Citroenmads Citroen blog.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jun 2010, 15:37

Citroenmad wrote: When are you thinking about selling your Silver Activa?

As soon as I've transferred the registration to my red one...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 15 Jun 2010, 23:31

I see, ill have to have a think.

I had a bit of a problem with the Xm yesterday. Id not had it out since the Weatherby CCC event, so as i had to take the dogs to the vets i thought id use that.

It took a while to start but seemed ok when it got going. Though i did think it seemed a bit slower than normal. The vets is around 27 miles from here (there is a reason for that!) so it had a reasonable run out.

When i tried to set off back the Xm took an age to start, it was then idling very low, i set off and it was obvious it wasnt right.

Everytime i stopped at junctions or in traffic it was cutting out and taking ages to start. So i had to keep the revs high, which was interesting as i had two large towns to get through at rush hour. Also quite embarrasing when it did stop.

Anyway, i wasnt worried as i do like the simplicity of these older engines. Had this of been one of the C5 HDis doing this i would be getting worried for my bank balance!

I got it home, just, after then it wouldnt start at all, so im greatful it got me back ok.

My first thought was a lack of fuel of some sort, poor starting, not wanting to run and a lack of smoke.

The first thing i did was press on the hand fuel primer, which did nothing. It wasnt sucking any fuel though. With the fuel filter housing removed fuel could be sucked up with a oil sucker but the primer in the housing wasnt doing anything.

A local place supplies fuel filter items, so i thought it would need a new filter housing assembly. But they refurb'd the original fuel primer, the diaphram inside the pump had quite a large hole in it, allowing air to be drawn in.

A very easy repair and all done for £20.

Though it didnt do itself any favours with my sister, who came with me to the vets. Its very diffuclt to get her to go anywhere in the XM, she hates it because "its old" What a snob! I kept on telling her that if it was her C5 doing this id be finding the closest scrap yard to take it to

I do think that the best cars were made during the 90s, mainly late 90s. Not just in the Citroen range, but in general, as im not a fan of many modern cars, i find most of them very bland, boring and ugly - that wasnt me describing my C5 BTW!

Citroens of the 1990s are my favourites, i just wish the C5 had been more Xantia/Xm like. Which is why i feel the need for a xantia at the moment. I do like my C5 though and will hang onto it.

Im slightly dissapointed to see our old white Xm for sale again on here and car and classic website. I thought it had found a good home. I really miss that car

XantiaDaveEire · Unread post by **XantiaDaveEire** » 19 Jun 2010, 22:44

Im with you on that one Chris,i hate new cars

I really cant stand the fact that they are all bubble shaped and all very safe with their designs,one of the reasons why i like Citroens so much..the older Citroens more so..the "new" citroens dont really do it for me it just looks like the last little bit of quirkyness has gone out the window with the latest range and re-badging do

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 19 Jun 2010, 23:42

There are some new cars i like, but very few. Cars seem to be getting larger and uglier with every facelift/new model. I like most Citroens and think the new C3 is quite nice, but the DS3, what an awful looking car that is. Im really not a fan of that car in any way.

Citroens of the 1990s, you cant go wrong

The N/S/F Tyre was flat on the Xm this morning, had a massive nail right on the edge of the tyre, rendering it unrepairable. Great!

As I dont like replacing just one tyre, especially on the front, it had to have a pair. Went for Michelin Energy Savers, got them for quite a good price (tyres are half the price of my C5 ones), they seem to ride nicely and they are quiet. Ill have to see what they are like for grip but i like them so far, wear is supposed to be among the best too.

I had these Michelin Energy Savers (the replacement for the Energy E3A) on my C5 SX when i got it, i thought they were very good for grip, especially in the wet. They do have quite a soft sidewall, which does give a good ride and i guess since the tyre can flex to the road its good for grip too. Ill have to see how i get on with them on the Xm.

One good thing came from it, as the spare had a worn tyre on i got the good tyre from the front fitted to the spare wheel.

