Thinking of buying a ZX 16V - do I need help?!

adrianeaton · Unread post by **adrianeaton** » 17 Sep 2005, 21:41

Hi all
Not been around for a while - new job doesn't leave enough time for browsing the www [:o)]
Having sold the Xsara VTS and now my BX 16V I've decided I need something to act as an everyday run about for my wife to drive to work - we've put loads of miles on the Cupra R since buying it and I don't want it driven over the winter....
Have seen a ZX 16V for sale that's failed its MOT on high CO emissions. Any of you ZX 16V specialists any idea what might cause this? It's had a new cat and exhaust so I'm not sure what else needs to be checked apart from possibly a dodgy coolant temp sensor?
Car's done 95k so I'm guessing should have plenty of life left in it if it's reasonably straight?
Haven't been to look at it yet so any tips for checking out the ACAV (that's the name for the variable inlet diaphram things isn't it?!) etc.
Cheers
Adrian

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 17 Sep 2005, 23:20

I think you would be much better with a TD, they laugh at miles and are cheaper to run and maintain.

James.UK · Unread post by **James.UK** » 18 Sep 2005, 01:21

Petrol engined ZX? arghh! [:0] [:(!]
I agree with Peter, a ZX needs to be diesel powered in order to live up to its great reputation as a very reliable, economic means of transport. [^]
.

adrianeaton · Unread post by **adrianeaton** » 18 Sep 2005, 01:35

We don't do mega-miles - I just don't want to do 10-15k in a brand new car and trash its re-sale value and paintwork in the process.
My criteria basically include - cheap to run (cheaper than the Leon!), fun to drive, good enough for long distances (because if I'm trawling down the motorway I'll be taking the bargain basement car)
The ZX 16V fits the bill, as does Volcane both petrol and diesel. This one's come up and has air-con and leather so I'm tempted.....
Any thoughts from ZX 16V owners as to nature of problem? I'm thinking Lamda probe, or coolant sensor as a starter for 10. General things to look for on the 16V as opposed to other ZX issues, which I'm familiar with?
Cheers all for comments/feedback
Adrian

rossnunn · Unread post by **rossnunn** » 18 Sep 2005, 03:10

You'll be needing a word with Gareth then, his username is gj0....something, top fella & all round good bloke. He owns 1 & abit 16v's (Y)

DarkendViper · Unread post by **DarkendViper** » 18 Sep 2005, 18:50

I was looking at this 16v, spoke to my mate and he said not to bother due to being any number of sensors. If it's the same one it failed at 2.32%. I think my mate said pass rate was around 1.4%.
I would be looking at coolant sensor, thermostat, lambda. There's quite a few different things that can do it.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 19 Sep 2005, 00:44

Do your sums!
It can't be cheaper to run 2 cars to save a bit of mileage on one can it. They're worth ****** all more if they are spotless and the same really applies for the mileage. Enjoy your Leon - after all thats presumably what you bought it for.
Jeremy

Mosser · Unread post by **Mosser** » 19 Sep 2005, 01:13

When i sold my leon cupra a few years ago, it had 116,000 miles on the clock, and it sold for £600 less that an identical cupra in the same color and the same year as mine at the same garage and the other car only had 68,000 on it
I'd say enjoy the Leon, thats what you bought it for!, if the running costs are too high, trade it in for a Leon FR, 180Bhp turbo diesel that does over 40mpg and stupid amounts of torque available too

adrianeaton · Unread post by **adrianeaton** » 19 Sep 2005, 02:09

I need a 2nd car - sold my BX which was great for tip runs, loading the bikes etc.
It's failed its MOT on a few other things as well - some not too cheap to sort...power steering leak for a start which on our Furio cost a fair bit to sort.
I'm NOT bothered about resale on the Leon - I intend to keep it 10 years or more! I just want to enjoy it when road or track allow, not waste it doing 0-40-0 for 12 mile journeys to work each day.
I LIKE having 2 cars - it means if I have a day off I can actually get somewhere!
I'm not going to use my phase 1 for tip runs - it's too bl**dy good for that. If I'm going to be dull I've got a Nissan Primera GT in mind, or an Audi 80 estate. The ZX still appeals, as I've always fancied the 16V.
Guess I'll have to bite the bullet on this and see how cheap I can get it!
Adrian

