CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[Zelandeth]

I loved my old Skoda and that was the basic cooking model. Was it the 108? with the small engine. But it was eerily quiet inside with no creaks or growns whatsoever, just a hardly audible whirring noise from the rear.

105 was the basic one with the 1.1 engine. 120 was the 1.2, 130 1.3 and 136 for the 1.3 with the 5-port alloy head (135 as above, but with Pierburg single point fuel injection bolted on). Of course within each range you then had a bewildering array of trim level designators which after following these cars for 19 years, I still claim do not claim to know my way fully around!

130 and 136 (possibly also 120, I honestly can't remember) were also offered in "Rapid" or sometimes "Rapide" form - which was a largely hand-built apparently, 2-door coupe version - which I actually reckon was quite the looker. This also had a different dash layout, instrument panel, different choice of seat cloths, different door cards and door cappings to make it seem a bit more special.

The 130 also came in a special version which was the 130GL...This was essentially a 130 Rapid...But in the conventional 4-door saloon body, topped off with a vinyl roof.

...Then there's the 120LX. This has the semi-trailing arm suspension and rev counter which were normally reserved for the 130 - but has a 1.2 litre engine.

The model range to be totally honest is utterly bewildering.

[CitroJim]

I love the look of the Rapid (Rapide) a lot...

Never realised they were largely hand-built...

I'm trying to resist the urge to tax and inure the Skoda now

I know I should really wait until the beginning of the month now as it's only a week away but the tempation is so strong...

[CitroJim]

It's been a good day today... This morning was very busy with domestic tasks, shopping (avoiding any Black Friday nonsense) and visiting Robyn for lunch. On my way to Robyn's I popped in and picked up my race pack for the MK Winter Half Marathon in a couple of weeks time.

Own Work

I'm really looking forward to this run

After lunch I was able to play cars I must admit, having two new cars and their new challenges I'm mad keen on spannering again... I was really loosing it previously but now it's back!

First up was some more work on Sally the Saxo. Sadly, changing her oxygen sensor has not solved her half-hot running issues so the first job I did today was to swap the coolant temperature sensor...

Own Work

This has not fixed the problem either but I did catch it happen whilst the ELIT was connected... Nothing looked abnormal when she started running roughly and the only ELIT clue was the raising of an intermittent oxygen sensor fault... Despite the oxygen sensor being brand new...

Switching off briefly and restarting restores normal running and as said, this problem only manifests itself when restarting when the engine is half-hot... A start and run from stone cold does not provoke it and the engine will run perfectly for ever...

It's got me scratching my head... I will crack it

Then I did a bodge on her exhaust. The pipe has cleanly split just about an inch before the back box...

So, until the MOT comes up and I have a new system fitted I did this

Own Work

The repair material is from a Black Treacle tin... Who said sugar was bad for you

Then I played a little with the Skoda and her cooling system... As Zel has said in the past, her temperature gauge takes quite a lot of excursions between quite hot and fairly cool when under way. Zel has already changed the thermostat...

The Skoda has her rad in the front and is linked to the engine by two large metal pipes that run the length of the car. They in themselves act as a radiator!!! The total cooling system capacity is some 11 litres - that's a lot of coolant for a little 1200cc engine to warm up!

The 'official' bleeding process is exceedingly complex but today I bled it like I'd bleed an XUD engine and determined that coolant is definitely circulating to the rad and back but due to those long pipes and the rad itself being efficient, it takes ages to heat up and get any warm water coming back at all... Eventually I got some warm water back and therefore happy there is a circulation happening...

I bled about a litre of coolant out through the bleed valve near the rad... I really must take a photo of the bleed valve... It's a proper brass tap in a small hose that runs from the top of the rad to I'm not quite sure where just yet!!!

Bad light then stopped play so tomorrow I'll take her out for a decent run and see how the cooling system is behaving...

She really is a lovely car to drive and now she's properly road-legal I can really start to enjoy her... This little car is really going to keep me in fun for some time to come...

Bring it on

[RichardW]

That bodge will probably pass the MOT - as long as it's not leaking and is secure, it's a pass!

Running fault is odd - heat soak into the coil perhaps?

[Michel]

I love the look of the Rapid (Rapide) a lot...

I think they still look so cool. I used to want one a lot when I had my Estelle!

[Zelandeth]

For info Jim, the hose to the one side runs to the upper part of the radiator, other side goes to the top of the heater matrix. I've seen people before replace the single bleed tap with two separate ones which saves having to clamp off hoses and such.

I'd definitely look to modify the thermostat in there to incorporate a bypass hole in it, as I reckon some of the temperature tennis the gauge is currently showing is due to the stat being slow to "see" the temperature change as there's nothing to allow flow over it. The coolant temperature sender for the gauge however is in one of the main water galleries in the head, whereas the thermostat is essentially in a blind alley when closed.

Another common mod (I think there's a guy who even does it for folks at a set cost) is to add a low coolant alarm to the expansion tank. The coolant temperature sender is quite high up in the head, and as such if you have a catastrophic coolant loss, it can show an artificially low temperature for a time until the head gets *really* hot.

The heater supply and return hoses are hidden in the central tunnel in the floor by the way, along with the choke, throttle and handbrake cables and gear linkage. More in there than in most cars!

