Activa pipe dreams.....

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Activa pipe dreams.....

Post by Village »

It seems to me that Activas are dead good, but could benfit from being less dypsomaniacle (SP?!). So howz about buying an Activa, removing the engine and flogging it to someone with a 205 GTi, then substituting a 2.2 HDi and chipping it.

It could almost be economically viable.

just dreaming.........
French car free zone....
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Post by CitroJim »

Or...

How about dropping a 2.1TD into it?

The Activa and 2.1TD share a lot of mechanicals like gearbox, clutch, driveshafts, intercooler, brakes and cooling system amongst others.

I reckon it would be an easy conversion. Finding a willing 2.1TD might be the big problem though.

The only true difficulty is that the 2.1 Xantia TD has a "fly by wire" throttle and maintaining the Activa Speed sensor with the throttle pot may be a test of ingenuity but I'm sure that can be overcome.

The big problem with the 2.2HDi will be the multiplexed electronics.

the 2.0CT on a run is not bad, I can get high 30s. It's running around town that kills it.

The 205GTi people like doing the turbo conversion now that the supply of Mi16 donors has all but dried up. An no, I'm not. My GTi is totally standard and that is how it shall remain. I have one 2.0CT and don't especialy want two!!!

Trouble is, the 205 boys know how cheaply they can pick up a knackerd old Activa for and may not offer too much for just an engine and ECU :cry:

Still, if it keeps an Activa on the road, all to the good!
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Post by RichardW »

Andy when he was around was trying to build a 2.1TD Activa - I think he'd got as far as getting the engine in. However, the project was killed by the insurance costs - he was getting quotes of £3k a year....

I saw an advert on e-bay for an Activa that described it as 'economical' which made me laugh :lol: however, they're cheap, and I really want one to say I've had one, and I could just about live with 30mpg average (for a few months anyway :wink: ) so maybe, just maybe, the TD replacement will be an Activa.....
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Post by CitroJim »

I'm shocked at the insurance costs for a conversion :shock: Why, when the 205 boys put allsorts in theirs and don't seem to have a problem?

You'll not regret getting an Activa Richard as they are an experience and a half and not to be missed. Everyone should experience one at least once in their lives 8)

Be warned though, there is a lot to go wrong and an e-bay one will most likely have everything wrong with it. It's taken me 6 months to get mine right :lol: But now it is, it really is a dream :D

Provided you make sure the rams are good though, all can be put right for not too much financial outlay. The rams are frighteningly expensive as are some other bits, notably clutch hydraulics and gear selector cables in a MK1.

You'll be lucky to get 30mpg around town. 25 is about par :cry: But then again the cost v fun equation balances nicely :)
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Post by andmcit »

Could be because they're still insured for a 1.4 diesel... :evil: :evil:

I've even seen one guy selling a converted 205 on ebay under this fallacy!! :evil: :evil:

Well. I've got an activa which is actually very nice BUT it's engine looks
like it's seized!! I'm not 100% certain but it doesn't look like it's turning
over at the mo... :evil:

Dont recon I'm likely to find a replacement in the stampede after every
Xm or Xantia with a good engine on ebay and then I wouldn't want to
scrap that car anyway. There's Grahams on for 75quid needing a ram
in Salisbury now that has the Pug boys currently bidding their pocket
money with one another too... :x

Nice car that I was going to buy BUT family problems took precedent
and I thought he'd gotten rid of it after getting fed up waiting!

It looks like I'm going to have to rebuild my engine though I'm finding
it quite difficult to determine which head gasket/bolts/timing belt/water
pump etc I need as there isn't any definitive listing for a 2.0i CT turbo
engine. I have tried looking through a dutch site link that has given me
the torques/tightening sequence etc though :x

Anyone here been here before with one of these engines in an Xm/Activa!?

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Post by CitroJim »

Andrew,

As far as I know, the majority of stuff for the XU10J2 engine (standard 2.0L 8 Valve) fits and applies. Certainly things like timing belts and water pumps. the 205boys just refer to a standard XU10 head gasket when they have theirs apart for top-end work.

I don't think there is anything particularly special about the engine because it's a CT. a good browse through pr.net will show up any stark differences if there are any. Pistons will be different though.

