ZX 1.9td - Farewell faithfull steed!

[Bucketeer]

Theres an inch of slop in the brake pedal too before they start stopping. No idea if its supposed to do that or the system needs bleeding, been so used to hydro brakes now!

 

My pez Volcane did exactly the same and didn't change over several months of ownership. I wouldn't take that as a definite 'they all do that' though as mine was PHOOKED 2 DA MACKS.

[beko1987]

I had a fettle with the ZX earlier. Swapped the thinner spare to the rear, so now both front wheels are thesame size. Put the wheel trimz back on too (brake fluid leaked on this one in the boot). If I hadnt have taken them off 20 miles into my journey home as 'the wheels were slightly warm) I'd have lost it. Oh Noes... Also got all of the indicators working. Front passenger wing and nose ones have green connections, some switch cleaner and careful placement of wires has fixed it for now.

 

 

Note also the re-fitted arch liner. Only had to cut it once...

 

 

I cant fucking WAIT to get it polished and waxed!!

 

Put the spare wheel cage and jack and box back under the car, and tidied the tools I'm keeping in it for now up. Changers out so I can fill it with CD's! (when I get them from my mums...)

 

 

Rear sun blind

 

Tidied the cabin out too

 

 

and filled the glovebox wtih essential* shit. Already missing the armrest box in the XM 

 

She now feels like my car! 

 

 

[beko1987]

Amy went shopping...

 

 

They only had 2 bottles so that's all that was bought! Told amy to just buy 6 bottles whenever she sees it in stock and on offer. Got half a tank now, 50/50 veg/derv. Quick test blast revealed all was well, even the cloud that comes out the back when I boot it from cold seemed a bit clearer!

[Sigmund Fraud]

Tesco sunflower is a bit thinner than the above, IIRC it's also "2 for £8" at the moment.

[beko1987]

Ah I didn't know that! Apparently there was loads of it too! Runs beautifully on the veg though, will use sunflower oil in future though, especially when it gets colder!

[beko1987]

Just bought a new fuel filter just in case! What are the symptoms of it needing changing? Does it just stop dead or shit itself in other ways?

[beko1987]

Mmmm, may change it in the week then and aim to change every month and see what it looks like then. For all I know the filter in it now could be ancient already!

 

Anyone know anywhere that sells in bulk or is £3.40 delivered pretty damn good anyway (ebay)

[ruffgeezer]

I've checked, we have no 185/60 14 tyres and you need the wider steel wheels to accommodate them.

 

Me? I'd chuck a cheap set of saxo vtr wheels on.

[beko1987]

Cheers for looking Ruff, buggar didnt think that the whole steel would be a different size.

 

Savo VTR... , I'll go have a look

[The Moog]

£3.40 is pretty reasonable for filter. If in doubt change it. Veg can gum them up pretty quickly

[Rusty_Rocket]

Keep a filter in the car Bek, and change it as soon as you notice any hint of funny business.

Alternative* fuels* tend to strip the years of diesel deposits out of the system, which invariably block the filter.  You'll find it'll want changing in the first few thousand miles and then (unless you're putting really grotty shite through it..), you'll find every year before it gets too cold will be fine.

[beko1987]

That's what's in my mind tbh, 264k of derv, then suddenly the veg cleans everything up!

 

Might order another one, then fit one so I have a starting base and do it every year, preventative maintanace and all that!

[beko1987]

150 miles down and all is gr9, apart from she's slightly smokey out of the exhaust on boost until she warms up a tad, although past 3.5k it smokes again but not as bad.

 

It did do it on derv, so I don't think its the veg, and it doesn't really bother me as she runs fine and I rarely go boosting around but what could it be?

 

Heard leak off pipes mentioned on the fcf, but searching eBay doesn't reveal any kits. Any tinkering I can do or do they all do that sir?

[Pillock]

What colour is the smoke, is it fuel or oil smoke?

 

If it's smoking on boost, it's pretty likely to be the turbo..... anything like valve guides or rings tend to smoke more when there's less pressure in the combustion chamber, the forced air keeps it at bay. 

 

If you imagine the worst case is the turbo is worn, but then also imagine that this worst case scenario will still only be £100 or so for a turbo and they're pretty bloody simple. I'd keep driving it till it becomes embarrassing.

 

Alternatively it might be leaky injector or something but that tends to dribble when the engine is off, you get a puff when it starts up and then nothing whilst running.

