"bloody French Cars"

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

as a special treat for my little pug I decided on a new set of plug leads,plugs etc to aid in those horrible wet damp mornings that we've had loads of in Warwickshire over the last month. Checked with GSF - ordered them up and went down to collect this morning. Get's home and as it was still not raining decided to fit the plugs and leads- I reckoned about an 40 mins tops. That is if I had been given the correct set of leads. Invariably I got the wrong ones, mine are straight push connectors at the distributor end and I got (from GSF) angled ones. Rang them back to query this - Yes it is a 1.6 1991 etc,etc. - but they don't fit properly says I - ah must be the other set then says GSF bloke.Haven't got those in stock sir - they will be here tomorrow though. (in the background I could them saying Typical - bloody french cars")

Ah well - it'll get done as soon as it get's done I suppose.

P - In case your wondering, it's the first set of leads I've had to actually go and buy (I had a set given me a while back and I used those).

[JRL 14 1 Cars]

typical french cars? unjustified when its their fault for not supplying you with the correct parts.

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

typical french cars? unjustified when its their fault for not supplying you with the correct parts.

What I thought was even funnier was the fact that here we have German Swedish French auto part suppliers moaning about what comprises a large part of their product line. I also realised that there seem to be 2 flavours of distributor cap (one with male pins and one with female connectors built into the cap) They seem to to think my 91 phase 2 is fitted with the female variety - hance the angle leads with male connector crimped onto the ends.

regards

Dave

[jackherer 543]

What I thought was even funnier was the fact that here we have German Swedish French auto part suppliers moaning about what comprises a large part of their product line.

 

Many years ago they were just called German & Swedish until they bought a chain of French parts factors called Andyspares and became GS&F. Some of the former German & Swedish branches still have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to French parts, the Chelmsford branch is particularly bad for it even ten years after their merger.

[Tom Fenton 1,525]

Some of the former German & Swedish branches still have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to French parts

 

Lets face it, you cannot blame them, go in to order a set of brake pads for say, a Audi A3. Up on the computer pops one part number, lo and behold they fit the car.

 

Now do the same thing for a Citroen Xsara. "Oh it could be one of 3 different part numbers".

 

Worst I have come across was trying to order a rear wheel cylinder for a Citroen ZX 1400 of all mundane things. "Yes there are 4 different parts numbers. Per side."

[jackherer 543]

OK maybe German parts are sane but Swedish ones aren't, my Volvo S80 is an absolute joke, there are three different inner track rods and two types of rear ARB drop link. There may be more of both, 3 track rods and two drop links is just how many I had to go through until I got the right parts.

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

HI all,

What I find particularly annoying is that if the variant break points were universally known, then we could always order the right part. But it is sometimes based on Chassis number (god knows where that is unless it's a sub-field of the VIN) or if you look on Servicebox it can sometimes be referred to using an RP no. Again, god knows what that is and how you know whether it applies to your vehicle.

The example I've quoted is not unique and if ever there is a multi choice option I invariably seem to get the wrong part.

Brakes,suspension, drive train parts - there seems to be no escape from this or my repeated trips to GSF Leamington.

Ah well.

Dave

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Hi all,

latest update.Went back to GSF first thing this morning - new leads produced - and guess what - they don't fit.

I had also taken in my dizzy cap and an old lead to show them. All to no avail.

Looking at my distributor serial no. (023700986 and the cap fitted) I went on to Service box and found that the leads should be Peugeot # 5967.K9. So here's hoping that when I go back again this afternoon they might have a selection which may include the obove number (or it's equivalent)

regards

Dave

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Just order a set of post 1990 1.9 GTi ones, These are all the same and the last lead set I hgad from GSF had both types of coil lead in

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Just order a set of post 1990 1.9 GTi ones, These are all the same and the last lead set I hgad from GSF had both types of coil lead in

Thanx for that Miles,

but I've just come back from GSF - we went through all 5 sets that they had - none of them were right so I got them to refund my card and gave up.

What do you mean by the phrase "both types of coil lead in" I don't understand - sorry. as for ordering 1.9 parts for my 1.6 - why? I'm not having a go a you Miles - but this is bloody stupid. I've now got to find a motor factor and get some made up. This is nearly as bad as trying (and failing!) to solicit any info from Peugeot about car trim stats - something I've been trying to find out most of this year.

ah well.

regards

Dave

[VisaGTi16v 1]

I gave up using them after a farce involving 4 incorrect clutch cables for a zx, think their success rate at supplying me with the right bit first time was about 10% and they would take forever looking at the computer everytime before normally still getting it wrong....

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

I gave up using them after a farce involving 4 incorrect clutch cables for a zx, think their success rate at supplying me with the right bit first time was about 10% and they would take forever looking at the computer everytime before normally still getting it wrong....

