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

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 29 Aug 2010, 21:10

Jim,

If you haven't used roof bars, then the holes have been there for a long time. Why only leaking (and so enthusiastically) now?

I have sometimes left the screws out of mine for several months with no leaks, so I presume that Xac is right that the holes should be internally sealed. I had not seen those plates before, did they come with roof bars?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 Aug 2010, 21:18

xantia_v6 wrote:Jim,

If you haven't used roof bars, then the holes have been there for a long time. Why only leaking (and so enthusiastically) now?

Pass

It has been raining VERY enthusiastically here in the last week though

I think the reason is that the top of the rubber door gutter worked itself away from the bodyshell and there was an eighth inch gap between it and the edge of the roof on the leaky side whereas on the dry side, the gutter was hard up against, thus helping the seal.

Compare the LH (leaky) gutter

With the dry RH one

See the big gap on the LH one. It also had a lump of moss from the garage roof jammed in it, making the problem worse.

I put it down to age and hardening of the rubber as the initial cause.

I hope that's the cause of the leak. If not then I'm all out of ideas...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Sep 2010, 21:24

It's been a long time again between updates. Mainly because, as usual, work has got in the way of playing cars..

Two rallies have passed, CXM and Midland. Both were excellent and I hugely enjoyed both...

The CXM saw Paul (CitroenXM) come to stay with me for the weekend and he travelled in his ultra-rare Series 1 24V V6 XM. This 24V engine is not the ES9 as in my V6s but a 24v version of the earlier PRV V6.

It's a cracker and with a manual gearbox, rather enthralling to drive

At CXM, I was made aware of a dead BX 17RD that had developed a major LHM leak in the rigid pipe between its HP pump and pressure regulator. It was spraying LHM in a beautiful fan-shape all over the gearbox! The car is owned by an elderly gentlemen and he was stranded. I removed the pipe on Saturday, Paul and I took it home that evening found the leak (a tiny split on a corner), chopped out the damaged section and brazed in a new piece. We refitted it on Sunday morning and happily, it seemed Ok. I saw the car and owner again at the Midland rally and it was still good.

One thing I noticed on the BX when I felt the pipe for leaks after repairing it is a very strong "heartbeat" in the pipe when the pressure regulator cuts in. It's just like an arterial pulse you could feel in your wrist. I guess 25 years of that (the BX was on an E plate) eventually causes fatigue in the pipe.

Sunday saw us doing loads of Lexia sessions on early XMs and Sunday evening I did a quick front seal replacement on a leaky Bosch diesel pump Paul had brought down following my discovery of a very well priced source of these seals. Paul tells me it's good

This weekend I finally took possession of my new V6. I'd made the deal some long while back in that I asked for first refusal of this particular car if it ever came up for sale and when it did, I snapped it up

It was well worth it too as it is truly a cracker. It's an early MK2, Mauritius blue with a cream leather interior. It has 61,000 genuine miles on the clock, a full FSH and it drive just like a new car

I am absolutely delighted with it and even the cruise control works faultlessly. Sunday was the first time I'd ever tried cruise control and I love it. It was a boon in the M25 and M1 roadworks

My new V6 comes with excellent provenance: it's an ex-DickieG car! says it all. Thanks a million Richard

My new V6 is a keeper and reserved for long trips only; my MK1 V6 will continue in its daily driver role. Comparing the two, my MK1 with 173,000 miles on the clock is still very good overall although, for reasons I know, the gearbox is not as smooth as in the new MK2. That one is so smooth the gear changes are imperceptible. One thing I shall do very soon is get the cruise control working on my MK1. I never realised just how wonderful it was until I finally experienced it

I have an aim to take my MK1 past 200K...

Finally, as reported elseware, Robyn passed her driving test today. Never have I known my daughter to be so excited and happy

Same goes for me. I'm rather happy and proud too!

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 14 Sep 2010, 22:15

I'm pleased you're happy with your new V6, hopefully she'll give you many years of excellent service without hassle just as she did for me or should I say Dawn

Have you plugged in your Lexia yet to see the additional features you can access on a S2?

