Confessions of a Citroholic

[CitroJim]

Thanks Jim, that's me filled with confidence and has me rearing to go. NOT!

I was going to try to pencil in the thermostat change for the weekend after next but checking the weather report shows heavy rain so I might have to postpone it and drive carefully! Grr...

It's actually not such a bad job Simon... It's a bit like a heater matrix in that it's a bit tedious and long... A fair bit needs to be stripped out of the way for good access. It might be, for instance, a good idea to remove the inlet manifold just to give that extra working space and to be able to get a better view on it...

I have a V6 engine in my workshop at the moment and if any pictures of the subject would be useful then let me know...

[Stickyfinger]

I have lots of photos of that area as well, and on my Activa when I delved to it chasing the swirl pot leak and cleaning etc.



About page 15 on my thread.....a good few on on my hard drive as well.

[Mandrake]

Thanks Sticky - that picture really helps clear things up in my mind - I'll go look at the pictures in your thread so we don't hijack Richards thread with my problems!

[Mandrake]

If I could find your blog! Where did it go ?

Forum search is useless as ever. Looked through the first few pages of the blog section but couldn't find it - not helped by not knowing the subject of the thread. I know I'm subscribed to your thread as well - along with several hundred others unfortunately!

[RichardW]

Hi-jack away, it's the way of things...
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... &start=210

It's in the Activa section....

[RichardW]

You should look at the option of monthly direct debit for car Tax - not only does it spread the cost evenly through the year but much to my surprise its actually cheaper to pay automatically by monthly direct debit than manually pay the 12 month lump sum! (let alone the more expensive 6 monthly lump sum I was paying before)

You've mis read it Simon, 5% surcharge for monthly (or 6 monthly) DD - better than the 10% it used to be for a 6 month disc! Ours both on annual DD so they just renew - neither are too bad; £140 or so for 307; £180 for the C4.

[RichardW]

I'm ashamed to say C4 failed..... needs 2 tyres OSF looked a bit cracked to me in the tread, but he could see it the cords; NSR is down the wear markers - this I think the only one I didn't look at last weekend - I knew they were nearing replacement! Also handbrake, but I think that's a function of the e-brake vs the rollers as it seems to work OK in normal driving. Guy was confident he could get it to pass once the new tyres were on. So, off for 4 new tyres; don't suppose there will be much change out of £500

[CitroJim]

Tyres are consumables Richard, could have been a lot worse... An easy fix someone else will be doing the hard and mucky work for you...

How exactly did the handbrake fail?

[RichardW]

'Failed' on the efficiency - he could only get it to read 12% (vs the 16 required). They seem to be a problem on test - I suspect something to do with the way they are testing, as it holds the car easily, even on steep roads. I tried it when I came home; if you hold on to the switch for a couple of seconds then it gives a second tightening to apply it harder - will get him to try this when it goes back. There is also a cable adjustment procedure via Diagbox which I will try over the weekend.

[CitroJim]

Ahh, I see. A case of computer says 'nah' when common sense says it's perfectly good

I'm sure once it's re-presented with four shiny new tyres it'll be fine Richard and any misleading computer indications will be overlooked...

[RichardW]

Dunno why the handbrake doesn't play on test - with it on manual you can't drive it away, and I pulled it on at low speed and had to dip the clutch to stop it stalling! How can that only be 12%??

Looks like Kwik-Fit for the tyres - £121 each, and they're just along from the office. Against my better judgement, and no doubt they will try and sell me new front brakes, but needs must!!

Found the leak in the Xsara - suddenly occurred to me I hadn't checked the (original!) matrix - a quick look in the passenger foot well, and sure enough the carpet is soaked, and the bottom of the dash is wet. Forte is on order!! TBH it's hanging in the balance.... it's now coming up 15 years old, and has done 135k, and still on original clutch - if this had been the water pump, then my advice was going to be give up with it, as £400 for that and at least the same again for the rear subframe would be better put to something with half the miles and age! However if the forte fixes the leak, then £400 for the subframe to get it through this year's MOT is probably worth doing, as it's got 4 decent tyres on it and a towbar, and that would take it middle of next year and 150k.

[CitroJim]

Sorry to hear about the Xsara matrix Richard - Forte to the rescue!!!

Is an Xsara matrix change as much of a hellish job as it is in the Xantia?

[white exec]

That picture would be an ideal cover photo for something called "A Beginner's Guide to Citroen" --- or maybe an FCF Greetings Card!
It's not a photo, it's a photomontage from hell!

[CitroJim]

I agree Chris, that and a picture of a Xantia bulkhead during a heater matrix change

Enough to make the most stout turn pale!

[RichardW]

In doing some research on the Xsara rear axle I looked at some threads on Xsara Owners club forum. OMG what a disaster. White text on black background; adverts everywhere; mucho text speak! This forum is so much more user friendly!!

Aginst my better judgement I have sort of offered to change it over....

Off to take the C4 for new tyres shortly - dodged Kwik-Fit as National turned out to be £25 cheaper; they're across town, but won't take much longer to bike back than it would to walk from KF. With TopCashBack, came in at under £450. So that's all right then The 307 is on 205 rather than 215 width tyres, but otherwise the same (55 / R16 / V) - they're nearly £50 cheaper each! How does that work??