Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
jsp
Posts: 327
Joined: 04 Dec 2014, 02:05
Location: Netherlands
My Cars: AX 3x 10E 1.4 GTI 5drs 1.0i
CX 2x GTI turbo
ID 19 1960

Now:
1960 ID 19
1984 CX GTI Turbo 1
1987 CX GTI Turbo 2
1987 AX 10E Pino
1994 AX 1.4 5dr TGS GTI
1994 AX 1.0 3dr Escapade
1996 AX 1.1 3dr spot Burgundy
1996 AX 1.1 5dr Verte
2003 peugeot 206 xs leather with auto A/C
x 12

Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by jsp »

I am having a problem on my Citroen AX 10E.

Last year it had a blown Headgasket before I put mine to wintersleep. and I replaced the head,HG, gasket set and H.bolts and now cyl 3 wont get a compression at all almost.

cyl 1: 150psi
2: 145psi
3: 15psi
4: 145psi

all tests are done with wide throttle open.

Is a valve seat gone or piston ring?
Last edited by jsp on 28 Feb 2017, 22:59, edited 1 time in total.
ekjdm14
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1810
Joined: 19 Jan 2015, 17:42
Location: Congleton
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: '95 Xantia 1.9D automatic - 109k one of two remaining
'03 206 GTi180 - 97k in pieces being brought back up to snuff
'03 206 1.9TD - home-built veg-fuelled B-road bruiser
'99 306 SE 2.0i cabriolet - 92k awaiting service work ready for next summer
'97 306 XS 1.6i 3 door, Bianca White, from dead 12 years & seized solid to road legal in 7 days
x 212

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by ekjdm14 »

First thought if water had been leaking into #3 is that the rings could have stuck and a dose of oil additive may help. First though I would check the obvious, that the cooling system isn't vastly pressurising and that the valve clearances are correct.

Also, have you done a "wet" test? note the compression readings & then drop 5-10ml clean engine oil down the spark plug holes and repeat the test. A huge increase in readings then would suggest rings/bore whereas little to no increase points to valves/head/gasket.

(Another check to pinpoint quickly is to connect an air supply to the offending spark plug hole & listen for where the air is escaping. Hissing at the exhaust or carb obviously is valve whereas through the oil cap would say rings/bore/head)

HTH
'95 Xantia LX 1.9D-auto, Black, 109k
'03 206 GTi180 94k in surgery
'03 206 1.1S XUD9TE/veg project :mrgreen:
'99 306 2.0SE cabriolet 95k summer toy
'97 306 XS 1.6i 99k sat 12 years, fixed in 7 days, 150mile maiden voyage :rofl2:
User avatar
jsp
Posts: 327
Joined: 04 Dec 2014, 02:05
Location: Netherlands
My Cars: AX 3x 10E 1.4 GTI 5drs 1.0i
CX 2x GTI turbo
ID 19 1960

Now:
1960 ID 19
1984 CX GTI Turbo 1
1987 CX GTI Turbo 2
1987 AX 10E Pino
1994 AX 1.4 5dr TGS GTI
1994 AX 1.0 3dr Escapade
1996 AX 1.1 3dr spot Burgundy
1996 AX 1.1 5dr Verte
2003 peugeot 206 xs leather with auto A/C
x 12

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by jsp »

ekjdm14 wrote:First thought if water had been leaking into #3 is that the rings could have stuck and a dose of oil additive may help. First though I would check the obvious, that the cooling system isn't vastly pressurising and that the valve clearances are correct.

Also, have you done a "wet" test? note the compression readings & then drop 5-10ml clean engine oil down the spark plug holes and repeat the test. A huge increase in readings then would suggest rings/bore whereas little to no increase points to valves/head/gasket.

(Another check to pinpoint quickly is to connect an air supply to the offending spark plug hole & listen for where the air is escaping. Hissing at the exhaust or carb obviously is valve whereas through the oil cap would say rings/bore/head)

HTH
Ok will try that.
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by Gibbo2286 »

A rough test is to put a couple of teaspoons of oil down the spark plug hole then test again, if the pressure comes up some then it will be the rings if it doesn't it's almost certainly a valve.

