Assorted ZX Antics

FFX-DM · Post by **FFX-DM** » 13 Nov 2002, 17:04

ZX is using up water. I am hoping that it's just air locks, but I am letting those nice chaps at the garage have another look at it tommorrow. Pressure test was okay last week but level has dropped 1L since then. I have requested that they do a test on the coolant chemistry, which resulted in much shuffling and looking at feet. If I was loosing that much due to head gasket could I expect to see oil in the water and water in the oil? Nothing like that, as far as I can see. They have promised to go and buy a kit and do the test. I don't really want to pay them to do the head gasket unless it's neccessary. Is there anywhere else to check for leaks which may not show up as a pressure drop when the vehicle is stationary? If test is negative, I will go for rad flush and <i>proper</i> refilling of coolant.
Also, just done my calculations on fuel consumption. I have been getting 12.5 miles per Litre (what's that... about 60mpg?) <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>. This is a normally aspirated 1.9D, by the way. If HG was going (see above) could I expect performance to not be good? Anyhow, that's pretty similar to my AX, so perhaps as I am not thrashing such a puny engine to achieve the same speeds, it's more economical?
I got my new 30% brighter Xenon bulbs (H1's) today and fitted them. Well, it might improve my view at night... but perhaps I should repair the connections to the drivers side bulb first! Oops! Girlie moment here. I thought that the pattern was a bit wrong... could it be because I was running on one headlight? I intend to go out and have a quality five minutes with a pair of crimping pliers and a new spade connector this lunchtime. <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Post by **RichardW** » 13 Nov 2002, 17:25

I had a water pump leak on my BX - could see the water on the bottom of the timing cover, but it didn't show up on a pressure test.
Continued water addition suggests something is wrong. Small leaks are difficult to pinpoint - and they sometimes only become apparent when the engine is hot. Open the bonnet with the engine on after a run and look out for small wisps of steam coming out of pipes etc. Look for crystal deposits / stains around pipe connections, along the bottom of the radiator etc. Look for signs it is blowing out of the cap - a poor or failed cap will not keep the pressure high enough to stop it boiling over. Remember that the coolant should only be about half way up the expansion tank - any higher and it will expand out on the floor when it gets hot! ZX's also prone to matrix failure I understand, so worth checking your carpets are not wet!
Now onto the bad stuff - the head gasket..... Symtoms include: Unexplained water loss; residual pressure in the system (take the cap off when the engine has stood over night and listen for a hiss); high pressure in the cooling system - check how hard to top hose is - you should be able to squeeze it with the engine hot - rock hard is bad!; oil in water; water in oil; poor starting accompanied by lots of steam; bubbles rising into the header tank when the engine is running. I am pretty sure I ran my BX TD with a weeping HG for all the 70k miles I owned it as there was always pressure in the header tank and it used a little bit of water. Non-turbo HG is not too bad - should be about 4 - 5 hours for someone who knows what they're doing - so about £250 all in should cover it.
HTH and doesn't frighten you too much!
Richard

FFX-DM · Post by **FFX-DM** » 13 Nov 2002, 18:14

Not a sign of a leak. Not a crystal anywhere. No suspect stains. No steam, no bubbles, no hisses, no oil in the water, no water in the oil, no pressure in the coolant, ran with top off and there were no bubbles. No puddles underneath. Starts first time. No damp spots inside and no condensation to suggest water leaks. No coolant smells. I have been topping the coolant up to the top of the crenulated bit in the exapansion tank, which is 'max', that's the only thing that <i>may</i> be a prob.
I don't mind paying to get the HG done if it needs it, I am due a cambelt anyway, so they could do them at the same time and economise on labour. What I wish to avoid is paying out for something that doesn't need doing and then having to pay out again when the problem is not solved.
Ho hum, well I'll let you all know what they say tommorrow.