Please pass on my congratulations to Robyn for passing her test.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 14 Sep 2010, 23:27

Great news Jim on both fronts......Linda has her driving test on October 7th...Fingers crossed

Her first car will be a Xantia VSX

I must admit im very envious of your new purchase...although i havent seen the V6 in the flesh, i can imagine what it looks like and also the condition it will be in...not to mention the drive

You never know.....maybe one day i will be the proud owner of a v6? Linda can drive the TD

Look forward to seeing the new V6...pictures Jim...c'mon

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 15 Sep 2010, 08:27

I shall be playing Lexia this weekend on the new V6 Richard

I have a lot to learn on that front! MK2s are still very new to me...

I shall be taking her to Twickers on Sunday. Robyn is spending the weekend down there and her pal is driving them down but she can't bring her back so I have a nice excuse for a run in my new car

Vince, best of luck for Linda. I'm sure she'll pass no problems at all and then she can properly enjoy a Xantia

Pictures? It's a blue Xantia!!! We all know what they look like

I must say this one does shine though. It was treated to one of those paint treatments when it was brand-new and it really shows. Shines like Bristol Bacon

Goodness knows where that expression comes from. A West Country one I've known since I was a little kid...

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 15 Sep 2010, 22:25

CitroJim wrote:I shall be taking her to Twickers on Sunday. Robyn is spending the weekend down there and her pal is driving them down but she can't bring her back so I have a nice excuse for a run in my new car

If you have time feel free to pop in for a cuppa and take a look at my new toy

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 22 Sep 2010, 21:48

DickieG wrote: If you have time feel free to pop in for a cuppa and take a look at my new toy

I would have loved to and did plan to but the M1 put paid to that

A big accident just south of J13 had the motorway static

In the end, I just got to where Robyn was at the time I'd said. Rather than sitting on the M1 Richard, I'd have much rather have enjoyed a cuppa and a look at your new wheels...

Still, those seats in the new V6 are comfy. I gave them a good test on Sunday

Earlier I was speaking of the BX at CXM with the ruptured hydraulic pipe. I heard from the owner the other day that it was still going strong

Also, after noting the strong "heartbeat" in the pipe, I tried feeling for one on my old V6 and in the event proved two things. One is that the heartbeat is there but nowhere near as strong (2-piston as against the BX's 6 piston pump maybe) and I grew bored waiting for the V6 to tick; looks like swapping the front electrovalve has well and truly put the fast ticking in soft mode problem to bed

I've replaced the gear quadrant illumination bulb at last. I feared it was going to be a dockyard job but in the event it was a doddle. I can now see my gears in the dark...

I just wish the next task I attempted was

One thing my new V6 has is a working cruise control. The day I tried it out was the first time ever that I have experienced it and loved it from the off. I love it so much I vowed to spend a bit of time getting it to work on my old V6. It never has in my ownership.

Over the past few days I've been looking at it and the first thing I checked was the vacuum pipe on the pump. It's a well know problem that this pipe splits where it attached to the vacuum pump nipple. The vacuum pump is in a most awkward place, behind the front bumper. Access is just possible by feeling up under the mudshield. I felt, looked, and found a split hose. Great, that's it. That was easy. I went for a test drive. No cruise

Next up, I checked the cruise relay. Pressing the cruise switch on the dash should have resulted in a click from said relay. No relays clicked. Ah-ha. There's the problem thought I. Where's the relay? Now, at this point one has question what the Xantia designers were on. Firstly, why mount the cruise vacuum pump under the front bumper? And then why on earth did they put the cruise relay in a stonking great box held together with FIVE torx screws under the RH wing? I mean

And then, where is the cruise ECU? Another barmy location. Under the drivers-side B pillar and nearly inaccessible

So, this relay, when I got to it, I found it wasn't clicking. Why? Strange. All the wiring checks OK. Must be the switch. Then I noticed that with cruise on the rear windows wouldn't go up and down

Turn cruise off and they would.

Then I noticed that if you pressed the rear window inhibit switch the cruise relay operated! Simples. I'd got the switches round the wrong way when I had the dash out to do the matrix last year.

They're identical switches so no problem there. Once I knew. That'll have fixed it for sure. Still no cruise. Then I checked the brake pedal switch, another well known cruise showstopper. Sure enough it was not working. Switch apart and a clean of the contacts saw it in good order again. Surely now that's it. Still no cruise

What the...

