Exceeding BXpectations - Now With Added Renault 4

[dollywobbler]

IIRC, some BXs have a bit of pipe down the back of the engine that the fuel line travels through, to heat the fuel. This is a known leak point.

[Cleon-Fonte]

I'd read about the fuel heater pipes at work earlier (all in the spirit of increasing British worker productivity, of course) but the piece I was reading didn't go into too much detail. It's certainly another thing to check (although the more gets added to my check list the more I feel like punting it off to a professional so they can suffer a dose of French recalcitrance instead).

[3VOM]

I'll pop up next week when I've got a few quid for fuel spare if assistance needed still

Weren't we supposed to be going to help Cleon-Fonte do something on his car at some point anyway? I'll come over and help if I can.

[bub2006]

I went over other night. More the merrier though. Combined swearing.

[Cleon-Fonte]

I was going to have a group fettlig session when it came to refurbishing the brakes and replacing the radiator and rear radius arm. Unfortunately since then the BX has proved itself to be a massive lump of badly maintained French pish, which has put those jobs back a while.

[strangeangel]

IIRC, some BXs have a bit of pipe down the back of the engine that the fuel line travels through, to heat the fuel. This is a known leak point.

 

This has been bypassed on mine apparently, maybe for the same reason? Either way, the car doesn't seem arsed.

[dollywobbler]

This has been bypassed on mine apparently, maybe for the same reason? Either way, the car doesn't seem arsed.

 

Bypassing it makes sod all difference, bar removing a possible air leak point.

[Cleon-Fonte]

On 5/3/2016 at 11:41 PM, Cleon-Fonte said:

the RAC man adament that my fuel pump solenoid was at fault (I kept quiet about the night's events).

 

Kudos to Mr. RAC man for his foresight.

 

Having replaced the fuel filter head (standard issue old vs. new photo enclosed within) half an hour of intense priming resulted in the Citroen finally bursting into life. A celebratory cup of tea was enjoyed and I went out to start it again a short while later but after much cranking...nothing. Looking under the bonnet I could detect a distinct 'hot metal' smell and when I turned the key I noticed the fuel pump solenoid wasn't clicking as it should. Sure enough, the burn mark on my finger attests to the fact that the solenoid has fried itself.

 

 

I'm now left wondering if this is all the legitimacy I need to ditch the entire Lucas pump and fit a Bosch for added sunflower power. Is it the case that any turbo XUD Bosch pump will fit?

[Junkman]

Ditch it and buy one that's propelled by a liquid God and Fred Duesenberg used in the first place.

[Cleon-Fonte]

Ditch it and buy one that's propelled by a liquid God and Fred Duesenberg used in the first place.

 

Ah, but the BX feels like it was made for the torquey, low-revving XUD. Even that soft, clattery idle seems to suit it (not that I get to hear it much at the moment).

 

I'm sure there's a good car lurking there somewhere once I catch up with the maintenance the previous owners should have been doing for X number of years.

[Junkman]

No car deserves to be powered* by a tractor engine. Cars have souls, too.

[Lacquer Peel]

The XUD is a characterful engine, I couldn't say the same for the petrol XU.

[Junkman]

I prefer even an engine with no character to one with the character of a XUD.

[Dave_Q]

My understanding is that any pump is fine as long as you match turbo or non turbo, the fuel lines are slightly different as the outlets on the pump are a bit rotated from one to the other.

 

You can either switch the lines or bend them a bit.

 

I believe the injectors also open at a slightly different pressure so you might want Bosch injectors, but I believe the difference is minimal enough to make it not necessary.

[Cleon-Fonte]

My understanding is that any pump is fine as long as you match turbo or non turbo, the fuel lines are slightly different as the outlets on the pump are a bit rotated from one to the other.

 

You can either switch the lines or bend them a bit.

 

I believe the injectors also open at a slightly different pressure so you might want Bosch injectors, but I believe the difference is minimal enough to make it not necessary.

 

Think I'll change the injectors and pump sprocket at the same time just to be safe rather than sorry.

 

Have a new solenoid to fit anyway as I'd like to see if the car ever runs again before potentially wasting money on a new pump. But Bosching will happen eventually...

[mat_the_cat]

If all you want to do is make sure the engine runs before pump swappage, I'd be inclined to remove the solenoid plunger for testing rather than buying a new one. You wouldn't be able to swap onto your Bosch pump so a waste of money!

