CITROËN BX 14 E Leader

[rob88h]

(Covers on, coolant bled, oil topped off, miles accumulating)

[rob88h]

On 16/12/2023 at 21:21, rob88h said:

One crumbling casualty from the heater motor swap; The barb for the screen wash hose out of the wiper arm disintegrated. The centre pipe survives and is quite solid, but is way too small to simply pop on some new hose. 

I need some sort of collar to make the outer diameter up to that of the inner diameter of the hose. Hmm. 
 

edit: if I’m doing over 50mph, the wind does a good job of getting the screen wash on the screen, haha. 

The thrilling world of screen wash repair:

 

[stuboy]

great work!!!

[rob88h]

I've been Citroen'd.

 

Repair immediately (major defects):

• Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii))
• Suspension unit leaking Pump leaking. (5.3.5 (c))
• Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
• Offside Rear Suspension bellows leaking Fluid leaking from bottom of bellows. (5.3.5 (c))
• Nearside Front Suspension pipe damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

• Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

[GeordieInExile]

Uhoh. What's the plan...?

[rob88h]

I’m pretty sure it’s just LP return shenanigans and some boots and seals here an there. The LHM level has never visibly dropped and it doesn’t leave puddles when parked up, so I’m confident it shouldn’t break the bank. 
It’ll be fixed - and I trust this garage, if they’re bringing my attention to it then it probably needs addressing… 

 

EDIT: Just to get this out there now, The Leader is for sale soon… Not because of this Fail mind, it went in for MOT so that I can sell it with all the things like this addressed.

[wesacosa]

LHM leaks can look more messy than they are too as the fluid can seep quite a long way and make it look like a much more significant issue than it is

fingers crossed for an easy fix 

[rob88h]

The Leader is back at mine now, the garage were struggling to get parts together to quote and I somehow found myself volunteering to take the car back and do bits to it myself, so I'd best get going then! It's a pity there is a car in the garage and a car in the carport, all up on stands, meaning the Leader has to be seen to on the drive. It's all getting a bit Onslow around here. With the neighbours curtains in mind (and the fact I only have x10 axle stands and refuse to but more) I'll look at the front then the back.

• Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Yes, it is.

• Suspension unit leaking Pump leaking. (5.3.5 (c))

This one is a bit less obvious to see what's actually going on. There's a lot of cakeage and a few little drips forming on the lowest points, but the tide-line as it were looks like it could be above most of the pump gubbins. Also it's very moist around whatever this sensor in the block is. For me the jury is out on oil vs. LHM leaking in this whole general area. I'm suspecting both. The plan then is to clean it as best I can and see if I can learn where is leaking worst and what it is.

• Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
• Nearside Front Suspension pipe damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i))

I'm hoping the former is caused by the latter. A leak-off pipe/return pipe (whatever they're called) is completely ruptured, and it looks like it's been spliced together once already anyway, so that definitely needs replacing. Then I'm hoping that if I clean it all up around here I'll find that the strut is actually ok and it's just this broken line that's dropped LHM down the strut/driveshaft/lower control arm.

So then, some shopping has occurred. Using Catcar.info I've done some partnumber referencing and ordered the return lines, steering rack gaiter and some new track-rod lock nuts. I was going to order new track-rods as the ball joint is integrated and they presumably will come off for the gaiter to go on. It was £60 for a pair though, so I'll wait to see what mine look like when they come apart first.

While I wait for deliveries I can make a mess with the cleaning around the LHM pump and nearside strut and maybe take a look at what's up with the rear offside so that I can get those bits on order too.

[High Jetter]

Leader of the Pack.

[rob88h]

Part arrivals has not gone well. After a week of having been "dispatched", the steering gaiter is suddenly un-dispatched as they never actually dispatched it due to the technicality of not really having it. Sorry for the inconvenience blah blah, but there goes my chance at the free retest window.

I've gone for EU Spares now (I know Auto Doc horror horror), but I picked  the above supplier rp_parts_uk to try and avoid shipping problems with it being [presumably] a UK stockist, and that didn't serve me well. @wesacosa did find the part on Amazon, but the delivery time was outright hilarious.

