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

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Oct 2009, 07:30

Vince, I consider myself very honoured and privileged

I'd like to add a CX, GS and XM to your dream list please!

mark21td wrote:jim I meant to say earlier that pump has only done about 100K, how worn is it inside ?

Practically no detectable wear at all Mark, just the slightest scuff on the distributor rotor but nothing to worry about. A clean-up and that pump will be as good as new

I'm thinking the erratic idle you experienced may be down to viscosity. EPIC's are controlled totally by hydraulics using the diesel as the medium. They're also VERY sensitive to air in the fuel.

I have another new winter project

An ML5T gearbox to strip and understand. It's from Gareth's Activa and always had a slightly crunchy third. Looking forward to getting that one in bits

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 20 Oct 2009, 14:00

You have never had a drive in an Xm Jim? Im sure someone will let you have a go at a meeting, I cant say how they compare to a Xantia really, as ive only had very brief drives of those. They are very nice though, though they can be quite addictive!

There are so many Citroens id like to drive, though a DS would be high on my list. Ive been in a fair few but not driven one, i bet your still grinning Jim!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Oct 2009, 21:05

No, the only Citroens I've ever driven are an AX (I had an 11TGE in the early 90s - wonderful little car

), a DS and a multitude of Xantias

Oh and I'd love to try a Traction too

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 20 Oct 2009, 21:36

I had an AX too, only a 1.0Debut, really good little car, i think everything went wrong with it while i had it though, it needed two engines! Headgaskets seemed a little prone to going. Great car though, certainly enjoyed driving it at the time, it being my first car, i went all over in that car.

Ive driven quite a few Citroen models now, though ive not had a proper drive in a Xantia!

Well if i see you at a meeting and my dad has his traction going (should not be too long now! engine is running, but leaking oil but that should be an easy fix now and the bonnet is in for painting at the moment) you could well have a ride in that, its a hydraulic too! Very special car and where all this hydropneumatics started! It actually puts a lot of more modern cars to shame with its super quick steering, its very direct, though it ought to be as it sometimes takes two of us to park it in its garage, two to turn the steering wheel that is

Im looking forward to it going again, as before it broke i wasnt old enough to be added onto its insurance, so that will be an expereince. Ive driven it before on private roads but never properly, obviously.

Id love to drive a DS and a CX. Ive been in almost all Citroen models, cant think of one which i havent been in actually, though it would be nice to drive a few more models. No, i tell a lie, ive not been in an SM.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 20 Oct 2009, 21:46

Ive done 3 different Xantias and also had a ZX for a number of years...that handled very wll but the ride wasnt hydraulic so was as good as it could be....the AX would be too light i think to get anything decent out it.

The 2CV and GS i was passengered in as a kid in the 70's....wish id have paid more attention to them....my uncle with the GS used to live over a level crossing so i know it would have been great...funny thing is i do remember the engine whirring....sewing machine style

Unread post by **myglaren** » 20 Oct 2009, 21:54

CitroJim wrote:No, the only Citroens I've ever driven are an AX (I had an 11TGE in the early 90s - wonderful little car ), a DS and a multitude of Xantias

Oh and I'd love to try a Traction too

Not forgetting the C5

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Oct 2009, 22:04

myglaren wrote: Not forgetting the C5

Oh gosh Yes!!!! Sorry Steve

Unread post by **myglaren** » 20 Oct 2009, 22:58

Not a very memorable experience though Jim, in all honesty.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 22 Oct 2009, 20:08

myglaren wrote:Not a very memorable experience though Jim, in all honesty.

Well actually Steve, I thought it was a cracking drive and a lovely engine

Today, I have fallen victim to the cold that's been doing the rounds hereabouts

I called into our sick reporting line at work and the HR girl said "Oh, not another one! You all seem to be dropping like flies..." The aircon must be spreading it...

Still, it's not swine 'flu as far as I know

Speaking of work, I've spotted a black C6 in the office car park. No idea who owns it but for a couple of days now I've parked my V6 next to it

A few weeks ago I spotted a nice blue XM as well. Again no idea who owns it but when you work in a big place employing 2000 staff, finding out is not easy. Still having a few Citroens in the park makes a nice change from the usual fare of Beemers, Audis, Mercs and other "lifestyle statement" cars that litter the place

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 22 Oct 2009, 21:54

There are a lot of bugs and illness going around for the moment. I seem to have had one after the other recently, getting a bit bored with having a cold now

I think its the work air con units too, there are so many people off ill. Mixing with all these students doesn't help either!

