Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[CitroJim]

Best get your backside down here again and do some baking then buddy

Maybe James can come over the same day, we can do BOTH V6 belts on my ramps whist you direct us and bake us fresh warm bread and cakes ?

You're on

Now, if you had a caravan for me to stay in I'd stay a week

I've got the taste for going away back now... As long as the drive there is familiar territory and I can bring my bike I'm happy...

And down your way is very familiar territory Alasdair

[Stickyfinger]

Easy Jim......I bring the sofa bed down from upstairs and you will have a room to yourself.......1 day or 1 week, either would be a pleasure.

[CitroJim]

Alasdair, you are on! Had I known I would have entered another bike sportive that's going on down your way but the entry is now closed

No worries, I can make up lots of very challenging bike rides of my own down there

[elma]

Best get your backside down here again and do some baking then buddy

Maybe James can come over the same day, we can do BOTH V6 belts on my ramps whist you direct us and bake us fresh warm bread and cakes ?

You're on

Now, if you had a caravan for me to stay in I'd stay a week

I've got the taste for going away back now... As long as the drive there is familiar territory and I can bring my bike I'm happy...

And down your way is very familiar territory Alasdair

My V6 cannot move, it is going to catch fire with the amount of oil dripping onto the exhaust.
It's been off the road now for a while and the budgets too tight to trailer it to Somerset.
I'm stuck with sorting this one here but hopefully doing some future work as a trio which I would enjoy.

[Stickyfinger]

Sad FACE !

[elma]

Feels more like this one at the moment.
I would've probably bought the last of the parts this week but Kelvs in the Vets again tomorrow and it's going to cost at least 2 weeks wages.
I think he's got 2 years left maximum now, I just make sure he has fun every day because at this age you just never know if you have a day or years left together.
As long as the vans here it's bearable though (the car being busted), problem is it can be taken at any time for any length of time although it's unlikely to happen in the immediate future.

[lexi]

My Potterton must be about the 35 year mark. Control unit is playing up. A solenoid I think.

It was the gas control solenoid that failed on mine.

But luckily it was only the coil that died and it is replaceable separately so it was only 5 mins to swap over once I figured out what was wrong and ordered a spare...

Yeah, I should be trying to fix this now before the winter. It seems to be the solenoid that turns the pump on , as water heater only works fine.
To much fishing and travelling to do though, while summer (summer?) is here I may pick your brain on this at a later date mate. There will be a Cenrtal Heating section on FCF eventually.

[CitroJim]

There will be a Cenrtal Heating section on FCF eventually.

Why not? The FCF covers many topics and a few more won't hurt

[Mandrake]

Just wanted to report that the Xantia has passed its MOT today with (almost) flying colours.

Good job too, as for various reasons I ended up leaving getting it tested pretty late - it runs out next Wednesday! So I didn't have my usual 2-3 weekends available for resolving any issues.

The emissions test was excellent - fast idle HC was 14, (max 200) CO 0.02, (max 0.2) Lambda 0.999, and slow idle CO 0.00. (max 0.3)

Couldn't ask for better from a 20 year old car. (Yes I'm paranoid about emissions tests after the emissions related problems with my old V6!)

The one advisory was for front left outer brake pad down to minimum thickness, which given the very low mileage it is doing now will need to be sorted some time before next years test, but not urgently.

They stop well and don't make any nasty noises - I made sure of that by taking it for a drive last night and giving the brakes some good bites - they had quite a surface layer of rust through lack of regular use so weren't very sensitive at first but came up nicely after a few hard applications.

I was talking to the guy and he recommended either Delphi for about £130 for a full front set, or Bosch for about £140. I know the V6 pads are quite particular so wondering what people's thoughts were on best brake pads for the V6 that don't cost an arm and a leg. (Jim ? David ?) Is it sensible to replace the pads on their own or is it probably due discs as well ?

Now I have the rest of the day at home waiting in for someone to come and look at our outdoor drains which are all blocked. (probably past where they merge) Fun...

[white exec]

Good MoT result, Simon.
Would be nice if compulsory scrappage of cars could be based on their actual individual emissions! This would get rid of some recent stuff that is OTT or badly maintained. Little hope of this.

[RichardW]

Nice one!

If the NS disc is in the same condition as the OS one, then they are fine and no need to change them for new ones.

I know that David was not impressed with the Pagids he had on his Activa, and fitted a set of OE ones he had lying about (like you do...!) and reported they were much better. I'll find out a price for a set later, but I bet it's not cheap!

[Stickyfinger]

and fitted a set of OE ones he had lying about (like you do...!) and reported they were much better.

I agree with that.....

I am running Ferodo Premier pads and Mintex discs, Mintex/Mintex on the rear

[RichardW]

Genuine pads £66 - ISTR that they are Textar?

[Mandrake]

Is that £66 for a set or just for one pad ? The £130 for Delphi was for a set of 4 I believe!

[DHallworth]

I'd bought 2 sets of V6 pads on eBay for about £23 when I saw them there a few years ago.

The Pagid ones I took off are still in the shed and had done about 50 miles, for normal driving in a V6 they're ok, but fade in the Activa when barrelling up to a roundabout at silly speeds wasn't fun so I fitted OE ones and they're excellent.

If you want the Pagid ones to try or to see you for a few months you can have them

David.