I'm an AX wielding maniac - I see you baby, shaking that ass

[Craig the Princess]

After driving Mrs the Princess's Metro at the weekend my love of driving small cars has been rekindled. Therefore rather than hitting ebay I'm going to fix my first car. A 1991 Citroen AX 1.1 TGE.

 

 

This car was last on the road in mid-2006. It has been in this garage since 2009. It had a bump from behind by an MGF and ever since has leaked like buggery. This has cause three rust hole, one in the boot floor and two in the floor one in front of each front seat. There is also a big rust hole where teh Windscreen washer fluid is toped up in the inner wing.

 

 

 

In need of a wash, today's first job.

 

Then I though I would change the smashed headligh for the new one. Mr Haynes has two steps for this job.

1. Remove plug from the blub.

2. Pull headlight off.

For once is hasn't wrong. However this exposed the rust so I'll leave it off remove the bumper for future welding.

*Bonus pogweasel pink door.

This looks to be the worst bit. I've come in to type this as I got dishearterned. Also one of the bumber support bars has come off the bumper (it had been bodged with fiberglass wo I will need to bodge that too.

[ruffgeezer]

Good to see another Mk1 ax getting some love, don't be disheartened, they all do that sir, even my comparatively new '96 Memphis was rusty there...

[DSdriver]

I love the little loop under the back bumper, only Citroen would think of that: Don't bother parking it, just keep it on your keyring.

[Craig the Princess]

 

With a little help from the Metro the AX now runs . Has that stale petrol smell, yum.

 

Going to start cleaning the mould off of the interior.

[Craig the Princess]

Welding complete at the garage, 6 patches and water leaks fixed for £300. Now the putting back together begins.

 

 

The new indicator stalk which cost 50p on ebay didn't work, main beam went on and stayed on. The old stalk with the removable arm is now back in place.

 

Interior is now mostly back in (just passenger seat to go). The door cars from the new interior have a fair few of the push-in tabs missing, the old door cars post removal also have a lot of the tabs missing. The to do list before Wednesday's Mot is front bumper back on and washer reservoir back in, work out why main beam makes the wiring smoke, why the hazards do nothing, why the right indicators are on strike and fixing the boot lock.

[Lankytim]

Great progress, I have always liked these little AX's!

[ruffgeezer]

Think I should have a mk1 stalk in the garage bud, drop me some details and cover the postage, I'll get it your way

[Craig the Princess]

Thanks Tim, if I can get the electrics sorted I'll feel more confident about it.

 

Ruff, thanks PM sent.

[wackywacerwill]

More AS 'my first car' recommissioning, must be something in the air

 

Sadly my first car and the subsequent 8 are all long dead and buried. Wish I'd had the foresight to squirrel the Chevette away somewhere, would of been a tad tricky since I was 14 and trying to hide the ownership of said car from my folks but never the less I'd love to own it now.

 

Like the way your keeping a sense of englishness whilst working on the french tin what with the cricket bat bonnet prop

[Craig the Princess]

More AS 'my first car' recommissioning, must be something in the air

 

Sadly my first car and the subsequent 8 are all long dead and buried. Wish I'd had the foresight to squirrel the Chevette away somewhere, would of been a tad tricky since I was 14 and trying to hide the ownership of said car from my folks but never the less I'd love to own it now.

 

Like the way your keeping a sense of englishness whilst working on the french tin what with the cricket bat bonnet prop

 

Eccentric I think they call it.

 

Also at least two parts of the interior are now held in with BL bolts rather than Citroen plastic bits.

[Fat_Pirate]

I love these, yet have failed to own one so far. I was working at a Citroen dealer when they first came out, and they were a revelation after the doddery and unpopular Visa. My Capri 2.0 felt like a dinosaur in comparison. I had a visit to the Citroen HQ immediately before the launch and a large building (possibly a section of the old factory) was packed with white AX's, all with D---ACF registrations. I'd like to get hold of one of those, but random searches on the DVLA website shows them all long gone.

[Wilko220]

I very much envy your garage, yard and all its contents!

 

Top work on the AX

[Craig the Princess]

No pictures today becasue I forgot to charge my phone. Two steps forwards four steps back today, Interior is all bolted in (door cards held of with gaffter tape don't look too good though). Headlight issue fixed with used of a spare Allegro headlamp plug.

 

But electrical issues abound, Front and repeater indicator on the drivers side don't work. Passenger side did the same but cleaning the earth fixed that, no such luck on the Driver's side. Indicators on both sides effecting ignition lights on the dash .

More issues as the car won't start, spark and fuel are present but it smells like the fuel is still old stuff from 6/7 years ago which may be the cause. I'll try running off of a can to start with tomorrow then use the old fuel on a warm engine. That will hopefully work.

 

Also broke the footpump when pumping the tyres resulting in a extended swearing/pushing session back into the garage.

[Craig the Princess]

Ah, I've found the thread

 

As reported in the news 24 thread the MoT has now been passed. Only took 13 months to do the recommissioning which might be a new personal best.