The XM BoL covers the engine briefly. Torque settings for the XU10J2 will apply and although I've not had a chance to check, will be similar to the XUD engines.
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Post by andmcit »

Thanks for that Jim! I was expecting the 8v unit to be largely the same
as the 8v unit seen in the Xm that I KNOW VERY WELL... :roll: :wink:

The downfall of this Activa was a massive haemorrage of water from
a split rad end cap band that saw immediate water loss and the engine
temp soaring - the owner claimed he stopped straight away!

Anyhow, when I bought the car as mentioned on here before, it was seen
as a potential lost cause although to be fair to the car it hasn't sunk after
being parked up the road wearing out its tax after 2 months and I REALLY
HAVEN'T SPENT MORE THAN 10 MINUTES ON IT!! :oops:

Initially it rolled on its wheels freely and turned over on the starter
although not MASSIVELY FAST or firing which I put down to a weak
battery. A few days back I retried turning over on jump leads and it
was though the starter/engine was locked solid and it certainly doesn't
want to roll now!

I've got a new sh rad and the inclination/imminent leave to fit a new HG
if the car isn't seized/locked solid!

What's anyone's houghts on the best path forward/course of action?

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Post by AndersDK »

Remove glow plugs. It may well be a coolant hydraulic lock of the engine (H/G job ahead).
I cant see how it would stuck by growth or anything like that.

Could be a valve however - then I'd first check if the cambelt has rotten away - or chopped to bits by pesters.
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Post by jeremy »

I don't think the insurance would be anything like £3000 - the gentleman Richard refers to had a few problems - like a provisional licence if I recall correctly.
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Post by DickieG »

If you want a donor engine I have available, best of all it's still in the car and can be observed running/driven.
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Post by andmcit »

Mind, I'm talking about a 2.0i CT Activa petrol turbo here!! :wink:

Valid comment though - I've been wondering about a cam/valve problem;
a few years ago I had a CX 2.0 valve snap and wedge in the cylinder
bore upon start-up. It took a fair while to work that one out!!

Even had a mate in his DTR TD CX estate trying unsuccessfully to tow
start it downhill without any joy first... :oops:

Incidentally, isn't that a s2 CX dash pic on your avatar Anders?
Anything to do with a new or pending purchase to join your Bx...?

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Post by petef »

Why not just go to France and buy an Activa 2.1 TD, or a V6 or even a 2Litre HDI.
Of course LHD only and you won't find one for £200!
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Post by andmcit »

DickieG wrote:If you want a donor engine I have available, best of all it's still in the car and can be observed running/driven.
Hi DickieG - the last time this very topic was aired you said you HAD
an engine that was just sold! Are you beating the Pug boys to the ebay
Activas to get hold of another engine!? :shock:

I'd love the 'insurance' of a decent engine to get this otherwise mint car
up and alive again. I've been agonising on whether a local on the verge
of being scrapped Activa is actually a better prospect to fix; sort it's
problems at the cost of breaking mine and help that one instead.

It's a fair price for a car with sunroof AND AC with a sweet lower mileage
engine but I'd be signing my cars death warrant were IF I buy it whole,
and scrapping another tidy car were I to have this other one's engine
instead. Awfully confusing and I've filled all my spare room too!!!

I really hope that black A6TVA ebay one went to an Activa enthusiast
- I've not seen any black panels turn up in Crewe yet... :x

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Post by DickieG »

Much like yourself I was offered another Activa and couldn't resist :roll: however this one requires significant money spent on paintwork due to a poor previous repair where the paint has gone dull therefore the car needs a complete respray, not to mention a poorly fitting rear hatch from another repair, that's on top of a leaking heater matrix and non working fan etc etc so it's not economically viable to save it.

I've used the dash from it on mine as a previous owner had a mobile phone car kit installed which left ugly screw holes.

IIRC mileage is 93,000.

If anyone wants the seats, the drivers one has little of the usual Activa problem of a collapsed O/S base where the bar pokes through (previous lady driver no less :shock: ).

If you're interested in anything from it send me a pm.
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Post by andmcit »

If I'd known, you could have had a dash - I've loads of them - yes really,
over half a dozen in various guises.

please pm me yourthoughts/value on the engine!! There's nothing you
need that I can offer to lessen the cost of it - I'm haemorraging cash right
left and centre at the moment and most is missing the cars altogether!! :x

Andrew
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