Check the valve clearances make sure the gaps are set correctly.
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Beat me to it jsp we must have been typing at the same time but I got a damned ppi phone call before I clicked submit. :(
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
User avatar
jsp
Posts: 327
Joined: 04 Dec 2014, 02:05
Location: Netherlands
My Cars: AX 3x 10E 1.4 GTI 5drs 1.0i
CX 2x GTI turbo
ID 19 1960

Now:
1960 ID 19
1984 CX GTI Turbo 1
1987 CX GTI Turbo 2
1987 AX 10E Pino
1994 AX 1.4 5dr TGS GTI
1994 AX 1.0 3dr Escapade
1996 AX 1.1 3dr spot Burgundy
1996 AX 1.1 5dr Verte
2003 peugeot 206 xs leather with auto A/C
x 12

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by jsp »

Turns out to be a valve adjustment. Adjusted it correctly and no leak anymore. Topic can be locked thanks all.
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 4731
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
Location: Milton Keynes
My Cars: 2006 Peugeot Partner Escapade 1.6HDi.
1988 Renault 25 Monaco 2.0i.
1985 Sinclair C5.
1984 Trabant 601S.
1975 Rover 3500.
1973 AC Model-70.
x 1403
Contact:

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by Zelandeth »

Nice to hear it turned out to be nothing sinister! Thanks for letting us know.
Current fleet:
06 Peugeot Partner Escapade 1.6HDi, 88 Renault 25 Monaco, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 75 Rover 3500, 73 AC Model 70.
User avatar
jsp
Posts: 327
Joined: 04 Dec 2014, 02:05
Location: Netherlands
My Cars: AX 3x 10E 1.4 GTI 5drs 1.0i
CX 2x GTI turbo
ID 19 1960

Now:
1960 ID 19
1984 CX GTI Turbo 1
1987 CX GTI Turbo 2
1987 AX 10E Pino
1994 AX 1.4 5dr TGS GTI
1994 AX 1.0 3dr Escapade
1996 AX 1.1 3dr spot Burgundy
1996 AX 1.1 5dr Verte
2003 peugeot 206 xs leather with auto A/C
x 12

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by jsp »

lucky me otherwise redoing the HG would be a second time in one week XD.
ekjdm14
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1810
Joined: 19 Jan 2015, 17:42
Location: Congleton
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: '95 Xantia 1.9D automatic - 109k one of two remaining
'03 206 GTi180 - 97k in pieces being brought back up to snuff
'03 206 1.9TD - home-built veg-fuelled B-road bruiser
'99 306 SE 2.0i cabriolet - 92k awaiting service work ready for next summer
'97 306 XS 1.6i 3 door, Bianca White, from dead 12 years & seized solid to road legal in 7 days
x 212

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by ekjdm14 »

Ouch, yes that would have been a pain! Glad it's sorted & an easy fix for a change. Nice when something simple/free sorts a potentially large problem :)
'95 Xantia LX 1.9D-auto, Black, 109k
'03 206 GTi180 94k in surgery
'03 206 1.1S XUD9TE/veg project :mrgreen:
'99 306 2.0SE cabriolet 95k summer toy
'97 306 XS 1.6i 99k sat 12 years, fixed in 7 days, 150mile maiden voyage :rofl2:
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49518
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6156
Contact:

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by CitroJim »

That's a relief :) Delighted it was a lovely simple one :)
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
jsp
Posts: 327
Joined: 04 Dec 2014, 02:05
Location: Netherlands
My Cars: AX 3x 10E 1.4 GTI 5drs 1.0i
CX 2x GTI turbo
ID 19 1960

Now:
1960 ID 19
1984 CX GTI Turbo 1
1987 CX GTI Turbo 2
1987 AX 10E Pino
1994 AX 1.4 5dr TGS GTI
1994 AX 1.0 3dr Escapade
1996 AX 1.1 3dr spot Burgundy
1996 AX 1.1 5dr Verte
2003 peugeot 206 xs leather with auto A/C
x 12

Re: Citroen AX cyl 3 no compression

Post by jsp »

Need valve adjustment still. Engine idles very rough sometimes.
Post Reply