205 carb nightmare

[UserError]

Hello,
A colleague of mine recently bought a 91 205 GR. Whilst getting other work done (head gasket & fuel pump in week 1!) she was advised that the carb was knackered.

The garage (ex Renault dealer) has tried to obtain a new carb, but has twice been sent the wrong one & has now washed its hands on this job.

I spoke to a chap at Gower & Lee carburettors, who advised that, if it was a Solex X or Y (I'm not well up on these carbs as I grew up with SU's) it was not obtainable and that there was not a direct swap.

I find it hard to believe there is not a swap of some sort, even if the manifold & or air filter assembly needs to be changed etc.

Unfortunately, the plates on the carb are devoid of info, although there could be a "32" on one of them (32PBISA?) All we know is that it is a Solex, & that the inlet is oval, whereas most would appear to be round.

I can't even find the engine number. I have deduced that it is a TU3, bt cannot get the suffix (KDY?).

Can anyone either point me to a Pug carb specialist, or any pointers to potential swaps and what ancilliaries would need to change.

Many thanks
Jonathan

[AndersDK]

Carbs are quite expensive spare parts - because they are a unit containing many precision machined parts.

You can use just about any carb you can find - if you know the engine size. Any carb calibrated to work on the same engine size will do the job as well - keeping within emissions and mileage requirements.
A TU3 engine would be a 1.4L (1.36L) engine from PSA's range of TU engine types.
The subtype (K1G, KDY, KDZ etc) denotes what kind of fuel & engine management system is fitted - being carb or electronic.

Any carb from a PSA (Citroen or Peugeot) about same yearmodel range from a 1.4L TU engine would do the job then.

If you want to try a recon job there is plenty of carb info found here :
http://www.rwbsmith.plus.com/citroen2/Carburation/

IIRC its still possible to get carb recon kits from GSF. These kits comes as kits containing all bits for any carb type within a basic carb type range. I.e. gaskets, O-rings, needle valve etc.

[UserError]

Thanks Anders,
That's reassuring about the spread of carbs available.

Also interesting about GSF as I didn't know that they had carb recon kits as carb swap would seem to require swapping other air intake parts & the job is growing and my colleague has already shelled out loads on this.

Any idea where the engine number is on the 1360?

Presumably I'm looking for "TU3.......". There is nothing like this on the front of the block (behind the exhaust manifold). My ZX 1.4i has a silver tag on the block, but there is nothing like that on the 205 engine.

Also how, do I determine/confirm the subtype, which I believe to be KDY?

Many thanks
Jonathan

[AndersDK]

Well - all TU type engines looks pretty much the same from outside.

Could be TU9 (0.96L known as the 1.0 or 10 engine), TU1 (1.1), TU2 (1.2) or TU3. They all share the same air intake arrangement as the engine block and cylinder head is the same size.
Only the bore and stroke differs - and of course the gear ratios (in the same gearbox basic type MA).

Look for any ID on the engine - casted into the block on front or rear - any tags applied - or any punched numbers on a small flat surface.

If that 205 really is a 1.4L it should look almost exactly identical to your ZX 1.4 engine as they are only 2 production years apart. Only the carb and injection details will differ.

Should BTW also be found in the papers for the car.

[UserError]

Anders,
The more I see of this 205, the less surprises me about what should or shouldn't be there....wouldn't surprise me if any or all of the engine etc had been changed -the block is substantially different from my ZX. Hmmmm.

I had hoped that the engine type would yield some clues as to the carb type. The carb has 2 small plates on - one is nearly as shiny as a mirror, the other is a bit dirty but the data is rubbed off.

I've emailed GSF, but they are likely to want to know the carb model....
Ho hum!
Thanks for your help
Jonathan

[AndersDK]

Right Jonathan -

If the 205 block in question is substantially different from your ZX14 - then its NOT a TU type engine.

There are 2 other possibilities then.

It could very well be the earlier 1.4L engine type 150 (up to '88/89 build year). This engine is rather odd looking as it appears to lay flat on its side - with very silly (no !) access to the spark plugs against the firewall.
This engine type also have the gearbox fitted as engine sump - i.e. no sidewards mounted gearbox as you see in your ZX.

The other possibility is that an XU type engine is fitted. This would be either a 1.6 or 1.9 engine. Could be from a 309 or 405 as donor car. In principle this engine looks similar to the ZX14 TU engine type. I.e. the usual side mounted gearbox and pretty logic layout.

As you may understand now - I'm not giving up just like that !

[miked]

Are you sure it isn't a twin choke carb as those are oval? Could be someone has swapped the manifold & carbs off something else (say an AX GT)

[UserError]

Hi,
Sorry about the delay 'n all that - been busy with job applications.

Gave up tring to positively identify the carb/engine & took your advice that any carb form a broadly similar PSA job would do.

As luck would have it, got an oval-mouthed carb from a 309 on Ebay for a tenner including postage & the lady in question got it fitted & is very happy as she was expecting to pay 200plus for a new one.
Thanks again.
Jono