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

[CitroJim]

Davie, can you be a little more specific about what did your head in on the Activa?

I just want to see if we might agree

[daviemck2006]

Not being able to bypass the immobiliser, the length of time it took for the suspension to rise. It always settled a bit and took about 30 seconds from starting it untill the stop lights went off and it could be driven. The fuel consumption. I never bettered 24mpg. That were the main things. However I think the clutch going within weeks of getting it, and I know that was just bad luck and there was no way it could have been forseen put it in a bad place to start with. And the fact that when I decided to buy a xantia it was going to be a v6, not an activa I was going for. So it wasnt really the car I wanted. It was the provenance of that particular car which made me decide to buy it. However, even allowing for the clutch and welding it got I just got my money bavk when selling it. Its a great pity it has never been taxed since and the MOT is now expired. I honestly thought the buyer was going to use it. Then again it could have the bits of paintwork done and sitting in a warm dry collecrors garage for all I know! But to the worst bits of her, Gabby is the complete opposite. A few seconds for the glow plugs to work and she starts instantly, no stop lights on, no immobliser code to put in, and 44mpg around town. She is exactly what I wanted for the workhorse, yet is good enough for "posh" duties too, therfore preserving bigpug, which could become a very scarce car in the future, and is a keeper.

[CitroJim]

Not being able to bypass the immobiliser, the length of time it took for the suspension to rise. It always settled a bit and took about 30 seconds from starting it untill the stop lights went off and it could be driven. The fuel consumption.

I can understand all of that Davie, especially the fuel consumption

The fuel consumption can be OK if driven a little conservatively - I have had 39mpg out of one and regularly I could see 35mpg...

But then, you all know how I drive

I understand entirely about the clutch going too. And the length of time it took to fix I never quite have the same love/trust if a car of mine ever lets me down and has to come home on a flat-bed... Silly I know but it happened with my last Xantia V6...

It's been a case of two (or three) steps forward and one step backwards on the Activa today...

Found the replacement CV boot is the wrong one - there's two choices as per typical Citroen - and the other side wheel bearing is not perfect. I'm going to have to replace it despite last changing it maybe two years ago.

I'd may as well whilst all is in bits... It would be niggling if all went back together and it proved to be noisy...

I know it was changed relatively recently as the circlip came out easily and did not need a cold chisel and club-hammer

Here's the split in the CV boot. It's tiny...

Split Boot - Own Work

The correct boot is now on order... I discover the wrong CV boot I bought is for a Saxo so it'll be useful one day! Or maybe I've seen into the future and the Saxo is going to need a boot for its next MOT! Funnier things have happened to me...

I also have a wheel bearing on order...

Off out now to play with the hydraulic press again I enjoy pressing things...

[Hell Razor5543]

I have a load of shirts that require pressing, Jim!

[daviemck2006]

I’ve just thought of another thing that pissed me off, every time I ordered something for the activa I got bits for a 2.0 16v which is a different thing and most bits are different between the two. The whole car although it could be brilliant at times just pushed too many annoyance buttons, which Gabby hasn’t yet despite the mot fail. I wasn’t really expecting it to pass without anything needed to be honest. I need a dry day or two to look at the other door shut. It’s a little crusty, if caught now should be ok, if left it will probably need the welder also, so it’s worth a rub down and treat with something. The good thing with her patina it won’t matter if the bits match just now as long as they are treated lol

[CitroJim]

I’ve just thought of another thing that pissed me off, every time I ordered something for the activa I got bits for a 2.0 16v which is a different thing and most bits are different between the two.

Now that was a PITA Davie... Bloody annoying too... I think that's maybe why i ended up with the wrong driveshaft boot too

I have a load of shirts that require pressing, Jim!

Speaking of pressing...

I've pressed out the second wheel bearing this afternoon As it had not been resident in the hub for so long it gave up the fight relatively easily and I was not rewarded by a big bang this time

The base of my press really does bear silent witness to just how many wheel bearings I've done over the last couple of years or so!

Own Work

When I pulled the driveshaft I naturally lost a little gearbox oil. I caught it in a clean container and measured it so that I know by how much to top up when I reinstall the shaft...

Saves a full gearbox oil change and the drained oil proves it's not needed... I lost just about half a pint...

I did another value-added job this afternoon. I unseized the handbrake cable adjustment nuts on each cable and got them running easily up and down the full lengths of the threads... It'll make setting up the handbrake with the new big calipers a nice, easy job.

Looking forward to tomorrow when i finally get to see and play with my new Saxo In fact i can hardly wait. Just one more sleep

[Hell Razor5543]

I take it there is a nice dollop of copper slip grease that has now been spun into the threads?

[CitroJim]

I take it there is a nice dollop of copper slip grease that has now been spun into the threads?

Oh yes James, all threads get that treatment from me

[Michel]

Im sure Zel will enjoy the activa, although I could see it being more like his saab than anything else.

Really, no, it won't be anything at all like it other than in terms of fuel consumption!

[Michel]

Davie, can you be a little more specific about what did your head in on the Activa?

I just want to see if we might agree

As you know I used mine as a daily driver for 16 months and nearly 40,000 miles. The only thing that did my head in was the fuel consumption. Other than that it was a lovely thing. It never broke down. Never leaked, was never troublesome at all apart from the reason Adrian Chapman first put me in touch with you all those years ago!

[Michel]

Not being able to bypass the immobiliser, the length of time it took for the suspension to rise. The fuel consumption. I never bettered 24mpg. That were the main things.

That's abysmal. Even I got 28mpg out of mine!
I got 32mpg out of my new toy on a horrible trip to Luton and back today, which was good as the traffic was so bad it tool me 5 hours to do 110 miles..

[Michel]

The fuel consumption can be OK if driven a little conservatively - I have had 39mpg out of one and regularly I could see 35mpg...

If anyone but you else stated this about an Activa, I'd call them a liar or ask them if it was rolling downhill with the engine off..

[Zelandeth]

My usual average in the Saab was around 23mpg, though that dropped to about 18 around MK! She's a big, heavy low geared car and has no lockup system on the torque converter.

Best I think I ever managed was 36mpg - that was in the winter though driving everywhere very carefully at 50mph or less...and I only even came close to that once.

[CitroJim]

The fuel consumption can be OK if driven a little conservatively - I have had 39mpg out of one and regularly I could see 35mpg...

If anyone but you else stated this about an Activa, I'd call them a liar or ask them if it was rolling downhill with the engine off..

[CitroJim]

Saxo and I have finally met and I'm head over heels in love with her

She is really truly excellent and a lovely drive. She's comfier than my 207 to a very marked degree!

She needs a little TLC in a few small areas but in all the important places she's in excellent condition... A little work and she's going to be perfect...

Thanks Alasdair for finding her for me

Looking forward to driving her him in the morning and getting to know her a bit better and hopefully a name will suggest itself...

Here she is with Daffodil, her sister...

Own work