Citroen Zx16v

[bxzx16v]

It certainly is Jim , any excuse to drive it now .

Mark

[bxzx16v]

It all seems to happen once , I've got the insurance to sort out and it's MoT time too , first up an oil & filter change and hope for the best .

Mark

[Citroenmad]

How did the MOT go Mark?

I've got my Activa to put through an MOT next month, hopefully it'll all be fine.

[bxzx16v]

It's booked for Friday morning Chris , fingers crossed .

Mark

[bxzx16v]

Took the car in this morning but it was a fail , weak handbrake efficiency . It's more than likely due to lack of use and the self adjuster has seized , anyway I've got some new rear pads to go in whilst the wheels are off . I'll take her back for a re-test next week when I'm on afternoons and alternate usage between the Zx and the Laguna .

Mark

[Citroenmad]

Thats not too bad Mark and should be an easy fix

[bxzx16v]

Yes not too bad Chris , it's getting sorted in the week and back for a free re-test at the end of the week . I really must use it more than what I do really , it's just easier to just jump in the Laguna sometimes though .

Mark

[CitroJim]

Mark, yes, use it more. Not using them does more harm than careful regular use in my experience...

Still, not a bad fail by any means...

[bxzx16v]

I've managed to make a start today on a job I've been wanting to get done for ages , that is removing the spare wheel cradle and getting it cleaned up and repainted . My original plan was to take it to work and get the angle grinder with a flap disc and clean it that way . Then I thought I could get it shot blasted and it would be quicker and make a better job , anyway after 20 minutes in the blaster the cradle looks fabulous , transformed from crustiness to nearly as good as new . It will be receiving a couple of coats of bilt hamber electrox zinc primer followed by two coats of satin black . I have also got a brand new cradle hook which maybe going on too . While the cradle & wheel are out of the way I've got a few bits to tidy up underneath , there's a couple of very tiny sections on seams where the factory applied coating has de-laminated slightly . I'll get some pics up when I make a start which could be tomorrow .

Mark

[daviemck2006]

Where did you get the cradle hook Mark? The experts cradle, which has the spare on it is held up with a cable tie round the cradle, and round a nut on the top. Not the best idea! I would presume the cradle hooks are all the same for the zx and expert.

[bxzx16v]

A friend of mine used to work for a Citroen dealer and he had a load of bits in his shed that he let me have , I would imagine that the dealers stock these still ? Is it just the hook your missing or has the long bolt with the slot in gone too ?

Mark

[daviemck2006]

Just completely missing. Nothing there at all. One cable tie round cradle, fed up through the hole, through a nut and back down to the cradle. Not the best solution, but works. At least it is a big cable tie, but not a lot really holding up the spare.

[bxzx16v]

I managed to get two coats of zinc primer on the cradle today , tomorrow I'll be getting some satin black on . I'm even considering having the spare wheel shotblasted as it's done such a good job on the cradle , I tidied the wheel up last year with an angle grinder and flap disc but it's not a patch on this . I'll not want to put them back under the car when their done .

Mark

[bxzx16v]

I've just been on with machine polishing the Zx , all I can say is WOW , I've done the bonnet and down the drivers side and gloss and reflectivity is amazing . I'll just see if I can get some time to finish the rest off , I'll get some pics up later .

Mark

[daviemck2006]

Sounds good Mark, it is a lovely car. I hope my c4 is in such nice condition in 10 years time!