Citrojim's Pixo, Saxo and Cycling Tales

CitroJim · Post by **CitroJim** » 19 Aug 2009, 08:29

vince wrote:I hate illnesses like those, its so unfair

It is Vince

The most terrible thing that can happen. When she barely knows her husband of 66 years and has no clue who her children and grand children are, it's just about the biggest tragedy there is. Physically she is as fit as a fiddle.

After a lot of work and speaking to a some incredibly helpful and understanding people, we got Mum into respite care in a hospital that specialises in dementia and Altzheimers where she'll say for a few weeks whilst Dad gets back on his feet and Mum will be assessed to determine her longer-term needs; we're not expecting her to return home.

Dad found it very odd last night and after several years of broken sleep, predictably he did not sleep well at all last night. I know that well from being a Dad. Our Robyn did not sleep through the night until she was 18 months old and even when she did start to sleep through we still woke up regularly, worried that she had not woken

I'll be returning home later today but not before taking Dad shopping to the big Asda in Taunton so that he can stock up on things he's not been able to get locally and help him get a few other things done that he's been unable to do until now. I'll take his Nissan Pixo out for a good drive today and give the V6 a short rest

I've a tiny LHM weep again from the outlet hexagon on the HP pump. It's tiny but it looks like yet another replacement O ring is needed there

Whilst I'm there I shall investigate why the tick rate is rather frequent in soft mode. I have a leaky electrovalve I reckon but it's having no effect on ride and comfort at all; just a quicker than normal tick.

Tomorrow I'll be after the tyre place to see about getting some satisfaction with the wheel stud issues on my 2.1TD. I'll report back.

CitroJim · Post by **CitroJim** » 19 Aug 2009, 21:19

CitroJim wrote: I've a tiny LHM weep again from the outlet hexagon on the HP pump. It's tiny but it looks like yet another replacement O ring is needed there

Seems it's not the O ring but the union itself as a "blob" of LHM appears on the top of the union and runs down. This may have been a pre-existing fault as there was always a bad LHM leak there before the big strip-down. It's not bad though, just a blob in 150 miles but I must keep and eye on it.

I'm back home now after leaving Dad in a good frame of mind and content that for a week or so at least, things are under control.

My V6 was just a tad bothersome today. I got home, parked up outside the house and noticed the rear suspension was really low. I then moved her to make the 2.1TD available for use tomorrow and noted that the rear failed to rise.

Up on stands and a quick look revealed the height corrector link was hanging off. I checked the height corrector linkage mechanism and found it to be lovely and free (although previously, before lots of TLC it was very stiff) so I popped the link back on. Then I saw there was a lot of lost motion between the linkage and the anti-roll bar. I had the link off again and on close inspection found a big crack across one of the ball cups.

A new link fitted and all's well. That explains why the rear would often settle slightly high at times or indeed settle at a slightly different height each time. In all my playing with Xantias that's the first link I've so far come across that was actually broken!

vince · Post by **vince** » 20 Aug 2009, 07:48

Thats the little white plastic piece isnt it Jim.

Is it always the case that you fit a new one? or will a second hand one do? They are dealer only arent they?

Whats the part number and price? I might have to pick one up and keep it in the car as a spare.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 20 Aug 2009, 07:59

Yes it is the white plastic link, I don't have the number to hand but they only cost pence from dealers, over time they tend to go soft or split either of which causes a lack of accuracy in height correction.

KP · Post by KP » 20 Aug 2009, 15:52

I've come across at least 2 now in my previous xantias that had worn loose and could easily be popped on or off with less than paper force.... a new one soon resolved it but made sure there was a decent amount of grease in it first and cleaned up the metal ball mating surfaces as well as the grime that can get in can also wear that surface down to IIRC.

CitroJim · Post by **CitroJim** » 21 Aug 2009, 09:15

I shall do the job preoperly later today Will and take your advice about giving the balls a good clean and grease. They were exceedingly mucky.

Yesterday I had a good battle with the tyre place concerning my overtightened wheel studs on the 2.1TD. My gosh did they try to fight it and came up with every reason in the book.

This is roughly how the converstation went...

