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

[Xaccers]

I really wanted to get my teeth into something new and challenging

We'll get you a ukulele then

[PavlosV6]

I really wanted to get my teeth into something new and challenging

We'll get you a ukulele then

Well, there's a thing

[addo]

The Bosch ABS (2SE, at least) has five-sided internal socket capscrews. An act of bastardry.

Evidently the Bendix one doesn't!

[CitroJim]

Evidently the Bendix one doesn't!

No, just four stupidly tight and Loctited Allen Bolts. It comes apart very easily although on a 'real' job as distinct from investigation I'd like to renew the O rings...

Has your 605 got Bendix ABS Adam?

[addo]

No, it's Bosch. The relays are built like tanks, but I haven't cracked the bloc open yet as I'm hoping my recurrent ABS fault lies externally.

[CitroJim]

Have you had any diagnostics on the ABS Adam?

What's the symptoms of your problem?

I ask as a read of mine did indicate a faulty solenoid (electrovalve) if you look closely and interpret what it said...

Drop round and see me and I'll pop your 605 on my TEP92. That's if it has two pin diagnostic sockets...

[addo]

It's got a 30-pin socket.

I can't get Peugeot Planet to talk; think it's possibly the rubbish pirated brown plug. I've blagged a donor genuine plug from the undercarpet harness of a Xantia wreck, but need five more of the triple connector "wafers" with tails of wire, to fill it up.

After going out during the startup self-diagnostics, the dash light comes on with a firm press of the brakes, and stays on. All sensors read fine - one had been snipped maliciously in a past life, but I retrieved the ends and it's fixed.

At least one of the rear calipers is nearly seized.

[CitroJim]

At least one of the rear calipers is nearly seized.

That might have a bearing on it Adam, if the ECU detects any sort of speed inconsistency of all four wheels under heavy braking perhaps...

Crap in the reluctor rings?

Had a nice new set of front tyres fitted to the V6 yesterday and she feels much better. On the perceived performance issue I've been told to take her out for a thoroughly good thrash; something I've never done with the V6. I must and when I have I'll report back

The Activa is booked in for her MOT on Thursday afternoon. Today, as it is a nice bright day here, I went out and did a full pre-MOT. Nothing amiss was found with the car but plenty amiss was found with me Despite getting up and feeling quite chirpy, just doing the pre-MOT, which involved little more strenuous than having the front wheels off, has left me completely exhausted and feeling rough Not good.

Bang goes any plans to do anything on the XM today but there's two bits of good news on that front: Andmcit has very kindly supplied me with a new upper speedo cable and instructions to fit - thanks Andrew - and my repair to the duff coil on the spare Bendix ABS block seems to have been successful. It just remains to try it out now... Full details of that particular saga can be found over on Club-XM..

I've just got to accumulate enough energy now to get the XM nosecone off Maybe tomorrow...

[Citroenmad]

Ive never tried BF Goodrich tyres, they are a brand of Michelin aren't they?

Enjoy your thrash in your V6 Jim Ive decided my Activa needs to be taxed, its only been on SORN two weeks and I miss it

Also good luck with the MOT, though im sure it will pass with flying colours.

Excellent news on the speedo cable, its taken about two years to find one

Im more than happy to come down for a day and help you with the fitting of the cable and any other XM things you need doing. After all, I should have done that myself when i had it! I also need to machine polish that passenger side too

[CitroJim]

Thanks Chris, that's very kind

Ive never tried BF Goodrich tyres, they are a brand of Michelin aren't they?

Yes, a brand of Michelin and in fact when you look at the latest generation of G-Grips the tread pattern is almost identical to the latest generation of Michelin Energys... I like them more each time I drive on them..

I know what you mean about the Activa. They're addictive and hard to give up

[Citroenmad]

Thanks Chris, that's very kind

Ive never tried BF Goodrich tyres, they are a brand of Michelin aren't they?

