly a fair number of opinions as to what is best..)
I found the S3C to be very twitchy (or not) depending on the make of tyres and they took a lot of bedding in as the rear end is so light. Used to run the tyres 2psi below what the fitters said was the book pressure on their advice and found that helped a fair bit. Plenty of threads here on the subject, (and almost certainly a fair number of opinions as to what is best..)
IIRC the V5 on mine reckoned it was something like a 280S. To be honest, the paperwork is largely irrelevant. The next one after mine out of the factory used to belong to a mate and was completely different to mine in terms of induction system and dash layout. All depends on how they felt when they built them.
Its more usual to have fog/spot lights on an S3C than an S3, but thats not exclusive. I think the 3Cs tended to have airflow meters towards the front left of the engine bay, but then mine didn't as it had 2 K&N cone filters striaght off the plenum.
I'd work on the principle that it looks good, sounds glorious and makes you feel great when driving it. Paperwork is mere detail..
Its more usual to have fog/spot lights on an S3C than an S3, but thats not exclusive. I think the 3Cs tended to have airflow meters towards the front left of the engine bay, but then mine didn't as it had 2 K&N cone filters striaght off the plenum.
I'd work on the principle that it looks good, sounds glorious and makes you feel great when driving it. Paperwork is mere detail..
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