Round one:

"How do you know they're overtightened sir?"

"because I had to lean on a four foot breaker to loosen one and it went off with a bang"

"But how do YOU know that was too tight?"

"bacause I'm an engineer of 30 years experience and I can feel and judge torque and I know that was far in excess of the 66 ft lbs they should be tensioned to."

"OK, our mechanic will now take a look"

"Thank you"

Round two:

"Our mechanic loosened them with this!" Manager brandishes a torque wrench in my face"

"Well yes, of course he would, I'd already loosened them"

"Ahh"

Round three:

"Your broken locking stud key shows signs of metal fatigue"

"Yes, it's not designed to loosen studs torqued ito in exess of 200 ft lbs so it's not surprising is it?"

"But the key is showing signs of heavy past use"

"Of course it is, it's likely 12 years old and has been used on many occasions so some wear and tear is expected"

"But that's why it is broken, not because of what we've done"

"No, it was working fine and would have carried on doing so for years had you not overtighted the studs" Go and check on a stud I've not touched and get your mechanic to measure the torque he has to apply to undo it. I'll point out a stud I've not touched"

"Look sir, I'm not going to continue this argument"

"I'm not arguing, just stating to you the facts"

Silence. Manager disappears into workshop and is gone for some time.

Rounds three:

"Sir, we will extract the locking studs for you and in the meantime you may borrow our courtesy car. We will not replace the locking studs but will replace them with new normal studs."

"Ok, accepted, thank you"

I filled out the form for the courtesy car..

"Sorry Sir, the courtesy car has just been booked out by someone else"

"No worries, I'll drop the car back tomorrow morning and you can have it all day."

I then had a chat with their mechanic who had been struggling fruitlessly with the locking studs and we discussed options. He did give me some confidence he knew what he was up to. Today I'll be awaiting the call to hear all has been resolved.

It was a fight but at least there has been some outcome. It annoys me that they fundamentally made a serious error and had to stand very firm against a manager who is clearly very skilled in the art of fobbing off and ducking and diving.

I have a day off today so I'm going to play with the V6 and see if I can get to the bottom of the fast tick rate in soft mode.

KP · Post by KP » 21 Aug 2009, 10:35

Jim if you need any i've got some spare alloy bolts, not locking kind but good PSA ones

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Aug 2009, 11:49

Hope you get somewhere with the bolts Jim. Unfortunately, I know ALL
about the hassles and risk of damage to the wheels.

You wouldn't believe I've now recently bought ANOTHER Xantia Activa
with locked wheel bolts and a missing key - not on purpose mind, the
damned things seem to find me and I've had the foolish idea that the
same thing couldn't repeat again, again and yet again - lightning striking
twice etc etc.Yes that'll be the FORTH in just over a year!!

I'm almost certain that's why the cars have been punted on to get shot
of them before the worn tyres or brakes cause an accident or points
on a licence but I would say that as I'm a tad neurotic!

The latest set are a real git as there's no head for the extractor tool to
grip and whilst I'm not 100% certain appear to be the genuine Citroen
type with small pins sticking out of the socket key.

The only answer seems to be not to buy any more Xantiae! But where's
the fun in that!

Andrew

CitroJim · Post by **CitroJim** » 21 Aug 2009, 12:17

KP wrote:Jim if you need any i've got some spare alloy bolts, not locking kind but good PSA ones

Thanks Will

Hopefully the garage have replaced them but we'll see

I've just had a call from them to say the car is done and ready for collection. I'll be looking for wheel damage. By the tone of his voice I get the distinct feeling the manager does not like me any more. It's mutual.

I must arrange collection of those wheels in the near future. I'll give the old parts relay a try

andmcit wrote:The only answer seems to be not to buy any more Xantiae! But where's
the fun in that!

My thoughts entirely Andrew! Congratulations on the purchase of another Activa

Another one saved

Sounds like it has the same lockers as my 2.1TD had

They ae devils and much harder than the splined ones.

There is hope as they have a bit of a shoulder on them that can be attacked possibly by one of the external reverse-flute extractors like this:

They come in a range of sizes and are made by a mob called Irwin.

