Unidentified plastic part for ZX Avantage.

Wishy · Unread post by **Wishy** » 12 May 2008, 11:30

I've always had an unidentified plastic part in the glovebox of my '96 ZX estate. Curiosity has finally taken me to try and find out what it is. It looks like in should fit in my car somewhere but the for the life of me I can't see where. There is no part number on it just a moulding date stamp.

Front

Back

Any ideas?

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 12 May 2008, 12:48

Found some plastic bits in my latest purchased BX. After 4 month I recognised it was broken parts from a very popular childrens toys over here

Some of us humans have the odd habit of picking up any small bit that looks like "something" - and put it in the glovebox ...

I cant recognise your "ZX-part". And since it does not seems like you are missing anything on your ZX - it might just be one of those odds ...

BTW : have a look on your battery - it DOES in fact looks like one of those pole covers that have to be removed on new batteries.

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 12 May 2008, 13:50

I've got one of those rattling around in my ZX glovebox too...

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 12 May 2008, 19:26

thats what the glove box is for aint it, any and all left over nuts, bolts and bits and pieces, after doing any work on the car
regards malcolm

Wishy · Unread post by **Wishy** » 13 May 2008, 09:53

I should add that it's taken me a year since getting the car to be curious enough to ask what it is!

mbunting · Unread post by **mbunting** » 13 May 2008, 16:43

Is it not something like a seat-runner end cap

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 13 May 2008, 17:51

mbunting wrote:Is it not something like a seat-runner end cap

Thats a good bet - but nothing like that shows on the parts diagram for seats/fastenings in the service list.
To me it looks more like a blank cover for any optional equipment dash/panel switches.

Could also be part of the covering for the handles usually found above the doors.

What about any covers for roof bar fittings ?

the_weaver · Unread post by **the_weaver** » 14 May 2008, 03:16

I've got one of those too.

I think it was in the glove box when I bought the car second hand.

Mine's got some markings in the grooves as follows:-

MECAPLAST
9610033177

Mecaplast are a company who supply plastic parts to car manufacturers. I'm not sure if that's a Citroen part number or a Mecaplast one. Perhaps somebody can look it up on the Citroen parts website.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 14 May 2008, 08:10

The number starting 96 certainly looks like a Citroen part number, but it doesn't return any hits on service.citroen. I had a good look round our (94 Avantage) ZX last night, but can't see anywhere that would fit.

The mystery remains!

Odd that more than one person has the same bit floating about!!

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 14 May 2008, 09:43

it almost looks like it might fit on or around the steering wheel, maybe on the rear face on the back of the wheel itself
regards malcolm

Wishy · Unread post by **Wishy** » 15 May 2008, 11:18

the_weaver wrote:Mine's got some markings in the grooves as follows:-

MECAPLAST
9610033177

Ditto, exactly the same on mine. I just didn't notice it before. For the record my date stamp is Nov '95 (3 months before my car was registered) and the part was moulded from cavity D.

I had a quick look at the various suggestions last night (albeit without the part in my hand) and couldn't see anywhere where it would fit. I did however discover that my steering column is adjustable which I had never realised previously.

If there's 3 of us with these bits it must surely be a ZX part. This is now starting to bug me.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 15 May 2008, 11:20

It is probably a superfluous bit they ordered but never use, so they chuck them in the glovebox to drive you all nuts

mbunting · Unread post by **mbunting** » 15 May 2008, 11:30

Seatbelt anchor area ?

the_weaver · Unread post by **the_weaver** » 20 Sep 2008, 21:04

I think I might have worked out where the plastic part comes from. I was removing the top and bottom side trim panels in the hatch today and following the instructions in the Haynes manual it said to remove a plastic clip from the base of the rear seat cushion. Well, the clips are missing on my car, but it looks like the mystery part might fit here.

At the base of the rear seat back, on each end (near the doors) there is a metal rod which forms a hinge for the seat back to pivot on. The lower plastic side trim panel in the hatch extends down to meet this hinge rod. The trim panel has a cutout which is bigger than the hinge rod and the mystery plastic part seems to be there to cover up the cutout and to locate the trim panel.

Perhaps interested parties could have a look at the hinge points at the base of their rear seat backs to see if somebody still has the part in place. Then we'll know for sure that this is where it fits. It's probably easier to see if you put the seat back in the down position.

Paul

Wishy · Unread post by **Wishy** » 22 Sep 2008, 10:20

Forgot about this thread. I may have some information that may help. For a laugh I went into to my local Citroen dealer to ask if they knew. The young lad behind the counter didn't know but couldn't have been more helpful. He promised to check with Citroen (after taking the moulding number down) and get back to me. He rang me back a few days and faxed this

to my work. The relevant part is the circled number 7. Unfortunately I couldn't see where this went in my boot. I wasn't sure whether me having an estate means that the boot layout is different.

I'll have a look with the seats down later.