Citroen ZX - Here endeth the lesson

[beko1987]

Noticed today that the engine was absolutely covered in oil, and for the past 4 days had smelt of burning oil.

 

Popped over to the driveway earlier to investigate.

 

Bollocks, there's the reason

 

 

completely in half on the front half of the engine. Either I tightened to down wrong, catching the inner metal bit on the edge, or B, cos it's split in the wrong place it's fucking shit!

 

Either way, 10 mins in the pissing rain with a hot engine it was done! Luckily the old one was still in the bin in the garage, so wiped it down and put it on.

 

Gonna get new plugs and leads as well, the leads look corroded inside the plug.

 

Oil soaked alternator

 

 

Oil soaked whatever that is (Pass Side)

 

 

2 litres of oil later, and now I'm home. Will check the level tomorrow, probably

[beko1987]

Noticed today that the engine was absolutely covered in oil, and for the past 4 days had smelt of burning oil.

 

Popped over to the driveway earlier to investigate.

 

Bollocks, there's the reason

 

 

completely in half on the front half of the engine. Either I tightened to down wrong, catching the inner metal bit on the edge, or B, cos it's split in the wrong place it's fucking shit!

 

Either way, 10 mins in the pissing rain with a hot engine it was done! Luckily the old one was still in the bin in the garage, so wiped it down and put it on.

 

Gonna get new plugs and leads as well, the leads look corroded inside the plug.

 

Oil soaked alternator

 

 

Oil soaked whatever that is (Pass Side)

 

 

2 litres of oil later, and now I'm home. Will check the level tomorrow, probably

[purplebargeken]

Told you claying was good didn't I Andrew.

 

Nice car, taking shape slowly but surely.

[purplebargeken]

Told you claying was good didn't I Andrew.

 

Nice car, taking shape slowly but surely.

[KruJoe]

Your oil soaked alternator looks very much like a power steering pump to me. Though it is mounted just were the alternator is on my BX14 (same engine).

 

I quite like the 'ghey' horn on my BX. It allows me to give people a friendly 'poop poop' to let people know where I am, or to say 'thanks', or 'hi' to the neighbours.

 

Keep at it, she's looking good!

[KruJoe]

Your oil soaked alternator looks very much like a power steering pump to me. Though it is mounted just were the alternator is on my BX14 (same engine).

 

I quite like the 'ghey' horn on my BX. It allows me to give people a friendly 'poop poop' to let people know where I am, or to say 'thanks', or 'hi' to the neighbours.

 

Keep at it, she's looking good!

[Cavcraft]

Tell you what, it's amazing how much oil these things can leak when the rocker cover goes. Our's used to leave a slick Red Adair would be proud to investigate and you'd always know where it had been parked in the rain due to the psychedelic rivers that flowed forth from under it.

[Cavcraft]

Tell you what, it's amazing how much oil these things can leak when the rocker cover goes. Our's used to leave a slick Red Adair would be proud to investigate and you'd always know where it had been parked in the rain due to the psychedelic rivers that flowed forth from under it.

[KruJoe]

PS, as I said before, the nearest relation for parts will be a 306.

Half-leather trim is not uncommon in the posher 306's, and I guess it'd bolt straight in. Full leather was available, but that might only have been for the cabriolets, the rears from which, I'm quite sure, won't be an easy fit. Happy hunting!

[KruJoe]

PS, as I said before, the nearest relation for parts will be a 306.

Half-leather trim is not uncommon in the posher 306's, and I guess it'd bolt straight in. Full leather was available, but that might only have been for the cabriolets, the rears from which, I'm quite sure, won't be an easy fit. Happy hunting!

[beko1987]

Long due update, although nothing has really happened.

 

It was cold and icy, now it's wet!