Else that, the other method might be to weld a hollow bolt to the end of the head and then fill the bolt with weld. That'll really give something to grip to and the heat of welding should help to release the stud.

I'd ask the mechanic who got mine out but when I get there I guess I'll be about as welcome as python in a cattery...

Anyway, more details please of this latest Activa Andrew!

KP · Post by KP » 21 Aug 2009, 13:06

No major rush Jim, just as and when you come oop north

they are sat in the garage after a light cleaning the other week just gathering dust, 2 with tyres and 2 without

Good news on the bolts hopefully for you, i know they can be a pain

could you not get a socket onto them that is a tiny bit too small and just bash the thing on to release them, this would then force itself on as in the past all the locking bolts seem to be of a slightly softer metal than a half decent socket set would be??

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Aug 2009, 14:04

It's a late s2 rescued off ebay:

clickable thumbnail

just passed a milestone with the mileage too:

Some of the time when I stop and leave the engine I swear it leans to the
driver's side and yet other times it looks fine so the ARB rods will need some
fettling. Main issue to worry about is an exhaust blow round the bulkhead
on either the manifold or the main downpipe before the cat.

I've posted an update on the register of cars in the Activa section with more
details. It's just a tiny bit firm on the rear so a middle sphere may be the
first test to see what changes when that's done. There's more to follow on
the car and I'm giving early warnings here about the danger of my
yabbering on about it in the Activa section anytime soon.

Andrew

CitroJim · Post by **CitroJim** » 21 Aug 2009, 20:51

That looks a mighty fine Activa Andrew

Well saved!

I do like them in blue. I warn you, doing that exhaust leak will be a trial

I picked up my 2.1TD from the tyre place today and good as their word, they had extracted the lockers and replaced them with new looking standard studs of exactly the correct type

And no damage to the wheels whatsever

Even more surprising, all studs were carefully torqued to precisely the right figure!!!

It was a good result and they'll now be guaranteed my business in the future. That's if they want it

I would not be surpried if thety all hide next time they see me coming

I've been playing with the V6 and my findings on the fast tick rate in soft mode are reported here.

I also looked into the slight LHM weep from the hydraulic pump union and found I'd been a tad careless when I refitted the pump. I found a bit of muck on the union seat, possibly a chip of paint from where Pleiades had painted it. The paint was still soft when I refitted the pump and in positioning the pipe, it may have dug a chunk of paint out and into the seat area. I gave the seat a good clean-up and hopefully now it'll be LHM-tight.

My Activa has been standing unused for three weeks so today I took it out for a nice run around the country lanes

But before I could enjoy that I had to charge her battery. I'm thinking her battery may be on the way out as just recently the starter has been a bit slow and today, just a click

The battery came up fine after a 20 minute charge but I guess I'll soon have to bite the bullet and replace it.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Aug 2009, 21:49

damned double posting!!

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Aug 2009, 21:50

CitroJim wrote:That looks a mighty fine Activa Andrew Well saved!

I do like them in blue. I warn you, doing that exhaust leak will be a trial

Hell, why does that sound so ominous. I've heard about engine outs and
driveshaft removal etc etc and it appears Gareth has a similar complaint?
Can it really be that much of an ordeal - no wonder I only got the car for
relative peanuts...

Good news with the wheelshop and the bolts - least you both now understand
one another and could go on with a long term mutually beneficial relationship!

Andrew

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Aug 2009, 22:59

andmcit wrote:
CitroJim wrote:That looks a mighty fine Activa Andrew Well saved!

I do like them in blue. I warn you, doing that exhaust leak will be a trial
Hell, why does that sound so ominous. I've heard about engine outs and
driveshaft removal etc etc and it appears Gareth has a similar complaint?
Can it really be that much of an ordeal - no wonder I only got the car for
relative peanuts...

Good news with the wheelshop and the bolts - least you both now understand
one another and could go on with a long term mutually beneficial relationship!

Andrew

No real complaints, i only noticed the noise when i moved house and had a wall both sides of where i park the car! Its not affected performance or emissions but to investigate further means pulling the engine out and thats not happening until the clutch is done.