Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[robert_e_smart]

Glad to read that the Xm has made such a big impression on you again after a relatively short re-acquaintance! Try driving one daily.

Get a nice big Xm estate to run about in Chris. Try the 2.5 TD. I think you would like it very much.

[Citroenmad]

I do love the XM Robert, its a great car and im quite into estate cars at the moment I've never used an XM as my daily car for very long, though I have used them daily for a few weeks and always enjoyed it. Ive been using the XM these past few days, I find it hard not to use it at times XMs are certainly one of my all time favourite cars.

[robert_e_smart]

Go on ditch the C5, get a nice Xm to use daily!

[Citroenmad]

Go on ditch the C5, get a nice Xm to use daily!

Im quite happy with the C5 for the daily grind and having an XM to use when i want to, keeps it more of an Indulgence that way

Radiator and Ball joint - Fitted
The Activa has been to a local Citroen specialist today to get the inner ball joint replaced on the steering rack and also to have the new radiator fitted. Something I bought a good 8 months back but didn't look forward to the challenge of fitting it Though they said it was not too bad to fit and didn't really take too long, so I'm sure I could have had a bash at it!

The new ball joint has made a world of difference, since I got the car it had a rattle which sounded like a droplink going but could be felt through the steering wheel, as if something was loose. I originally replaced the P bushes thinking it would be that, but it turned out to be the inner track rod end ball joint. Now the rattle has gone and the steering feels nice and tight with no sensations through it, it feels much better

Ive only driven the car about 25 miles this evening in the pouring rain, but so far the car seems to be keeping its cool much better than before. The engine was never getting too hot but hotter than I would like (around 90 on a hot day in heavy traffic) so the rad was replaced mainly to help cooling. The rad was original and looking past its best, so it was only a matter of time before it developed a leak anyway.

Stupidly I totally forgot about Jims advice in saying that I should get a new bottom hose for the radiator replacement and so I didn't get one. The garage advised that a new hose be fitted as the original is not in great shape, it is sealed for now and leak free but it will be replaced as soon as I get one. The part is on back order with Citroen at the moment, so as soon as that comes in ill get it fitted. At least its ok for now.

Im going to do my run to work in it tomorrow, it involves a lot of heavy traffic so it should be a good test to see if the rad has improved things. Though after reading Jims excellent Activa buyers guide I think it might have been pretty normal for them to run on the warm side:

The engine should run at 80degrees when on the move but don't be alarmed that the gauge quickly rises to 90 when stopped/idling in traffic. The cooling system gets a lot of heat dumped from the turbo and oil cooler. At 90 degrees the cooling fans will start.

The ball joint and radiator sees the Activa mechanically good For now

Tyres! - in need of changing
The tyres on the front of my Activa are not filling me with confidence. I put them on when I got the car, they were old stock Michelin Energy E3As - the older stye, not the current Energy Savers. They are fine in the dry, not the best but ok, but in the wet they are really lacking in any grip and I would compare them to a budget tyre in poor conditions. Even under normal driving speeds they lack grip in corners and trying to put down any power is difficult. Its getting to the point where I would prefer not to drive it if its wet, as grip is so bad. Ive driven my C5, my sisters C5 and the C1 today and its been a very wet day. All wear Michelin tyres and all grip very nicely, even pushing on in the wet they grip and grip, as does the XM. The Xantia doesn't, its front end washes wide far too easily and no doubt under heavy braking they would be useless. Ive come to the conclusion as they are older tyres they have aged with the rubber having gone hard and plastic like, so they lack grip. Taking a close look at the sidewalls shows they do have slight cracks appearing in the wall and where the tyres rolls onto the immediate sidewall under hard dry cornering the tyre looks like its been cheese grated. Suffice to say they are about ready for the bin, despite having a good amount of treat left. Having the Pirellis on the front transforms the car with so much more grip.

I recently got Pirelli P7s for the rear recently, however I didn't realise that they were just about to go out of production and now I can't find another pair to match. No matter, I know its ideal to have a set of four tyres, however as long as each axle has a pair of matched tyres and both pairs are good quality which offer similar grip then im happy. Im going to go with either Uniroyal Rainexperts or Vredestein Sportrac3s. Both get excellent reviews and they lead the pack for wet grip, in fact the Vredestein seems the better tyre if reviews are to be believed. The Vredesteins also appear the more sporty of the two brands, the Uniroyal seems more geared for wet conditions. I got a pair of Vredestein 3s for the XM a few years ago and they have been brilliant, lots and lots of wet grip, quiet, ride well and they even look good! They are still on the rear of the XM estate and they have worn very well, they still look new despite being used on the front of the white XM for a while. They have also not aged or perished and their performance has not dropped off with age. So I think they are the ones ill go for, at £130 + fitting they are not badly priced either.