I know what you mean - it's as if they have no faith whatsoever in their own database and even less in their access to servicebox (looks different to my screen though). They could see I was getting a more than a bit peed off with it all, and amazingly for me I managed to keep my cool.

Dave

[Tom Fenton 1,525]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, GSF seem only any good for certain specifics. Most general service or maintenance parts are no cheaper than a decent factor, and when you add in the amount of stuff they supply wrong I wonder why people use them.

My factor instead of a fancy computer screen with naff descriptions, uses the parts manufacturers catalogues, which give full description with pictures which means they get it right 99% of the time.

[welshpug 1,622]

I always research the part numbers myself before I go in anywhere for parts, and check them before I leave

 

RP number is the build code, this will tell you what day a vehicle was built, also the chassis number is the last set of digits in the VIN IIRC.

[Anthony 1,000]

GSF are fine - but - you cannot rely on what the computer/website says and you need to know exactly what you want and what other models those parts were fitted to.

 

The problems from what I can see are five-fold:

1. Most of the Peugeot parts used to (on the old part numbering system atleast) reference against Citroen parts, and hence alot of bits get incorrectly picked as a result because they get mis-translated. I'm guessing that this is a legacy from Andyspares who, I believe, where originally a Citroen-only supplier before they started doing all French stuff.
   
2. Peugeot chopped and changed bits around through the years, and the dates they did so are very vague on the GSF system, hence they'll often be several different parts listed for a given year
   
3. GSF's system is useless at differentiating between models, usually at best giving an engine size - 1.6 for example could be a 1.6 GTi, or a 1.6 carbed auto - or just a model, like GTi or 16v. Unfortunately, in both cases that could mean several different parts.
   
4. Many of the staff from what I can tell don't know much about the French cars, but subjectively seem quite clued up on German and Swedish brands - I'm guessing that this stems from before they merged with Andyspares
   
5. An awful lot of cars have been bodged or changed by previous owners, especially given that 205's are now mostly 20+ years old, so what the car is supposed to have one it isn't necesserily what is fitted - in this instant, the correct part would still be wrong!
   

The trick is to order where there can be no confusion - if you want 1.9 GTi engine parts, then 309 GTi is a good bet as there was no 309 1.6 GTi. If you want 1.9 Mi16 engine parts, then order BX 16v rather than 405 Mi16, as 405's were available with both 1.9 and 2.0 Mi16 engines whereas BX's were 1.9 only.

 

You shouldn't have to of course, but unfortunately that's life. In the case of the OP, Miles is correct - Phase 2 1.6 GTi's used the same (male) dizzy cap and HT leads as 1.9 GTi's, and just need to check that it has the correct kinglead in the box (as 1.9's were available with both wing and inlet mounted coils) if it isn't supplied with both. Earlier 1.6's used a different cap and leads.

 

Generally, I have a very good success rate with GSF getting me the right parts - the biggest issue I have with them is that often it's the wrong part in the right box, like it's been swapped or re-bagged by someone. Drum handbrake cables in disk cable bags is the usual one, and driveshafts (although that I have some sympathy as the exchange 'shafts I suspect are frequently returned wrong and end up back in the system)

[jackherer 543]

I'm guessing that this is a legacy from Andyspares who, I believe, where originally a Citroen-only supplier before they started doing all French stuff.

 

They were a 2CV specialist originally.

 

Many of the staff from what I can tell don't know much about the French cars, but subjectively seem quite clued up on German and Swedish brands - I'm guessing that this stems from before they merged with Andyspares

 

It varies by branch, the history of the Chelmsford branch explains a lot about their attitude, originally it was an independent VW specialist owned and run by a VW enthusiast. German & Swedish were expanding rapidly and basically told him they were buying his company or they were opening a branch next door and putting him out of business so he went from running his own business to being a manager for a chain and he hasn't been the same since.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

- sorry. as for ordering 1.9 parts for my 1.6 - why?

 

Because they will do the job.

EDIT: and they are the same.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Simes

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Because they will do the job.

EDIT: and they are the same.

I have no doubt they will - but I shouldn't have to - they should get it right on the first part reference don't you think.Otherwise we have a parts list for the parts list !

[welshpug 1,622]

asking for the 1.9 bits eliminates confusion as there was only two types, not 4.

 

similar to what was mentioned earlier re-BX 16v parts if you have a 1.9 Mi16.

[lfallgti 12]

Why not just take your old leads in and compare them with the new ones????

 

or go to halfords even and open the boxes and see whats what?

 

It's not that hard.

[dch1950 37 1 Cars]

Why not just take your old leads in and compare them with the new ones????

 

or go to halfords even and open the boxes and see whats what?

 

It's not that hard.

read the thread - I did and the cap - went through five sets - difficult what F**k are you on about.