CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Jan 2011, 22:03

DickieG wrote:Good spot on the leak Jim, isn't it strange that a bolt can stay sealed for 12 years and suddenly start to leak

It's how it goes Richard...

Speaking on the blower this evening to a fellow V6 owner who had the same problem a year or so ago, the problem seems to be that the aluminium washers each side of the Banjo slowly corrode until they let go. He did not realise the problem until the gearbox became a bit slow in taking up drive. He's lost 2 and a half litres by then.

I observe that the oldest 4HP20 I have here has copper washers; aluminium ones came later...

I'll be replacing them with ones of the copper variety...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Jan 2011, 18:20

As many of you will know, I work on an IT Help desk. One of my colleagues occasionally produces a modified "Dilbert" cartoon when he spots one that is appropriate to either the work we do or to one of our staff.

For me today, he produced this:

Draw your own conclusions...

I was rather touched by it

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 07 Jan 2011, 21:25

Lol an IT legend as well as a xantia one!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:21

I put new copper washers on the gearbox banjo union on New V6 on Saturday and found it was still leaking

The new washers I sourced from Halfrauds as they did some just about the right size.

The reason for the continued leak was that the copper washers were as hard as tungsten

They needed annealing (softening) before use. This is a very easy job, just heat them with a blowtorch until they glow cherry red and then let them cool down. They'll be as soft as cheese them and will effectively seal.

Sunday I went to see Gareth (Xantiaman) and made the journey in New V6, mainly because although I'd have liked to have given the Activa a run out, it was trapped in by another car and i really didn't want to disturb the owner of the car just so I could get Activa out...

The journey up to Norwich was treacherous at the beginning due to black ice. The A421, A428, A14 and parts of the A11 were like skating rinks and I lost count of the aftermath of mishaps I saw as a result. Seems the gritters had not been out.

An excellent day was spent with Gareth and his family and for us the sun shone all day although it was a tad cool. Gareth's Activa is a good 'un and an excellent basis to make immaculate. Sadly, due to lack of ramps and other resources we were unable to fully sort the hydraulic problems but we know what's wrong (fully reported in Gareths thread) and work is in hand to resolve it. The day was nicely rounded off by a visit to the remains of Norwich City railway station and other railway artifacts in the area and then a good feed at a local carvery.

Happily, I can report the gearbox on New V6 is now 100% oil-tight

Today, I did get at my Activa and went for a good ride in it. Very pleasant. It's now back home with me for a bit of TLC, including the fitting of a new radiator, hopefully at the weekend.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 12 Jan 2011, 15:46

Yesterday I was struck down by yet another cold and things have gone downhill since. This ones a really vicious one and I'm even having trouble putting a coherent sentence together

It might look OK but the spell checker is working over time to make it look decent... My head is all mush and I can't think straight...

I've been a slave to colds this winter and as soon as one seems to be gone, another is there to take its place.

I did a bit of research and found, not surprisingly, that my place of work, being warm, crowded and air-conditioned does not help. Everyone seems to have a cold or had one very recently. This is the perfect place for the viruses to get around.

The other surprising discovery I made is that my lifestyle, spending a lot of time outdoors in all weathers does make a cold more likely but not for the old belief that you "catch" a cold from the cold weather. Those who spend lots of time outdoors in active pursuits build up a very strong immune system and this attacks invading viruses very hard, even weak ones, and it's the immune system fighting these viral attackers that makes you feel ill, not the virus itself. So if you have a weak immune system it might not bother to fight a cold virus and you end up not feeling ill even though technically, you have a cold.

Judging by the colds I've had recently, my immune system must be in excellent shape... That may be so but it's no comfort when you feel like you've been clobbered with a sledge-hammer and feel rubbish

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 12 Jan 2011, 16:06

Get well soon, Jim, Britain needs you.

My recommendation; a hooning hot curry, a bottle of brandy and a soak in a hot tub.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 12 Jan 2011, 16:11

MikeT wrote: My recommendation; a hooning hot curry

Funny you should say that Mike, I'm just about to go and cook one!!!

I'll pass on the other options though...

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 12 Jan 2011, 19:04

CitroJim wrote: The other surprising discovery I made is that my lifestyle, spending a lot of time outdoors in all weathers does make a cold more likely but not for the old belief that you "catch" a cold from the cold weather. Those who spend lots of time outdoors in active pursuits build up a very strong immune system and this attacks invading viruses very hard, even weak ones, and it's the immune system fighting these viral attackers that makes you feel ill, not the virus itself. So if you have a weak immune system it might not bother to fight a cold virus and you end up not feeling ill even though technically, you have a cold.

Beware the cytokine storm Jim.

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 12 Jan 2011, 19:05

Whiskey always works for me...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 12 Jan 2011, 21:25

Xac wrote: Beware the cytokine storm Jim.

Sounds worse than the cold itself

Just been reading about them on Wikipedia, not that it made much sense though...

davetherave wrote:Whiskey always works for me...

So it has to be the Irish stuff then Dave! Scotch won't do?

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 12 Jan 2011, 22:02

I prefer Whisky!!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 12 Jan 2011, 22:08

I find lemsips and bechams gets me through a good cold, usually they reoccur though

In fact I can feel one coming on now ...

Maybe ill give some whisky a try.

XantiaDaveEire · Unread post by **XantiaDaveEire** » 14 Jan 2011, 15:51

Nothing a good hot whiskey wont cure Jim

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 30 Jan 2011, 19:17

It's been a long tinme (again!) since an update tbut as usual, work has been getting in the way..

Luckily the vehicles have been behaving themselves during this busy time but as always, neglect leads to toys being thrown

This time it was the turn of my Activa to take a sulk...

Obviously she was unhappy that leaks on the New V6 were getting all the attention so this week she decided to spring one of her own

And not just any old leak either.

At this point one must either utter a little Cockney rhyming-slang along the lines of "I don't adam n'eve it!"

or, in finest Victor Meldrew voice " I don't believe it!"

Nor did I when I first spotted the small LHM puddle on the drive...

It started off as a weep and now it's big green tears. I feel like crying big tears too...

She's already cried a good 500mL of LHM...

And the leaks is from here:

Yep, that's it, the rear ram

Thing is, this was a brand-new ram less then a year and 3,000 miles ago at a cost of £403...

Now the damm thing is leaking

I shall be having words with the Stealer who supplied in in the morning and see if there's any come-back. No way in which a ram should fail so soon.

I could just repair it but that's not the point...

I'll report back with news as it develops...

Touch-wood, both V6s are fine. Old V6 is keeping calm and carrying on and today I took New V6 out for a well deserved spin. She's been standing for three weeks and positively enjoyed a good canter around rural North Bucks in the sunshine...

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 30 Jan 2011, 23:35

Thats poor a ram failing that quick!
They are very attention seeking these cars!
Good luck with the dealers though, will be interesting to see what they say.