All Things V6...

[CitroJim]

Excellent David It's like they've never heard of electrolytic corrosion

[DHallworth]

Today was a good day...

With 189k miles on the clock, the C5 sailed through its MOT without even an advisory.

Here's to another years motoring!

[mickthemaverick]

Well done David, another year free from the state the roads are getting into!

[CitroJim]

Magic

[DHallworth]

I realised this week that it's 7 years since the MOT on the Activa expired... I was a little taken aback as I didn't think it was that long. It certainly doesn't seem it anyway!

I put a battery on the car this week and she started up. Initially the fuel pump wasn't running but after putting the battery on charge she started right up so she was put into the workshop and onto the ramp for a good look over and recommission.

I got the car in the air and am pleased to report that all of the hydraulic pipes are in great condition with no corrosion, the engine is running sweet, the suspension is moving freely and the spheres seem nice and soft. I've checked all the bulbs and found 2 dead sidelight LED's which I've swapped back for the original bulbs - everything else was OK, I've replaced the wiper blades and the washer jets and pumps are all working as is the horn.

I've drained all the oil and fitted one of the proper, pukka V6 oil filters this evening. I'm picking up 6 litres of Total Quartz 7000 10w40 for her tomorrow.

The drivers side window plastic clip on the regulator broke tonight so I've fitted a new spare that I had to that. The rubber grommet that lives in the window is knackered though so I'll try and get some of them tomorrow too.

The Activa ram on the back is leaking but I'm hoping it's not dripping so that I can get it through an MOT. If that plan works I know it'll stop leaking. Once I start using the car the ram dries up and I've never had to top up the LHM.

Once I've done those bits and piece I'll do a coolant flush and change the tyres and put her in for an MOT with everything crossed!

David.

[CitroJim]

Excellent Good to hear your Activa is soon to be re-activated David

Seven years... Seems like only yesterday!

[Mandrake]

7 years!!

[DHallworth]

The last trip that the car did was in Summer 2017 when I took it to the Citroen Car Club National Rally at Abbots Ripton and made a day trip up to Donnington Park circuit where we took it on the track for 20-30 minutes.

I'll likely have used it for a few short trips after that during the rest of the summer but it won't have turned a wheel in 2018 so it's actually 8 years since it last saw a decent run and 7 years since the MOT expired.

Upon closer inspection this evening the sump gasket was leaking so I whipped the sump off, resealed it with some fresh loctite instant gasket and will refill it with oil tomorrow.

I've had each wheel off it today and given it a look over. I have gotten away sooooo lightly with it sitting. The brakes aren't even that bad and will clean up with a good run rather than needing to strip them down individually. The rear calipers are still straight on the trailing arms too! I've checked all the bushes and balljoints which all appear to be ok too.

I just need the window clip and then I reckon I'm going to put it in for an MOT and see what happens. The tyres on it are badly cracked but they're not showing any canvas or cords through the cracks so it should pass it's MOT. If it doesn't throw me any curve balls at the MOT I'll order it a new set of tyres.

I guess really she's due another timing belt seeing as the one on it was changed in 2014. It's only done around 5000 miles on that belt though.

[CitroJim]

I've had each wheel off it today and given it a look over. I have gotten away sooooo lightly with it sitting. The brakes aren't even that bad and will clean up with a good run rather than needing to strip them down individually. The rear calipers are still straight on the trailing arms too! I've checked all the bushes and balljoints which all appear to be ok too.

Excellent! Going by Alasdair's experience of reviving Xantias from deep hibernation, they do seem to tolerate it well

Cambelts are always a good plan to replace, especially one that's been idle for a while. It's not far off it's time interval anyway.

The V6 belt is a substantial affair and I've not heard of one throwing in the towel. That said, peace of mind and all that...

It'll be a good plan to swap the weather pump whilst you're there and update the tensioner if you are still on the old dynamic affair...

Keep us posted David

[DHallworth]

Thanks Jim.

The timing gear was all replaced in 2014 and has the newer style tensioner fitted.

I don’t think I’d be brave enough to go in there without doing the water pump as knowing my luck it’d start leaking as soon as I’d reassembled everything.

I’m hoping the idlers and tensioner will be ok though given their lack of use.

Annoyingly, my XM is due a belt change as it’s 15 years old this year but has done 5000 miles. Our 406 Coupe is due too so that’s 3 V6 timing belts in my not too distant future by the looks of it.

David.

[mickthemaverick]

Annoyingly, my XM is due a belt change as it’s 15 years old this year but has done 5000 miles. Our 406 Coupe is due too so that’s 3 V6 timing belts in my not too distant future by the looks of it.

David.

You had me going for a moment there David, I read it that your XM was 15 years old and I thought 'I never knew they made them in 2010!', Then I realised you were talking about the belt!!

[DHallworth]

I wish it was 15 years old. It’d be a unicorn.

It’s a 2000 model so one of the very last. She’s only done 55k miles though.

[CitroJim]

After doing three of them David, you'll be extremely proficient I've found jockey wheels to be good for another round in all the V6 belts I've done. They are rather well engineered, as is the whole of the engine. Spin them and if they spin silently with no play they'll be fine.

Definitely on the water pump. I believe there are two variants and not interchangeable. And some may need a small mod - removing a bit of a lug if I recall correctly - when used with the later tensioner assembly.

[xantia_v6]

There are 3 variants of water pump. The original type with the ear for the tensioner pivot, the replacement type without the ear and the later type (generally fitted to the ES9A engine) which is smaller diameter.

I think that the latter type was fitted to very late XM and Xantia (ES9J4). I have one sitting in my garage in France which is of no use to me.

I have got into the habit of only changing ES9 water pump and idlers based on mileage, not age, and have not had a problem yet.

[DHallworth]

The Activa sailed through her MOT yesterday with no fuss and no advisories.

Since I moved her onto the ramp she's had the sump resealed, an oil and filter change, a fuel filter and 30 litres of fresh petrol. The brakes weren't even dirty enough to merit removing from the car and within 5 miles of driving they were cleaned up nicely and working great.

The emissions at the MOT barely registered so she's running nicely. I taxed her last night as well so we can get some miles on it this summer. Well, that's the plan anyway!

David.