So while I wait some more I thought I'd stick my head under the rear for this final leak.

• Offside Rear Suspension bellows leaking Fluid leaking from bottom of bellows. (5.3.5 (c))

It's not apparently coming from the bellows, it looks to me like its tracking down another LHM line. As I'm full of optimism and not getting a puddle or drip I'm suspecting it's low pressure/return side. Following the lines, it goes up and round the rear beam and into the nether regions of shite access. I might have more luck with the rear on axle stands. Currently the front is on stands and the rear is on Low as to not crush me, so I can't really get under the back to get much of a better look right now. I've heard about some flaky tee piece in the return at the back that could be a problem, and also some news on rear levelling height corrector leaks (see a few posts ago The Leader's propensity to sticking its derrière in the air for no reason)

Question to Citroen hydropneumatics fans (and RR hydropneumatics fans): What should I use to clean all this to hide it from the man at the Ministry to help me find the source of the leak and assess its severity over time.

[vulgalour]

Any degreaser of choice will do the trick, spray on Gunk or even dish soap in a squirty bottle will do the trick.  Tends to be a bit easier to get off than engine oil.  Lots of paper towel helps too, seems to be better at cleaning off and absorbing the LHM than fabric rags.

[rob88h]

I’ve ordered the tee-piece/y-piece for the rear - not from Chevronics, but at Chevronics prices. I sort of hope that’s the bit I need, yet at the same time I really hope it’s not as I’ve read horror stories of the subframe having to come off. I hold some hope in that I’ve seen ONE YouTube video where the chap manipulates it out off camera with the subframe still in place.  I cockily feel I’ve recently levelled up my blind-on-yer-back-three-elbow-dexterity from all the behind dash HVAC fun I’ve been having on some of my Focus’s. 

Anyway, during the meanwhilst, I got busy with the toothbrush, kitchen roll and period correct cleaner. 

I’ve finally finished this bottle off. Fairly sure it was older than me. 

[Will flipadip this photo later]

With as much cleaning as I had time, Gunk and  patience for done, I removed the twin return line bundle from the strut. It has served its time. New Vs old below:

It “locates” over this hole. I’m presuming this is factory and nothing is missing? It certainly is a curious bit of engineering, but obviously it’s good enough. I think* it only deals with returning LHM when going from high to low. I read (from research on the back leaks) that one is LHM one is for air vent if needed, but how it works is beyond me - from one hole out of the strut LHM could easily go down either hose. Unless it’s maybe like an LHM return ring main. I may be rambling here, but you’re reading it!

Shit attachment strategy aside, the new one is probably in the right enough place and it is strapped in.

New lines are on. Lovely. That’s definitely one Fail fixed, but possibly two as to me the strut seems fine and I think all the leakage was from here.

• Nearside Front Shock absorbers has had a serious fluid leak or not (5.3.2 (b))
• Nearside Front Suspension pipe  [was] damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i))

Corrections submitted to the .gov MOT history website.

 

Switch to night, don a head torch and the trackrod end is now removed. 20.5 turns for reassembly reference - to hopefully maintain some level of tracking and prevent the front end from looking like it has rickets.

The old gaiter [fell apart] when removed. 

The new one went in trouble free and seated pleasingly. Especially pleasing as I thought this was going to be a pig of a job. But then again I do still need to crimp the inboard clamp and put the trackrod/ ball joint back, so opportunities to encounter some sort of battle still.

• Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

 - The Man from the Ministry, March ‘24

• Not any more, bitch . (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

- Me, April ‘24

 

[High Jetter]

Gunk 👍

[Stinkwheel]

good work. The rear T piece (y piece maybe even, depending on what Citroen were fitting at the time) is do able without dropping subframe, its tight and fiddly, but ive done more then one without dropping anything. Agree all your leaks are low pressure return and the front strut will just be the return youve now replaced leaking.

Depending on where you got the new strut return pipe, you may find it needs doing again in a years or twos time, the ones made these days just dont seem to last when exposed to LHM, when the old originals would do 10-20 years sometimes.

I do like this car, a lot

 

[rob88h]

Time to catch up on The Leader.

