Citrojim's AX, Pixo, C3, Running and Cycling Tales

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 24 Oct 2009, 17:22

Having driven the key Citroens that are worth getting excited about I
believe the Gs has to be one of the best! The handling and fun factor
is truly astounding and this is accounting for driving all flavours of Cx,
Xantia, Xm and various others including a Ds, Bx GTi 16v, 2CV and
passenger in a hard driven SM! I need to try a C6 and a Traction really!

Andrew

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 24 Oct 2009, 21:55

CitroJim wrote:hunt for a car for Robyn. Dad has now decided to keep his Pixo so the goal-posts have now changed yet again...

there's always Jenny...

I went to Evans Halshaw once to ask for bulbs for the heater controls, they insisted that they were plug in bulbs even though they aren't.
So if you get hold of any of the right ones, let me know where from and I'll get some too

Post by **CitroJim** » 24 Oct 2009, 22:11

Xac wrote: there's always Jenny...

No she's adamant it won't be a Xantia sadly

I'm now looking at possibly a Pug 206 1.4 or 1.1 for her. Due to her Grandad's generosity I can now look at more pricey cars as he and I are going halves on the car for her. Lucky girl or what? I've now got £1500 or even a tad more to play with.

I will certainly let you know the bulb type Xac, in fact I'll go one better and get some for you at the same time

One thing I did do whilst I had the dash apart again was to disassemble and lubricate the fan in the cabin temperature sensor. I cleaned it and dropped a tiny spot of light machine oil onto the fan bearing. Touch wood it seems to have done the trick.

Headlamps are better for the new bulbs but I feel a relay mod coming on. They're still not as good as the searchlights on my Activa which has had the relay mod done.

Still, it's lovely to be able to now see all the dials on the dash now lit up uniformly in the dark. On full brightness it's positively blinding!

Post by **CitroJim** » 24 Oct 2009, 22:38

I reckon these are most like the heater panel bulbs.

Can anyone confirm for sure?

Post by **myglaren** » 24 Oct 2009, 22:54

Xac wrote:
there's always Jenny...

I don't think Jennie will be giving up her Activa any time soon

CitroJim wrote:
One thing I did do whilst I had the dash apart again was to disassemble and lubricate the fan in the cabin temperature sensor. I cleaned it and dropped a tiny spot of light machine oil onto the fan bearing. Touch wood it seems to have done the trick.

I'm sure that I read somewhere that Maplins have a motor to replace the one in that fan unit, as long as you have nimble fingers and a steady soldering iron hand, so you should be OK there Jim.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 24 Oct 2009, 23:38

CitroJim wrote:I reckon these are most like the heater panel bulbs.

Can anyone confirm for sure?

Looks like they're normal dashboard size bulbs especially being 5mm wide.

vince · Post by **vince** » 25 Oct 2009, 00:10

I had a poke around at the location of the column shrouds and screw locations as im going to replace my dash panel bulbs soon. How long did it take you Jim? Also do you need to take the steering wheel off to get the clocks out?

Im sure i could see the screws holding the switch panel in.

Can the shroud only be removed with the wheel off....i had it in half but it didnt want to come away

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Oct 2009, 08:26

Yes, now you say Xac, they do look a bit big at 17.5 mm tall as well. It was late when I looked!!! Ho, hum, resume search!

Vince, hope the toothache is now all better.

Yes, the steering wheel must come off. I know some say the instruments can be wriggled out, it makes it a whole lot easier to take a few extra minutes to get the wheel and cowls off.

Heres how:

Park up with the steering wheel turned 90 degrees to normal. Disconnect battery, undo the two Torx 30 holding the airbag. The screws are at an angle and accessible when the wheel is turned as said.

Disconnect the airbag (after 20 ins has elapsed since the battery was disconnected) and the radio controls at the little plug (be careful - delicate, You'll need a small tool to open its locking tang) Note where the rotary is resting and mark it to get it back in the same place.

21mm socket to remove the wheel. Note position it is in to aid refitting. Don't completely remove the nut until the wheel is free of its splines or you may end up with a face full of steering wheel and it hurts! Use open palms behind the wheel to jar it free of the splines.

