Xantiaman's Blog

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 10 Nov 2010, 20:22

For one thing, the stop light goes out far too quickly for an Activa. I keep a copy of War and Peace in mine to keep me occupied whilst the light goes out..

I suspect you have a few spheres doing an impression of a pancake Gareth. I've found that Activas are very critical of sphere pressure and all your symptoms point to a few on the low-side, including the tendency to sink. An Activa does not always tick quickly to indicate worn accumulators.

I recommend your spheres and my sphere tester engage in some full and frank dialogue as a first task.

leaning when parked is not unusual and nothing to really worry about as long as she levels up under pressure and behaves. A weak Activa Accumulator can cause a lean, as can a duff ram bush at the rear as this will cause the Activa system to hunt. Check too the roll correctotr rod and guide blocks and even more importantly, check the roll corrector quadrant is free and easy. It can seize and is a bit of a devil to free off. I've once un-rivetted one to free it off.

Have a look back in my blog where I was busy bringing my Activa project "Rattiva" back to life. I learned more about suspension from that car than any other...

I recall Kev saying the top balljoint on rear ram was a bit dodgy. Worth revisiting that...

I think we should get together on a mutually convenient time and give the car a good once-over...

You know me, I'll jump at any chance to come over to Norfolk. I love the place...

I'm just hoping Robyn ends up at UEA next year...

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 11 Nov 2010, 22:37

Hi Jim, thanks for your indepth reply.

Let me know when your free then, would be great to catch up, and you can meet the new addition to the family (i mean Ellie, not the Xantia

)

More than happy to give what ever car you bring down a good mop and polish, and sealant ready for the winter...

CitroJim wrote:For one thing, the stop light goes out far too quickly for an Activa. I keep a copy of War and Peace in mine to keep me occupied whilst the light goes out..

I suspect you have a few spheres doing an impression of a pancake Gareth. I've found that Activas are very critical of sphere pressure and all your symptoms point to a few on the low-side, including the tendency to sink. An Activa does not always tick quickly to indicate worn accumulators.

I recommend your spheres and my sphere tester engage in some full and frank dialogue as a first task.

leaning when parked is not unusual and nothing to really worry about as long as she levels up under pressure and behaves. A weak Activa Accumulator can cause a lean, as can a duff ram bush at the rear as this will cause the Activa system to hunt. Check too the roll correctotr rod and guide blocks and even more importantly, check the roll corrector quadrant is free and easy. It can seize and is a bit of a devil to free off. I've once un-rivetted one to free it off.

Have a look back in my blog where I was busy bringing my Activa project "Rattiva" back to life. I learned more about suspension from that car than any other...

I recall Kev saying the top balljoint on rear ram was a bit dodgy. Worth revisiting that...

I think we should get together on a mutually convenient time and give the car a good once-over...

You know me, I'll jump at any chance to come over to Norfolk. I love the place...

I'm just hoping Robyn ends up at UEA next year...

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 14 Nov 2010, 12:12

I've started a new progress report here -

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... highlight=

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 24 Nov 2010, 12:25

Things have progressed slowly with the Activa but progress none the less, the more time i have, the more i have to think about with the direction i want to head. It will certainly be fun over the winter.

The past week apart from mild spannering, i've been doing rather a lot of driving. From Tuesday evening until Sun night, i covered a total of 350 miles in the Transit for work, 600 miles in the Mondeo running to Kent and back to drop/pic up the little un's, and i enjoyed every second of those miles too, an average of 31-32mpg is not to be sniffed at in the cold weather too and mixed driving. I also done 170 miles in the little MG to stretch its legs. I still love driving this little car, its reasonably well screwed together, the engine is great and the agile handling just makes you realise they got the formula right, it still compares well to a 2010 Fiesta Zetec s.

Its that time of week where i get ready to migrate south for work, its meant to be bitterly cold with a risk of snow showers, up in the air literally at the moment as to how bad this will be, great fun painting outside this time of year! Really makes me appreciate the warm weather.

On a personal note i have to big myself up on this, in December last year i was 16 stone 8lbs and now i am 13st 3lbs, and i am still dropping slowly, i suppose the Jaffa cakes dont help (i have a bad sweet addiction).

My original goal was to be 13st 7lb, but i am going to go lower than i've been for many years. 13 stone before the end of the year, and 12st 7 by Feb next year. Its a change for life, as my family is quite big, i dont see that as an excuse but does mean i put on weight very easily if i over do it, its mainly for my health and heart, in previous posts i recall mentioning it was around 170/90, its now 125/60.

I've had to throw out loads of XXL clothes, and comfortably fit into a 34 inch trouser, i would be very happy to get into a 32 in, i've not been that skinny since i was 16 years old in fact i dont ever remember having 32in trousers!

Just to give you an idea of my progress, here is me at 13stone 5lb.

And in March 2009 approx, must of been around 16stone 3-4lb -

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 25 Nov 2010, 21:10

So in total, thats 3 stone 3 lbs lost so far, or 21kg (the weight of a spare wheel and tyre!) or, 46lbs.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 25 Nov 2010, 21:18

Gareth,

I'm staggered and well done. I'd barely recognise the new-look lightweight you I reckon

Good job you showed the photo or else when I next come to see you I might have said "Sorry, Wrong house, I was looking for Gareth!"

When you equate it to a spare wheel it really brings it home how much work it is to carry that excess weight around...

