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

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 02 Feb 2010, 09:58

Oh man. I hope the old one goes off to forensics. It'd be nice if there can be a sensible rebuild option worked out.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Feb 2010, 10:09

addo wrote:Oh man. I hope the old one goes off to forensics. It'd be nice if there can be a sensible rebuild option worked out.

That's what is planned Adam. Watch this space and I'll speak news as soon as I have some...

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 02 Feb 2010, 10:41

CitroJim wrote:Cost was a bit eye-watering though. £406

Yooowwwch! That's going to bring a tear to the eye for sure.

There's got to be an easier work around than using a 'new but will it last'
one from Citroen! I'll be watching this will keen interest.

One of mine is totally bone dry (touches wood) but TBH I'd say it's got
some play on it as it actually sounds like the normal duff wobbly drop link
over the bumpy stuff! It passed a recent very thorough vigilant MOT mind!

I'm even wondering if the end 'eye' on the ARB could wear and oval wider
in diameter...

Andrew

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 02 Feb 2010, 11:38

CitroJim wrote:
Toby_HDi wrote:Must thank you for that mean chili con carne, mmmmmm
No worries Toby and pleased the ride home was better. Just wait until the ECU is sorted and the spheres replaced You think it's good now but it'll be a million times better then...

I swallowed hard and ordered a new rear ram for mine yesterday from our local Stealer who is actually a Pug dealer foremost. They were very helpful actually

Cost was a bit eye-watering though. £406

Was about to call Duff Morgan but if you've already ordered it, no problem.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Feb 2010, 13:13

XantiaMan583 wrote: Was about to call Duff Morgan but if you've already ordered it, no problem.

Simple reason Gareth, and a strange one. I feel incredibly exposed and vulnerable having only one car serviceable so I want to get the Activa back into running order as soon as I possibly can.

I've got to have at least two cars on the road at any time.

I never know when I may need to go down to Somerset in an emergency and if the V6 throws a wobbler, I'm toast.

I can't even borrow Robyn's 206 at the moment as her Mum is using it whilst she awaits delivery of a Pug 207...

She's finished driving instruction now so the Ford Fester has been given the big heave-ho in favour of something French. She was not at all impressed with the Fester after having run a series of Citroen C3s previously and was pleased to see the back of the hideous little thing.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 02 Feb 2010, 15:16

I know exactly what you mean about having handy back up cars and I
guess I'm even more neurotic as I have more than a couple on the road
at any one time...

that's not to say they don't leapfrog problems among themselves mind!

It reminds me of the Bruce Willis Armageddon film where they refer to
the NASA approach of planning everything with 'built in redundancy'!

By chance and carpet bombing tactics I've always got at least one needy
awkward Citroen being used even if it is planning it's next move to be
a PITA.

Andrew

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 02 Feb 2010, 23:26

CitroJim wrote:I swallowed hard and ordered a new rear ram for mine yesterday from our local Stealer who is actually a Pug dealer foremost. They were very helpful actually

Cost was a bit eye-watering though. £406

Jim, how many miles has the car done since I fitted that new ram @ 101555 miles?

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 03 Feb 2010, 19:28

I would be looking for proper Viton seals at that price Jim but what can ya do?. I'm saying that but who knows if Viton is a better solution...it certainly is the top rubber.

Bosch are big makers of hydraulic rams . They have a factory in Livingstone and a fishing buddy of mine is Production Manager. I know they do lots of digger JCB type stuff.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 03 Feb 2010, 19:42

DickieG wrote: Jim, how many miles has the car done since I fitted that new ram @ 101555 miles?

Almost exactly 10,000 Richard

That's not good really...

Lexi, I wonder if they might do anything that can be adapted to suit? The ram is not quite a standard thing as it has an eye at the bottom and a balljoint at the top.

I reckon a bit of cleverness could adapt something suitable. Do they publish their range in a form that we might have a look for something that may be adaptable? If so, how would one purchase?

Good news: I heard today I passed my ITIL exam with a very healthy passmark despite being very pessimistic at the outcome

Bad news: I'm not feeling well at all today. Rapidly sinking into what feels like a bad cold or 'flu... I felt a bit rough this morning and have god progressively worse as the day has worn on. I have a headache and that's a bad sign as I hardly ever get them...

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 03 Feb 2010, 21:42

I reckon a bit of cleverness could adapt something suitable. Do they publish their range in a form that we might have a look for something that may be adaptable? If so, how would one purchase?

Will try to contact him if he is home. He travels and works away a lot.....China Romania Hungary. Last time we spoke it was of recession.......demand for stuff has fallen badly

. I get the impression they are rigid on long run production stuff rather than bespoke. It comes from abroad made to their spec and they put it together.........but they must have some kit.

Give me the questions and I will get his email...He is a good buddy

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 03 Feb 2010, 21:46

Same mileage as mine then Jim. I can feel legal action beckoning, when I get around to it. Can't see a Stealer replacing a part out of warranty through their goodwill. Be no good anyway if it failed again in two or three years time.

From the description in the Citroen Guide, the 'rams' are not so much rams as hydraulic springs, 'sprung' by the Activa spheres. The area on each side is supposedly critical. I can't see these being replaceable by an off-the-shelf part, regardless of the end fittings.

James

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 04 Feb 2010, 14:04

It`s a good job we love our French cars. Time and time again we are let down by poor implementation of materials and production methods on the cars. Maybe not always by Citroen but in many cases the companys they use for supply and design/build.

Citroen didn`t build those Rams?.........but it`s their baby and they carry the can.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 04 Feb 2010, 15:36

I'm getting an image of a wide jubilee clip with a hole in it for the LHM return pipe done up tightly around the ram...

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Feb 2010, 19:34

Xac wrote:I'm getting an image of a wide jubilee clip with a hole in it for the LHM return pipe done up tightly around the ram...

Is there not an image floating around on the forum from a member who has done something not too far from that?

Unread post by **myglaren** » 04 Feb 2010, 19:48

Probably wrong but I think it was Lexi