Citroenmads Citroen blog.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Jul 2011, 21:47

Citroenmad wrote:
red_dwarfers wrote:I get that, its a terrible urge

PS. *cough* Scanning
Im on with it, now you have reminded me

It's quite normal, nothing to worry about...

I get it even at my age...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 08 Jul 2011, 22:11

CitroJim wrote:
Citroenmad wrote:
red_dwarfers wrote:I get that, its a terrible urge

PS. *cough* Scanning
Im on with it, now you have reminded me
It's quite normal, nothing to worry about...

I get it even at my age...

My Activa is weeping again, from the split in the gaiter to the return pipe on the rear ram

Not as much as it was now the pipe is pushed in correctly, it seemed to stop for about 600 miles but now its dripping very slightly. So I think its time for a repair, just need to look into how to do it now ... not sure about this top joint on the rear ram, needs looking at off the car I think. I could do with getting a replacement ram, probably about as commonly found as RHD V6 Activas!

It did get pushed through its paces a few weeks back, so perhaps its punishing me for that now

So that is something which is heading to the top of my to do list.

I was hoping to get it through its MOT when its due at the end of August and then SORN it, as its tax is due then too. This way it will have an MOT and so I can tax it when I want. This is because I don't plan on using it through the wintery months so I can keep it out of the salt and also get the bits done with it which will require it to have time off the road anyway. Though I'll have to look into a rear ram refub soon.

Other than that, its going fairly well and still really impressing me with its drive. Well, not just impressing me, I took it out for a blast along an excellent stretch of road. It was an awesome drive, its much faster than I thought it would be. Without incriminating myself, it surprised a VW GTi which should be quicker and with its costly suspension should handle excellently - it does, but its no match for a well sorted Activa, for performance either.

My Xant is developing an idling issue though, when parking the car after a drive and starting it fairly soon after the revs hunt from 300-1000rpm. After 30 seconds to a minute its fine. Sometimes when starting from cold it wants to run slower than it should, however often its as it should be.

tim leech · Unread post by **tim leech** » 08 Jul 2011, 22:28

Chris, just by a BX and have done with it......

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Jul 2011, 22:32

Chris, would you like me to bring a dismantled ram to the National so you can see exactly what's involved in the repair?

The idling issue is a frequent problem with no solution. Both my Activa and V6s do it occasionally - often when they are between hot and cold. I think the ECU becomes a bit confused.

Nothing to worry about...

tim leech · Unread post by **tim leech** » 08 Jul 2011, 22:36

Chris, just by a BX and have done with it......

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 08 Jul 2011, 23:08

CitroJim wrote:Chris, would you like me to bring a dismantled ram to the National so you can see exactly what's involved in the repair?

The idling issue is a frequent problem with no solution. Both my Activa and V6s do it occasionally - often when they are between hot and cold. I think the ECU becomes a bit confused.

Nothing to worry about...

Yes please Jim, that would be good

Ah right, ill not bother to worry about that then

It does seem to come and go and other than that it runs very smoothly indeed.

Tim, unfortunately I don't think ill ever be the owner of a BX, but you never know.

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 08 Jul 2011, 23:52

tim leech wrote:Chris, just by a BX and have done with it......

I'd love a BX again at some point. A petrol auto this time though.

tim leech · Unread post by **tim leech** » 09 Jul 2011, 08:18

R9UKE wrote:
tim leech wrote:Chris, just by a BX and have done with it......

I'd love a BX again at some point. A petrol auto this time though.

Im not decrying the Xantia or the C5, but the BX is ALOT simpler! Just get one without ABS! and you can fix most with a large hammer and 13" spanner

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 09 Jul 2011, 09:38

tim leech wrote:Im not decrying the Xantia or the C5, but the BX is ALOT simpler! Just get one without ABS! and you can fix most with a large hammer and 13" spanner

True but the BX has the strength of a biscuit tin, so quite risky using a hammer on one of those plus they look as if they were designed by origami

tim leech · Unread post by **tim leech** » 09 Jul 2011, 11:18

DickieG wrote:
tim leech wrote:Im not decrying the Xantia or the C5, but the BX is ALOT simpler! Just get one without ABS! and you can fix most with a large hammer and 13" spanner
True but the BX has the strength of a biscuit tin, so quite risky using a hammer on one of those plus they look as if they were designed by origami

You've obvioulsy never owned one then!

a heater matrix is a very easy swop (which you never need to change anyway), plus the strut tops never let go either

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 09 Jul 2011, 11:47

tim leech wrote:
DickieG wrote:
tim leech wrote:Im not decrying the Xantia or the C5, but the BX is ALOT simpler! Just get one without ABS! and you can fix most with a large hammer and 13" spanner
True but the BX has the strength of a biscuit tin, so quite risky using a hammer on one of those plus they look as if they were designed by origami
You've obvioulsy never owned one then! a heater matrix is a very easy swop (which you never need to change anyway), plus the strut tops never let go either

As it happens the girlfriend I lived with for several years had one from brand new (red 1.6 estate) which broke down/wouldn't start on a regular basis, better still the AA wouldn't touch it when it did which wasn't very helpful when it happened on Christmas day

she was working for Peaudouce at the time hence the French car, the MD had a black CX GTi Turbo.

They were a great company to work for in that they sent all their sales staff on fully paid holidays including spending money for staff and their partners, we went to the Canary Islands for a week over the new year

tim leech · Unread post by **tim leech** » 09 Jul 2011, 12:32

Ahh 1.6 Solex powered! Thats the problem, the carbs can be a REAL pain!If you get them set up right then they are fine.....

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 09 Jul 2011, 13:43

tim leech wrote:Ahh 1.6 Solex powered! Thats the problem, the carbs can be a REAL pain!If you get them set up right then they are fine.....

I've no idea if that was the case, IIRC the car was a 'C' reg so around 1985ish if that helps pin down the spec.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 10 Jul 2011, 21:39

I grew up with BXs, there were quite a few in my family, my mum bought a new BX TZD Estate in 1989 while my dad went through a few hatchbacks and an estate diesel. We also used to get them in for servicing, I quite liked them at the time actually. I remember being very impressed with a brisk ride out in a 16v and really liked the black 4x4 GTi we had in frequently.

Not sure what my next second car will be, im thinking not a Citroen

I need to get the Xantia out, cleaned and fettled ready for the trip down to the National CCC event this coming weekend. Ive not had time to give it the extensive cleaning and fettling I was wanting to, though hopefully it will be looking decent.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 10 Jul 2011, 21:55

Citroenmad wrote:
Not sure what my next second car will be, im thinking not a Citroën

We have a nice yellow SAAB 900 cabriolet 2.3 if you are interested, since Laura bought a Rover 75