Mungkie's Activa Blog

[Chris570]

Its entirley in jest i've had mine for a year now and it's been very good. We're not saying they're unreliable just that they don't like to be 100% perfect. Like when you bathe a dog and then it goes to roll in mud. Infact I often think of the activa as a small willing puppy that occasionaly has the odd "accident" on the carpet. When it does it it's annoying but you wouldnt change it for the world.

[andmcit]

I just think you've all been 'worked on' mercilessly by a certain Mr Smart!

[Chris570]

dear god no!!

he may not appreciate them but i suspect he never really gave them a chance

*dons fireproof suit*

[Deanxm]

do you want to borrow my tin hat too Chris?

D

[Chris570]

do you want to borrow my tin hat too Chris?

D

please

[CitroJim]

do you want to borrow my tin hat too Chris?

Have you got two of them Dean? I could do with one too

Reading the latest posts on here I do rather agree. I enjoyed your description of an Activa being like a little puppy who has the occasional accident... Yes, indeed

[DickieG]

he may not appreciate them but i suspect he never really gave them a chance

I gave mine far too many chances and money

[andmcit]

When you're all busy spending small fortunes and attempting to create perfection
can it fairly be levelled at an Activa that this is actually possible in comparison to
a more ordinary car/Xantia/Citroen due to the additional level of complexity and
given the fact these are driven harder to enjoy their unique driving experience.
No doubt I'll be shot down by numerous examples by saying this, but can any ageing
car truly be used AND kept at a permanent state of perfection - at least without it
becoming some kind of OCD obsession otherwise?

Revel in the complexity for that is what it is - the most developed system of the
Citroen hydractive that was managed before someone at PSA decided metal springs
were the answer as they cost less...

[CitroJim]

I gave mine far too many chances and money

I know and it still shows to this very day She's still a very wonderful drive and I love her

Having said that she's seen plenty of chances and money from me too

[Deanxm]

I may have only covered 5k in mine but after the initial works to bring her up to scratch mine has been fine, i was a little concerned about the scare stories but to be honest its been pretty trouble free, the battery went on it but then that battery ha been sat on the car for 9 months without being used and was old , it had a squeeky caliper, a leaky hydractive valve and that oil back harness on the rear subframe and thats about it, its been very little trouble really and im very pleased with it.

D

[CitroJim]

Revel in the complexity for that is what it is - the most developed system of the
Citroën hydractive that was managed before someone at PSA decided metal springs
were the answer as they cost less...

I do, every time I drive it

[DickieG]

can any ageing car truly be used AND kept at a permanent state of perfection - at least without it becoming some kind of OCD obsession otherwise?

So I'm suffering from OCD

[CitroJim]

can any ageing car truly be used AND kept at a permanent state of perfection - at least without it becoming some kind of OCD obsession otherwise?

So I'm suffering from OCD

And me then but then I already knew that

[Mungkie]

Its been ages since I have posted on here so here we go.

I broke my original axle stands so ordered some more from toolstation.com Theye were cheap, seem sturdy, abd were delivered very quickly. Down sides are that they are almost useless as the profile of the support/part that contacts the vehicle has such wide and deep profile that I can't actually use them on the sills as it would push up the foot well so we have an unhappy Mungkie

next I gave in to Mikes good advice to get a set of wheel ramps. I happened to be in halfords and impulse bought some there for £60 which I don't think is particularly cheap, I just hope they last a life time to make up for it (ps I also wish that they don't make my lifetime very short)

Then as usual the weather and life has got in the way. Dean offered me the airbox to turbo pipe at a very reasonable rate, and although I've been to the Isle of Wight atleast twice since he did I still haven't found the time to actually collect it

Please note insane anti-wife rant below
Next story of woe is that the Activa has now run out of tax .... and I am ABSOLUTELY SKINT ... I just don't know what happened ... ok so I actually do know what has happened, my wife has realised how much power she has and has decided to be the monster I always knew she was she made us go on a holiday we couldn't afford, have a baby we can't afford and of course constantly buy furniture, baby clothes and other ecoutrements. She also gets aggressive every time I mention the fact that I can't pay my credit card and that I really can't buy her any more X, Y or Z and that booking another holiday is not top of my to do list.
End of rant

The good news is that I think I have the tools to do some work on the car and that I assume there can't be any more rain on the way and so I should be able to actually get round to understanding the actual layout/workings of the front of the car. I also have problems starting my HDi everyday drive and the HydraFlush needs changing I assume that its just the battery on the HDi so I'm going to steal the battery of the Activa until I can afford a new battery and/or a charger.

I guess I might as well say it but for this month only while I'm skint I would be prepared to sell the Activa for £500 all new spheres, 12months MOT. It also has 3/4 of a tank of petrol in it which is why I have added £50 to what I paid for it. Its in Witney, Oxfordshire and can be seen at any time.

I guess I should really ebay some random items from round the house

My apologies to Dean for not getting back to him about the pipe, I REALLY want it but I don't think I'll be on the island until the 26th August ..... on a trip to the isle of Wight that I can't afford

Pete

[myglaren]

Sorry to hear your woes Mungkie.
The trick with axle stands is to put then under the subframe rather than the sills.
Bit late for that now of course.
In case you weren't aware, raise the car to full height, locate the stands securely on a solid part of the subframe then drop the car to the low setting and the end of the car (or side, if that is what you want) will rise as the other end falls.
Citroen Magic.