We have been playing around with the XMs spheres today. Ive not had them off to check the pressure, and although it rides well i thought i better check them. All of them are still at the correct pressure, it did have new spheres fitted by Westroen about a year ago before we got it.

It has the geniune 3 layer diaphram ones fitted to the front, which are still at 55BAR and possibly original. The rest have been replaced in 2009 but are still up to spec.

Though its rear ones seemed soft, they are actually 40Bar spheres, with a larger centre damper hole. So we fitted some 30Bar Xm spheres, though from a hatch not estate. Despite them being geniune citroen units and still at the right pressure, they are new actually, the ride was awful as the damping hole was smaller than the spec estate spheres. In sports mode the ride really was very narsh and nobbly.

So we have refitted the softer rear spheres, which we might change for the correct ones at some point, though it rides nice and soft, but not overly soft, on these current ones.

The next job for the Xm is a new set of pads and discs on the front as they are getting down. Im on the look out for a headlamp washer cover and i really cant find one anywhere. Ive even rang WHM who dont have any at the moment either.

Chris.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Jul 2010, 15:26

Well, its been a busy time the last few weeks. I have a new job, over the past 3 weeks ive been working late and long hours. Though i should be on my regular 4 day 11 hour timetable from now on, until my uni term starts again. I got my grades for the past year on Tuesday, which i did very well in and passed onto the next year.

Not much has happened on the car front as ive been so busy. My C5 has been very neglected these past few weeks. Ive just given it a once over and its still fine, apart from one of my nsf tyre is going down. I did have to have another go at freeing off the front brake as it stuck one morning on the motorway going to work. Apart from that its been fine, no tother faults at the mo. My airbag fault has not returned since i looked at the wires either.

Me and my dad took the 6H to a classic car event last weekend at Corbridge. It turned out to be a very good event with a very nice selection of cars, mainly MGs but quite a lot of classics from a Model-T Ford to Mustangs and Corvettes. Quite a few moderns there too, Ferarris etc. I was amased to see another traction there, a French Ligere - which is mainly the light 15 body, narrower and shorter than the Big6, but slightly longer in the wheelbase than the light 15 but with the 15s engine. Quite a nice car it was too.

The 6H got an awful lot of attention and questions at the show. One person said "until i saw this i thought the Lagonda was the best looking car at the show" Which was quite nice.

I drove back home from the event but as one roundabout on the A1 had been closed, due to a shooting, the traffic was horendous. A drive that would usually take me an hour tops took well ovet twice that. I had to leave the A1 and navigate through Newcastle centre, which i do all the time, but with the extra traffic flow it was crawling traffic all of the way. The car went fantastically though and its running better now than it ever has.

We eventually got the carb sorted and tuned correctly. There are some small ball bearings which should cut off fuel from the idle injectors in the carb, however for some reason these were too small and still allowed fuel through. So these have been replaced and its running all the better for it. It was badly over fueling before this. We took it to the garage we use who specialise in tuning and they set up the carb using their gas analysers etc. So its running pretty nicely now.

It had a puncture a few weeks ago, so to be on the safe side i took all of the wheels to get new innertubes fitted as some of them were getting on.

The Xm has put up the usual Xm warning message of an ABS fault. Ive still not looked into that, maybe tomorrow. I also found out the other week, while sat in traffic on the motorway with it, that the cooling fans dont come in. It looks like the switch for the fans has gone as with this removed they do work. Luckily the car didnt get too hot but it did have me worried.

This thread is no good without pictures! So here is a pic of the 6H from two weeks ago:

Me and my dad will be at the National in the traction next weekend. Hopefully ill have time to give it a good polish before then. Ill see some of you there.

Chris

Unread post by **myglaren** » 09 Jul 2010, 17:07

Citroenmad wrote: Me and my dad took the 6H to a classic car event last weekend at

I drove back home from the event but as one roundabout on the A1 had been closed, due to a shooting, the traffic was horendous. A drive that would usually take me an hour tops took well ovet twice that. I had to leave the A1 and navigate through Newcastle centre, which i do all the time, but with the extra traffic flow it was crawling traffic all of the way. The car went fantastically though and its running better now than it ever has.

