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

[Dormouse]

No chance.

[CitroJim]

I have an unused rear screen FCF sticker awaiting a window. Having made my donation Jim, any chance of a French car to attach it to?

To paraphrase a famous song... 'The forum will do anything for its members but it won't do that...'

Plenty of tasty classic French choice out there Mick...

[CitroJim]

I'm delighted to announce that as from February 2023 I am taking over as the 'From A To Z' columnist in the Citroen Car Club Citroenian magazine This column covers the AX, Saxo and ZX...

Years ago I was the 'Xantia Files' columnist until a spell of ill health got the better of me... Happily, that is now all in the past, under control mostly, and life continues to be 'on the up'

Bluebell, Sally and Daffodil have given me a wealth of material to write about...

And no, I don't intend for a ZX to join my fleet... Although back when I was the Xantia Files columnist I did get an HDi Xantia so I could authoritatively write about them...

[mickthemaverick]

Well done Jim, they couldn't have a better man!!

[Michel]

I did get an HDi Xantia so I could authoritatively write about them...

That was a shed! The work you did on it was amazing.

[CitroJim]

I did get an HDi Xantia so I could authoritatively write about them...

That was a shed! The work you did on it was amazing.

Ahh yes, that was the one Mike - very happy memories of it I learned a huge amount from that car and in my ownership it turned over 200,000 miles whilst cruising along the A303! And I loved its slightly ratty appearance knowing it was safe, sound and reliable...

It may have looked a bit of a shed but it was totally and utterly rust-free everywhere, not a trace...

Well done Jim, they couldn't have a better man!!

Thanks Mick I just hope I can do a reasonably decent job of the column. I have quite an act to follow... I shall do my best...

[Stickyfinger]

Loads of photos of Daffodil (from very early) and Bluebell Jim....not many of Sally as she went to you quite quickly if I recall.

Remember...

I got her in Radstock for £103
I used her
The "Rented/Same price buy back" to Jasmine the visiting Aussie Hippy
I got her back
Then to Reg Duffet (when the rear wheel fell off on his way home )
Then you
Then me again

[CitroJim]

Daffodil was perhaps the best purchase ever made Alasdair and what a bargain!

I don't have so many pictures of Daffodil but loads of both Bluebell and Sally so I'll be interested in some good early ones of Daffodil

[CitroJim]

And it just goes to prove good things can come out of Radstock!

[CitroJim]

Bluebell's portrait arrived today - by courier rather than Royal Mail...

Here she is, all framed and taking pride of place between my Xantia Activa and XM A trio of very special cars....

Not the best of pictures as the light was rapidly fading...

[Michel]

All you need now is a ZX Jim, but you'll have to invest in a welder..

I'd suggest a 1.9 n/a D Auto for you, it'd suit you down to the ground

[CitroJim]

All you need now is a ZX Jim, but you'll have to invest in a welder..

I'd suggest a 1.9 n/a D Auto for you, it'd suit you down to the ground

Are you saying I'm a slow, laid-back driver Mike?

You'd be right of course and of all the ZXs that one would be great for me...

It's very unlikely due to space constraints... Certainly whilst I continue to offer a foster-home to Sian's Pixo

[moizeau]

Been a while Jim but here's the info on what I mentioned the other day.
The hidden O rings inside the solenoids
https://citroen.cricou.net//epic/change ... vannes.pdf
And here is a pic, though crap and not dismantled that I found for the 'unknown leak'.

It leaks from the edges of the potted resin. Underneath each circle is a T7 screw. I warmed the resin with a soldering iron until I could get the T7 bit in. Once both screws were removed I used a 6 or 8mm rod or more probably an allen key from the other side inserted into the sleeve that goes into the pump and gave it a quick smack. The innards come out along with the resin as an ensemble. This exposes further o ring(s).
I am going back a bit and haven't got any Epic bits to check anymore.
If you know of anyone with a 'spare' may be worth testing my memory on that first.

[CitroJim]

Excellent Pete Enjoyed reading that and learned something new on the EPIC

After all thee cold and snow I manage to get Bluebell out of the garage yesterday and give her a warming run and a good wash after her trip to Somerset and back a couple of weeks ago.

Here she is looking very clean after her bath

Life is currently very busy. I'm Run Director and timekeeper at four parkruns over Christmas and New Year and getting increasingly involved with organising the 2023 TT racing calendar at my local bike club.

I got my copy submitted for my first Citroenian 'A to Z' column last evening and will soon start drafting my next...

Today I'll be doing the final bit of Christmas shopping and hoping the weather might just clear up enough to allow me out on my bike... It's been far too long and I need to train for a Duathlon race the day after Boxing Day!

And then I'll be crafting my Christmas curry... Yum

[CitroJim]

I'm finally starting to begin to recover from what it is that's been ailing me for almost a week. It's not Covid but it's felt like it... Turns out a close friend of mine had a virulent strain of 'flu a fortnight ago and we did, 'erm... have close contact

It meant that I could not see the family over Christmas as in no way did we want Autumn to go down with it...

Today, it being lovely, I pulled Bluebell out of the garage to have a look at her sick heater blower... It works only on its top speed, very noisily and not happily...

The blower lives under the dash on the driver's side... A 10mm socket on a very long extension soon has it removed...

Two of its speed control resistors are open-circuit and the motor bearings are dry and stiff...

The two halves of the case are clipped and held together by barbs... And the motor pop-rivited in. Not intended to be repaired...

In the cold of my workshop the plastic is brittle and more like bone china. I broke a bit off by gently trying to ease the slot apart to release a barb...

I've now brought the whole assembly indoors so that it can warm up and hopefully then the plastic will soften and allow disassembly... I feel a little extra heat may be needed to assist the process...

It being a gorgeous day I took Bluebell out for a joyride in the sunshine...

The only trouble is, with no blower installed there's effectively no heater and instead a big hole in the top of the bulkhead open to the elements that blows cold outside air straight onto the driver's legs and feet! It was a lovely drive but just a little chilly!

I was pleased to find a tiny weep of coolant from the top hose has now ceased after a little tightening of the host to rad Jubilee clip...

She's running beautifully and getting better with every drive...