[beko1987]

Light grey smoke at first, thinning out to a barely noticeable (I was looking hard and revving up in high gears to check) grey/brown wisp.

 

It did/sometimes does a big grey belch out, although that was lighter this morning and only happens if I start the engine a few mins after the glowplug light goes out. In, IG on, light off engine on is fine first turn of the starter.

[Lacquer Peel]

They do smoke a bit, old turbo diesels with no emissions controls.

[beko1987]

Will it cause mot issues or are they tested differently? XM nearly failed due to the tiny hole I couldn't see standing under the fucker when it was up on the ramp, if my mate puts the zx to 3k and it belches smoke all over the probe won't the computer explode?

[Lacquer Peel]

It's a visual smoke test for old diesels I think - if a Volvo 940 turbo diesel passes it ok, pretty much anything else will.

[Pillock]

Visual smoke test it is. Plus you'll probably find when you rev it stationary, it won't smoke much since there's no load. I'm sure an MoT tester will be along shortly to tell you what RPM they do the test at but it's not going to be caning the turbo.

[beko1987]

Nice, I'll save the smoke for when a cyclist decides to wander out to the middle of the lane when I'm starting an overtake. Pull in, slow, boot it, hahaha breathe my chips you dick...

 

I'll keep a vague eye on it. Going to Peterborough on sat so I'll see if it does it when toasty hot hot

[Richard]

As far as I know all diesel cars get the probe up the tradesman's entrance, certainly all my 80s and 90s diesels have. I don't think I've ever had one fail. The Escort that would draw a black line of soot on the road if you booted it and the 940 that was blowing black smoke rings in the test station both passed comfortably. The Volvo even got a fast pass (if it's clean enough on the first blip you don't have to do the normal three blips) once.

 

I always remove the air filter element and give the car an Italian tune-up before going for a test, and try to present it on a cold and damp day.

[beko1987]

Its due late Dec/early Jan, should be both of those!

[garbaldy]

hahaha breathe my chips you dick...

That has to be the most common statement made when running veg oil, unless of course tescos are now selling used oil of the shelf how can it be possible .

[beko1987]

Reading it back it does sound a bit shit, but it does smell vaguely of chips (more so than derv anyway)

[Inspector Morose]

MoT is not a great problem. Regs say meter reading of 2.5m-1 for turbo engines before 2008 and smoke should not be able to obscure vision of other road users. Tested using free revving of engine up to six times. If you say that you can't trust the cam belt will cope with that (too old or unknown quantity) the tester can apply just the visual test only as when the smoke test was first applied a good few engines were blown up on the smoke test!

 

Grey smoke is usually turbo seals but if it isn't using oil like its gone out of fashion then I wouldn't worry too much. Just check air filter on the safe side but a blocked one usually shows itself with black smoke(over fuelling).

 

If it's smoking only when colder. That's normal for old school diesels. They all do that sir...

[Noel Tidybeard]

didnt think that the whole steel would be a different size.

 

 

 ALL ZX's had a one size fits all spare regardless of what size wheel was fitted- which sort of makes sense with alloys to save money but maybe less so with steelies

[beko1987]

Luckily it's not a proper space saver so I dont really notice it's on, but annoying as I cant seem to find any cheap and cheerful steelies locally for anything that might vaguly fit! Might have to ask the person breaking one on ebay (the one who has the wing) how much extra for a wheel delivered, it's the delivery that kills!

 

Yet to ring our local yard as they never have anything I want, will wait until amy gets paid so if they say yes I can go down there asap rather than having to say "great, cheers, see you in a week... what do you mean it's gone etc"

 

Every bit of road that jitters the steering is putting me on edge a bit, bolts are all fine still though (checked this morning actually). I have bought an m12 tap and some more botls and will attempt to sort out the rounded hub holes this weekend.

[Cavcraft]

I'd have thought the actual emission readings were of more concern, and the veg oil will help that. Probably worth new oil, oil filer, air filter and fuel filter then a damned good Italian tune up before the test, too.

[beko1987]

Sounds sensible. Not had a look at that sort of thing tbh, previous owner said it was well serviced and it behaves like it was.

 

I'll let you know when I pull out the original air filter or something... The only thing I've bought for it is a new fuel filter and thats rolling around in the back still...

[HH-R]

Nice looking ZX, I do rather like these. My aunty had an H reg example in the mid 90s that too lost a wheel funnily enough! Even the modern diseasels I see on dual carriageways belch out an unholy amount of shit so the test mustn't be that stringent.