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

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 15 Jul 2009, 19:29

Gosh... sorry to hear about the transmission SNAFU. I suppose that might explain the clunks we heard on the 1-2 shifts. It might also explain why you reported the emergency mode engagements being rougher than I remembered them.

Put me in the queue to help when you have the energy to tackle the rematch.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jul 2009, 19:36

xantia_v6 wrote: I suppose that might explain the clunks we heard on the 1-2 shifts.

Yes, after driving Sid's I realised it was not quite right and dug in for the reason. Still there'll hopefully be no damage as a result. Still, it was inevitable as a first attempt that something would be a bit iffy.

Thing is, I want the car to be right. It's such a lovely car that it really deserves the extra mile of work to properly resolve the remaining issues.

Ahh well, these things you learn and all I know is the engine/transmission will be a lot sweeter and easier to remove this time! It's still very fresh in the memory of how to do it and this time I'll not strip down all the unnecessary bits

Help will be very much appreciated and I'll announce when big lift No.2 is happening.

Sid_the_Squid · Unread post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 16 Jul 2009, 09:35

I'll also gladly give you a hand Jim, just let me know when.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 16 Jul 2009, 11:16

Thanks Sid

That's brilliant 8)

I'm hoping, health and other commitments allowing, that I'll be able to start next weekend. If we could say, get the engine/transmission out next weekend, in the week I can sort the gearbox whilst the unhappy hydraulic items are away receiving TLC from Mr. Pleiades and then the following weekend, reinstall...

That's the plan provisionally...

I'll have to clean my alternator again

I've been thinking why the hydraulics seem to leak more on a V6 and I reckon it's all down to the intense underbonnet heat hardening the various O rings. Certainly both the pump and pressure regulator are in hot places and they do get very hot in service.

I'm so taken with the car I don't want it off the road for too long.

I've been using my Activa a bit and it's really lovely.; if only it had a bit more power

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 16 Jul 2009, 11:40

CitroJim wrote:
I've been using my Activa a bit and it's really lovely.; if only it had a bit more power

I could sort that for you

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 16 Jul 2009, 11:54

XantiaMan583 wrote: I could sort that for you

Can you drop a V6 into it then Gareth?

Sid_the_Squid · Unread post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 16 Jul 2009, 12:12

Are we talking about the 25th, I should be avilable then, also the 1st aug as well, gets a bit vague after that might be away on the 8th. Hope to see you Sunday, we can discuss more then.

Go on let Gareth tune up your turbo...

...humm that dosn't sound quite right

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 16 Jul 2009, 17:33

Sid_the_Squid wrote:
Go on let Gareth tune up your turbo...

Already have, no V6 autos gonna be hassling me any time soon

Come on now Jim, next time i take you out in your old Activa i'll do more than half throttle

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 16 Jul 2009, 18:31

XantiaMan583 wrote: Come on now Jim, next time i take you out in your old Activa i'll do more than half throttle

Are you sure about that? He might get a bit paranoid about the fuel economy dropping too much

Sid_the_Squid · Unread post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 16 Jul 2009, 21:13

Already have, no V6 autos gonna be hassling me any time soon

Thats racing talk, bring it on... 8)

Actually I've never dragged before, but always plan to go to Santa Pod for a RWYB but never made it.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 16 Jul 2009, 23:33

Sid_the_Squid wrote:
Already have, no V6 autos gonna be hassling me any time soon
Thats racing talk, bring it on... 8)

Actually I've never dragged before, but always plan to go to Santa Pod for a RWYB but never made it.

Been loads of times, went last year in the Activa, may go again this year but hoping to take the maestro.

KP · Unread post by KP » 17 Jul 2009, 11:41

Fit a towbar Gareth and take both

cant beat that and it would be cheaper to drive the activa there and back with the meastro on the back than driving the meastro solo i would imagine unless you somehow forgot to accelerate and stuck behind the rare lorries tha actually do 60mph now...