Post by **Jon** » 13 Nov 2002, 18:42

BEFORE YOU DO A THING, STICK A NEW RAD CAP ON IT.
many "unexplained" ZX loss of coolant problems are caused by the cap not holding pressure. Most decent garages can actually test the cap on your car. For £4 or so I always stick a new one on as soon as I get a ZX.
Jon Wood
IT Supervisor
GSF t/as Andyspares

FFX-DM · Post by **FFX-DM** » 13 Nov 2002, 18:54

How strange. Does this mean a trip to the Citroen spares shoppe? I guess generic ones won't fit? Lets put the monkeys at my garage through their paces and see if they can test the rad cap. Oooh, do Andyspares sell them?

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 13 Nov 2002, 18:58

Get those nice chaps at the garage to do a compression test on your engine. A leaky HG will show up directly, especially if its loosing a litre a week.
If not, get them to pressure test the cooling system.
//NiSk

Post by **Jon** » 13 Nov 2002, 19:14

doh, we don't sell them for ZX.
You'll have to ask the fellas at Roy Chapmans for one I'm afraid.
Jon Wood
IT Supervisor
GSF t/as Andyspares

FFX-DM · Post by **FFX-DM** » 13 Nov 2002, 19:24

In reply to NiSK... they have done a pressure test on the coolant and found nowt. So I should be asking them for a compression test? What does that entail? Nice to go in well-armed with info. I would have thought that losing water at that rate (a litre in 5 days) it would show up in all the other ways, mentioned above too.

FFX-DM · Post by **FFX-DM** » 13 Nov 2002, 21:21

Oh dear, I didn't take enough bananas down to the garage (when I wimped out and let the monkeys crimp on the spade connector for me). They have cried off looking at my car tommorrow and put it off to next week. They cannot get the test kit for the coolant because of mumble mumble mumble (look at feet again). They reckon that the head gasket leak must be sending the coolant all out of the exhaust. Is this possible? I am not sure of the anatomy of my engine. They think that if it were venting through the cap then you would be able to see signs (stains and crystals), which I kind of agree with I guess...
So anybody know of a garage which CAN do the test for me in the Thame area, where I work... or Newbury, where I will be this weekend (apart from when I am in Leamington Spa on Saturday)?
It's not the getting the work done that bugs me, it's the getting the correct diagnosis which is being a pain in the bot.

Zummerman · Post by **Zummerman** » 13 Nov 2002, 21:47

If the Rad Cap's not holding pressure the water will probably vent through the overflow pipe. It's likely to happen only when the engine is running and the system up to heat and could be difficult to spot. No stains or crystals around the bottom of the cap for example.
I'd take Jon's advice, and the cheaper route, and try a new cap before anything else.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

FFX-DM · Post by **FFX-DM** » 14 Nov 2002, 19:17

I have just been to the Cit garage in Aylesbury who CAN do the test on the coolant chemistry. Mind you, they didn't do it. They looked under the bonnet and said that the coolant is obviously leaking from the thermostat housing, so I just need to replace that and the gasket... and no, they didn't have any in stock. I just need to get the part now and replace it and see if it improves matters.
How did the local monkeys miss it? Who knows? How did I miss it? Well, I admit I did not thoroughly look, so no suprise there! Lets see how it goes...

Post by **Jon** » 14 Nov 2002, 19:24

I suggest that you get yourself over to
Louis Barbour Independant Citroen Specialists
Rignall Road
Gt Missenden
Bucks
tel 01494 864112
Not far from you if you buzz through Chesham.
The fact that I have known Louis for 18 years and I used to work there could be taken as some sort of recomendation as to their ability to sort out your coolant problems.

PS thermostat housing, plastic type is Cit ref 1336c9, I also keep them in stock £2.95 but due to some oversight I don't have the little rubber sealing ring that goes inside the housing.
This thermo housing is a real common failure, I have had THREE on my ZX and the last time resorted to silicone before tightening it up, it has not leaked since.
Jon Wood
IT Supervisor
GSF t/as Andyspares