Confessions of a Citroholic

[RichardW]

Entire length - it may well come past the end of the starter and foul on something else. You can see the stunning amount of access on this video. The troublesome bolt is above the solenoid, but set back - no way you can see it without a mirror!

[RichardW]

I remembered we had seen some classics on the way down to the airport (went from Manchester). A series IIA towing a trailer; an early RangeRover - LPG converted so presumably a V8; a large group of MK1 and 2 Escorts on the other side - and then a few miles further on a couple on the hard shoulder!; and a hilariously overloaded MGB Roadster on German plates - they had loads on the boot, and then a rack over the roof which was loaded high!!

Amused by the fish counters in the supermarkets in Portugal - as well as the fresh fish they had quite a lot of frozen stuff, including whole fish. Turned out you could by a frozen whole fish and have it chopped into steaks - each of the counters had a band saw on it for this purpose!!

[RichardW]

Looks like the Picasso has a leak in the AC system - it was low a few weeks back I put some in, but yesterday it was 'singing' well when on and hardly making any cold, so I think it is almost flat. I'd have a look and see if it needs a new condenser if it wasn't raining. Again.

[RichardW]

I appear to have fixed the steamy headlight on the 307 - despite being sure I had refitted the rear cover when i put the HID lamps in (and checking it) I obviously hadn't, as since I had it off to fix the wiring (and made double sure I put it back properly), the lamp has dried out - and stayed that way despite a couple of days heavy rain. One (small) job ticked off!

[CitroJim]

Excellent Richard

[Mandrake]

I appear to have fixed the steamy headlight on the 307 - despite being sure I had refitted the rear cover when i put the HID lamps in (and checking it) I obviously hadn't, as since I had it off to fix the wiring (and made double sure I put it back properly), the lamp has dried out - and stayed that way despite a couple of days heavy rain. One (small) job ticked off!

Funny you should mention steamy headlights... the Xantia left hand main headlight was all fogged up on the inside after a few weeks of not being driven, (and plenty of rain of course!) but it seemed to clear out after our trip up north...

[CitroJim]

Funny you should mention steamy headlights... the Xantia left hand main headlight was all fogged up on the inside after a few weeks of not being driven, (and plenty of rain of course!) but it seemed to clear out after our trip up north...

You'd be amazed at how hot a Xantia headlight gets in use... I found out when using one as a dummy load when testing batter charger I repaired...

The heat should rapidly demist them...

[Mandrake]

The fact that it fogged up at all means it is not properly sealed though, right ? Where is the most likely leak ? I've never had them out or even changed a bulb.

[CitroJim]

The fact that it fogged up at all means it is not properly sealed though, right ?

Yes.. The glass is sealed to the body via a soft rubbery O Ring gasket - well not very O but you know what I mean...

Normally, to reseal all that's needed is to remove the glass - a series of spring clips - clean the gasket and sealing surfaces, smeal silicone grease on all and reassemble...

I've not see a bad gasket... But there's always a first time.

[van ordinaire]

Yet I've often read that the cure for misted-up headlights is - (better) ventilation!

[RichardW]

I set off to have another go at the starter, but just got the bolt out from under the wing, and up on the ramps, and down the rain came. So abandoned that. Dismantled the garage door opener instead - it has a nylon worm/wheel drive inside, but the wheel is stripped. Seems like it is a common problem, as there are plenty of vids on youtube, and parts are available - albeit from the States! This leads to 2 problems: 1 delivery (although, ordered one from Amazon which should come in 10 days or so) and 2: it's all put together with imperial bolts of which I have limited spanner supplies! Managed to get it down and apart ready to accept the new bits when they come. Then was going to do the oil in the C4, but it started raining again.... Grrrr

[RichardW]

Tried again - failed again. I found that you can reach over the subframe past the exhaust and get one finger on the edge of the bolt (with your orangutan arm!), which then allows you to guide in a long allen key past the back of the solenoid, and I did get it just engaged with the head (after I cut the ball end off the Lidl key - I can confirm they are hard, as it laughed at the hacksaw and I had to do it with the grinder!). However, the length was not right, so I gave up - it can go to the garage and they can fight with it. I think possibly you could get it with a ratchet and hex bit, but putting my two short extensions together was too long, as was my single long extension so it would need one somewhere in between. What a farce!!

[CitroJim]

Yes, I reckon a job for a garage Richard... Best policy! I tend to farm certain things out that I just hate... CV Joint boots being one of them...

[RichardW]

I keep wondering about alternative metal, but then dismissing it!

The C4 is nearing 110k and will be 10 years old in Jan; however, it seems to keep going; the boys use it like a skip; SWMBO has now trained as a Forest School leader, so keeps filling it with wet gear from Forest sessions; it's got scratches all over it, so what if it gets another!?! It shrugged off nearly 350 miles yesterday from home to Orkney, stuffed with gear, with the bikes on the back, without a murmur.

The 307 is nearing 11 years old, and up to 136k - it too keeps going, looks like it will do 17k between MOTs this year (although it does need some attention) and is costing buttons in depreciation now; I tend to use it as a builder's van, so it would be daft to do that to something newer and shinier.

I think his and hers Berlingo multispaces would fit the bill for us, although we do use the extra seats in the C4 occasionally; I would like a 13 plate; perhaps in another couple of years we will get a pair on 13 plates!

I'm thinking I will get the garage cleared out, and pull the Visa out so I can get the 307 in over Christmas, and do some work on it - needs OSF strut bearing and drop link, Probably new front arms both sides, NSR wheel bearing and damper, cam belt, DPF clean out, thermostat, all filters changing. That ought to be keep me out of trouble for a few evenings!!

[CitroJim]

If they are both going well and meting your requirements perfectly Richard then keep them...

Always better the devils you know

My view is that cars only need to be changed when they no longer meet your requirements or are so worn out as the be too unreliable or beyond economical repair...