 

Pushed into daily service due to the Rover 220 Coupe blowing it's MoT on brakes and suspension it's doing ok. For the first three weeks it would idle on start-up but not when slowing down to approach junctions. Took the carb apart last weekend to clean it up as bump starting on the clutch made the car smell of stale petrol and played with the mixture and idle speed adjustment. Lost the clip on the throttle cable so spent 2 hours searching for that

 

This didn't fix it but after another 3 days of driving it seems to have done the trick. Hopefully the fuel economy will now increase from the 38mpg it's been doing so far (with the choke out a lot). It used to do 50 mpg fairly easily so that is the goal.

 

Still a few other foibles to iron out, Offside main beam works 2 times out of 3, one CV joint is clicking when steering under power, fuel gauge doesn't work (KruJoe, you kindly said you had a sender that I need to PM you about), dash has 1 out of 3 bulbs working so the clock is always well illuminated but no idea what the speed is and the exhaust blows. Also I'm not that keen on the Mk2 seats I've put in and the door cards are hanging off tha gaffer tape I stuck them on with.

 

Still that is a shorter list of things to fix than is usual with my daily driver

[Station]

Good on you, I have two old cars I need to sort, instead of buying new ones.

You should actually put a keyring in that hoop on the back bumper.

[Partridge]

Great start-you don't hang around, do you!

[ruffgeezer]

It might have been me with the sender, I think I've still got one, and a spare set of gauges if not!

[Partridge]

You've gone all quiet...how you getting on with it?

[Cavcraft]

There's one of these in the same colour dumped in the car park of one of my old watering holes across town.

[Partridge]

Another pink and red one?

[Craig the Princess]

It might have been me with the sender, I think I've still got one, and a spare set of gauges if not!

 

Oops. Thanks, if you do still have one can you PM me and we'll sort that out.

[Guest dedders]

I once owned a 95 model AX with a mate of mine, we paid £100 each for it. To be honest, it was actually a steal, there was very little wrong with it, other than the selection of broken pieces of interior in the glove box, ultra-faded red paint. and a selection of dents.  No rust anywhere, im sure the car had many years left it in.

 

When we first got the car it had horrendous pull to one side on the steering, and the trackrod bolts were seized so wasnt easy to resolve....... until i took it to the second-hand tyre place, upon the wheels being refitted on leaving i noticed soon enough that the steering was perfect. Result!

 

Sold it for the same money to a young single mum when my Dad gave me his 2000 model Escort and i do miss it. Looked nice when she went with a good T-Cut!

[Craig the Princess]

So tomorrow we will be picking up a manual 2200 Princess, dull LDV collection non-caper to follow.

 

2013 in shite for me has been as follows. Photos to follow tonight

 

White Rover 414 0 miles this year, has moved from old house to new house on a trailer. New to bung in for MoT and see what is needed

 

Midnight Blue Rover 220 Coupe 18,000 miles this year, came off the road in September when MoT expired, needs brakes and a suspension bush

 

Venetian Red Citroen AX 1,000 miles this year, returned to the road after a 6 year gap. Currently off road with a broken manifold

 

Oporto Red Austin Metro Mayfair 4,000 miles this year, passed MoT with little trouble but no has a holy sill to be replaced. New front wing also due to be fitted in 2014

 

Clove Brown Austin Metro Not technically ours yet but will be. Suspension renewed but really unstable roadholding suggests something amis.

 

Brazil Metallic Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has sat in the garage all year

 

Applejack Austin Allegro 2,000 miles this year, MoTed but away for the winter. No problems this year apart from the front passenger seat base collapsing with me sitting in it (fewer pies required)

 

Russet Brown Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has sat in the garage all year

 

Marine Blie Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has moved from old house to new house on a trailer

 

Harvest Gold/Expanding Foam Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has sat in the garage all year

 

Aconite Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has moved from workshop to garage, no progress on prep for respray

 

Lagoon Blue Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has moved from old house to new house on a trailer

 

Lagoon Blue Austin Allegro 0 miles this year, has sat in the garage all year

 

Inca Yellow Austin Allegro Estate 0 miles this year, has sat in the garage all year

 

Emberglow Austin Ambassador 2,000 miles this year, away for the winter. Needs the carb to be repaired as it now leaks but no probmens this year

 

Clove Brown Austin Ambassador 0 miles this year, has moved from old house to new house on a trailer

 

Applejack Morris Marina 0 miles this year, piston rings finally replaced and engine runs. Need to MoT

 

Pewter over Romano Purple Princess 0 miles this year, has moved from old house to new house on a trailer

[michael t]

excellent cant wait to see the Prinny 

[vulgalour]

That Princess at the end of the list, is that a Club 100 jobbie?  Looking forward to seeing the one you've rescued too, obviously.  Quite a collection you've got going, I didn't even realise Allegros came in Brazil or Aconite.

[Craig the Princess]

That Princess at the end of the list, is that a Club 100 jobbie?  

 

Yes, I'll get some pictures of it tomorrow but it is beautiful, never seen an interior so purple.

[DVee8]

That is some collection.  Are there any photos of them all?

[vulgalour]

I like the Spanish Rose interiors, but I don't want to own one.  From what I gather, the Club 100s are superplush right down to having nearly shagpile carpets.  It might only be a special edition of a regular car, but what a special edition it is!

[Split_Pin]

Brilliant report, I missed this first time round! Nice to see te AX brought back to life. Looking forward to seeing pictures of the Princess.

[Craig the Princess]

100 Club Princess, purchased in 2007. A bit frilley round the edges but pretty solid, engine runs but needs an exhaust.