Funny you should mention spare tyres; the term "spare tyre" was used back along to describle the characteristic roll of tummy over the top of jeans on a tubby lady. What we call these days a "muffin top"...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 25 Nov 2010, 21:52

Well ive never met you Gareth, but you do look very different in those two photos. Well done

Jim, i dont know about the term being used long ago, as ive only learnt the replacement term is 'muffin top' fairly recently. Perhaps i have a sheltered life

It seems the MG ZR is impressing you Gareth? Bargain cars for the fun they deliver. I was having a good look around the new MG6 the other week, a very nice looking car, i hope MG has a successful come back.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 25 Nov 2010, 23:27

Thanks Jim and Chris.

Its true, the MG is great to drive, easy to slate them until you've driven a good one. Goes a bit quicker now i've lost a spare wheel

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 29 Nov 2010, 09:10

Snow has properly arrived here in Norwich.

Mr Audi from down the road did grit all his drive and road with most of the contents of the salt bin, which is for people living at the bottom of the hill, rather than him living at the top with no issues.

Here it was yesterday before the better snow arrived -

As can be seen, copious amounts of salt were used, not much use this morning though!

Oh, and a close up so you know who to bump into with your trolley at Asda

Some more of what greeted us this morning.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 4573_n.jpg

Back to Citroen's, i'm still waiting on the parts to arrive from Duff Morgan so i can start putting the Activa back together, so its on hold till then.

I've ordered some Hankook winter tyres for the Transit, complete set.

http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brand ... inter-rw06

Ordered from a company in Essex who said they had stock online and then when i right up to arrange collection 'oh sorry, the online list has t been updated', great! So will be on the phone later to check on a delivery date.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 Nov 2010, 13:28

Thats's the best part of a good bit of snow you have up there Gareth

Lucky you. We still have zero here

Bloody cold first thing this morning though. Seems to me that it's too cold for snow..

We're having ours on Thursday apparantly dbut I'll believe it when I see it...

Did Audi driver manage to negotiate his drive today OK?

He has that look of a right dodgy geezer... Used car salesman is he?

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Nov 2010, 21:57

Your catching up with our snow slowly

He looks like an Audi driver .... glad to see his gritting work was wasted

We've had more snow today, its now thundering and lightening

Unread post by **myglaren** » 29 Nov 2010, 23:17

Piles of snow outside here today - most of it made by me sweeping it off the car yesterday then again this morning.
C5 just trundled over it like a tank, no slippy-slidey

Got into a very long queue up a sliproad, lookd as though a car up ahead was having to be 'assisted' onto the roundabout.
08 Focus in front sliding back and forth, wheels spinning faster than my engine was revolving. Just left it in first, foot off the throttle and let it wind itself up the hill effortlessly

Even on the flat they were having lots of bother. Where there was no traffic the C5 just churned through it - deliberately put the nearside wheels through the virgin snow near the verges. For some reason they all seem to have to drive in the tracks of the car ahead. The roads end up four feet wide and the cars pass with only a whisker between them.

I followed a C3 for a while, he was in worse trouble than the Focus - all over the road on the flat! Possibly worn/rubbish tyres but there was no way of telling the way they were spinning.
Again, the C5 never even noticed any difference from a dry road. Same in the works car park which was piled high. Raised the suspension to the accompaniment of some very puzzled looking colleagues and drove right over it.

One of our drivers came in after me in his Focus and got stuck right in the middle of the compound

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Nov 2010, 23:27

Ive had similar expereinces today Steve, the C5s do seem pretty unstoppable actually. Ive commented that the Michelins i have now are not quite as good in snow as my last Toyos, but its getting me round in the snow fine and much better than most other cars/drivers who seem to be having great diffuclities with traction.

I was next to a Zafira in traffic today, ive seen more tread on a slick than that had on its front tyre, how it even got that far in this weather is beyond me. People are to blame for the caos on our roads, not the weather.

Ive had my C5 in intermediate at times, ive found out my cars underbelly actually hangs low, as its catching snow in the centre of roads which have had numerous cars passed through already. I keep hearing grinding noises as the undertray scrapes the ice/snow. So im going to have a look at that tomorrow, see why its so low, think they are all like that though.

Ive been widening the tracks by driving on fresh now too, the C5 copes well and where the tracks are polished ice its safer.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 30 Nov 2010, 09:10

V light alloy engines, wide tyres, 'sticky' tread profiles (read bands of rubber all the way around) and it's no go. Nice heavy cast iron diesel over the driving wheels and tyres with some cross treads and away you go

My Xantia diesels have always been pretty good. I'm impressed with the Toyo Proxes I've got on at the moment - pretty good grip. I did mean to get some winter tyres, but haven't managed it yet - but if this is to go on, then digitium rectum extractum!

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 30 Nov 2010, 09:38

You'll be lucky to get winter tyres! I was told Feb for Vredestrian Comtrac Winters. The Hankooks i paid for, didnt even have a delivery date, so i cancelled my order. I do have snow chains on the way for emergency use, and by the time we get the next lot of heavy snow i may have some winter tyres, but for now, i gave up trying to find any in stock.

The way the MG coped yesterday made me think why bother though. Its soft compound cheapy Sunny tyres were great, although they are only a few k old. You could move the tread blocks with your fingers easily. The blocks on the Michelin tyres for the Transit were less easy to move.

I have dropped the pressure 4 psi in the front of the MG, not enough to increase its footprint on the road but enough to make it a bit softer, the Transit is down from 49psi to 40psi, i've not driven it in the snow since Feb though.