Keeping a Troublesome car

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CITMAN
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Joined: 02 Aug 2002, 00:22
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Keeping a Troublesome car

Post by CITMAN »

I have a 1994/95 Citroen ZX 1.4i and there seems to be one things after another going wrong with it over the last couple of weeks, inner track rod ends, gear linkage problem, rear subframe front mounting bushes and bit of smoke on starting and when accelerating hard and the changing gear although I suspect that the amount of redex I put in the petrol tank has a bearing on this.[:(
At what point would you count your losses and get rid of a trouble some car and get a newer one.[:(]
tomsheppard
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Post by tomsheppard »

I don't know how long you have owned the car but the "faults"all appear to be fair wear and tear. The Track rod ends will save tyre wear and make the car better to drive and the bushes wear out on any car. By the standards of this site, this is not a troublesome car. Decent maintainance is the way of making thm last. I would cut my losses when the car would take too much time and work to keep it viable or when the shell starts to rot away
Homer
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Post by Homer »

A tricky question.
The best time to ghet rid is just before things start going wrong. Unfortunately we are not blessed with such psychic ability.
You never know if the current fault will be the last for a while or something bigger will come along the next day.
Jon

Post by Jon »

well,
"At what point would you count your losses and get rid of a trouble some car and get a newer one?"
Is the new one any more reliable? I got rid of a 1 year old Xantia Hdi and got into a 9 year old ZX TD, I can tell you which of the 2 has been more reliable and has cost less.
Your ZX is 9 years old, it is not unreasonable to be replacing the subframe mounts, trackrod ends and the like, thats par for the course due to age and mileage. As are rear brakes, handbrake cables and front arm bushes.
I did once get out of a ZX TD Vocane, L reg in a hurry as I had had enough of it and it needed too much time and money. This was my fault, took it from 48k to 128k in 2.5 years, towed heavy things with it etc etc and ended up spending big money on a new cylinder head, clutch etc. It became obvious that the rear arm bearings were shot, as were the subframe mounts, the front arm bushes, and the thing steadfastly refused to start if you left it more than 24 hours despite the best efforts of me and 3 Citroen specialists. In that case it was definately time to get rid, although in fairness to the car I just kept driving it and abusing it, and let the numerous faults mount up. I could have fixed it, but then the heater controls snapped off inside the dash so I couldn't demist the screen, I got pissed off and traded it.
The present ZX I've taken from 69 k miles to 118k in the last 2 years with only an exhaust downpipe, rear brakes, a £4 water housing and regular 6000 mile servicing, oh, and an ignition lock.
and its just fine.
ZX's are generally good value and reliable if looked after.
Jon

Post by Jon »

Now I've written the above, the ZX will probably break down or blow up, in revenge.[:(]
Jon

Post by Jon »

I was right, just went outside to get something out of the car and the ******* thing had a flat rear tyre! [B)]
CITMAN
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Joined: 02 Aug 2002, 00:22
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by CITMAN »

CARS BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE DAD BOUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS 2 AND BIT YEARS OLD WITH 20,000 MILES. I BOUGHT OF HIM ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. ITS A GOOD CAR WITH BRILLANT PAINT WORK NO RUST. SO THINK ILL KEEP HER.
WHATS ARE THE PART NUMBER OF THE FRONT MOUNTS ON THE REAR SUBFRAME IVE SEEM SOME IN ONLINE SHOP THEY OST AROUND £19.50 EACH ARE THESE THE ONES AND ARE THEY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. IF SO THEY ARE MUCH CHEAPER THEN THE GARAGES ROUND HERE WANT WHICH IS £40.00 EACH AND THE LOCAL CITROEN DEALER £50.00
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