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

[xantia_v6]

Re the Skoda audio, you could just get one of these:

Plenty available, search for 'cassette adapter'. Surprisingly, they usually give better audio quality than playing a tape in the same mechanism, as they don't add tape hiss, and the frequency range is not influenced so much by the head gap dimensions.

You can apparently even get bluetooth versions now.

[Zelandeth]

LOL, anti-rust wax does make a white cars engine bay look rather dirty

Yes it does, I sprayed a heap of it around the Saab's engine bay when I got it. Looked a right mess, but has definitely kept a lot of the rust at bay.

The tape adaptors do work surprisingly well, though some do rattle. There's one already in the Skoda as I've got a few so left that one with the car.

[CitroJim]

The tape adaptors do work surprisingly well, though some do rattle. There's one already in the Skoda as I've got a few so left that one with the car.

Not tried it yet but yesterday up in the loft I found two packs of cassettes, still in their cellophane wrapping...

They came from dad's place and I kept them, I think, for old-times sake...

They'll come in useful now

[CitroJim]

This week just gone has been one of the roughest I've had in ages For most of it I was more or less out of action, both physically and especially mentally.

Come Friday evening I was really fed up and low so I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to get away for the weekend and have a complete break...

Everything planned could go and do one - except parkrun pre-event setup - and I ended up at one of my favourite spots - the caravan

When I told the owner of the 'van my plans she said... 'Good! The site have just written to me to say the caravan is dirty and needs a wash - will you jet-wash it for me please?'

I did and found two hours of jet-washing a 35' caravan absolutely magically therapeutic... First time I've used a jet-wsher and they're great fun The caravan now looks immaculate and one of the cleanest on the site

Buggering off for the weekend and just dropping everything was the best decision I've ever made... I'm now transformed and back to normal!

Yesterday after jet-washing the caravan I the ran the distance of a half-marathon plus another 10k this morning

I then drove over to Sparkford and visited the Haynes Motor Museum Sunday Breakfast Club

Here is my Saxo with Alasdair's little AX outside the museum...

Own Work

My Saxo averaged just shy of 60mpg for the 353 miles travelled this weekend Not bad for a 20 year old car

The exhaust is getting worse and I see the back-box is now starting to break up... later this week I'll have a new system fitted...

The odd half-hot running problems continue but after speaking to a few people today I have picked up some clues for some further research/investigation into the problem...

I've now found the perfect antidote to a long car journey....

As soon as possible after arriving home, go out for a bike ride of preferably one tenth of the distance driven... I did close to that this afternoon and it's rounded off the weekend a treat

I'd not been out on my bike for a week and it was good to do so... Like running, I miss cycling badly if I don't do it very regularly...

[Zelandeth]

Glad you did the sensible thing and downed tools and got away for a bit.

Looks like I might a bit scarce for a bit. Close family friend has just started on chemotherapy following a diagnosis of a rare (but hopefully treatable) form of cancer. Poor guy is only a couple of years older than me too. So I'm going to be doing a lot of running them around and trying to help keep their place in order for them.

In happier news, I've dug out my old Philips CD deck for you Jim. You're welcome to use it to assist in getting yours up and going. From what I recall the innards of this should be largely similar to yours, the actual optical assembly etc should be identical.

Also got to have a proper look at my old Sanyo one which is playing up...may bring that over too because I know you'll enjoy a look at it... probably be towards the end of the week though as I'm busy until Thursday I think.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Buggering off for the weekend and just dropping everything was the best decision I've ever made... I'm now transformed and back to normal!

Pleased to hear it Jim. You may have seen this, but masquerading on the FCF with the flimsiest of French car connections ie my eldest's Clio, I have now a bona fide French Car once more, and as the thread title suggests have joined the "Bargain Basement Club" and quite pleased about it too.

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 84#p559131

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Zel, I'm so sorry to hear about your close friend Fingers crossed the treatment will work and normal health will soon be restored...

In happier news, I've dug out my old Philips CD deck for you Jim. You're welcome to use it to assist in getting yours up and going. From what I recall the innards of this should be largely similar to yours, the actual optical assembly etc should be identical.

Wonderful, thanks

Also got to have a proper look at my old Sanyo one which is playing up...may bring that over too because I know you'll enjoy a look at it... probably be towards the end of the week though as I'm busy until Thursday I think.

Very happy to, you know me Thursday will be perfect

You may have seen this, but masquerading on the FCF with the flimsiest of French car connections ie my eldest's Clio, I have now a bona fide French Car once more, and as the thread title suggests have joined the "Bargain Basement Club" and quite pleased about it too.

Excellent and well-bought Neil Welcome to the club!

[CitroJim]

Sally has just gone into car hospital to have a new exhaust fitted... The 350 mile jaunt around the West Country this weekend well and truly finished it off...

Our local mob quoted £107 for a complete cat-back system... I was happy with that and it's a small price to pay to have a job done that I hate doing...

Soon Sally is likely to be my only French car

My Pug of Love is for sale and for a very good reason too...

See my For Sale ad here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=59099

So soon, I'll have a French, Czech and an Indian/Japanese car

I get around the world a bit

[Zelandeth]

If it's still about at the end of the week and the weather cooperates happy to give it a quick wash, polish, wax, tyre dress and plastic black for you if that would be helpful Jim.

[CitroJim]

If it's still about at the end of the week and the weather cooperates happy to give it a quick wash, polish, wax, tyre dress and plastic black for you if that would be helpful Jim.

Thanks Zel That's appreciated !

The exterior is not bad, it's the interior that really needs doing - Poor Robyn was sick in it once coming home from Uni and some of the stains still remain... Also, she used to treat it like a McDonald's and Costa coffee shop skip and that hasn't helped... Against that the fabric of the interior is perfect; it just needs a bloody good clean and valet...

[Michel]

I've sent you a message about the 207 in another place Jim. It would do nicely as a 3rd car for me. Mrs Michel refuses point blank to drive the Ka...

I'd get my steam cleaning man to do the inside

[CitroJim]

I've sent you a message about the 207 in another place Jim. It would do nicely as a 3rd car for me. Mrs Michel refuses point blank to drive the Ka...

Excellent Mike I shall look in that other place

[Zelandeth]

A wet and dry vacuum is something I *really* need to add to my toolkit...

[CitroJim]

A wet and dry vacuum is something I *really* need to add to my toolkit...

Yes, one tool I lack... They can be invaluable for many automotive jobs - as Alasdair demonstrated to me a few weeks ago...

I'm starting to think the issues I'm having with starting from hot/half-hot restarts on my Saxo may be related to the fuel pump...

I stumbled across this old thread on this very forum and that sort of strengthens my thoughts...

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... hp?t=29398

A new one is just over £40 from the 'bay so I'm going to take a risk on one and see if it helps...

[CitroJim]

Sally the Saxo is back with me and sporting a lovely new and quiet exhaust

She caused grief as there are no end of Saxo exhaust variants and the particular variant on Sally is now unobtainable..

So she ended up with a complete new system, including a new cat.... It was a little more expensive than I'd planned but it looks good, is beautifully fitted and carries a two year guarantee...

That little lot cost as much as the car did

Next job will be to fit the new fuel pump when it arrives...