RobT Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I've 'liked' the fact you made it home, not the shagged alternator bit. strangeangel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 I once had to cut the alternator belt off on a BX, after the alternator seized. Amazing how far you can drive one with no charging! Yes, quite proud of the fact that we didn't FTP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrett Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 My one gave out as I approached Croydon. Spent a day in London, back to the car at about 10pm and drove home, dropped some friends off in central Brighton - headlamps fading at this point - then back to mine. As I got to the end of my road it died, I rolled back into a parking space and walked the last few feet to my door. That's why Citroens are great, they only let you down when you're within walking distance from home... I found that getting the right alternator was teh biggest challenge (there were several different types used) and it's an utter bastard of a job to change involving removing at least one engine mount and winching the whole engine backwards, but my mechanic did it in an afternoon with no complaints strangeangel and catsinthewelder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Thankfully, alternator change is easier on the non-turbo. Still a swine in a sweary sort of 'WHY DID THEY PUT IT THERE?' kind of a French way, but there are worse jobs. chaseracer and strangeangel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 12, 2017 Author Share Posted October 12, 2017 I found that getting the right alternator was teh biggest challenge (there were several different types used) Ah, I'd just wanged the reg number into a couple of parts websites, e.g. http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/alternator/citroen-bx-break-xb-1-9-d-71hp_v27699_g4.html So I'd best get the old one off for a look before I starting ordering stuff then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 This actually wasn't such a bad job, the worst bit was waggling it past the LHM pipes on the way out once it had been unbolted. It has been briefly admitted to the house for identification purposes, and it's successor duly ordered Heidel_Kakao, Cleon-Fonte and Six-cylinder 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 The new alternator arrived, packed like this and lying at the bottom of the box: And, lo, it was knackered. I asked for another one to be sent, but could it please be packed properly this time? GENIUS. Miraculously, this one survived at the hands of Smashy McSmashface The Courier and was duly fitted. So charging has been restored, but I still had to play the will-it-won't-it-rise game for 10 minutes or so. I did disconnect one of the big LHM pipes from the reservoir because it was in the way, but I was careful not to lose any. Then again, maybe it wasn't best pleased about being left on axle stands for a week? Who knows. It's working again, which is the main thing! Dave_Q, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer, cpjitservices and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Vera ( my first BX) used to knacker alternators for fun - eventually the "fault" was tracked down to a small diesel drip which over time kippered the alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 this one survived at the hands of Smashy McSmashface The Courier Bolk + Mister Auto = YODEL? Thank fuck they use An Post here. Lacquer Peel and strangeangel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 Bolk + Mister Auto = YODEL? Thank fuck they use An Post here. Dunno if they use Yodel as well, but these were delivered by Parcel Force. Eddie Honda 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Bolk. Oh dear. Keep the paperwork so when it fails after a week you can get a replacement or refund... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 Bolk. Oh dear. Keep the paperwork so when it fails after a week you can get a replacement or refund... That bad, eh? Well, it was cheap... Oh well, if it does cark it rest assured I will post an update. djimbob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Dunno if they use Yodel as well, but these were delivered by Parcel Farce. FTFY Talbot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Last time I heard of someone buying one, they went through three without getting any luck, eventually they gave up and asked for a refund. Fitted a secondhand unit in the end as I recall. Was the original unit salvageable or had it suffered a major mechanical failure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 Was the original unit salvageable or had it suffered a major mechanical failure? No idea. It stopped charging the battery, as per the post further up this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Sorry, didn't spot that because I'm an idiot! Given your warning light was on it's harder to say what actually failed. If the light doesn't come on *and* you've got no charging (assuming the bulb is okay) it often turns out to be nothing more complex than a stuffed set of brushes, which in my experience at least are usually easy enough to change. Do these suffer the same tendency to kill alternators by dripping LHM from the hydraulic pump into it over time as the Xantias? Been forever since I was anywhere near a BX. strangeangel and Talbot 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 27, 2017 Author Share Posted October 27, 2017 Do these suffer the same tendency to kill alternators by dripping