Activa Spotting - Post all eBay and etc. Finds here

handyman · Post by **handyman** » 06 Dec 2009, 23:09

This red one Dickie has shown is in my neck of the woods and I have asked the seller if it is possible to view, as the details are very sketchy. High price for one of these but on that mileage might be good, providing the clutch is sound as Citroen reckon 70K is its service life.

Handyman

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 06 Dec 2009, 23:22

Seems a few of us are watching them then

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 07 Dec 2009, 08:38

handyman wrote:This red one Dickie has shown is in my neck of the woods and I have asked the seller if it is possible to view, as the details are very sketchy. High price for one of these but on that mileage might be good, providing the clutch is sound as Citroen reckon 70K is its service life.

Handyman

Ignore Citroen, 70k is nothing for a clutch if its not been abused. If it was all city work i can see it, but my 116k clutch was almost as good as new when replaced, hardly worn at all.

Post by **CitroJim** » 07 Dec 2009, 08:41

And as Gareth will testify, Activa clutches are a walk in the park to replace

There is noting to be scared of in an ML5 clutch, except perhaps the weight of the gearbox!

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 07 Dec 2009, 09:26

CitroJim wrote:And as Gareth will testify, Activa clutches are a walk in the park to replace There is noting to be scared of in an ML5 clutch, except perhaps the weight of the gearbox!

No clutch is easy

The physical aspect of the clutch replacement is difficult, the ML5 is a very bulky box, once lined up it literally falls on and the rest is straightforward, Jim even markets a special tool for this job

handyman · Post by **handyman** » 07 Dec 2009, 11:51

Removal and replacement of the ML5T gearbox is a doddle with a transmission jack and cradle.

I always take a view that if Citroen go to the trouble of recommending a service life on components, it gives you a bit of knowledge as to the state of a potential purchase. An Activa with a clutch change, especially if OE has been used can justify a higher purchase price, as it is one less component to consider failing in the future. Its the same as a car having its heater matrix replaced.

We can all do these tasks, but if somebody got there first, its a bonus.

"Ignore Citroen, 70k is nothing for a clutch if its not been abused. If it was all city work i can see it, but my 116k clutch was almost as good as new when replaced, hardly worn at all."

Why was your clutch changed at that mileage if it was not worn?

Handyman

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 07 Dec 2009, 12:10

handyman wrote: "Ignore Citroen, 70k is nothing for a clutch if its not been abused. If it was all city work i can see it, but my 116k clutch was almost as good as new when replaced, hardly worn at all."

Why was your clutch changed at that mileage if it was not worn?

Gareth was changing the turbo, take a look at his blog and here

On a similar point my HDi with the same clutch/gearbox is still on its original clutch @ 140K miles.

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 07 Dec 2009, 12:30

handyman wrote:
"Ignore Citroen, 70k is nothing for a clutch if its not been abused. If it was all city work i can see it, but my 116k clutch was almost as good as new when replaced, hardly worn at all."

Why was your clutch changed at that mileage if it was not worn?

Handyman

Very simple. Before i took the engine out, i had clutch slip about 10 months before when it was a very cold night. It happened when i hit peak boost (remember mine is running higher than standard)

Clearly the clutch didnt like the new found torque and objected, however next day and every day it was driven after it never slipped again. I put it down to the clutch being slightly worn (at the time)...

When the engine came out with box, i had already lined up a new clutch as it made sense to change at the same time, but it was clear the old clutch was actually very good. I would of been a fool to refit the original clutch when i had already got a new one, and it was childs play replacing it with everything on the floor.

So, thats my reason for saying it should be fine at 70k, but it will very much depend on who drove it. My Transit still has the original clutch at 112k, my old Montego did well over 250k on its original and my uprated Maestro was still holding onto its friction material at 135k with many Santa Pod runs behind it. I'm not hard on a clutch, but others may be less mechanically sympathetic.

handyman · Post by **handyman** » 07 Dec 2009, 23:33

The earliest Activa that had a clutch failure that I replaced had only done 55K miles. I have done a few more at around 120-135K, and like everybody else, I have done huge mileages on original clutches.

One of the problems with early Activas was the disintegrating thrust bearing and distorted fingers on the pressure plate. Later ones have a better survival rate and earlier ones fitted with the moded clutch can do higher mileages. I suppose there cannot be too many of these early clutches about now, as many were done under warranty by Citroen, but I have seen two within the last two years.

If we are having a p***ing contest, my old SX estate did 265K on the original clutch and the lump may still live on in another vehicle.

As for oldest original, my 1935 BSA B35-1 still has its original clutch from new and it still works!

Handyman

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 18 Dec 2009, 21:45

Spare ram anyone? Here's a simple project.

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 18 Dec 2009, 22:41

I just wish I had space, or I'd keep that for spares! Looks to have a bit of a lean on - do the rams get that bad that they won't keep it level? Or is something else amiss?

James

handyman · Post by **handyman** » 18 Dec 2009, 23:52

Nooo, James, the lean is caused by badly worn or adjusted links to the height corrector. The ram is only pressurized and comes into operation when the suspension ECU detects cornering forces and roll, thereby counteracting the direction of roll by adding more force on the anti-roll bar and making it stiffer.

Handyman

addo · Post by **addo** » 19 Dec 2009, 03:43

That one comes close to my ideal specs for a donor. It would still have the wrong Hydractive blocks, and possibly the wrong pipes off them.

If anyone here is thinking of breaking it - I have no interest in its engine, gearbox or interior.

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 19 Dec 2009, 08:26

Would seem such a waste to break a car that only needs a ram. Wrong time of year for a car like that though.

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 19 Dec 2009, 19:28

I would, but its a hell of a way to go and I have no means of trailering it back