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

[Deanxm]

Jim the first oxygen sensor does what any does and monoitors the exhaust gas, the second after the cat compares the gas coming out to make sure the catalitic converter is operating correctly, the second one is there purely to monitor operation of the cat.

Sounds like a busy good day anyway Jim.

D

[CitroJim]

The Activa's battery was low again this morning

In checking around generally I noted the Hydractive was remaining in soft mode for ever and ever...

Long story short, the boot latch switch (the one right down in the striker plate) was intermittent as shown on the Lexia.

The switch has now been bypassed and hopefully....

Rapidly draining batteries have been a feature of today. Chris570 popped round in a brick disguised as a Volvo Estate today suffering from the same thing.

Gosh those 90s Volvos; they're incredibly hard on the eyes up close Designed by ruler and set square. Sadly I was totally underwhelmed when Chris informed me it was a T5. T what? Whatever - it still looks utterly disagreeable... Engine sounds sweet though. A 20V 5 potter...

Anyway enough of that. When I'd stopped retching we found the PLIP revceiver module was taking more current than it likely should. Chris's fix? Pull the fuse for it and use the key to open the doors

[Citroenmad]

That sounds like a cheap and simple fix Though I didn't think Volvos went wrong!

A T5, its quite a bit of a sleeper, new car Chris?

I can imagine finding the cause of a battery drain is a bit long winded ...

A family members car was always draining its battery recently, turned out that the ECU does not shut down fully if the car is left unlocked (as it always was when in its garage). Also seems that if the car is locked with the key rather than the remote more power is drained... its owner is nt used to such mod cons as remote locking ... not even used to the rear wiper

[Chris570]

God no its not mine. Why have a t5 when an Activa is much better and quicker. It's my dad's. its erm a shed, he spends pretty much nothing on maintaining his cars and wonders why they go wrong... For someone that isn't prepared to look after their own car I don't see the point in spending ages diagnosing a fault....

[CitroJim]

For someone that isn't prepared to look after their own car I don't see the point in spending ages diagnosing a fault....

Hence why it needed 1.5 or 2 litres of oil adding before any appeared on the dipstick

It's a sleeper alright Chris.. Styling cues taken from a railway sleeper I would imagine...

[Citroenmad]

For someone that isn't prepared to look after their own car I don't see the point in spending ages diagnosing a fault....

Hence why it needed 1.5 or 2 litres of oil adding before any appeared on the dipstick

It's a sleeper alright Chris.. Styling cues taken from a railway sleeper I would imagine...

Its an 850 then is it?

A box is ever there was one. I wouldnt car but that doesnt even translate into a decent boot with those, they are too low roofed and with a high boot floor.

[Chris570]

yeah tis an 850.

not that i'm biased or anything but the xantia hdi estate is a much better car

[Citroenmad]

yeah tis an 850.

not that i'm biased or anything but the Xantia hdi estate is a much better car

Of course it is, its a Citroen for one thing!

[Citroenmad]

Just had a drive of Old V6 The owner called round to show me the job the exhaust people did of building a complete new exhaust system from the exhaust manifolds right back. They've done a fantastic job but the final bill was a bit on the ohh err madam side. Not much change out of a grand

Erm, wow!

Are exhausts not available for the V6 now or is this new one a stainless system?

That seems extremely expensive if that is the only option for exhausts, might put me off a V6!

[davetherave]

[xantia_v6]

Just had a drive of Old V6 The owner called round to show me the job the exhaust people did of building a complete new exhaust system from the exhaust manifolds right back. They've done a fantastic job but the final bill was a bit on the ohh err madam side. Not much change out of a grand

Erm, wow!

Are exhausts not available for the V6 now or is this new one a stainless system?

That seems extremely expensive if that is the only option for exhausts, might put me off a V6!

They are still available £100 - £200 for the system rear of the cat, depending on source of parts. (centre sections currently £25 on ebay)

[CitroJim]

Yes, there were cheaper ways but Paul wanted the new system supplied and fitted - he was not happy to either do it himself or involve me as I was not well at the time.

A good chunk of the cost was fabrication of the NFP header pipes and the inevitable labour...

I've looked closely at the job they did and it's good.

As far as I know it's a mild steel system, not stainless...

I have the old cat and as far as I'm concerned it's repairable with a bit of welding, as I'd be inclined to do with perforated headers...

[Citroenmad]

I thought there might be a cheaper option, the price we pay for convenience

Ive been shopping around for exhausts for my Xantia, only the centre section as its slightly holed going into the centre box. Im trying to find a bosal one.

[CitroJim]

Cor, been a long time since I said anything here. Been too busy posting in other people's blogs

Anyway, New V6 is due and MOT soon and today I booked her in for next Friday. The MOT man gave me a bit of a complement - "No worries Jim, looking forward to it - always a pleasure to MOT your cars..."

So, I gave New V6 a good check over and all is perfect apart from a very tiny weep from the hydraulic pump A similar tiny weep from the gearbox high pressure feed banjo (again, must buy new proper washers) and a very slightly deteriorated brake flexi. I expect an advisory for that...

She's had another clean ready for the X Rally tomorrow and she's looking very tidy. All that's left are blemishes and sadly there's plenty of those in the form of tiny dings, small stone chips and tiny scratches. That's why I hate really doing a good job - it shows all the defects... having said that, they are very minor but judge for yourself tomorrow...

I gave Mme. Activa a good scrub today using just a bucket and chamois due to the hosepipe ban. It's a long time since I've washed a car like that but despite taking a while longer the result was superb.

Here she is along with a bit of shiny V6 and a very mucky looking Rattiva... She's only had her usual Saturday health check and she's good She really wants for very little really... Good old Rattiva. I love her to bits despite her dog-eared bits. She's like a comfy old pair of slippers



Sorry a Poxhall crept into the picture

Mme Activa has problems though. Her roof lacquer is de-laminating and there’s areas of white all across the roof. I'm not sure how best to go about having it sorted...

Here's the worst area of de-lamination...



It's like a big tear-drop Some smaller areas can also be seen along with a bit of what looks like white bloom. I know that's the sart of de-laminating now...

Still, apart from that, she's not bad...

[robert_e_smart]

Get that lacquer seen to soon Jim. And you will hopefully get away with only having to re-lacquer and not re-painting.