I had the heater getting properly hot when I was testing the car in a static manner (it's not burning toast hot, but decently warm at least), but as you say the radiator has quite a lot of cooling capacity for a little 1.2 motor...and it takes quite a while for the whole system to reach equilibrium.

Regarding the Saxo, one thing worth checking is whether the O2 sensor heater supply is present and correct. If not that could cause some odd issues.

Also if you haven't yet, clean the throttle butterfly and surrounding area - it should be clean enough to eat your dinner off. Usually is on TBi cars like this though as it's continually washed by the petrol mist.

[CitroJim]

Running fault is odd - heat soak into the coil perhaps?

Coil has already been swapped with no improvement Richard. Coil is shared with the TCT engine so I had a good spare on the shelf...

Regarding the Saxo, one thing worth checking is whether the O2 sensor heater supply is present and correct. If not that could cause some odd issues.

Also if you haven't yet, clean the throttle butterfly and surrounding area - it should be clean enough to eat your dinner off. Usually is on TBi cars like this though as it's continually washed by the petrol mist.

Two things I've not done yet Zel... Although looking to the top of the TB it looks quite spotless... I will check again and go a bit deeper...

Good thinking on the Oxygen Sensor heater... I keep overlooking that simple check I will this afternoon...

Thanks ever so for all the Skoda cooling tips Zel... Yes, on that basis the 'stat definitely needs a bleed hole and at the moment it seems the 'stat is opening and closing like a gulping fish - with no flow past it when closed that behaviour makes complete sense...

I must catch up with you for that gasket before I get to that task

[CitroJim]

Enjoyed an excellent parkrun this morning.. It was bitterly cold but still did the 5Km in 26 minutes despite being wrapped up like a mummy!

Home again and I checked Sally's oxygen sensor is receiving 12v heating voltage... I was hopeful initially as I spotted the heating voltage goes via a 5A fuse... That was OK and a good healthy 12v is reaching the sensor...

Another thing to tick off...

Onto the Skoda where I have happier news to report

This is the bleed tap for the cooling system...

Own Work

A job on the list is to clear the vegetation from the boot surrounds and bulkhead!

The paintwork is a bit dull and spotty. I think as a result of the disastrous application of Traffic Film Remover Zel spoke of...

I tried a bit of polish and the difference is amazing!

It's hard to see in this picture but a really deep shine hides under the film of grot A good clean and polish is going to make a real difference

Own Work

I cleaned the windows too as on my last excursion I noticed they were really mucky and grimy and not good to see out of in the dusk... Turns out they too had some nasty greasy film on them, inside and out... Ancient 'Rain X' or similar I suspect but much better now for a clean.

After that I took her out for a decent run and whilst initially the temperature gauge bounced from 60 to 100 degrees and back again quickly and regularly after about 6 miles it all settled down and the gauge remained nailed at just below 80 and just into the green section for the rest of the trip

It remained nailed to 80 degrees even when I really gave the engine some beans along the A422 and took her up to over 60mph!

It'll be interesting to see how she behaves from cold on the next run out...

The heater started to put out some serious warmth too, once the temperature gauge got stable So much so that I had to turn it down...

So, it looks like the cooling system is OK and more importantly, that the engine and cylinder head is OK... If it was going to overheat I'd have thought it would during a good 15 mile drive at reasonable pace...

I love the Skoda dash...

Own Work

I especially love the green bands on the temperature gauge and tacho!

[Hell Razor5543]

It remained nailed to 80 degrees even when I really gave the engine some beans along the A422 and took her up to over 60mph!

You speed demon, you! If you were a couple of years younger I would be calling you a boy racer!

[Zelandeth]

The dash is I have to admit one of my favourite features. Even if the fuel gauge is precisely as much use as a chocolate teapot when actually moving. The little pinpoint warning lights are such a thing from a totally different era too.

Good to hear she's behaved today. The heater always does take a fair while to heat up...not surprising really.

The paintwork does scrub up well, just make sure you wax it well after it's polished or it will oxidise again quite quickly...the joys of essentially 60s paint formulation I guess!

[CitroJim]

It remained nailed to 80 degrees even when I really gave the engine some beans along the A422 and took her up to over 60mph!

You speed demon, you! If you were a couple of years younger I would be calling you a boy racer!

Even if the fuel gauge is precisely as much use as a chocolate teapot when actually moving.

I've noticed I was going to ask how accurate it is but you've now answered my question Zel!!! Back in the day, all fuel gauges were like that and a lot were very considerably worse...

I shall fill her up soon; just ordered a supply of lead additive too...

Took her out for another run once she'd got stone cold and the same... The temperature gauge bounces around for the first five miles and then settles... You then get good heat

She's improving with driving too...

I need a recommendation for the best polish to use... I'm into uncharted waters here...

[Stickyfinger]

Don't bother with polish Jim, just use some of the spray "detailer" for the time being.....I have that all down here, I will cut it, polish it, add a paint sealer and then a carnauba wax all with the machine.

[CitroJim]

Alasdair, that would be brilliant, thank you I'd love her to receive the attention of a consummate professional in the art...

Be fun to drive her down to see you too... I shall look forward to that!

[Stickyfinger]

NP Jim, I would be delighted to get it looking as good as we can make it. (and stop it oxidising again)

[CitroJim]

Excellent Thank you Alasdair, that really is most appreciated!