The end of the World

Stansbury · Post by **Stansbury** » 16 Mar 2005, 14:45

How old can I expect my ZX to be before it dies? Its on an L reg and runs realy well except a few problems mainly niggles. Everytime I buy a car I end up breaking it! Had three 205Auto One gearbox, one write off and one just died on the M6 never to run again, two Mondeo's one gearbox and one front end smash (Write off) decided to buy a cheap car and paid £400 for my ZX Auto Aura 1.9D and its a nice car but with 133000 on the clock can I expect it to last much longer?

Seamster15 · Post by **Seamster15** » 16 Mar 2005, 14:52

make sure you change the oil and filters every 6k and you should be fine for 200k engine wise... im currently on 148k.
Also make sure the cooling system is is good condition.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 16 Mar 2005, 14:58

You'll get sick of your ZX long before the milage catches up with it, as long as you maintain it.
Change the oil and filter every 6k, check the oil level occasionally. Check the auto box oil level too, check the water level once in a while as well. Get any little problems sorted out before they develop into big expensive ones and the car will probably do twice the mileage its done.

Stansbury · Post by **Stansbury** » 16 Mar 2005, 15:03

Good news then! My wife told me not to bother buying another car as I will only blow it up or wreak the gearbox. shes convinced its my driving! Cant tell here anything! Its not my driving its the choice in cars! Two E reg one R reg a F, G and now an L

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 16 Mar 2005, 19:04

Old cars that somebody else has used, neglected and abused.
Both of the cars I've had came with a list of faults, and through fixing them I've learned quite a bit about Citroens. I'd prefer a car that didn't have faults and needed no maintainance but until somebody builds one I'll be sticking with the Xantae.

Ian Fearn · Post by **Ian Fearn** » 16 Mar 2005, 22:00

I'd guess the auto box will pack up long before the engine or body gives up!

Stansbury · Post by **Stansbury** » 16 Mar 2005, 22:23

You have just made my wife happy. She read the forum and agrees with you and also said with any luck I should be able to run this car into the ground as she was told the auto box is bomb proff

FDV · Post by **FDV** » 16 Mar 2005, 23:23

I've a BX 1.9D on an F with 186k on the clock and still starts first time everytime! The previous owner had it from new and maintained it beautifully, oil changes every 6k miles, cambelt every 20k and generally safe driving!

Stansbury · Post by **Stansbury** » 17 Mar 2005, 00:26

Brilliant. Going to sit down tomorrow. (Well for a while) Will change the oil, antifreeze and filers air & oil. Is there anything else I should do? Have new discs and pads for the front so will do them aswell, also those who know my previous posts install a new heater matrix (if i can) and put new bulbs in the dash.

FDV · Post by **FDV** » 17 Mar 2005, 01:06

I've been told changing the fuel filter regularly on the engines maintains good fuel economy.

Dave Bamber · Post by **Dave Bamber** » 17 Mar 2005, 01:31

Do you know the history of timing belt changes on the engine? If you have no idea when the belt was changes, I recommend you get it done ASAP. Worthwhile at the same time is changing the water pump, timing belt tentioner and idler. This will cost you a few quid but worth it. I've just done all this on my red BX (same engine) and I now have the piece of mind these very important parts are all in fine fettle. This is what happens when a timing belt fails.........

yangreen · Post by **yangreen** » 17 Mar 2005, 02:05

I'd still say that 20k is a little too often. Around 35-40k is the time I reckon you should be thinking of whether the MOT man will tear it to pieces. Personal experience. Maybe I was just lucky! Depends on driving style too I guess.

PowerLee · Post by **PowerLee** » 17 Mar 2005, 02:08

I wouldnt leave a cambelt change any longer then 36K miles.
The 406 I had with a XU10J4 lump snapped the belt at 40K & that was with a FULL Peugeot service history, Thank god for warranty cover!

Stansbury · Post by **Stansbury** » 17 Mar 2005, 20:57

If the timing done by belt or tappets?. My Pug205 was tappets and that was a (obsenity) to time. Also I have just replaced the front brakes only to find that the pads did not exsist and the disk was grooved to (obsenity) took me long enough to do because the whole system was tight and putting two new pads and disks into a space big enough for one new pad was not easy.

PowerLee · Post by **PowerLee** » 17 Mar 2005, 21:15

The 1.9 diesel you have on your ZX uses a belt