 

I gave it a wash

 

 

 

Had the drivers doorcard off to investigate the central locking. Oiled up everything and it worked a bit better, need to do the other 3 doors now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whilst it was like this at 2pm

 

 

random engine bay shot. The old, perished rocker cover gasket is still doing very well, no more leaks, just need to clean the old oil off from the last one

 

 

Replaced the broken negative terminal with a cheapy ebay one. Works well. Got another one to do the live side. Will do that when I wire my amp in (if I ever do)

 

 

I then took the air intake apart. Got it all in the garage then discovered I had no brake cleaner. So poked about a bit with cotton buds, cloths and tar remover and got this far

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put that back together, and had a look at rear brakes. Got as far as looking at the nut as I don't have a socket big enough. One is in the post at the moment, hopefully I'll see it in jan.

 

Had a ponder anyway

 

 

 

 

 

Have new nuts and dustcaps too. Looks like someone's been here before...

 

4pm

 

 

We got sent home early on christmas eve, so took a rare daylight shot of the fleet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Went out this morning for a little dump run, and popped into halfords.

 

Spotted:

Had 3 genuine hubcaps!

 

Splashed out £21.99 for a set of these pimpin bad boys

 

 

 

 

Luckily when the grill is on you can't see them

 

 

and what an improvement! I could turn the bass up from -4!

 

The old ones

 

 

 

They went here:

 

 

and that's it for now! Need to do the rear brakes in the new year, get an MOT pass then put a new exhaust on as it is blowing out of everywhere! Still, can drown that out now!

[beko1987]

Well, the lack of updates in my thread have been pretty much parallel to the running of the ZX, nothing has been done or needed to be done to it for ages!

 

However, I spent the day cleaning it today as it was ruddy warm, and bunged it on ebay. If it doesn't sell on ebay I'll park it at the side of the road with an ad in the window or something.

 

I am the doktor!! (I'm not really...) http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=4052507#post4052507

 

If anyone here is interested as per the sale thread I did for it, £400 takes it! If I get anymore on ebay, then it's an indian and beer for me and the missus!

[George-Roper]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-CITROEN- ... 1e794d86f0

[beko1987]

Bingo! Sods law this week I'll get driven into... Off to find some wood

[willswitchengage]

Beko, you from Stokenchurch m8? I was out cycling there last weekend, is this your house? G reg Pony and a C reg Cavalier behind it, with other mysteries under the tarpaulin!

[beko1987]

Yea I'm in Stokey, don't live there though (sadly!).

 

Never knew they were there, I drive past every day. Will pop past one day soon and add the to the lazy spotters thread! Failing that my missus may know, she knows bloody everybody. Turns popping out for baccy a 20 minute chore!

[beko1987]

Will - went up there yesterday and couldn't see anything under the tarp, it was pulled tightly over whatever it is.

 

Noticed when leaving work that the exhaust had helpfully snapped in two after the 1st silencer, which makes for a nice noise on tickover, followed by a horrible ear-hurting roar at anything over 50.

 

Bodged it together with a sheet of lead I found and some wire, which stopped it from falling off completely, but it sagged alot on my way home so will have another go tomorrow.

 

Had to drop the ebay price too, I want rid of it sharpish now! If it doesn't sell then I'll fork out for a new exhaust and re-list, but cba to do that!

 

Roll on Saturday morning!!!!!!!!!11

[messerschmitt owner]

Sam

Your new car is naked, badly in need of a wash and with nowhere to sit inside.

And the replacement for It arrives Wednesday

Campbell

[beko1987]

Excellent news! I miss it already and i dont have it yet!

 

ive got monday booked off work to play with it!

[beko1987]

Sold the ZX earlier. Was supposed to be yesterday, but we had to rush my daughter to hospital and stay the night, so it happened tonight. Chap and his missus turned up. She has a 1.9d ZX with a very poorly gearbox, so they saw mine and decided to swap.

 

Matey seemed fine with the exhaust centre section sitting on the rear seat, and 2 bald front tyres so we shook on £270 and he left a small deposit. They are very local too so hopefully I'll see the old ZX again!

 

Blagged today and tomorrow off work, so don't need the ZX anymore so it's being picked up tomorrow. Then, I'm car-less until saturday. May call the insurance tomorrow and swap over.

 

Did you have a good trip to ireland Campbell?

