Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[elma]

The Xantia had a good clean today, I'm just having a break before I do the last wheel arch. Well it's as good a clean as I can do with a hose, bucket and sponge. Looking a lot better on the outside, tomorrow will be interior and engine fluids day.

I took 3 of the wheels off to clean inside the arches and have been pleasantly surprised at the state of maintenance. It will need brake pads and discs but not as badly as I thought and the P bushes are part worn rather than kaput like they feel. I guess the handlings down to LHM leaking, chinese tyres and poor tracking. Trackings definitely an issue looking at the tyre wear on the front. The wheels themselves I'm annoyed about, the front 2 have brake dust heated into them. I cleaned them to an immaculate state before I lent it to my friend and he was warned that if he didn't keep it clean he'd be paying for any refinishing needed. Hopefully a bit of Caustic will sort it but I'm really annoyed, he's a good friend but he'll never be driving any of my cars again.

Having a cup of tea before I do the last wheel arch. Need to track down 4 wheel nuts as well because they were murdered tight and the key now has 3 bent pins and one missing. I've placed a wanted advert and hopefully some will be along fast before the wheel bolts rust in and I have to go all primitive to get them out again. I'm even going to dare to upload a picture when it's done, don't tell my boss.

[elma]

Well here she is, the first pictures I've uploaded to the forum of my V6 Xantia.

Copyright Elma
The interior will be getting a much overdue clean tomorrow and I'll be attempting to fit a new bulb to the P,R,N,D,1,2,3 that are next to the gear selector lever.
I'll probably try to get another couple of jobs done too but not sure exactly what, headlamp aim is quite high on the list.

[elma]

I meant to share this with everyone as well, it's easy to modify a standard wiper to fit the rear of a Xantia and not block the rear washer.
Just need to drill out the rivet and replace with an M3 (I think it was M3) bolt and a few nuts.
Mines started to rust but given that it was successful I'll replace it with a stainless or a blackened one.
One more nut than I used would be better as well but thats all I had in the toolbox at the time.

[xantia_v6]

That one probably started life as a Citroen corporate car, as did my first Xantia V6, R252DVC.

I think that that car may have spent time living in Baldock, I think that it was advertised for sale there in about 2008.

[elma]

Sounds quite probable, I think Howard said it was a Citroen owned car originally. I'm the third owner and I expect the last, very unlikely to be selling this one on.

[CitroJim]

James, that’s an excellent method of making a rear wiper I must confess I rebuild mine with new rubbers from any old blade that will donate them...

[elma]

I was lacking a correct old blade so this method had to suffice. I used a pound shop wiper in case it didn't work but have actually found it to be as good and long lasting as the Bosch ones I put on the front!

I've just put a new bulb in the gear selector, very happy that I found it easy and only took 10 minutes. Jim had told me it can be fiddly so I was expecting a full morning on that little bulb. Pictures have been taken for future upload but will have to wait for now.

Next thing that is annoying me is that I have an air leak on the wings of the drivers seat. They pump up but deflate by themselves. I had a little look and can't see what the problem is so it's a case of seat out and investigate further. I'll have to do that when I do the matrix I think, I intend to take out the whole interior and clean the car thoroughly. The drivers seat motors are worn compared to the passengers and will be switched around when I do the strip out. I'll refurbish the bad ones in the future but getting everything working will do for now and I'll perfect it later.

If the rain holds off I'll be giving the interior a good clean this afternoon, first it's lunch and a run for the dog.

Also I now need an interior light, one of the ones from the top of the B pillar, mines all melted inside. I'll put up a wanted ad soon if none are forthcoming. I also need to find screws to fit the steering cowling as I'm missing all of them.

Remote locking has woken up as well, Howard had issues with it working intermittently and never got to the bottom of it. I'm monitoring now and hopefully it's going to be alright.

Not much more I can do really now until I get my tools from Wales, just keep it clean and get the tracking done. I need to get the LHM pump sorted before Scotland though, it's making me nervous.

[Stickyfinger]

You need to get yourself over here for some bits


Nice V6 that

[elma]

I think I better had.
I've a funeral and a wedding to take care of first.
Times not on my side but I will visit you this year Sticky.

[Stickyfinger]

Jim is here getting some wires on the 18th ...next Sat....try and make that ? (The donor will not be here much longer )

[elma]

Unfortunately I cannot, I'm wiring a house that weekend.

I need to sort leaky LHM pump as well because I've got a journey to Scotland via Wales in 3 weeks and I'm a bit concerned about the steering and brakes which feel very very bad.

[elma]

I might miss out this time but that's sometimes just the way things go.

[Stickyfinger]

OK

[elma]

Things haven't been good here recently, you may have guessed from my recent absence from the forum. Only just got my drive back after a really big disaster (the funeral). Should be all systems go from hereon but I've a mountain of stuff to catch up with at the moment.

[Stickyfinger]

Really not a problem mate: You take your time, I will chuck a lot of stuff into boxes so you can have fun when you make it