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

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Nov 2008, 14:26

KP wrote:always worth it to be honest as you learn something new about yourself and other people

That Will, is absolutley spot-on, on both counts!

I'll pass on the offer of your Xantia though, It's range of issues just might provoke a relapse

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 13 Nov 2008, 19:45

KP wrote:getting thru it and feeling better afterwards is the harder task and always worth it to be honest as you learn something new about yourself and other people

I couldn't have put it better myself and totally agree with you

Glad to hear that you're on the mend now Jim!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 13 Nov 2008, 20:04

Sorry to hear about the crash and reboot Jim. Hope you are feeling better now. If you are up to it I'll see you tomorrow around lunch time.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Nov 2008, 21:04

myglaren wrote:Sorry to hear about the crash and reboot Jim. Hope you are feeling better now. If you are up to it I'll see you tomorrow around lunch time.

Absolutely Steve, very much looking forward to seeing you

A warm welcome awaits.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 13 Nov 2008, 21:53

Thanks Jim.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Nov 2008, 21:39

Pleased to say all is back to normal now, I've had two very pleasant days off work (using up leave before it expires) and the old batteries are well recharged now.

I've just about caught up with the backlog of forum, email and PM work that had to take a back-seat earlier this week so I can relax a bit now.

Today has been especially good and I've enjoyed a visit from Steve (myglaren). He proves yet again the rule that Xac and I hold that only the very finest people drive Citroens. Steve brought Malcolm's (Citronut) long-awaited new door down as his contribution to the parts relay system. I'll now plan a visit to see Citronut in the near future as he has some bits for me; a sinking Xantia pressure regulator and pump which whilst awaiting the need to fit to my sinker, will form the heart of my planned sphere tester. I already have the gauge

This time, as I shall be virtually passing their doors, I shall try to coincide the run down to Malcolm's with a visit to Gareth (XantiaMan583) and John (jgra1).

I was very priviledged to have a drive of Steve's C5 HDi Estate. I like it, I must say. Great driving position, excellent visibility and a huuuuge cargo area that just swallowed Malcolm's door and excellent accessibility to everything in the engine bay. Both Steve and I agree the suspension is nothing special compared to the Xantia but for all that I like the C5 and would both have no hesitation in recommending one and even having one myself if something terminal should happen to my beloved 2.1TD and I could not find another.

In return, Steve took my Activa for a spin. I'm sure Steve will make his own comments on the Activa but I got the feeling he liked it

Steve, there's a nice silver one on ebay right now, just perfect for you and not too far from you either

It's always a pleasure to meet forum members and there is always an open invitation to call in to see me for anyone passing these parts.

Yesterday I had a check of the fan in the cabin sensor in the Activa and it is running fine throughout a journey. Indeed yesterday the climate control seemed to be behaving itself

I'm off down to Somerset again in the morning and that'll be the acid test for it.

Sunday I hope to get back to my favourite subject; diesel pumps. I've been promising to publish a full photographic strip of a pump on my website for rather a long time now and I just hate those websites that promise something interesting but don't deliver. Sadly, mine is a typical example of that at present

After pumps, I'll be back into gearboxes. I have a BE3 in the workshop that has been waiting far too long for an overhaul and the fitting of a new synchro cone and to provide a few more photos and updates for the gearbox area of my website.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 15 Nov 2008, 00:57

Sorry to hear about the OS crash citrojim, pleased to hear you are on the mend after a good reboot, sorted out your early version of windose!

superloopy · Unread post by **superloopy** » 15 Nov 2008, 12:03

Jim ...

I, like you, have little time on my hands these days due to increase in workload at work. Manage to dip in and out ot the forum on those occasions when no-one is looking

.

Missed your recent 'downtime' but always glad to hear that you are up and about and ready to face the world again. Chin up ... as they say

Unread post by **myglaren** » 15 Nov 2008, 12:59

Thanks again for the hospitality and kind comments Jim.

The Activa is indeed a very, very special car and while I have fancied one for a while now I'm afraid that I may now have stepped on the slippery slope that ends up in Activa ownership. Absolutely wonderful car to drive and as you said, it really is amazing that the suspension didn't go mainstream, there is nothing to match it, or even come anywhere close.