Im glad you enjoyed the drive in a C5 Jim, they are a good car, just maybe not quite as special/unique/interesting (one of those!) as the generation of hydraulic Citroens before, though certainly not to be over looked. An ideal cruiser and much more. The 2.0HDi is a good unit too, suits the C5 well, though id not like to drive the 90 version!

Hope your feeling better soon Jim

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 22 Oct 2009, 22:06

Citroenmad wrote: Hope your feeling better soon Jim

Thanks Chris

I'm sure I'll be better by the weekend 8) It might seem a bit wimpish to "throw a sickie" for a cold but at our place there is a very strict policy of staying home when coldy or fluey just in case it's swine and to stop, as far as possible, the whole place going down. having an entire help desk out of action would not be good...

No, the C5 demonstrated very conclusively to me that it was a car I could happily live with; I'd quite like to see how a 3.0L V6 C5 compares to my V6 Xantia now as they fundamentally use the same engine and gearbox. I'm thinking ahead here in case circumstances one day force me toward a C5, say if for some reason a Xantia can no longer be used as a viable daily driver. For now though, I have no such intentions. I like my Xantias too much

Thanks also Chris for your advice concerning a car for dad. If only I could steer him toward a 206

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 22 Oct 2009, 23:48

Well i hope it doesnt develop into the one i just god rid of last night / today.

I started last Friday and have been sick as a dog....Today i felt much better, but about an hour or so ago my long standing broken tooth erupted into a krakatoa of pain......i am currently drugged up to keep my sanity

I had a right good day planned for tomorrow......day off, me and wife going into town, kids at school....but now tooth problems to sort out.....

P.s. your lucky Jim being able to stop off work......We only have 3 vans and I take one home. As i live 50 miles away no one can come and collect it from my house as it takes around 2 hours round trip in rush hour traffic, so i have to go into work regardless

I suppose if i was physically unable to drive then they would need to hire a van

KP · Unread post by KP » 23 Oct 2009, 09:03

Vince should get on some good WVO and not use the works van at all

Berlingo/caddy vs Xantia.......

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 24 Oct 2009, 14:00

Jim,

When your V6 coil failed, did it misfire before the engine management light came on? My Mk1 has developed an intermittant misfire without many clues.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Oct 2009, 16:34

xantia_v6 wrote: When your V6 coil failed, did it misfire before the engine management light came on? My Mk1 has developed an intermittant misfire without many clues.

No, straight from running perfectly to running on four with the engine management light on as soon as the coil got hot. Almost like throwing a switch. The ECU recorded a coil short on 1/5 coil. Is you engine management light coming on during the misfire?

I'm happy to report feeling a lot better today. Up and cleaned the house from top to bottom and then playtime

In celebration (?) of the end of BST today for another year and the prospect of dark evenings, I replaced all the duff instrument bulbs int he V6 today. To guard against (hopefull) not having to do the job again any time soon, I replaced them wholesale (12 bulbs in all) and tested each before it went in.

I had a dark heater panel too so whilst it was all apart I thought I'd replace those bulbs too. No such luck

They're special and although they look like the dash bulbs, they won;t pull out of their holders as they're welded to the contacts. I did try to work a normal R286 capless bulb in but they're too tall and won't go home. I must now source some replacements.

I also replaced the dip beam headlamp bulbs with some Ring jobs from our local factor that claim to be 90% brighter than a standard H1 halogen. Darkness will tell

Continuing the electrical theme for today, I have just repaired John Plum's blower speed regulator and tested it. All good. before I do any more I must replenish stocks of both the MJ11015 transistors and the small nuts and screws I use to replace the rivets. I've done a few just recently.

John, I'll pop it back in the post on Monday, sorry for the delay but I did not feel up to the job until today.

Tomorrow, back to the EPIC pump, a start (hopefully) on the ML5 gearbox ex Gareth's Activa and the hunt for a car for Robyn. Dad has now decided to keep his Pixo so the goal-posts have now changed yet again...