Citroen ZX - Here endeth the lesson

[Morgan84]

New number plates will freshen it up a lot

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

That engine bay came up well. I'm too chicken to take a pressure washer to one.

[Cavcraft]

The rear wiper could be a loose wire or dodgy connection. The one on my 306 only works when it feels like it and after a long period of not functioning, it decided to come on after I slammed the boot shut one day. Just put it down to it being French.

[beko1987]

Morgan - Good shout, will add it to the list, will be low priority though.

 

Peter - As long as you don't fire the PW directly at anything electrical it should be ok, it all gets soaked when you drive in the rain anyway. For doing the actual engine, I'd spray on cleaner, and agitate, then rinse off with the hose only, less chance of damaging everything.

 

Cav - I pulled the loom from the puma running from the dashboard to the rear lights, so have a large quantity of good wire now, ready for just that task! I can see all the cables poking out of the hatch seal, doesn't look to be a grommet where it goes into the car either...

 

Puma goes to the scrappie on saturday, so hopefully I can start to crack on. Will get oil and coolant on payday and give it a good service.

[Cavcraft]

Did you get to the bottom of the noisy power steering? Sounds like it could be the belt rather than the pump or the fluid.

[beko1987]

No, not yet. Did notice though that turning the wheel with the engine on causes the revs to go up slightly, if I yank the wheel hard they go up alot. Will try and get a video of it at lunchtime.

 

On the Puma, this could be caused by fixing the broken electrical connector, on this, I'm not so sure. One of the jobs I need to do is fix the front wheelarch liner, so will have a good look around when that's out. Still need to change the fluid as well.

[ProgRocker]

Wow, that has cleaned up nicely. Looks like it has come from the used car lot of a Citroen dealers c.1999!

[vulgalour]

I do like to see a bit of cleaning, and these ZXs look fantastic when they're polished to within an inch of their existence.

[beko1987]

After reading your skoda thread I feel we have a common interest volksy! I don't mind a dirty car, as long as it's MY dirt, not someone else's!

[beko1987]

Took a quick vid of how the revs behave when I dry steer. Sorry about the loud jingle, stupid phone

 

 

Tried to capture the noise, but couldn't. Need to go out shortly, but if it's still light enough when I get home I'll have a poke about (oo-er)

[406V6]

Best place for CR series batteries at a reasonable price is Ebay.

[ruffgeezer]

Rear wiper could be the blue relay inside the boot, they have a habit of going tits up.

 

Leather as far as I'm aware was only available on the continent, however the Volcane seats were always pretty good.

[Cavcraft]

No, not yet. Did notice though that turning the wheel with the engine on causes the revs to go up slightly, if I yank the wheel hard they go up alot. Will try and get a video of it at lunchtime.

 

On the Puma, this could be caused by fixing the broken electrical connector, on this, I'm not so sure. One of the jobs I need to do is fix the front wheelarch liner, so will have a good look around when that's out. Still need to change the fluid as well.

 

Won't the pump use power to work on full lock so the engine is designed to rev up to compensate for this? When we were timing up our Corsa after the h/g replacement we found setting the timing up was a nightmare because although it'd idle fine, as soon as we turned the wheel it'd sort of drain power and the engine would cut out. If your steering isn't causing any real bother I'd be inclined to leave it for now, and just try out heavy/sharp turns in car parks to see what it's like.

[babydriver]

Thats perfectly normal on the power steering raisng and lowering the revs, My 2 xsara's do the same thing, also if you remember your driving lessons you should not steer unless you are moving anyway

[Morgan84]

The steering characteristics you describe seem normal enough,so providing the fluid is to the correct level,drive belts ok and it feels smooth - don't worry

[beko1987]

Ah that's reassuring then. I only asked as an electrical problem on Puma's caused the same issue, didn't know if it would be the same. I plan to replace the fluid anyway, so hopefully that will make it a bit happier, but I'll leave it alone apart from that.

[Morgan84]

On the puma,the problem was probably the wiring to the pressure sensor switch chaffed through causing intermittant shorting,and erratic revving

[beko1987]

Well, I decided last night to add an extra cigarette lighter in behind the dash to hide the wire for my phone cradle. Sounded simple enough, had the lighter and long length of loom from the Puma, and lots of tools.

 

Was one of those jobs I wish I'd never started. First off, I had to take the gearstick surround off to give me enough clearance to get my torx bit underneath to undo the center console. Then I tore my hand open on the metal clips that hold it all in place.

 

Then the gearstick surround wont really come out with the handbrake in place. I managed to get it out but it was tricky.

 

Once that was out the way, dangling in the drivers footwell cos the keypad was still connected, I took the center console out. Going well so far...

 

 

I found the wiring for the ciggy lighter, pulled it up through the handy hole behind the heater controls and got to work. Found the trace colours on the wires (brown for live and blue for neutral I presumed), and made a snip. Using some bullet connectors, I crimped new ends on the wires, wiring the two ciggy lighters in together. Since it's only me who drives the car, I won't use them both at the same time. I never use it anyway, it's just for decoration.