LHM from the hydraulic pump into it over time as the Xantias? Been forever since I was anywhere near a BX. It didn't seem particularly oily when I removed it... there's a picture further back in the thread; it's covered in the usual diesel/road filth but that's about it. I'll certainly have another look under the bonnet at some point this weekend, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Pump is at the other end of the engine to the alternator on these happily. Finding a set of brushes for the old alternator isn't a bad shout. At least you'll then have a good spare sitting on the shelf. strangeangel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted October 27, 2017 Author Share Posted October 27, 2017 Pump is at the other end of the engine to the alternator on these happily. Finding a set of brushes for the old alternator isn't a bad shout. At least you'll then have a good spare sitting on the shelf. They didn't send a return label for the broken one, so I could probably cannibalise the brushes from that (if they're still intact). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 On 10/27/2017 at 9:52 AM, strangeangel said: They didn't send a return label for the broken one, so I could probably cannibalise the brushes from that (if they're still intact). And today was the day to try this. First off I took the old brushes out of the original alternator: Not the best then. I pulled the ones out of the 1st (knackered) Bolk alternator, but they were totally different so I've stashed them away as spares for the one that's on the car now. The rest went in the scrap. They're cheap enough on eBay, though, so I've ordered a replacement and now, as dollywobbler suggested, I can have a good spare waiting on the shelf! In the meantime I have another problem, albeit easily fixed. This fell off on the way home from the football last week: OH WELL, ITS ONLY MONEY INNIT? Talbot, Six-cylinder, RobT and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 That bad, eh? Well, it was cheap... Oh well, if it does cark it rest assured I will post an update. It's carked it, after a full TWO WEEKS in service. Hey Bolk, your alternators suck balls. The original is now back on the car, with the new brushes/regulator thing, and all seems well again. Shitty email fired off to Mister Auto, refund sought. Six-cylinder, djimbob, Cleon-Fonte and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 The original is now back on the car, with the new brushes/regulator thing, and all seems well again. Spoke too soon, didn't I? The battery light came on on the way back from the shops this evening. It is charging, but only producing 12.7V, so as bad as they looked the brushes clearly weren't the problem with the original alternator after all. So it's time to order a(nother) new one, but obviously I don't want to buy another turd akin to Bolk's offerings. Any recommendations for a reputable brand please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Spoke too soon, didn't I? The battery light came on on the way back from the shops this evening. It is charging, but only producing 12.7V, so as bad as they looked the brushes clearly weren't the problem with the original alternator after all. So it's time to order a(nother) new one, but obviously I don't want to buy another turd akin to Bolk's offerings. Any recommendations for a reputable brand please? The recon alternator on the Lexus came from this lot: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Schmitz-Rotary Now, they may not have the right one on the shelf, but the alternator came with a full read out of its performance, suggesting they have all the gear. So, if they don't have the right one, perhaps they could identify the fault? strangeangel and chaseracer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 "hi. My world famous magazine producing mate said you would be just the chaps to help me. My friend said that if you fix my alternator free of charge he will give you free advertising in 5 magazines for a year... He loves the one he got from you, as do his publishing company owning colleagues. Thanks, I'll post it over bye " Exiled_Tat_Gatherer, strangeangel, 320touring and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 OK, here's a question for you... does the estate bootlid fit a hatchback BX? Or even the window? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 OK, here's a question for you... does the estate bootlid fit a hatchback BX? Or even the window? Cheers. No. Sorry. strangeangel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 No. Sorry. Cheers for that. Not a problem for our car, but bad news for a potential rescue that might have been in the offing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrett Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 I'm pretty sure I have a spare hatchback boot lid which you can have FOC if it helps save another BX. and if it's that blue na diesel on ebay I'd like sloppy seconds please strangeangel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Aye, shouldn't be too hard to find another tailgate. Not as easy as a few years back perhaps, but I imagine there are a few hatches floating around. strangeangel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 As chief executive of the Citroën department, I wonder if this is of interest? Maybe it's already been spoken of or spoken for - if so, apologies. They_all_do_that_sir and somewhatfoolish 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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