[messerschmitt owner]

I'll tell you all about the Irish trip tomorrow. What time are you arriving and there may be a blind panic and unfitted seats and lots of bolts and screws lying around.

 

Currently, I have to remove three doorcards and swap over, refit the one I cack handedly fitted, which isn't sitting quite right, and remove the rear seat back from the new car and refit it into your one. Front seats are swapped over and all sorted and working in both cars.

 

The two XMs are a different shade of blue and I do so prefer the condition and colour of the car you are getting - was trying to work out how I could do an engine change in a day on both cars, hoping you wouldn't notice .

 

I have to steal the alloy from underneath it and swap over with a steel wheel and good tyre.

 

Stereo is gubbed in the new car but have sorted a replacement already and I do need to reset the codes, etc in your one as the battery was disconnected to remove the seats.

 

Also have found the paperwork, such as it is and I still have insurance until tomorrow morning on it too.

 

But will I have time to wash it ... I do hope so as it is manky.

[beko1987]

Lol random engine swappage! Is the radio a single din? I could bring the head unit I had in the zx with me and fit it for radio on the way home if you want? Don't worry about cleaning it if you don't get time, its only going to get stinky here anyway.

 

I'll know a time later when I'm told what time we are leaving, but I'd say about half 10/11. I don't mind helping you with bits if you want.

[messerschmitt owner]

Sam

 

I'd like to make sure she's clean - anyway, some help may be required at the last minute - I snapped one of the door lock things on the door panels so won't actually refit them straight away as the cold is obviously affecting the plastic. If the weather is dry, she'll be sorted and ready to go by 11.

 

It is a single din unit and with a block connector on the back. Don't worry about the radio (as I have sorted a replacement), but if you do decide to remove it, can I get it back at some point ...

 

Campbell

[beko1987]

Help is fine. Can anything be pinched from the zx before it goes tonight? I'll bring my head unit with me and you can show me how to fit it. I'll have to take it back out to fit the hand free mic but I can listen to podcasts on the way home at least. The tape player would sit in the garage until the car is sold if I took it, you can keep it and get some use out of it. I need Bluetooth streaming to live!

 

I'll insure it once the zx goes, I'll call up and swap them over.

[messerschmitt owner]

Sam

 

nope, she will come with jack, wheel brace and other accoutrements as you would expect. There's not much on a ZX that would fit an XM.

Weather is wet but with luck tonight will see the seat back out of the new car and into your one and I'll tackle the door cards tomorrow. There's about 100 miles of fuel onboard, according to the mileage computer (that's about three quarters full then

 

And I have a couple of bulbs to sort out too. We can try fit your radio in when you get here.

[messerschmitt owner]

actually, if the ZX has one or a couple of squarish rubber grommets in the spare wheel well, steal them ...

 

I'll show you what for tomorrow.

[beko1987]

No rubber bits I'm afraid. Did steal the wheel chock though.

[willswitchengage]

Will - went up there yesterday and couldn't see anything under the tarp, it was pulled tightly over whatever it is.

 

This is what I saw... interesting

 

P1040530 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

NB never go on a 70k ride when you have flu, there's still snow outside, it's windy and you drove for twelve hours the day before!

[beko1987]

The pony wasn't there when I drove past, they must drive that daily!

[beko1987]

Well i'm carless! The lady came round, ponied up with me signed the V5 and roared away! I'm glad, I made £270 (it was a free car technically) and she's got it booked in for a new exhaust, tyres and tracking on Monday and will use it locally, so I'll see it again!

 

Some last pictures I took (the sale one was tuesday, before the bastard exhaust fell off. Wheel trimz went back on)

 

 

after it's clean on Monday, taken this arvo in the pissing rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me and the missus then celebrated!

 

 

So farewell ZX, if I ever need an 'ah bollocks' emergency car in the future then I'll go for another over an astra/escrot/punto any day! Pref 1.9d form

 

A fun day tomorrow beckons! Campbell, couldn't find any rubber blocks or rubber anything (apart from the axle bushes) so I nicked the wheel chock that sits in the middle and said naafin to the new owner (but I did let herkeep the haynes manual I'd printed off last year)