A beautifully handling car, so precise and exact but done in a relaxed and unintrusive way.

I can't justify a second car and really need and estate - where can I find an Activa estate that matches your hatch

Have a good day in Zummerzet.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Nov 2008, 21:25

Life is never dull, that's for sure

I had a great run down to cider apple country and back in the Activa on Saturday and even the climate control seemed to keep the cabin convivially comfy

A long chat with Richard (DickieG) revealed that early MK1s are not known for their ability to hold their cabin temperature all that steady. It's possible my 2.1TD, being a very late MK1 has the MK2 climate ECU which is a lot better. I have not yet had an opportunity to put the Lexia on both of them to find out. Why you ask, you had all of Sunday..

Well yes, I did but In turth, I did not get up very early on Sunday as I enjoyed a very convivial Saturday eveing with friends that went on rather late

Some time was spent washing both cars and rather a lot more time and a good bit of last evening was spent on the phone to Wayne, one of my nephews who has rather a liking for diesel Pug 205s. he has one as a (very slow) project in his garage but he fancied one he could use and save the huge fuel costs his Skoda Automatic incurs. So he buys a very late N plater for £600 and described in top nick. Certainly £600 should demand that. It's not in fantastically great nick as it turns out but that's by the by for now.

Anyhow, He collected it from Bath and drove it the 15 miles home. No problems. Except he stopped at some lights very near home and so did the engine. It started with a struggle but would not idle. He got it home and apart from one brief fire and one rough idle it's not really run since.

Call Uncle Jim.

I went through all the usual things with him with no positive result. He bled some fuel out and found it red

The car apparantly came from a farmer - draw your own conclusions!

He (and I) thought it was red diesel until Wayne said it smelt "funny".

"Funny in what way Wayne?"

"Well, it smells a bit like petol"

Wayne then confirmed it was petrol and unbeknown to me, he'd been trying in vain to start it with a tankful of petrol (with some diesel) and had flattened two batteries trying with only a few moments of idle and a refusal to rev to show for his trouble. It then abjectly refused to do anything more.

I'm awaiting an update this evening but the last news was there was no fuel at the injectors. Looks like the Lucas pump has objected strongly to being fed petrol and has thrown in the towel. Two batteries worth of cranking in vain trying to pump something with zero lubricity cannot have done a Lucas punmp any good at all and it now looks like it might have seized.

I'll post an update as soon as I have one. I guess soon I'll be off down to Somerset yet again to swap a pump over from his project to this new car..

In other news, work is very busy and relations with my ex-wife have taken a very sudden and very deep down-turn for reasons that defy logic. But then, we are speaking of female logic here and when did logic ever come into it

It'll all work out but that and Wayne's adventures has fair kept me busy....

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Nov 2008, 22:52

Update on Wayne's pump. It's dead

However, he's had a natter with the person he bought the car from and he has promised to get Wayne a replacement pump and a set of injectors as Wayne has learned the injectors could have suffered as well.

All he needs now is someone to fit the pump for him....

KP · Unread post by KP » 19 Nov 2008, 09:46

Jim can he not source a Bosch pump and injectors to fit that engine as he could then veggie it and make some use of the tank of mis fuel to keep his running costs down??

Just an idea maybe

and may as well go for it while the job is being done if its possible with teh 1.8heads ?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 19 Nov 2008, 13:59

I discussed this with Wayne as I have a Bosch non-turbo pump sitting on my bench right now. It's in abeyance until the vendor responds with a replacement pump and injectors.

If push comes to shove and it does not all go as planned, I expect this Bosch I have will be fitted.

His misfuel is too good to waste and mixed in with veg would be a perfect use for it

Pleased to see you're soon joing the ranks of us estate owners Will

You'll love the extra space and visibility.

KP · Unread post by KP » 19 Nov 2008, 14:40

Im already starting to think on Jim on that

Wish it was hydractive but then it would be a super rare LX if it did lol

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 19 Nov 2008, 18:49

Jim we now have a spare bosch and injectors....

Courtesy of dads spare engine.. (assuming he uses yours)

Should be able to get them in post Monday latest?

John