Remove the two screws under the cowl, one at the back and one to the left. Prise off the top cowl. Find the "secret" screw holding the lower cowl on. It is on the right and facing downward by the wiper stalk. Disconnect the dimmer pot and carefully remove the lower cowl. You'll need to pop the steering column height adjuster and push the column to its lowest setting.

Undo the top two screws under the fusebox lid. Remove the screw holding the small panel below the alarm and window pushbuttons. Pull down the top of the fusebox lid panel and pull the little panel out.

Identify and remove the three screws on the lower edge of the switch panel and remove them. One is on the very end and the other two under the fabric flap that hides the join to the top cowl. Note that one holds the airbag rotary connector.

Pull the panel from the right and unclip it from the clock/hazard/HRW switch panel on the left. Disconnect the switch plugs and remove it.

Remove the four connectors at the bottom of the instrument pod by pushing the "hoops" upward and tugging gently on the wires. Undo the three screws holding the pod. Two on the lower edge and one at the top under the fascia hood. Use a small tool to carefully prise the top lug under the hood down and tilt the pod forward and wriggle it out.

Replace all illumination bulbs.

Reassembly is a reversal etc. Time about two hours. Bulbs are R286 type and the old ones will be tight in their little black housings. Test each before reassembly. I found one duff one in my pack. I used a multimeter on ohms for that.

Anything not clear, get in touch!

vince · Post by **vince** » 25 Oct 2009, 09:11

Cheers Jim

sounds like a piece of cake

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Oct 2009, 19:58

Those are the right bulbs Xac. I popped a Vernier on one I have here and the 5mm and 17.5mm measurements tally. I'll order a pack of ten in the week as I need two plus spares and I'm sure you need at least four!

Drove the V6 today and found I had the steering wheel a spline out following the instrument bulb replacement. never noticed last night as it was dark but nothing irritates me more than a steering wheel that's not level when going straight ahead. 10 minutes and all fixed. I did disconnect and remove the airbag but did the job without touching the radio remote plug or fully removing the steering wheel.

That done I set about tidying and rearranging the garage ready for the arrival of a poorly V6. Not far into that job and Sid The Squid calls asking if he may nip over to replace his front brake pads and attend a few other small jobs on the Green Goblin. There followed a most pleasant afternoon indeed

Xantia_v6's poorly V6 will be arriving later in the week and then work will commence to see what has failed in the gearbox. I'm looking forward to it with some relish I must confess. Firstly though my garage has to be made ready and I cannot believe how much more stuff I seem to have acquired since I did mine

All of which has to be found a temporary home. That home will be the conservatory, much, no doubt, to the consternation of the cats...

I've loosely reassembled the EPIC pump I had in bits and that, along with the ML5 gearbox will now have to wait their turn...

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 25 Oct 2009, 22:04

Thanks for your help today Jim, After the GG fell off its jack for the 3rd time in a row

I realized I was going to need some help.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 25 Oct 2009, 22:52

CitroJim wrote:Those are the right bulbs Xac. I popped a Vernier on one I have here and the 5mm and 17.5mm measurements tally. I'll order a pack of ten in the week as I need two plus spares and I'm sure you need at least four!

You're a star Jim!
I think I only need 2, maybe 3.

Post by **CitroJim** » 26 Oct 2009, 07:24

Bulbs are on order Xac

Just hope they are delivered before the Posties go off on one again...

Post by **RichardW** » 26 Oct 2009, 13:36

CitroJim, in his other blog wrote:I shall never do such a big job again.

to which Citroen7 wrote:thats as about as likley as pigs flying as well you know

sometime later, in another thread, CitroJim wrote: I can only suggest the next course of action is to flat-bed the patient over to Newport Pagnell for a full examination and diagnosis.

We can make her better

and in this thread, CitroJim wrote:work will commence to see what has failed in the gearbox. I'm looking forward to it with some relish I must confess

That'll be 1-0 to Citroen7 then

Have fun Jim!

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 26 Oct 2009, 13:44

Well spotted Richard!

Andrew