Well the ZX went on a 100 mile round trip today for a car meet in Fife. It performed faultlessly although I did have to run the heater on fan setting 2 occasionally to keep the temperature steady. Kept up with motorway traffic reasonably well too.
So, next weeks jobs are to buy and fit a new accelerator cable and a new thermostat. Not looking forward to bleeding it though
Hello again! 1.4i ZX Content!
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- A very naughty boy
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Re: Hello again! 1.4i ZX Content!
Bleeding is not so bad, just remember to open the bleeder on top of the radiator
This one is often missed. If needed, I can supply the precise instructions...
A good bleed is critical for these engine and needs to be done at least twice in my experience...

A good bleed is critical for these engine and needs to be done at least twice in my experience...
Jim
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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- A very naughty boy
- Posts: 52130
- Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
- x 7017
Re: Hello again! 1.4i ZX Content!
A bleeding procedure that works for me on a TU engine...
1. Open all bleeders: heater supply pipe, cylinder head and top of radiator...
2. Top up coolant via the header tank until coolant issues from all bleeders. You may need to put a higher header tank on - make one from a fizzy pop bottle with the bottom chopped off and seal it into the header tank proper using a bead of plasticine...
3. The radiator bleeder may be the first to have coolant issue from it. If so, close it and then wait for coolant to issue from the cylinder head bleeder. Then close that one and keep going until the heater bleeder follows.. Close all bleeders.
4. Start engine and allow it to reach full temperature whilst squeezing the top hose to encourage circulation. Keep an eye on the header tank and top up as needed. When the thermostat opens, denoted by the top hose getting hot, open all bleeders again in turn and close when a good flow of coolant issues with no air. Take care as the coolant will be hot...
5. Continue to run engine until fans cut in and then cut out again. Check the radiator is hot all over - be careful of the cooling fan cutting in when doing this and cutting your hand! If the radiator has cold spots, it's either partially blocked or not properly bled. Check the heater chucks out lots of hot air when set to full hot.
6. Stop the engine, leave the expansion tank cap off and allow the engine to cool. When cool, check level, top up if needed, replace cap and take the car out for good run.
7. Allow to cool, check level, top-up if necessary and then repeat all of the above a couple more times until you are sure all air is out and there is no need to top up the expansion tank any further...
Note that the coolant, when cold, will find its own natural level and the system will expel excess coolant. This natural level may not coincide with any 'max' markings on the tank..
Hope that helps...
1. Open all bleeders: heater supply pipe, cylinder head and top of radiator...
2. Top up coolant via the header tank until coolant issues from all bleeders. You may need to put a higher header tank on - make one from a fizzy pop bottle with the bottom chopped off and seal it into the header tank proper using a bead of plasticine...
3. The radiator bleeder may be the first to have coolant issue from it. If so, close it and then wait for coolant to issue from the cylinder head bleeder. Then close that one and keep going until the heater bleeder follows.. Close all bleeders.
4. Start engine and allow it to reach full temperature whilst squeezing the top hose to encourage circulation. Keep an eye on the header tank and top up as needed. When the thermostat opens, denoted by the top hose getting hot, open all bleeders again in turn and close when a good flow of coolant issues with no air. Take care as the coolant will be hot...
5. Continue to run engine until fans cut in and then cut out again. Check the radiator is hot all over - be careful of the cooling fan cutting in when doing this and cutting your hand! If the radiator has cold spots, it's either partially blocked or not properly bled. Check the heater chucks out lots of hot air when set to full hot.
6. Stop the engine, leave the expansion tank cap off and allow the engine to cool. When cool, check level, top up if needed, replace cap and take the car out for good run.
7. Allow to cool, check level, top-up if necessary and then repeat all of the above a couple more times until you are sure all air is out and there is no need to top up the expansion tank any further...
Note that the coolant, when cold, will find its own natural level and the system will expel excess coolant. This natural level may not coincide with any 'max' markings on the tank..
Hope that helps...
Jim
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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- (Donor 2022)
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Re: Hello again! 1.4i ZX Content!
Fantastic thanks.CitroJim wrote: 01 Aug 2023, 07:41 A bleeding procedure that works for me on a TU engine...
1. Open all bleeders: heater supply pipe, cylinder head and top of radiator...
2. Top up coolant via the header tank until coolant issues from all bleeders. You may need to put a higher header tank on - make one from a fizzy pop bottle with the bottom chopped off and seal it into the header tank proper using a bead of plasticine...
3. The radiator bleeder may be the first to have coolant issue from it. If so, close it and then wait for coolant to issue from the cylinder head bleeder. Then close that one and keep going until the heater bleeder follows.. Close all bleeders.
4. Start engine and allow it to reach full temperature whilst squeezing the top hose to encourage circulation. Keep an eye on the header tank and top up as needed. When the thermostat opens, denoted by the top hose getting hot, open all bleeders again in turn and close when a good flow of coolant issues with no air. Take care as the coolant will be hot...
5. Continue to run engine until fans cut in and then cut out again. Check the radiator is hot all over - be careful of the cooling fan cutting in when doing this and cutting your hand! If the radiator has cold spots, it's either partially blocked or not properly bled. Check the heater chucks out lots of hot air when set to full hot.
6. Stop the engine, leave the expansion tank cap off and allow the engine to cool. When cool, check level, top up if needed, replace cap and take the car out for good run.
7. Allow to cool, check level, top-up if necessary and then repeat all of the above a couple more times until you are sure all air is out and there is no need to top up the expansion tank any further...
Note that the coolant, when cold, will find its own natural level and the system will expel excess coolant. This natural level may not coincide with any 'max' markings on the tank..
Hope that helps...
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- (Donor 2022)
- Posts: 21
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Re: Hello again! 1.4i ZX Content!
I’ve changed the thermostat and bled the car several times and now it’s running too hot. It’s not overheating but under normal conditions it’s running at 100ish and turning the heaters on keeps it at bay. The fan kicks in a bit later now. So I’m either blaming the new thermostat or it’s simply not bled correctly yet. I can get it pressure bled tomorrow so I might try that.