I had a good look at the diagrams and did some tests at the ECU connector. All signals present that needed to be so. Then I thought I'd test the vacuum pump. A meter reading showed the motor open-circuit. I guess years of disuse had left the commutator or brushes a bit grubby. I forced 12V up it and after walloping it, it burst into life and ran a treat

Excellent. I also tested the vacuum dump valve and found it gave out a nice healthy click.

Good, I now must have cruise. Nope

Bloody hell. What now? I checked the vacuum bellows on the throttle body by sucking on it and that was good. I then force-ran the pump and found it was running fine but producing very little vacuum. Just enough to crease the bellows a bit whereas it should have pulled the bellows right up tight.

So, after all that it looks like there is still a vacuum leak or the dump valve is leaking or the pump itself is weak. It now means the pump assembly has to be extricated from it's near inaccessible location and be looked at on the bench. A job for another week I fear...

Seems the system needs all the vacuum it can get and what the pump produces is just enough when everything is OK. Have a few marginals and it cannot cope

The system is made by Hella. All I know is that it's a Hella of a job to get it working

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 22 Sep 2010, 21:55

Ah, thats sure to be an excellent car, i couldnt think of who's car it would be but it makes snese now. You will have to get some pictures up of it soon Jim

Congratulations to your daughter, she must be over the moon, and i bet your glad of the taxi driving too!

Cruise control is excellent, it should be standard on everything!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 22 Sep 2010, 22:08

Thanks Chris

It's still funny to see Robyn's car gone from it's normal parking space when she's out and about and even stranger to see her arrive back, all on her own and no "L"s up...

I'll get used to it

I had to do the taxi run to pick up Siany this evening though; Robyn was off out in her car enjoying a meal out with her boyfriend... She has a new-found freedom!

Citroenmad wrote: Cruise control is excellent, it should be standard on everything!

I agree wholeheartedly, hence why I'm so busy trying to get it working on old V6! Cruise, a big lazy engine and an autobox make a great combination

Pictures of my new V6? It's a blue, albeit a very shiny blue, Xantia. We all know exactly what they look like

I will though. It'll hopefully be parked somewhere very scenic this weekend on the Norfolk Broads. I'll try to remember my camera...

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 22 Sep 2010, 22:08

Jim i sympathise entirely...
I have been through a few of the steps you have! I have done the brake pedal switch, replaced a hose, replaced a switch, swore a bit.
And still no cruise.
As you say a job for another day....
Hope you get it working!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 22 Sep 2010, 22:15

davetherave wrote: Hope you get it working!

I will Dave. It's a case of Cruise V CitroJim now and I don't plan on loosing this battle

I hope I'll be able to give some useful pointers to you after the conclusion of this epic battle.

There's a wonderfully detailed and valuable article on fault-finding cruise in the XM column in the September 2008 edition of the Citroenian. The XM and Xantia systems are absolutely identical except the components seem easier to get at in the XM...

Let me know if you'd like a look at it Dave...

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 22 Sep 2010, 23:07

great stuff Jim

you have a S2 xant

cruise... yeah it's v handy with that engine/box combination, good luck in sorting it

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 22 Sep 2010, 23:19

I liked cruise so much i actually retro fitted it to one of my previous cars. Somehting which was never available with cruise control from new but after soldering wires into the ECU, a lot of faffing, programing and fitting a genuine cruise stalk from another model i had it working. I wasnt the first to fit it on that model but it made the car, though i bet its never been used since i had the car.

Two of our C5s have cruise, mine doesnt. Its on my to do list, but with the
off/on relationship i have with my car ive had it on the back burner.

Unread post by **admiral51** » 22 Sep 2010, 23:59

Not really Citroen related but have got cruise and a wierd gearbox on my work lorry

It makes driving ever so lazy

Its a 16 speed box (4 over 4 with a half gear in each inc reverse) but has a button on the gear stick that when pressed allows for clutchless gear changes.Press button in, move gear stick,release button and away you go.It even works with cruise.Set speed to max(56 mph ish

) and you can change up and down without touching clutch or go pedal

You can even approach a juntion with button presed in,move stick to correct gear and providing you have rolling wheels when you release button away you go.... although it makes a funny noise when you forget to use your left foot moving off from stationary

Colin