Another Lemming Jumps Off The cliff...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:00

In another thread Dean wrote:

Deanxm wrote:im convinced Activa's are like lemmings, if you get too many of them in one location they try to comit suicide

They bloody are

This evening I, after waiting for my back to get a little better, I went to check over my Activa for its MOT. It's not due until near the end of Octyober but I like to be early....

Anyway, barely started and I noticed the coolant was down a smidgin. I looked and saw a white stain in the vicinity of the little spigot on top of the rad where the small pipe from the expansion tank connects.

I literally just touched it and it fell off spraying coolant everywhere

This was a new rad 6 months ago, a genuine NOS Valeo too. I guess this spigot may have been knocked at some point and was weak...

Now I need to effect a repair and that's going to be difficult in the crappite the rad is made of...

My plan, looking at the break, is to tap a thread into the hole, make up a new brass spigot, thread it in and glue it with super high temperature epoxy...

I'll report back later. I'll be vexed if I have to write off a nearly new Valeo rad because of this...

Bloody Activas, don't they just try your patience sometimes...

Checked the V6 just before and all that needed was a top-up of the screenwash. I discovered yesterday that the low screenwash warning light does actually work

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:03

Hmm thats not good, especially as I have a new Valeo radiator to fit to my Activa, I hope its not a problem with them. Ill be checking mine before fitting.

I didn't know some Xantias had the low screen wash warning, the XM warned me of the same the other day, on the LCD display, I was surprised it had a warning for it too.

Hope the repair works

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:08

I'll do my best to make it work Chris

The low screenwash warning, on Xantias at least, is only operative when headlight washers are fitted... there's two copper prongs that dip into the fluid about half way up the tank...

It's needs to warn early as the headlight washers are prodigious consumers of water.

Interestingly, the warning light only comes on when you're actually operating the screenwashers

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:12

Ah right, I didn't think mine would have one but it does explain why the XM has the warning. Though that has two screen wash reservoir tanks, which are huge, I wonder if there is a sensor in both ... Xms without headlamp washers have just one tank.

All of our C5s have the warning too, quite a handy feature really

However one is a compulsive liar and often warns even when the tank is full!

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:21

The screenwash warning was part of the "Winter Pack" so unless your Xantia have heated seats, headlight wash and heated washer nozzles you'll more than likely be out of luck.

CitroJim wrote:Interestingly, the warning light only comes on when you're actually operating the screenwashers

I found that with my old HDi and I think the V6 but my VSX and my present HDi don't do it

That's a right bum with the rad Jim, I had the same thing happen to me years ago with my 528i, I managed to glue it back on with some sort of epoxy or something with a small pipe through the middle IIRC.

Activa's, now why don't I own or want one any more,,,,

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:27

DickieG wrote: Activa's, now why don't I own or want one any more,,,,

Poor Activas, could have happened on anything

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:32

You may find the sensor is a bit iffy Richard. Basically it has two flat coppery prongs that dip into the water. I reckon if you have the sensor out and clean them it should sort it... I've seen one that was badly tarnished where the sensor had been dry for too long. It looks like they need to be kept wet to keep tarnish and corrosion at bay. I surmise that running with a consistently low washer fluid level or no screenwwash additive will eventually compromise the sensor...

Easy job to sort the sensor, just remove the bumper.....

DickieG wrote: Activa's, now why don't I own or want one any more,,,,

You know, I was having similar thoughts this weekend...

In fact it started some time back. I can pinpoint it exactly - doing the exhaust manifold gasket

I notice that on older Valeo rads the spigot has a shield around it - presumably to protect it from damage. The one I have does not have this protection...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 21 Sep 2011, 22:35

CitroJim wrote:
DickieG wrote: Activa's, now why don't I own or want one any more,,,,
You know, I was having similar thoughts this weekend...

Well if you would like to sell it ...

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 21 Sep 2011, 23:13

The header tank can't be plastic welded?

There's a modest business here, of uncrimping radiators, repairing or replacing end tanks and reassembly. The reason is simple; a new Valeo is $360 or so (trade) for common makes, and a large copper/brass radiator for something like my trucklet is close to $900.

Of course the smart money shops overseas!

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 21 Sep 2011, 23:16

Citroenmad wrote:
DickieG wrote: Activa's, now why don't I own or want one any more,,,,
Poor Activas, could have happened on anything

A lot of things that 'just happen' to Activa's

CitroJim wrote:You may find the sensor is a bit iffy Richard. Basically it has two flat coppery prongs that dip into the water. I reckon if you have the sensor out and clean them it should sort it... I've seen one that was badly tarnished where the sensor had been dry for too long. It looks like they need to be kept wet to keep tarnish and corrosion at bay. I surmise that running with a consistently low washer fluid level or no screenwwash additive will eventually compromise the sensor...

Interestingly my VSX never did it right from when I bought it at 3 months old, the first time I came across the light illuminating was on my previous HDi where the light glowed much brighter and longer than the V6, so I presumed it was something to do with ageing/mileage, particularly as my previous HDi had done 135k when I bought it.

I always keep my cars washer fluid well topped up, rarely do I manage to put more than 1/2 a pint in so you could be right on the fluid level Jim.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 22 Sep 2011, 07:49

DickieG wrote: I always keep my cars washer fluid well topped up, rarely do I manage to put more than 1/2 a pint in so you could be right on the fluid level Jim.

I usually do that too, though I try and get it close to running out every so often or the water starts to go bad, gloopy and smelly

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 22 Sep 2011, 07:52

I've a spare rad here if you need it Jim.

joking aside it shouldnt be all that hard to change it either as the hoses won't have had a chance to get stuck yet

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 22 Sep 2011, 07:56

Chris570 wrote: joking aside it shouldnt be all that hard to change it either as the hoses won't have had a chance to get stuck yet

Don't you believe it

It's an Activa remember....

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 22 Sep 2011, 07:58

i'll do it for you then, not a problem

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 22 Sep 2011, 10:50

Chris570 wrote:i'll do it for you then, not a problem

Masochist