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 17 Jul 2009, 12:30

KP wrote:Fit a towbar Gareth and take both cant beat that and it would be cheaper to drive the activa there and back with the meastro on the back than driving the meastro solo i would imagine unless you somehow forgot to accelerate and stuck behind the rare lorries tha actually do 60mph now...

The Activa is barely better than the Maestro on fuel, even on a long run...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Jul 2009, 21:04

XantiaMan583 wrote: The Activa is barely better than the Maestro on fuel, even on a long run...

That's all down to your right foot Gareth

When it was mine, that car would do mid to high 30s on a run. Our driving styles are a little different though...

My repair to the heater drain on the Activa seems to have been a full success. lats time we had any weather worth of running the aircon I was pleased sto see a puddle under the car and not in it

For the first time in 9 months roughly it now has a full complement of carperts in it.

Excellent show on Sunday. Thoroughly enjoyed it despite the les than perfect weather

It was great to see everybody and most special of all was the birthday cake

Thanks Xac, that was really something!

I had a set of new front tyres fitted onto the 2.1TD and have finally found a decent tyre fitter in Milton keynes who seems to do a good job. I had the tracking reset. I've been using the 2.1TD a good bit this week, including a run to Somerset and back. It was good and of course a lot cheaper than using either the Activa or V6 on that run.

It's been a busy week and my health has continued to improve. Cutting out caffiene and stimulation late in the evening abnd sticking to a more-or-less set bed-time seems to have done the trick with my sleep. I've also stayed away from here to see if that had any bearing; hence why I've been very quiet this past week. To all those of you who have sent PMs and emails, I will reply soon. I'm just about back to my old self now

I may have been quiet on here but busy in the workshop. Between helping xac sort his Activa I've been very busy sorting my V6 and I'm pleased to say she's all up and running again

In the end I did not need to lift the engine out and set about a cunning plan to check and set the end-float on the gearbox. It was risky but I got away with it.

The shim that sets the end-float is just inside the end cover and said cover is just about removable if the 'box is dropped on it's mount by about an inch. That meant removing the LHM reservoir so that I could loosen the ABS block to get at the gearbox mount.

I also worked out a method of determining end-float by dead reckoning by using an additional shim of known thickness and measuring the gap between the mating faces of the end-cover and the main casting. Doing a bit of maths gave me a rough value of end-float. Luckily, I had a shim that has set it to about 0.35mm which is just a bit wide of the 0.2 +/- 0.1mm it should be but better than the 1mm or so it was originally!

To do the job I had to drain the 'box of oil and was delighted to see it run out beautifully golden and pristine. I was not so delighted that I had to expensively refill it with new oil but at least I know all is OK in the 'box.

After that I removed the leaky pressure regulator and pump for attention. The pump was a lot easier o remove than it looked. No need to remove a headlight, just remove the ECU box and the pump pulley and then, by V6 standards, the rest is plain sailing. The pressure regulator likewise looks tricky but it's doable.

I took them to Pleiades and had a long natter with Martin whilst admiring his new premises. He really does have a great set-up there

That was on Wednesday and I had them back this afternoon. That is indeed seven star service! Thanks Martin, you really are a star!

The car is now all reassembled and running again. Somehow I just managed to get all the work done between bursts of torrential rain and have only been able to give the car the briefest of test drives. Touch-wood, everything is now leak free and the gearbox seems a lot smoother.

I need to recheck the gearbox oil level and then take it for a proper run.

I'm off now to catch up on what I've missed on here this past week...

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 24 Jul 2009, 21:17

CitroJim wrote: I took them to Pleiades and had a long natter with Martin whilst admiring his new premises. He really does have a great set-up there That was on Wednesday and I had them back this afternoon. That is indeed seven star service! Thanks Martin, you really are a star!

Have you got his phone number/address? I've got some work for him...

Happy to hear you didnt have the pull the engine/box out to sort the issues out. I am hoping that i will be able to cheat in a similar fashion with my turbo, still heavy work but with the gearbox out and LHM tank removed i reckon the turbo/manifold might come out sideways...