Chris

My second daughter got caught in that too, on her way home from work.

Then she heard what she thought were fireworks and turned out to be the same bloke had shot a couple of her neighbours.

Then of course, she went to see her sister in law and the new baby in Rothbury and got tangled up in that mess too - everywhere she goes he's one step ahead of her.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Jul 2010, 18:20

We got cought in it there and back, going there it took ages to get passed the congestion and coming home after the show took even longer, i would have gone another way home but not knowing what had caused the roundabout to be closed i thought it would be open.

It was only when i got home i heard what had happened. A mess indeed.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 09 Jul 2010, 21:18

Wow! Can't wait to see the Traction next weekend Chris

I'll be going in my red Activa following a good polish...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 10 Jul 2010, 09:26

Ill see you there then Jim, im looking forward to seeing your mint Activa

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 10 Jul 2010, 10:21

*Checks calender* Next weekend?! That has come around quick!
I shall be there

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 10 Jul 2010, 10:46

It has come around very fast.

Im trying to book a Hotel, which ive left too late but my dad doesnt want to camp. Anyway, ideally id like somewhere with safe parking, but finding anything is a challenge at such short notice.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 10 Jul 2010, 10:51

Try the local pubs!
I got one in Drayton Parslow for the Little Horwood meet, excellent at only £30.

Only chose that one as it put me in mind of Ambrosia Parsley (real name

)

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 10 Jul 2010, 11:04

Thats not a bad song actually!

Im just having a search around to see what i can find, i dont want to be somewhere on a main road where the car can be seen, ideally. You hear of all sorts happening with classic cars these days, so the more remote or secure the parking the better. Mind, finding anything seems to be difficult at a weeks notice.

Ive found one, but its 20 miles away, has locked overnight parking and we have stayed there many times before.

You are coming down for the sunday aren't you Steve?

Unread post by **myglaren** » 10 Jul 2010, 13:40

Yep, setting off early Sunday Morning.

The song was used in Kill Bill

She is very strange

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 24 Jul 2010, 19:26

Me and my dad had a great time at the CCC National event last weekend. The traction went extremely well, we covered 520 miles in the weekend, almost certainly the most miles it has done in such a short time for atleast 40 years.

Ive mentioned it before but we have been looking at replacing my mums car, a Seat Arosa 1.0S, which my mum uses to go to work in and we all use for around town duties. We had thought about a Citroen C3 1.4 petrol or a Renault Modus 1.4, around 06-07 in year. Though i had heard about the Modus can have problems with electrics and there wasnt really much else other than the C3 we liked in the small car class.

So today we went to look in one of the nearby Citroen dealers to see what they had in, they had a delivery mileage new shape C3 for a very good price but it was only the 1.1 VT, so i imagine that would be slow and it didnt have air con.

So after a lot of looking around, thinking and test driving we have the replacement for the Seat, well we will have on Thursday.

Its a brand new Citroen C1 Splash 5 door, the Splash has Air conditioning, electric windows and central locking, which is all we wanted. It was a very good price and we thought it too good to miss.

I had a test drive of one in the same spec and i thought it was fantastic. There was three of us and the sales person, even with 4 up and the air con on it pulled well, despite only having 6 miles on the clock. The last car i drove at the same dealer was a 57 1.4 HDi C3, again 4 people in it, it pulled but not as strongly as this 1.0 C1. The C1 felt fun, light and easy to drive.

There was also more room inside the C1 than the old shape C3 for me. Even the new shape C3 is too tight for me in the back seat, my head is on the roof and knee room is tight. Not in the C1 though, there is more headroom and my legs had space too. In the driving position i found it very good, lots of space, easy to use light controls and a good visability. The turning circle is great!

We are due to pick the car up on Thursday, once its arrived in the dealers and has been prepared.

I must say, ive always liked the idea of a C1 and im sure this will fulfil what we need from this car. Im looking forward to thursday and getting to know it. Back up to 7 Citroens in the household again now. I just need to get the Seat for sale now.