Yes, a brand of Michelin and in fact when you look at the latest generation of G-Grips the tread pattern is almost identical to the latest generation of Michelin Energys... I like them more each time I drive on them..

I know what you mean about the Activa. They're addictive and hard to give up

Excellent, I'll make arrangements with you to do that

Might well give some BF Goodrich's a go at some point in that case. No doubt cheaper than Michelins for my C5!

Very addictive, not only that but even now it impresses me more on each drive. Few cars can claim to do that.

[CitroJim]

Few cars can claim to do that.

I think an XM may well do that Chris

Here's a good starter for ten, as Bamber might say...

What car requires half the front end dismantled to change an accumulator sphere?

An XM of course

I bit the bullet this morning after recovering from my Activa Pre-MOT yesterday and got the nosecone off the XM so that I could pull the rads sufficiently far forward to reach the accumulator sphere..

A couple of issues emerged. The O/S wheelarch bumper mount has dissolved to nothing but all bits rescued and there's enough sound metal left to re-fabricate it. The N/S is perfect

The N/S bumper skirt captive nut tore out of the nosecone but again, a simple patch will sort that - no problem.

The steel bumper insert is a bit crusty but a coat of rust killer and a few coats of paint will sort that...

With the nose off and the rads pulled as far forward as possible, it was just possible to get a good strap around the accumulator and crack it off and ease it out.

Good job I did that job, the accumulator was ruptured and spilt a lovely amount of LHM. Not sure how it was sealing either as the old seal was badly crimped.

With the best I could muster, a centre sphere at around 45 bars has been used as a new accumulator and now the hydraulics are a lot happier so it was worth doing the job

I'm still curious to know if the FDV is entirely happy. It gently hisses continually unless steering assistance is needed. That's good as the hiss is the result of the steering pressure regulator operating and excess LHM being returned to the reservoir. The only thing I note is that assistance is available as soon as the engine is started and I'm not sure that's absolutely right - my old Sinker did not give steering assistance until the accumulator was fully charged and normal height reached...

That's enough for today, next jobs are to repair the bumper mounting and swap the transmission fluid...

Bizarrely, the ABS light has gone out

XMs - don't you just love 'em...

[Citroenmad]

Excellent progress Jim, the Prestige is putting up quite a list of jobs

I had wonderd if the accumulator sphere was any good and it was on my list to check and replace should I have had the car any longer. Also the centre front and rear spheres, I dont think your experiencing the full comforts of an XM yet. In the time we have known that car, about 8-9 years, it has only had corner spheres fitted by us. That was about 7 years ago and when I got the car they were shot, so I replaced those as you know.

Our Xm estate, also a sinker, does not have power assistance to the steering until the suspension is on the rise ...

XMs - don't you just love 'em...

I do actually

While I do like the look, drive and feel of a Xantia, they really are not XMs. I always found myself looking back at the XM when I left it in a carpark, I don't so much with the Xantias. XMs are just that bit more special, in look, feel and drive.

[CitroJim]

the Prestige is putting up quite a list of jobs

Chris, you know me. If I had the most perfect car in the world I'd still find a long list of jobs to do on it

Well, it rides a lot nicer than the Xantia over what passes for some roads around here and there's a very pronounced difference between hard and soft mode so the centre spheres cannot be too bad at all...

The thing I like about the Prestige is there's enough gentle jobs to do on it to keep me usefully occupied and enthused; nothing big or difficult but just the job to provide me a bit of therapy Just what I need for the next few weeks

[Citroenmad]

Im very pleased your still happy with the car, it has quite a few smaller jobs needed so it should keep you entertained

You will know what I mean when you do check the centres, they are far from past it but they could be better. I do like having Citroens which ride as they should, if not better! This V6 will be getting it spheres checked before long, I think the rear corners are a little low by the feel in sports, but the rest should regas as it rides quite well as is. I just need to get onto the company who do the regassing gear and get some more charging nipples ordered up.

I just wish C5 spheres were as easy to recharge, our regassing gear is almost redundant, even with an Activa in the fleet as I have done them already