In 2cv news - nearly there
Its almost back on the road again, the new king pins, wheel bearings and arm bearings are all fitted, the arms painted, and a slight mod done to the suspension to give it a softer ride .... Early 2cvs used to be very soft, especially ones with the patter dampers which apparently got into quite a rhythm down a flowing road We have a pair of arms from an earlier 2cv and found the hole where the spring lever mounts the suspension arm is closer to the arm, giving it more leverage and therefore a better ride. So a new hole has been formed in our 2cvs arms and so it should have a softer ride, in theory! Im sure its going to be a nicer drive with new king pins anyway, should be much tighter. The ride height is now set, all that is left to do is wire up the front lights and it should be away. As the wings were off we also took the opportunity to adjust the tappets. Its MOT is due this month, so hopefully it will sail through now.

[CitroJim]

Excellent news Chris

She'll be good for a while now.

I took my Activa for the run the other day and I was reminded, even when the weather is not exactly hot, just how warm and Activa runs and how soon the gauge will rise when stationary.

I'm too used to the HDi now, it seems to have an end-stop at 80 degrees on its temperature gauge so rare is it that it ventures beyond that point.

[Deanxm]

My activa wont get hot at all Jim, dispite putting a new oe stat in it marked at 82c it runs at 70 maybe 75c on the move and wont go above the 82c limit even when in traffic, my xm with the nasp version of this engine hits the 87c stat limit in about 60 seconds and stays there rock steady come hills or traffic no matter what the weather, i dont understand why the activa wont get hot..................

D

[CitroJim]

My activa wont get hot at all Jim, dispite putting a new oe stat in it marked at 82c it runs at 70 maybe 75c on the move and wont go above the 82c limit even when in traffic, my xm with the nasp version of this engine hits the 87c stat limit in about 60 seconds and stays there rock steady come hills or traffic no matter what the weather, i dont understand why the activa wont get hot..................

D

That is odd Dean I have no explanation for that unless it has a uprated rad perhaps? Is it a copper or ally one?

[Deanxm]

Nope rad is the standard size all alloy nissins one, new, i always thought the stat was dead but the new one is in with no change, just been out and can say it sits at 75c unless im stationary for a few minutes and it rises to a smidge over 80c, the intercooler is massive and i know under normal conditions the intake temp is very low, but i cant see it does any better job than a standard one as the activa uses a rather large intercooler as standard anyway, i do know the inside of the engine in the waterways is perfect clean metal, no staining at all so that may help keep it cool, im not moaning i just find it odd she runs so cool and everyone else says they run rather hot.

D

[Citroenmad]

Well after a good bit of use today I can report that it is indeed running much cooler

It runs at 75 degrees normally, when in traffic for a while it edges up to 80 and if sat for a long time it nudges over 80, but its not been near 90, its also much slower at varying temperature too. I purposely drove through the busy part of town and where it would usually be getter very warm it kept its cool. A success!

The ball joint has made the biggest difference, it feels so much better and tighter to drive.

Im looking forward to a nice day and some good roads now

Next job is to have the wheels refurbished

[Dippy]

Well after a good bit of use today I can report that it is indeed running much cooler

It runs at 75 degrees normally, when in traffic for a while it edges up to 80 and if sat for a long time it nudges over 80, but its not been near 90, its also much slower at varying temperature too. I purposely drove through the busy part of town and where it would usually be getter very warm it kept its cool. A success!

The ball joint has made the biggest difference, it feels so much better and tighter to drive.

Im looking forward to a nice day and some good roads now

Next job is to have the wheels refurbished

Our Synergie ran at 75' - 77' all day every day with 82' stat.- even with caravan in tow - huge bonus. massive radiator as std may account for it , plus regular water pump / coolant changes. Never used any coolant either.

BTW your Magenta Xm Estate looks fab. and We too are fans of the C1 since our brief aqquaintance.

[robert_e_smart]

The last Scraptiva that came my way had a recent replacement radiator in it. I didn't notice any high running temperatures with either of the Scraptivas I had.

[myglaren]

Excellent avatar Robert

[robert_e_smart]

I'm glad you like it!!!

[Citroenmad]

Robert, im disliking your recent avatar picture

Dippy, my Activa had a new water pump when I had the cambelt done about a year ago, so coolant was fresh then. It doesn't use any coolant either.

I think the old radiator was blocked and choked, it was time for a new one, now it runs much cooler at 75 degrees. Even after a good bit of spirited driving it doesnt get over 80 degrees, it did before.

The C1 is a great little car if you give it a chance, its really grown on me and I really enjoy driving it. In fact its often my choice of transport for any trip, ive done over 500 miles in it in the past couple of weeks. Quite a task as its a very popular car in my household, its often difficult getting the keys to it

In 2cv news: Its back on the road and the bearings and king pins have made a huge difference. Its more direct to drive and thanks to the mod to the suspension arms it now rides very nicely, the front tackles speedbumps like hydraulic Citroen The engine is as sweet as a nut since the tappets have been adjusted. Its getting better

[Citroening]

Robert, im disliking your recent avatar picture

Have the full size picture Chris...



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