306 bulkhead rot

[picassodad]

I saw the 306 rotten seat belt area thread, ours was done some years ago.

Please could you point out hopefully with pictures where else do they rot ?

Bulkheads rot apparently but where abouts please ?

Thanks in advance...

[MattBLancs]

I'll take a picture in the daylight tomorrow - I'm not sure if there's a "common" place for them to go, but you'll at least see where mine has gone

Will show front inner wings - also failed on mine.

Not sure how the boot floor is looking - mine was very scabby and had a clean up and (Hammerite Garage door paint!) Repaint a good few years back. Suspect that will be in need of more remedial work when I tackle the 306 revival

[MattBLancs]

Overview

Behind ECU

More central

Inner wings

Right

Under PAS reservoir

Left

Under ABS pump

All pretty horrible for access and in terms of current condition!

[CitroJim]

How old is yours Matt? And what sort of life has it led? Is it Scottish by any chance?

That all looks quite serious... If the bulkhead needs structural repair it looks like it might be an engine out job...

Inner wings too... It would certainly make it a bit easier access-wise...

[MattBLancs]

How old is yours Matt? And what sort of life has it led? Is it Scottish by any chance?

That all looks quite serious... If the bulkhead needs structural repair it looks like it might be an engine out job...

Inner wings too... It would certainly make it a bit easier access-wise...

1999 V reg. 229 thousand miles on the clock.

Not sure if Scottish, but don't think so, reg ends FSU - I know some clever folks can determine location/ registration district from that???

Yes, expectation is engine out, dashboard and front carpets out. Maybe unbolt outer wings too help access.


Whilst engine is out will clean up (is doing the self preservation trick: cover itself in oil) and swap inlet manifold for the HDi 110 version I've bought and already cleaned out the EGR crud.

By most metrics my 306 is end of life, uneconomical to repair. I'm planning to have a go at fixing it as fancy the challenge - and if I fail then it'll only end up taking the route it would if I didn't bother.

[CitroJim]

It's had a good, busy life

Not sure if Scottish, but don't think so, reg ends FSU - I know some clever folks can determine location/ registration district from that???

That is Scottish originally Matt... Glasgow...

Sadly, many Scottish cars I've seen have been rather rotten... They must use a lot of salt up there in the winter...

Details can be found here on how to 'read' pre-2001 number plates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_r ... ed_Kingdom

Given time and an engine crane it's a nice challenge to fix it and see it live again... Very satisfying... I'll be watching progress with great interest...

With the engine out, it's an ideal time to do lots of jobs that are otherwise not easy with it in-situ... Clutch, cambelt and so on... Also a great chance to do a nice clean-up of the engine and engine bay generally

With the dash out, a new heater matrix - as a precaution - might be a good plan too...

[MattBLancs]

It's had a good, busy life

Oh yes, certainly will me it has - about 400 miles a week, week in, week out for a while. (Best tankfull 840 miles I think, but that was pretty boring, usually over 700 I think - there's 75,000 miles worth of fuel logging in a spreadsheet on my work PC will have a look next week if I remember.

reg ends FSU??

That is Scottish originally Matt... Glasgow...

Sadly, many Scottish cars I've seen have been rather rotten... They must use a lot of salt up there in the winter...

Details can be found here on how to 'read' pre-2001 number plates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_r ... ed_Kingdom

Given time and an engine crane it's a nice challenge to fix it and see it live again... Very satisfying... I'll be watching progress with great interest...

Yes, if you look closely at my profile picture you can spot the 306 watching the engine come out of my wife's 206 - I think that's what gave it the idea of giving me all this work to do!

With the engine out, it's an ideal time to do lots of jobs that are otherwise not easy with it in-situ... Clutch, cambelt and so on... Also a great chance to do a nice clean-up of the engine and engine bay generally

With the dash out, a new heater matrix - as a precaution - might be a good plan too...

Yes, yes and yes to all those jobs, plus as said clean up intake and add things to give it a bit more go - hopefully.

It'll be a good while before this project gets started most likely - engine swap on the 406 Coupe first (plus do a house up, work full time and having fun with my family) etc, etc

[picassodad]

Thanks, will be watching out for more info/pictures.

During the summer the engine will be coming out for cleaning inlet manifold and other stuff.

Mot as soon as possible so can tax else I get moaned at and have to sleep in the he shed brrrrrrrrrrr.

Mot first then heater matrix as it's leaking. By passed at the moment.

Please keep info coming...

[MattBLancs]

Mot as soon as possible so can tax else I get moaned at and have to sleep in the he shed brrrrrrrrrrr

Would be comfier in the 306, admittedly not a lot warmer (especially with the heater bypassed)


Heater matrix is pig of a job from what I've read, full dash out - not complicated, just long winded. Never tackled that job yet, but will be when I eventually get round to the 306 bulkhead job.

Engine out - at least for a 1.6 HDi in a 206 = wasn't anywhere near as bad as I would have thought. With engine crane I did it single handed without much difficulty or doing myself an injury! 306 engine bay is roomier, so should be same or easier.

[picassodad]

The engine lifting eyes, only held on by some 6mm bolts I think. Are they strong enough for engine and gearbox lift out ?

They look a bit on the weak side to me, any confirmation, please ?

[CitroJim]

Yes, in my experience the lifting eyes are absolutely fine for an engine and gearbox lift. They are so placed to ensure the whole power unit lifts out at the correct angle/attitude with the correct balance when attached to the crane hook using equal length chains/ropes....

I've lifted many TU, XU, XUD and ES9 V6 engines - all on their standard lifting eyes...

[MattBLancs]

I've lifted many TU, XU, XUD and ES9 V6 engines - all on their standard lifting eyes...

Can only add EW10A and DV6 to that list, but standard lifting points fine on them too! DW12 raised and lowered by the gearbox end lifting eye (other end still on the upper "donut" mount) during a gearbox off job = also fine.

[picassodad]

Thanks for info so far, much appreciated.

Car has water under passenger front carpet. It's not coolant. The bulkhead looks good under the bonnet.

It may be coming from heater motor drain but I don't think so. It seems to be coming from under the bulkhead sound proofing.

A leaky windscreen perhaps ?

Any common areas to search for water ingress ?

All help greatly appreciated.

[CitroJim]

Car has water under passenger front carpet. It's not coolant. The bulkhead looks good under the bonnet.

It may be coming from heater motor drain but I don't think so. It seems to be coming from under the bulkhead sound proofing.

A leaky windscreen perhaps ?

I can't recall now if it applies to the 306 but the Xantia used to leak into the passenger footwell for a pastime and soak everything, including the bulkhead sound deadening and this was all due to a failure of the seal between the bottom of the windscreen and the plastic scuttle trim.

In most cars it does not need a good seal here so windscreen fitters never bothered and even if no new screen has been fitted the seal can still fail over time. This allowed water running down the screen to run straight into the heater air intake...

Worth a check...

Also worth checking sunroof drains (if fitted) and the integrity of the membranes behind the door cards...

[picassodad]

Thanks Jim.

Door card membrains good.

I think this car has had a new windscreen in the past. It not a pug screen from sticker/print, will check tomorrow. I did find one "square" of glass under the dash but think that was from a non laminated screen.

Will get hose pipe out when it's a bit warmer but will use a cover for now.

It passed its MOT today, tfft !