We've owned at least one Citroen estate car since early nineties. Although we don't own a dog we've usually fitted a 'dog guard' to ensure luggage loaded above rear seat back stays there. Bought one for the current Berlingo but never got round to fitting it as with kids grown up we don't fill the car any more.
However, we're having a family holiday on the Western Isles shortly with both kids and their partners. As the 'lingo will be luggage vehicle for four of us. The Lad is flying but as we're taking his girlfriend and kit for both of them decided it was sensible to install the stored dog guard. Western Isles weather being what is (four seasons in an hour has been observed on previous visits) quite a bit of clothing is needed.
Instructions pretty clear. It's retained at the top by bolts held captive in slots in body accessed via cut outs in head lining and at bottom with straps attached to tie downs. The bolts are pre-installed into the mounting bracket with nut/washer and seem difficult to separate - fingers wont shift nut. That should have been a clue but muggins held the bolt's square anti rotation spur with a spanner and took the nut off with a socket. PLaced bolt into body slot then mated it with bracket and offered up nut. After brief struggle to engage nut bolt disappears down back of slot but doesn't stay there. With noise like coins going int a slot machine it slides off down inside of C-pillar. Thought there might be a bung in bottom of pillar but no; guess bolt is staying where it is until car is scrapped.
It then dawns that what you are meant to do is offer up whole assembly, bracket nut and washer/bolt then tighten nut until it is just held so it can be angled to align with guard itself when offered up to other end of bracket. Instructions are then to set it to N n/m of torque once guard is in place.
Halfords couldn't supply a replacement bolt with 7mm anti-rotation collar in head, neither could ECP. Latter suggested Machine Mart who came up trumps albeit bolt was twice length and needed hacksawing so there was clearance to use socket.
Guard now properly fitted and test drive with hard accelerate/brake cycle disproves my fear that lost bolt was in cill and would roll back and forth for next five years!!
Anybody else want to confess a similar cock up?
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Fri 17 May 19 at 09:26
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Oopps! new
Oopps! new