Month: June 2017

Installing an android color screen autoradio – Peugeot RCZ

Catapulting the RCZ into the 21st century

The RCZ is a well built and styling little GT car. The kind of style that has a real potential to become a classic collector’s item in a few years, just like the 504 Cabriolet and the 406 Coupé. However, when you look at the dashboard, there’s just one thing that makes it look quite dated today, even when it came out in 2010: The center control unit. Just look for yourself:

Peugeot RCZ 200 THP original dashboard control unit

Clearly, some cars are best kept original and some just need ‘a little help’. How about keeping the original style but adding some of the modern day gadgets like a color screen and android technology with all the apps you can have on a smartphone. Speaking of which, this opens a gate to whole new world! What world? Find out by watching the below video. 🙂

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Transmission oil change – Peugeot RCZ

Shifting gears smoothly again

Everyone willing to maintain their car will either have it serviced by a technician or maybe even service it themselves. A general service includes checking the overall functionalities and state of the car, as well as changing the engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, maybe a fuel filter and occasionally and every four to five years, the coolant. But what about the gearbox / transmission? Most cars this days don’t even have a gearbox oil dipstick. Most manufacturers these days call them “sealed gearboxes with lifetime oil”… Right, the engine oil is supposed to be changed regularely but the gearbox oil will last forever? Nice fairy tale!

I changed the gearbox oil of my RCZ at around 90’000 km and trust me, it was worth it. I’ll probably do it again every 60’000 km. But how does it work? It’s actually quite simple. Watch the below video and see for yourself! 🙂

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Bleeding the brakes – Peugeot RCZ

Brake fluid 101

What makes good brakes? Sure, you have all the mechanical components like the master cylinder, the brake rotor, caliper, pads and so one. However, none of that would ever really run properly if it wasn’t for the brake fluid. The brake fluid is used to transfer the brake force you apply on the pedal into pressure on the brake pads that eventually push against the rotor and through friction slow the wheel down.

Even though the brake fluid circuit is closed, there are several occasions which require it to be changed or at least topped up. For example, when installing new brake pads or a complete new set of brakes or simply when the fluid has gone past its expiration date. As a matter of fact, brake fluids are hygroscopic (water absorbing), which means they absorb moisture from the atmosphere under normal humidity levels. The RCZ such as many other passenger cars uses DOT 4 brake fluid, which is supposed to be changed every two years.

Find out how to do it in the following video! 🙂

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