VisaGTi16v · Unread post by **VisaGTi16v** » 19 Sep 2005, 03:51

All I know from when I had mine was that there are far too many sensors in it, too complicated so cant help with the emissions problems im afraid. Mine only got through as the tester kinda "accidentally" had his foot on the throttle for the idle test ahem

Regarding the acav valves, heres a handy edited photo I did before http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~visa/pi ... engine.jpg You can see them on either side of the inlet manifold and they should both move the moment you touch the throttle. HBOL says at 1800rpm but no other owner has ever had that. At 5000 they will shut again. Quite common for them to fail due to vacumn leaks etc but they are only £35 so not end of the world.
Make sure oil pressure is ok, should be around 4 when cold, down to 3 ish when warm. Temperatures should be fairly stable, only time oil temp will go up is when doing an indicated 137 in france

Parts are all 306 parts bin, my lower front arm bushes were shot which destroyed the front handling so if it feels loose there its probably them. As with all 3 door zx's the electric windows give up due to the stupid design of the small bit of plastic going through the glass! Calipers can seize up but again no different to any other zx ones, just clean and copper slip them. Handbrake is normal PSA joke of siezed adjusters and it not taking itself up, made worse by discs on the back although on that note I have some zx calipers from when I broke mine if you need them and a stereo adapter

adrianeaton · Unread post by **adrianeaton** » 19 Sep 2005, 18:50

Thanks for the info Darren
I'm going to try and get a mate to take a look at it this week, and see what he makes of it. He used to be a garage mechanic so will at least be able to tell me if it looks a good 'un or not.
I'll have a chat with John Witty who looks after my Citroens and see if he's worked on them before. With the right kit it shouldn't really be a problem to test the sensors and find the cause.
Is it the ZX 16V that's effectively got 2 ECUs, or am I thinking of another over-complicated French car?!
Worst comes to the worst, I could always rip the engine management out and replace with an aftermarket ECU

Other issues are really trivial wear-and-tear items I guess. If it's cheap enough and I can get it going I'd have a great little car.
Either that or back to looking at Audi 80 estates....
Adrian

VisaGTi16v · Unread post by **VisaGTi16v** » 19 Sep 2005, 19:13

Dont know about the ecu's but its that stupid dual air intake thing and i remember reading about problems with the stepping motor, some other idle thing and so on. I didnt have any of those, worst I got was having to replace a acav. It went through a phase of mayo'ing badly but one long drive without using 4/5 soon cleared that out! Oh and the emissions failing but then my cat was original so maybe effected it? Yes the rest is just generic zx stuff, reflectors in my headlights went, I got bored of driving with no dash lights so changed every bulb there and in centre console etc. Before the front bushes went it was great to drive, really stiff but didnt crash on bumps, hardly lent at all, you just have to watch the lift off over steer thats all, or curbs at Goodwood race track which caught me out

What you may find is that John wont have touched one before, very few people even know what they are! Not sure if the xantia had the same engine or not with the same inlet system? Same as the 306 S16 but even that isnt exactly common. The xsara vts/gti-6 dumped it and went back to a standard manifold very similar to the older 1.9 as im sure youre aware having owned a vts and currently a bx 16v.
Theres one about 10 miles from me on ebay atm which is overheating badly, could be the headgasket or maybe just the radiators gone. I still have my 2 year old radiator from when I stripped mine and would be tempted to buy it and fix it up but it has no alloys and the gearbox is shot apparently and its in the green which I dont like much