 

 

However, I then ran into an oh shit moment. I had made the cut above the trace line, which was just a little square of colour. There were no other trace lines on the wire at all, and then it disappeared into the loom behind the speedo... Buggar.

 

 

I gingerly connected it all up, with a complete guess, hooked the battery back up... nothing went bang.

I plugged in my phone charger...and it started to smoke Lept out and unplugged the battery.

 

Swore heavily, made a rolly and admitted defeat. I insulated the wires up, chucked them behind the dash and started putting the console back on. It got dark... so I ended up driving to work with no interior this morning, with the prospect of either learning to use (or finding someone who can) a multimeter to work out which identical wire is which, or physically trace the live wire from the fusebox.

 

 

And I need to test my car charger to check it isn't fried. A capacitor bulged a bit though...

 

Stupid french wires! On the plus side however, I got the cubby hole light working. On the bad side, I found out that the air directors don't direct air to the footwells...

[catsinthewelder]

That's a bit of a bugger, hopefully nothing expensive or difficult to get has broken.

 

Multimeters are cheap enough and pretty simple to use. Take this random ten pound one from a google search

 

 

Between 6 and 9 o'clock are the various resistance settings, set it to any of them, then stick one probe on a known earth (random metal bit of bodywork) and the other on what you're hoping is your earth wire. Result should be 0 or close to it ie no resistance.

 

Between 9 and 12 o'clock is a section marked DCV or DC voltage, set it to 20 (12v car), one probe on your known earth and the other on what you're hoping is the live, you should get 12v or so ( closer to 14 with the engine running).

 

That is 95% of what I ever use mine for

[Micrashed]

Depending on how much current draw you are aiming for (and if its a mobile phone it sholdnt be much) just pull the switched or permanent live from the radio feed and tap into that.

[beko1987]

Thanks for the multimeter help, will blag one over the weekend and sort it out.

 

What I reckon I may do for neatness, is join the original ciggy cables back up and leave them be, and then, using one of these in the fusebox http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Add-Circuit-Fuse-Tap-Piggy-Back-Standard-Blade-Fuse-Holder-ATO-ATC-12v-24v-12-/180735526749?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D2156319704055780436%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1017%26rk%3D5%26 wire the additional lighter off that, earthing to a bolt somewhere.

 

Would keep the wiring neater, without chopping it about too much, and be on the right side of the dashboard, saving threading cable through it!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

It is definitely worth picking up a multimeter... I bought one of those yellow ones CITW posted for £2.89 quid including first class post (edit: from here, it's gone up to £3.50 now!). It's a wonderful bit of kit and I wish I'd bought one years ago. I never thought I'd get any use out of a multimeter, but I use it all the time. For example with my broken fuel gauge last week I used it to test the voltage going to the gauge, the continuity of the wire between gauge and tank and the resistance from the sender.

 

I'm thinking of asking for a fancier one for christmas.

[dieselnutjob]

I can only think that you got the polarity wrong. Any other fault would have caused a no-function rather than smoke.

[beko1987]

That's exactly what I did deisel. By the time I'd whipped the battery off and pulled the wires apart I forgot which way round they were, and didn't fancy having another crack at it! It was the phone charger that smoked, not the wires/socket. I took it apart that night and filled the room with acrid smoke, and noticed that a cap had swelled slightly. No other damage though. Will try it out in the meriva when the missus gets home. If not, tany cheap generic micro-usb charger will do! The dock part cost the money!

 

My stepdads got a multimeter, so I'll take it over to his at the weekend, and get it fixed. Will run my dock from the front ciggy socket for now, and put plan b into action on pay day!

[beko1987]

Sorry for the lack of updates, this is pretty much due to the fact that I've been driving to work at half 6, driving home at half 7 and nothing else! However, I have friday booked off work to do some work to the little shitroen, including a bit of a service (although not a coolant change, as I can't afford any coolant, and don't want to do the job twice).

 

However, one thing I noticed today whilst having a rolly at lunch in the cold, is that the vent director doesn't work, it only blows from the dash vents. Looking at the mechanism, it moves the cable across all positions apart from 'to feet'. Short of finding another control unit, has anyone ever fixed this on citroens before? Will be happy to take it apart and see what can be done.

 

I fixed the ciggy lighter too, borrowed a multimeter and put the wires back together and forgot it ever happened. The downside is the cigar lighter no longer stays 'pushed in' when it heats, I have to hold it in. No big deal, but it's something I've broken...

[Andrew353w]

However, one thing I noticed today whilst having a rolly at lunch in the cold, is that the vent director doesn't work, it only blows from the dash vents. Looking at the mechanism, it moves the cable across all positions apart from 'to feet'. Short of finding another control unit, has anyone ever fixed this on citroens before? Will be happy to take it apart and see what can be done.

 

Just a thought, but it might help... I fitted a new digital radio to my Xantia last summer (I can't live without Radio 4 Extra!) and this involved removal of the old radio, panel and connections, as is the same on your car. The heater controls are just below the radio aperture and it's possible that you may have disturbed the heater controls when you fitted the new stereo. If I were you I'd remove the radio first & have a look at how the control moves the wires from there before delving further. With the onset of autumn, the season of "mists and mellow fruitfulness" you'll need your de-mister in the morning....

