Citroenmads Citroen blog.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 21:50

Yes, ive used a bit

No, the Xm is a bit more tail happy. Your Xm is on huge wheels with low profile tyres, the squdgy and narrow michelins on ours let it down a bit. Its not a car I push around that much. Still, it wasnt all that far behind the Activa on the bends yesterday, it was having to work hard though

I know, bad idea! I took a mate out with me, we were both sat there for a while waiting for it to pump up. He kept saying "are you sure it should be this slow, the Xm is much quicker getting to normal". But yes, seems about normal and didn't actually take that long.
I need to investigate its rattle and go from there. All in good time.

Oh, forgot to say, the Peugeot 1007 went today

Just Citroens here now, the 8 of them.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 03 Apr 2011, 21:53

not tempted to make it 9

, i hear a certain xm is for sale, well you know but still.............

D

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 03 Apr 2011, 22:04

Cant believe you lowered it fully, are you still out there waiting for it to resume normal ride height

A brave man, the activas stealth round corners is needed after the long wait for it to pressurise before starting off!

Yeah Chris, get CMO back! You're on a winning streak!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 22:09

CitroJim wrote:Delighted you're happy Chris... The love will get stronger. A well-sorted Activa really is an absolute pleasure.

The cambelt is easier than it looks but be careful of tension.. The setting is critical....

Deanxm wrote: Seems we have both been burning large amounts of fuel today
That makes three of us

I ran my Activa to Somerset and back today via Zig-Zag hill (awesome, full report soon ) and London..

She ran like a clock the whole way and I'm in love all over again

The more I drive it the more I enjoy it. Im looking forward to working through the things I want to do with it too. Im quite taken by Xantias going by this one.

Im going to order the cambelt bits tomorrow and see about finding the time to get it replace. I might well put it into my usual place I get cambelts done if not.

Zig-Zag hill, that does sound appealing

Im still yet to read about th work on your Activa in the Citroenian or your blogs thread, still putting it off! Seems you have yours right again though.

I really need to start going through your blogs thread and other Activa related threads so I have more of an idea about what im doing or might need to do with this one. It should help, maybe, put my mind at rest too. Or not ...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 22:16

I think old Perry Como (what we called CMO) will have to find new digs elsewhere unfortunately.

I wouldn't mind it back but im going to concentrate on the Activa and getting that right before I move any more in.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 22:23

Deanxm wrote:Franklin has been out in his too i would think, its all go on the Activa front recently Jim, still have not finnished reading your article though, not got the stones for it just now
Look forward to the update.

D

It is, bit odd really.

Ive just got one, you have yours on the road now, Franklin bought one recently, Toby has his road going again, Andrew has been getting his MOTd and back on the road - im sure there is someone else.

Activa ownership has hit the FCF ... I can really see why

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 03 Apr 2011, 22:35

Andrew has just bought another one

Activa fever

D

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 03 Apr 2011, 22:54

...your Activa is looking very smart in those pictures Chris - you can't beat a nice Activa.

Unfortunately my Activa hasn't been out to play as the MOT run out a couple of days ago...but that will be hopefully sorted very soon.
I've been 'tinkering' with it yesterday though but I was unfortunately very busy today so couldn't.

Still, next weekend's not too far away!

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 03 Apr 2011, 23:08

Thanks Franklin, its as smart in the metal as it is in those pictures

Good luck with the MOT on your Activa.

Tinkering ... I plan on doing that this Saturday too, probably with another good drive out somewhere too. It would be silly not to!

Ive parked it up for the week now, lets see how long I stay away from it

Citroening · Unread post by **Citroening** » 03 Apr 2011, 23:12

...I bet I end up doing some tinkering before the weekend - it's too tempting!

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Apr 2011, 18:34

Good luck with the Activa Chris. It's a good one.

It wasn't in a very good shape when I got it for £400 off a chap in Derby, but, I did a fair bit to it and then Xantiaman has done some more. By the time you've finished with it it should be as good as new.

The one thing I couldn't get right when I had it were the heater controls.

I got a replacement control unit off ebay and fitted it but, it didn't make much difference. The control cables appeared to be the problem. I had the dash apart and glove box out a few times trying to sort them out. New cables is probably the best answer.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 05 Apr 2011, 18:40

Is this the re circ control being stiff and bending the cables Kev?

D

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 18:50

So my first job on the Activa is underway ... the cambelt kit, water pump and AUX belt. However I have cheated as ive sent it to my usually place for cambelts - I usually do most other things but dislike doing cambelts, quite glad I did ...

The garage phoned earlier to ask me how the car was running and performing. I said the engine runs excellently, performance is superb, the engine is nice and quiet, fuel consumption is as expected and the torque it has from low revs right up to high revs is amazing.

They said thats a wonder, as with the way the timing is set up its a amazing that it runs at all ...

They also said that it had had a new cambelt at some time, new marks had been added to allow timing of the engine, if the timing was correct to sepc it would be a lot different and not run due to how its running now . i.e. fine.

So they suggested that it might have had another crank fitted in the past with a longer throw.

To be honest most of this went in one ear and out of the other, so this is a dumbed down version of what they said

Ive no idea what could be the reason for the timing to be so far from how it should be. However it runs excellently and pulls better than a train.

The last I heard at around 3.30 today was that they were fitting the new parts and leaving the timing around where it was. It should be done tomorrow morning so ill have a good look at the old belts and pump to see how they were.

They said its a bit of a fiddly job as a lot of the plastics are a fiddle to get off. Ive such little knowledge of doing a camblet I didnt want to start on this car, so I think I did the wise thing for me and got them to do it. Ive had them do numerous cambelts on all sots of cars and they have always been spot on, so my faith is in them!

After I explained how it goes and what the car actually is, they are looking forward to test driving it

Shame, I was looking forward to getting in from work and giving it a drive.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 18:55

KevMayer wrote:Good luck with the Activa Chris. It's a good one.

It wasn't in a very good shape when I got it for £400 off a chap in Derby, but, I did a fair bit to it and then Xantiaman has done some more. By the time you've finished with it it should be as good as new.

The one thing I couldn't get right when I had it were the heater controls.

I got a replacement control unit off ebay and fitted it but, it didn't make much difference. The control cables appeared to be the problem. I had the dash apart and glove box out a few times trying to sort them out. New cables is probably the best answer.

Thanks Kev, It is a good one, im very impressed with it. There are a good few things I want to do with it to get it right, but it will get there.

What is the problem with its heater controls? Ive used the auto temperature, fans and direction controls all without any problems? But have not used the air recirc slider, is that where the problem is?

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 05 Apr 2011, 18:57

If the timing was so far out to be causing a running problem it would of died a death by now, possibly it may have been a degree out by the timing marks but thats assuming the pulley marks are accurate..