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

[CitroJim]

I am very happy to report Sally the Saxo now has a working speedo

I thought the replacement of the vehicle speed sensor would be easy... No chance.. I forgot Sally is French

I did the job from above as with the air filer box out iof the way the sensor is just visible above the RH drivehsaft in the diff... Getting to it was a bit fiddly but happily the old sensor came out easily enough...

And so did a load of gearbox oil That was a surprise to say the least... I've always been used to 'boxes where the oil level is considerably below the top of the speed sensor hole...

Then, despite the replacement sensor - thanks Xantia-V6 - looking identical it wouldn't fit... It was just a tad too big on its spigot between the O ring...

Cue a micrometer to measure the old one and some emery paper to grind down the spigot to make them the same...

Then it fitted Before that I got some assistance from my neighbour to check the replacement worked.. Me spinning the sensor out of the gearbox with neighbour watching confirmed all was good... To have gone to all the trouble of fitting it only to have another duff one would have been terrible!

Last job was to get an airline to blow oil out of the sensor fixing screw thread - it was full and if not cleared out the screw would not have gone back in...

All the work was worth it... I'm much happier with a good, working speedo even if it is a bit optimistic :

Sally and I went to the city at lunchtime to see my girls and have lunch... I also popped into GSF and got her a new alternator belt and some brake fluid - I had none in stock! LHM I have plenty but not good old DOT4! Thought I better had now I have two conventionally braked cars...

One trait I notice Sally has is a little hesitation and misfire when pulling hard away after a stop when the engine is half way between hot and cold... It's only very transient and after looking at the ECU on the ELIT and finding all is perfect I can only assume it's all down to the rather crude mono-point injection system she has... Only the oxygen sensor, inlet air temperature, throttle position and vehicle speed is used in mixture calculation. Just a glorified carb really...

No Activa work today due to the speed sensor taking three times as long to replace as expected

Here's Sally on the roof of the Centre:MK multi-storey car park today... Isn't she beautiful! I do so love her

Own Work

[CitroJim]

I've not yet received the spares to fix sally's proper wireless and keen to have at least some sort of wireless in the car I dug out an old Xantia wireless today and it does sort of fit...

I know it's a proper bodge and not good but it is only temporary

At least I now have a wireless to listen to...

Own Work

Due to other tasks and demands upon my time today, no more Activa progress to report

Unlikely much tomorrow either as I have a dental appointment for a filling...

[Michel]

Looks ok to me Jim. I once put a Xantia stereo in a ZX
... using copious amounts of no more nails.. Now, that was a bodge!

Good luck at the dentist. I've been 4 times in the last 3 weeks. For the first time ever I have dental insurance through my employer so I'm having *everything* fixed while I still have it. Back on Wednesday next week to have a bridge fitted!

[Hell Razor5543]

Forth Rail or Golden Gate?

[CitroJim]

Forth Rail or Golden Gate?

Millau Viaduct

Thanks Mike, for the dental wishes... I never mind going as my dentist is a lovely lady about my age and very good at her job.

She really bollocked me about needing a filling and that if I wish to keep my teeth I needed to give up everything sweet there and then! She really lectured me... 'No more sugar in any form young man!'

I was upset and quite desolate as sweet stuff is one pleasure of mine that I can tolerate . Gawd knows my life is restricted enough as it is and I have to forego a lot of pleasures enjoyed by normal people... If I give up sweet stuff then that's another one gone

I have cut down on the sweet stuff though... I still enjoy a little dark chocolate and the occasional sugary thing as a treat even though I feel a bit guilty afterwards

I suppose the next time I go to see her for a routine checkup she'll find a reason to ban me from eating lots of nuts and the copious amounts of fruit I get through Nuts especially are my substitute for sweets and chocolate...

[Michel]

I love going to the dentist Jim. It's never bothered me in the slightest. What, should I prefer murderous toothache and pain to being fussed over by two lovely ladies? I think not. Usually the only remotely painful bit is the initial injection

[CitroJim]

I love going to the dentist Jim. It's never bothered me in the slightest. What, should I prefer murderous toothache and pain to being fussed over by two lovely ladies? I think not. Usually the only remotely painful bit is the initial injection

My thoughts entirely Mike I can't think of anything worse than toothache - girls might say childbirth but that quickly passes... Toothache just gets worse and worse!

My hygienist is utterly gorgeous and my dentist's assistant is even more so... That just adds to pleasure of visiting...

The most painful bit is paying for the treatment. I already know this filling is going to cost me £115!

[Zelandeth]

Hate the dentist with a passion. Sadly I inherited my teeth from my mother's side of the family - they're stupidly sensitive and have the structural integrity of cheese. Oh, and the anaesthetic usually starts to do something useful about an hour after I've left.

Had a wisdom tooth removed last time I was there, which was one of the singularly most unpleasant and painful experiences of my life to date. Due a check up next month...not looking forward to it.

Hope your visit goes smoothly Jim!

[CitroJim]

Hope your visit goes smoothly Jim!

Thanks Zel

The very worst bit for me is my mouth being numb for so long after the work has been done... Hate that

[Hell Razor5543]

I, for a very long time, was terrified of the dentist. It dates back to the mid '70s, when my brother had to have a bit of work done. It turned out that he was allergic to the anaesthetic, and it very nearly killed him. You try telling a 10 year old child the dentist is not a bad person, and he did not mean to nearly kill your younger brother, when you sleep in the same room and you can hear him whimpering in pain even though he is unconscious (he was in a coma for a few days). He could not be taken to hospital (the journey could have tipped him over the edge), and the GP was visiting every day (and sometimes twice a day).

[CitroJim]

Oh James, nasty

[Hell Razor5543]

True, and an experience like that leaves a mark.

[CitroJim]

True, and an experience like that leaves a mark.

Indeed it does... Sadly, I know only too well, the amount of indelible marks I've picked up over these past 58 years...

[bxzx16v]

I'll have a look in the garage Jim and see if I still have that radio I mentioned.

Mark

[CitroJim]

I'll have a look in the garage Jim and see if I still have that radio I mentioned.

Thanks Mark I may need it as the new amplifier IC arrived yesterday and despite replacing it, just before going off to the dentist for a filling, the same fault remains

After the filling I really didn't feel like posting yesterday...

So, back to some deeper fault-finding... I WILL fix it but I'll have to rig it up to run on my workbench rather than trying to fix it dead and just testing it in the car...

This wireless has now become a challenge!

I did briefly take the 207 out for a run yesterday and a battery charge... I prefer the Saxo... 207 is back parked up... Only for occasional use now...