[beko1987]

Hi Andrew.

 

It was broken before I put my headunit in. From what I can see, moving the knob 180 from windscreen to feet+face, the cable moves, however going the last quarter to face nothing moves. All the time it is blowing out the dash vents. I'm tempted to get a new knob unit and see. If I close the face vents and put it on windscreen it does blow, although not fantastically well. I haven't had to steam up yet, although when the OMGSNOCAOS comes in march it will be a problem. As will the lack of rear demist.

 

I had the glovebox out the other day and it looks as tight as a nuns fanny back there, so imagine it will be a dash out job or something equally hilarious to fix. Given up trying to get the sunroof motor to work, getting one of those on payday.

 

Got the day off work tomorrow, so intend to spend the day giving it some love. Of course, it could piss it down and I will end up sitting at home drinking beer and watching the telly as SWMBO is going out, along with microSWMBO

[Richard]

If it's anything like the Xantia it'll either be the clip that secures one of the cables come adrift or a cable has got kinked so it bends instead of pushing.

[beko1987]

Cheers for the suggestion, that seems the most plausible reason. I've got to take the centre console out when I do the ICE install, so will have a look and see.

 

Been a productive day today, was at the tip for 8pm opening, then down to my mums to get started. Engine was red hot when I got there, so took the oil cap off and left it to cool. Made a start on the drivers wheelarch, which rattled over every pebble in the road.

 

 

 

random shot of a random pulley!

 

 

This had collected behind the wing

 

 

 

 

rust on the chassis. Will sort this out one day, need to buy some rust-be-gone to cover it up after a sand

 

 

Random brake shots

 

 

lots of life left on them yet!

 

 

Gave it all a big jetwash out, removed a ton of soil from behind the washer bottle

 

 

 

That's better! No rust either

 

 

 

 

 

Gave these a clean up

 

 

and refitted them, substituting some of the crap clips for big cable ties, plus a few extra drilled in to tighten it all up. Bumper isn't floppy anymore now

 

 

 

Made a start on the rocker cover gasket

 

 

 

 

 

I thought the old gasket had metal in it, but it was just hard and brittle. Snapped it in half removing it

 

 

Yummy

 

 

 

Mr. Muscle - Loves the jobs I cant be arsed to scrub at! Burns the old skin though

 

 

 

 

Took the oil filter off and cleaned the mating face.

 

 

 

Twin horns FTW! Have a manly horn now, puma horn was very girly

 

 

Jacked up the passenger side and whipped the arch liner out to clean it out

 

 

 

Moar Compost

 

 

 

 

After giving it a good rinse and scrub, I had a brainwave! I would need to get a live feed from the battery to my amp at some point, and the only real way to do that is via under the arch liner. So I opened up a random box under the bonnet and found un-used plugs! Anyone know what should go in these?

 

 

 

Fed my red wire through a handy hole. Yellow tape is to stop it chafing.

 

 

 

Opened up the loom trunking and hid the wire inside.

 

 

 

and the suggested route for the cable to the battery. Tucked it all inside the box for another day

 

 

 

Got the new oil filter ready (old on left)

 

 

Had a slight panic when it wouldnt fit on no matter what I tried. I'd grabbed the filter for the Meriva rather than the shitroen, which has a different sized thread

 

 

Put that on, then had some lunch

 

 

Gave the metalwork one last scrub, then put it on a radiator in the house to dry

 

 

 

and put it all back together, with the new gasket. Note it's got a bit of a gap on the front edge, the bottom is sealed, if it annoys me too much I'll re-seat it, hopefully it will sort itself out with heat

 

 

With all the mechanical jobs done, I had a bit of a clean of the rear hatch

 

 

Mould

 

 

Compost

 

 

French wiring

 

 

 

 

 

Rinsed and scrubbed

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dried it all out with the airline, then spent half an hour fiddling the seal back on, one half contains the wires (had to jetwash that out as well, more compost) and the other half clips onto the car.

 

 

I'd got the window wet, so gave that a clean

 

 

I then cleaned the outside of the hatch, but due to the rain lacked in taking some of the after shots.

 

Mould

 

 

Ancient stickers before removal

 

 

 

 

 

Gave it a foam

 

 

Clayed it

 

 

The only real before and after shot I could get

 

 

 

 

and then, before I could get any wax onto the freshly corrected paint it pissed it down, so admitted defeat and came home. May spend another day on a single panel, will get it clean eventually!

 

Got the Meriva to service on sunday, and helping someone fit the drivers door from my puma to their puma, as well as the leather interior, in exchange for £230, hopefully will be a good day!

[Andrew353w]

Excellent job! I've just done front discs & pads on my Xantia, which has made the braking much smoother. There are odd plugs and connectors in my engine bay, which seem to serve no purpose, but I suspect the wiring looms are for all ranges of cars, regardless, so the connections & plugs would be used on different spec cars. I'm SLOWLY claying my Xantia and the results are impressive-that stuff is good!