Rob's SED Now V6 Exclusive

[ragger]

Took delivery of my replacement for the Clio tonight, and while it isn't even French never mind PSA, it seems very, very fit for purpose. Quite glad I couldn't persuade the owner to part with it 5 months ago when I wanted to get it for my daughter.

More disappointed, however, to learn of the death of Johnny Winter, one of my favourite blues guitarists. One of the first albums I bought was "Johnny Winter And - Live" in the early seventies and I eventually got to see him perform live about five or six years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJakd6W1Cp8

[ragger]

Well it has certainly been a busy weekend.

The upshot is that following brief, but intense and ultimately successful negotiations Jim's ES9 Exclusive is on my drive and my SED is on Russ's.

First impressions of the V6 are good despite a frustrating attack of green incontinence close to home. The main thing I have noticed is how much more modern it feels - less like an older car. While it is newer it is essentially the same car in my view so I was quite surprised at this. The power is impressive and the gearbox is silky, but so is the one in the SED. I do like the ride, I found it as comfortable as I expected and the appearance of the interior is attractive. Less appealing is the feel of the brake pedal which is quite different to the SED, there seems to be more travel before it bites, but the brakes worked fine. On my trip home it returned just over 33mpg travelling at legal speeds - a bit more is possible I am sure but if economy was the be all and end all I would have kept the 2.1.

As I was pretty tired when I got home, I was unable to discover where the LHM was coming from and I am going away for a short break with the Boss on Tuesday, so it is either a case of do nothing until I get back or leave it with a garage to sort while I am away. A pity as I thought it might be good fun up Buttertubs Pass... Doing the trip in a Multipla with a dodgy gearchange doesn't excite me as much - the plan was to get that sorted while we were away but it looks like that is going to have to wait. Can't take the Polo because the girls who are staying at home need it and the ZX is 250 miles away. No matter how many cars you have, it is never enough!!

I suppose I could ask a mate who is in hospital if I can borrow his Audi TT Quattro thing, but I do have standards. And it is designed for anorexic midgets with full flexibilty and no desire for comfort.

As soon as the V6 is continent and clean I shall post some pics. Until then, I hope the SED behaves itself with its new owner; it has been a car I really loved and the huge service history that went with it suggests its two previous owners felt the same way too.

Although trying to bring all the negotiations together and getting logistics arranged was a bit of a chew, I enjoyed the National and meeting quite a few interesting people for the first time. In the main, we Citroenists are a friendly bunch and I am grateful for that. Thanks to Jim who put himself out for me and a particular thank you to Chris who saw me parked up in a lay-by on the A19 topping up the green blood and returned to check all was well, by which time I had got on my way again - that was kind.

[CitroJim]

Rob, I'm so sorry the car suffered an LHM leak on the way home Sod's law as you say but still really niggling and annoying and not least very embarrassing on my part. I'm really rather upset about it If only you weren't so far away I'd be there fixing it for you...

I can only think that I must have disturbed something when replacing the strut tops although testing after fitting never revealed a problem. The most likely source of the leak is likely to be a strut leakage return pipe. These are rubber jobs that attach to the side of the strut and are notorious for perishing. They're easy to replace.

Quite possible the disturbance hastened one of them on its way...

If it's any consolation, I very rarely sell cars but the few I have seem to have done roughly what yours did and develops a small fault

It is so annoying as the V6 was, in all the time she was with me, 100% reliable and contenient.

Let me know how it goes Rob and enjoy your short break away

[Charles M]

These things always happen. My ex Black XM has taken to cutting out and having alarm problems, my qualifications for helping with zero. The new owner has taken it with humour, I'd be mortified if I'd sold it at a much higher price, but I didn't, so I'm not. I did sell one car with a choice of wheels and tyres, the new owner electing for tyres on their last legs, and then he had the gall to complain on the owners club that he'd been required to buy new tyres all round, 9 months after buying it. Some people...

[CitroJim]

I'd be mortified if I'd sold it at a much higher price, but I didn't, so I'm not.

I'm mortified anyway Charles I think it was a fair price all-told but I'm still gutted. Almost like the car has put two fingers up at me...

Hopefully you'll have some good news in due course Rob. Hope so

[ragger]

Sods' Law is all it is.
An annoyance not a disaster.
Hoping Chris will be able to take a look this evening, he may be able to spot the source for me. I decided not to do anything in a mad rush - after all I hope to have the car for a long time. Instead, the Multipla is in getting the gear change checked over and a regas of the a.c.so we will use that for our few days away.

[ragger]

Chris and I had another look at it this evening and the leak seems to be coming from low down to the nearside front of the engine, possibly from some sort of valve or the pipes that feed it.

And I have been told the multipla needs a new clutch grrrr! Anyway we're going off to the Lakes in it tomorrow so it will just have to manage.Never mind, life's an adventure.

[xantia_v6]

See This for the steering pressure sensor that is fitted (only) to ES9 engined cars. look at the blue sensor part way down the page.

[ragger]

Thanks for that, I shall pass the link on to the indpenedent I hope to get the car to.

[CitroJim]

Ahh, that's interesting. Nothing I disturbed fitting the new strut tops then.

I think I have a spare one as they're common to the Xantia V6. Never known one leak in the past though.

That is an entirely new leak and has never even been damp in that area before. The valve in question has a rubber leakage return pipe attached to it and that has to be a big suspect..

Hope the Indy has no problem fixing it Rob.