My Activa getting some love

[djadams]

Evening all!

It's been AGES since I've been on here, far too long in fact. I was giving my Activa some love this evening, inspired by various bits I read on here before renovating my flat completely took over my life a year ago. The flat is approaching completion now, so it's time to move on to more important things - preserving some citroen heritage and protecting Activa-based geek-joy for future generations...

This evening I replaced the seal under the outlet-hex on the hydraulic pump, and tomorrow morning hopefully I'll pick another one up for the rear hex which is also weeping - the o-ring that came out was completely hard and mis-shapen, no surprise it was leaking. Thankfully the dealer accidentally ended up with five of them, so I know they've got one in stock for the rear hex...

The other job finally done this evening was replacing the manky mould bumper chromings with swanky chrome bumper mouldings. I'd been meaning to do that pretty much since discovering on here how easy it was shortly after buying the car and it has really smartened it up. Now I need to get hold of Brian Primmer for some stainless door strips and she'll be on her way back to glory, cosmetically at least. Also on the shopping list is a second hand NS headlamp (series 2) as mine picked up a stone hole in the lens a couple of weeks ago

Underneath she needs some adjustment to a pattern catalyst exhaust section which is clouting the subframe on hard acceleration, and I need to fit a drivers electric window regulator as the original has finally died. Then she'll be mint. Well, not quite... but getting there!

All of this is more interesting than re-assembling an Ikea wardrobe that's been in bits for a year...

[DHallworth]

I've been fettling with mine tonight too in anticipation of her MOT on Monday morning.

Where did you get your bumper mouldings from?

David.

[djadams]

The bumper mouldings came from the main dealer - I don't think anyone else does them as they're shaped to match the bumpers and have the clip feature moulded in on the back. They're a piece of cake to replace however, simply pull the old ones out, centre-up the new one and clip into place. Job's a good 'un and makes a world of difference. It's the door trims on mine that were really bad though - in a couple of places the plastic covering is so badly UV damaged it's broken apart and a previous owner has added a fetching dab or two of silver paint to draw attention to it. Brian was right to target me with a business card at the X rally last year!

Have since been engaging in more Xantia geekitude - reading up on the "10 minute octopus mod" - I'm intrigued. The Activa has always been a lot harsher than The Formerly Mighty Xant (my tatty but loved non-hydractive '95 1.9TD that eventually suffered a turbo failure whilst running rather optimistic boost and full load fuelling settings...). I'd always put it down to the sheer activaness of the activa - it's got harder spheres than a "normal" Xant after all - but now I'm thinking I ought to do a bit to reduce/eliminate air bubbles in the pump feed. Interesting stuff. That'll teach me not to log on to the forum for a while - you guys have re-engineered the Xantia while I've been gone...

[wurlycorner]

Nice to hear of another Activa getting some love What's the ten minute octopus mod?

[djadams]

10 minute mod - the one discussed in this thread:
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=44923

[isisalar]

djadams
I got a new front bumper chrome strip with my Xantia when I bought it, never fitted it because I was under the impression it was a bumper off job to do and it's the best one anyway. Are you saying they just pop off? Might give it a go if it's that easy, mines even got the headlamp washer recesses cut out to aid lining up.
Going out to the shed to have a look at these clips on the strip. If you could put up a link to the door strip supplier I'd be very grateful.
My local Citroen dealer insisted I buy the whole packet of those o rings, yours sounds very reasonable.
Cheers
Paul

[djadams]

Absolutely, they just pop out and the new one clips in. I'd recommend starting at one corner of the car, you can pull the front one forwards (or the rear one backwards) and it'll unclip from the main part of the bumper, and the end will slide out where it tucks in behind. Then just work your way along to the other side, unclipping as you go. Installing the new ones, place it nearly into place with both ends tucked in, then start clipping it in from the middle (where there are location features on the bumper and the chrome moulding) and work your way outwards, finishing off at each end. Piece of cake

[djadams]

Yes, the parts guys at Sutton Park Warwick (actually Leamington) are pretty helpful, much better than my folks' local dealer in Winchester. The Leamington guys even seem to know what an Activa is! I think the minimum order for those o rings with Citroen UK is five (annoyingly not a multiple of the number required per pump!) But they were good enough to sell me one, then another two (in case I damaged one, which I didn't).

The supplier for the stainless (better than oe!) door strips is a lovely old chap from the Citroen Car Club, Brian Primmer. He makes them himself and advertises in the club magazine, I'll try to remember to PM you his contact details when I get home.

[myglaren]

Brian will likely be at the X-rally on the 27th if you can make it

[Sl4yer]

Treated mine to a new cambelt, water pump and thermostat last week, with 2 (or maybe 4) new tyres next week. I'd love to get all the door and bumper trims changed, but I think I'll just give it a good wash for now!

SWMBO is talking about replacing the Activa (and to be fair, I'd quite like a C5 diesel estate). But she doesn't drive it, so I'm resisting!

James