[Junkman]

Is all this going to happen during a hail storm in a public car park in Glossop at night?

Well, then count me in.

[Cleon-Fonte]

On 5/24/2016 at 11:21 PM, mat_the_cat said:

If all you want to do is make sure the engine runs before pump swappage, I'd be inclined to remove the solenoid plunger for testing rather than buying a new one. You wouldn't be able to swap onto your Bosch pump so a waste of money!

 

As a short-term fix until I can gather the reserves of courage to take on the fuel pump I thought I may as well chuck on the new (well, used) solenoid anyway. It all helps the eBayability of the old Lucas pump when we do eventually part ways.

 

On the subject of removing the solenoid plunger, today I decided to make best use of my newly unemployed status and give it a go. The solenoid quickly revealed itself to be seized in (surprise, surprise) so I decided to remove the hose from the fuel filter housing to the pump for better access. I was suddenly confronted with much sludge completely covering the hole in the pump into which the end of the hose is supposed to fit, and when I blew air through the hose nothing came out of the other end. I then poured water through it and gallons of black sludge began to shift itself into my kitchen sink, seemingly endlessly. Once all the sludge was out I blew air through again with my thumb over one end and air still came out elsewhere. So, that's one source of air ingress diagnosed.

 

I am amazed that the BX has run at all in my ownership as the hose must have been absolutely choked with sludge, I geuinely can't see how fuel was reaching the pump. It leaves me confident that I've only experienced a fraction of this car's performance up to now.

 

 

The offending item. Now replaced.

 

On another note, don't buy Wickes spanners, the one I bought is quite deformed after only a few moments against the recalcitrant solenoid.

[Dave_Q]

Decent tools are really worth the investment, I've got a set of Halfords professional ratchet spanners that have given me no greif, I've also got a set of cheapies that are hilariously mangled and love nothing more than rounding off a fastener.

[themildbunch]

I have a Bosch pump on my BX - much better all round but do replace as many seals as you can while you have the pump off the car - If you're going to be using veg or biodiesel the driveshaft seal is a must - they tend to leak badly at this age if original and cause terrible running, no start issues and cover the cambelt with fuel!

[Cleon-Fonte]

The BX continues to be an awkward bastard. Having run briefly until the solenoid died, it now has a living, breathing solenoid but doesn't start. The fuel system's gone back to de-priming itself again every time I crank the engine over, so back to square one.

 

Does anyone local have a pair ramps and/or the willingness to help me push the BX onto them? I need to get underneath to start replacing stuff there but obviously no working engine=no raised suspension.

[bub2006]

I've got ramps mate.

[bub2006]

Right its a date. Monday morning approx 10am. Anyone else free?

[3VOM]

Right its a date. Monday morning approx 10am. Anyone else free?

Sorry not me. Think I have a doctor's appointment then I'm working later (like starting lunchtime) so can't be any help.

[Lacquer Peel]

Is the fuel drawing back to the tank?

[explosive-cabbage]

Check tank breather, make sure that it is not blocked and creating a vacuum in the tank. Does the problem go away when you take the fuel cap off?

Check the fuel pre-heater on the back O/S of the engine for leaks (if yours is fitted with one, just above the driveshaft where the rad hose goes in)

Blow air through to the tank from the tank side of the filter housing to clear blockages.

Use the compressor on the fuel filter intake to apply up to(no more than) 25/30 PSI to the filter housing and the pipes running to the pump, listen for leaks.

Take the plunger out of the solenoid (dont be afraid to remove pipes/brackets for access) and run it for a couple days without a plunger. There should be a kill lever on your pump at the back, below and behind the throttle lever shaft, slightly nearer the solenoid end.

[explosive-cabbage]

Alternately, text Will_Cleland on 07874 two three two 837 for problem solving advice

[Junkman]

Replace with properly fueled one.

Diesel is for tractors. PHAKT.

[strangeangel]

Replace with properly fueled one.

Diesel is for tractors. PHAKT.

Never! XU diesel is for WINNARS.

[explosive-cabbage]

Replace with properly fueled one.

Diesel is for tractors. PHAKT.

1997 Peugeot 405 2.0 Executive Estate.........boring

 

Booooo!

 

If your 405 estate was a XUD it wouldn't be boring!