The remaining steering rack gaiter crimp wasn’t a problem to access from underneath with the crimping tool. Then the track rod wound back on with the same number of turns it took to come off, the track rod end joint went back together with a new special Citroen lock nut and the wheel went back on. That corner should be all done for now.

I went over to the LHM pump to give that another going over with the cleaner and paper towels. As mentioned further up in the thread, it’s really not obvious to me what’s wrong over here, other than that the pump is probably fine. The pressure relief valve might be leaking during… I guess pressure relieving… and opposite is the oil pressure switch which is certainly leaking. I ordered a repair kit for the PRV but chickened out of servicing it myself after reading up on the procedure – it sounded a bit like defusing a grenade. I don’t have the right facilities to secure it and compress it, so I was worried may cack handed approach would end up with a stiff spring sitting where my eye should be and LHM sitting where my blood should be.

With the spare time generated by not fixing the PRV I had a better look at the leak at the back. Raising the car up onto all four axle stands I was able to get a few fingers up to the return line above the rear beam and discovered for certain the joint up there has perished.

I’m not one for swearing, but getting all three ends of the return line out was a right tw*tbag. An insult to (literal) injury was that the £20 odd y-piece didn’t fit. All three of my lines are 5mm, which seems sensible to me, but the y-piece was for two 5mm lines and a ¼” or 6mm line. Maybe it’s from a different era of BX which had a larger bore return to the tank, but the smaller type from each strut. I was forced to get creative with this abodgeination.

I’m sort of ok with it because I tried to use the right part to start with at least. My intentions were good, but this fix was free and can be easily replaced when/if I can find the right or better connector.  For now it’s tucked back up above the rear beam.

I’ve run out of fails to work on, so I stuck it back in for test, a mere 42 days after it first failed. 😆

I pulled up a street early to check for leaks (advisable not to display this level of confidence on the MOT test station forecourt) and I has horrified to see the Oil pressure switch had made a real mess of all my cleaning and was already dripping oil to the floor while running. Regardless, I pressed on, presented it, and sat in the waiting room ordering more parts and biting my nails.

 

It did thankfully Pass. And I’ve already ordered a new oil pressure switch and copper washer. Winning.

 

So what’s next with The Leader?

• Oil Pressure Switch (on order)
• LHM Flush and tank clean (LHM and petrol (for cleaning) stored under the Granada)
• Spark Plugs (still sat on my desk)
• Hazard Light switch (currently rocking a ZX switch in sideways)
• (Sell it on for someone else to enjoy)

[rob88h]

[rob88h]

Well that was a massive box for a single washer to be posted in!

[High Jetter]

4 minutes ago, rob88h said:

Well that was a massive box for a single washer to be posted in!

What did they charge you for p&p?

[rob88h]

Postage was free. 👍

More tinkering on The Leader on this fine Bank Holiday weekend:

The oil pressure sensor (and washer) has been replaced. 7/8ths fitted nicest, but although access looks good there was very little room to rotate a tool. This pic is upside down, ten nerd points if you could tell.

Then I removed the LHM tank using the Coke bottle trick while I cleaned it to save me bleeding the pump supply hose. Well, it was the Pepsi Max bottle trick in this case. 

I’m pretty sure LHM is supposed to be green not black with a yellow tinge…

I washed the tank out with petrol. E5 Premium! Only the best!  It’s from a jerry destined for the Granada.

The tank came up nice and went back in with no fuss. 

[rob88h]

And so concludes my time with The Leader. It left today with an enthusiastic chap. I hope him and it serve each other well and that he enjoys it as much as I have. I mentioned the Forum, so he may join up and let us know how he gets on with it. 

The Leader. 11/10. Would BX again. 

[Justin Case]

On 11/07/2023 at 17:56, MiniMort said:

Typically, I somehow have missed this thread until the car has gone. I had a new one from this very garage back in the dim and distant time of 1988. It was a good buy, especially it was only a low deposit and interest was something ridiculous like 3%. Seats were very comfortable and upholstered in a nifty tweed. Even better the silver was the same price as the white, I'm surprised anyone would buy the latter new.  Only disadvantage was the low gearing and rattly engine due to odd tappet arrangement, so it had to go  when I was blasting up and down the M54 every day.