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

[CitroJim]

I've finally completed the relay mod and touch-wood all is now good

A few pictures to show the work:

I chopped the connections between the ignition switch proper and the brown ignition switch connector, thus leaving the main car loom intact, and crimped on some wiring to run across to the new 'helper' relay...



Wired the relay:



And tested it...

Then temporarily tucked it up by the fuse box so that it is easily accessible just in case it gives issues...



As soon as I'm happy all is good I'll mount the relay somewhere out of the way and tidily...

In other vehicle news, I fitted a pair of mudguards to my 'Daily Rider' bike...

Here she is, posing with my 'Daily Driver'

[demag]

Jim how do you find the C1? I've never really been sure of them.

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[CitroJim]

Dave, I find the C1 utterly brilliant and I love mine to bits, as it seems, does the vast majority of owners...

It's frugal, nippy, comfy and an absolute hoot to drive in town. It's a very well thought out little thing and shows no real shortcomings. As expected, it's not so good on a long trip but that's not what it's role is but if needed, it's quite happy to undertake a long, fast trip...

Youngest daughter has a Nissan Pixo (Suzuki Alto in disguise) and they are very similar, both 3 cylinder city cars.. The C1 is head and shoulders above it in every respect despite being a considerably older design...

The Daihatsu (Toyota) VVTI engine is utterly amazing...

I reckon it's nearly as good as a Pug 205 and that I rate as the best small car ever...

As you might gather, I'm a big fan...

[daviemck2006]

Excuse me answering the question demag, but being on my 2nd 107 which is the same car they are brilliant little things. Nippy in town, runs out of puff as you would expect for 3 cylinder 998cc. My first was very basic, what I wanted but 100%reliable on a 100 mile a day commute. This or is a sportium, better seats, aircon, electric widows and locking and alloys. It has had a harsh life, 30000 miles in one year by my son, flat out. Now 200 miles a week by me delivering hot food mostly Ilin the town. Oil and filters every 10000 miles and 100% reliability again.

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[CitroJim]

Excuse me answering the question demag

That's no problem at all Davie

We're clearly both on the same page when it comes to the C1/107/Aygo... It's hard to tell who loves them more - me or you!!!

[demag]

Haha two impressive answers.

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[Zelandeth]

I've been impressed by my little 107, which I've had since new and is now on somewhere around 55K miles (most of that in the last two years on a Milton Keynes - Oxford commute).

Aside from normal service items only things it's needed have been a clutch (probably not helped by it having been misadjusted from new and subject to a commute through Oxford traffic every day), and a radiator which is more hassle to replace than it really should be but still isn't really hard. Exhaust is probably next given that it really is looking like something retrieved from the Titanic by now. Given how simple a system it is I'm not expecting mega money for that.

Economy has always hovered in the high 40s to low 50s mpg and performance is impressive for such a small power unit, though it doesn't really come alive until 3000rpm.

Probably the biggest complaint to be honest is that the headlight bulbs are an absolute pig to change if you don't have two dimensional hands with six inch long triple jointed fingers!

[Xantianut]

Sounds like the same guy designed the 107's and Xantia's headlights. The battery side wasn't too bad provided you remove the battery. As for the side with the ECU.........

[Zelandeth]

Problem with the ones in the 107 is that like on many small cars these days, the headlights are pushed so far back that there's all of about an inch of clearance between the back of the headlight and the suspension turret.

Actually getting the bulb in, that's not too bad. However getting the clip back on without it shifting is a royal pain, and then getting the rubber boot back on is a task which really is on the list of "menial tasks where you learn new and exciting swear words" - it's wider than the gap. Then you just need to get the wiring connector back on and test. ...at which point you discover that while wrestling the waterproofing boot back on that you've managed to dislocate the lamp and need to start over!

...mine may now have had the fixing points behind the bumper "strategically removed" so that a handful of bolts and screws remove the headlights in about a minute. Otherwise there's a bracket behind the bumper which means that has to come off to get the light assembly out...even with that removed the lights seem perfectly secure (the Morette upgraded lights don't use this post either), and it now means that changing a bulb takes me ten minutes and no injuries rather than about three quarters of an hour and many scraped knuckles.

Not found my Xantia's headlights bad to get at to be honest. ECU cover comes off which helps, only thing I had any choice words to say about really was the A/C reciever which gets in the way a bit.

[myglaren]

I have found the same problem with my daughter's C3.

[daviemck2006]

I better just say that I have heard that sir Jim is deserting the french car scene, as he already owns a little Japanese car he has decided to try the Germans. I can only sat TRAITOR! Imagine buying a BMW 320! I struggled to take it in when I saw it on Facebook! However everything on Facebook is absolutely true!

[CitroJim]

I struggled to take it in when I saw it on Facebook! However everything on Facebook is absolutely true!

Indeed it is, that post was definitely made on Facebook...

And from my own account...

So, on that basis it is absolutely 100% true...

But...

I made the mistake of leaving myself logged in when I was busy doing something else and someone took full advantage

The resulting Facebook conversation is absolutely hilarious... It made me

[daviemck2006]

Probably a daughter needing a severe talking to I think. At least she could have chosen a 5 series diesel. The only bmw I would consider, and it would have to be 20 years old at least

[Zelandeth]

Hmm..dunno...I've always fancied a 635CSi.

...Having borrowed a mate's 635CSi Alpina a few years back may have had something to do with that. Wouldn't say no to a Z3 either...those are the only ones I'd really entertain buying myself though...

[daviemck2006]

I do actually have a hankering since I got the 107 for the work hack, which it is very good at, to sell the 205 and get a 530 diesel touring for the Sunday best. It would have to be old though, 15 to 20 at least. The 6 series from the same vintage or older is nice too. The wheeler dealers one, red 635csi with leather would do fine.