Cooling System Breakdown ZX TD?

AthlonZX · Post by **AthlonZX** » 02 Oct 2004, 16:14

Hi Folks
I’ve had a rather worrying chain of events occur over the last few days. Firstly I noticed an odd but inoffencive ‘burning’ smell driving my ZX TD last weekend on the way home. I investigated the problem in the morning to discover the following unusual symptoms:
1) The Radiator was steaming on the bottom hand driver’s side (lots of blue frosting which is good evidence of a slight leak) #61664; which may explain the mysterious puddle of water the car occasionally leaves on the drive.
2) Bubbles constantly popping up through the expansion tank.
I found that if I let the engine run for 10 minutes or so without the cap on the expansion tank…it would form a shower-gel like foam at the top of the tank! If I revved the engine hard it would suck the water down in the tank, before kicking out more of the stuff. Now this foam wasn’t greasy at all…it’s the sort of thing I’d expect from a shower product or soap.
I ran the same kind of check on Wednesday this week to discover a very thin scum bubbles forming on at the top of the expansion tank (the beginnings of a head gasket failure?).
Driving the car on back last night…it decided it wanted to sauna my wind screen, and covered it with a greasy moisture, which would not clear (tried for 20 minutes) and had to be wiped away.
Having had another look at it this morning I’ve now noticed that the carpets on the passenger side footwell are wet. I also have steam rising from the air intake area at the top of the engine compartment...as well as from the radiator now [B)]. I must stress that my car is not overheating (yet). Can anyone advise me how difficult it is to get to the heater matrix…and replace it?
Cheers
AthlonZX (Dave)
Citroen ZX K-1993 - Aura TD 133012 miles [8D]
Citroen BX 16Valve (the restoration project is back on!)

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 02 Oct 2004, 19:49

Hi Dave -
I believe this topic has been discussed before in several postings, try the search button.
I really suspect that you not only have a leaking radiator, but even a clogged radiator which degrades the coolant flow badly.
This in turn causes hot spots in the cylinder head, and thus an overpressure (caused by spot boiling), which again stresses the heater matrix & hose connections. This also causes the "shower" foam build up, not really being bubbles which is the most sure HG failure indicator.
Note that when you test the flow in a radiator, it would be like testing the flow in an exhaust : no restrictions to air pressure should be felt.
I really think you must start with a new radiator, at the same time flushing the engine coolant system. Then take it from there.
This may save you from a HG job later.
Keep in mind your ZX has been in service for now 11 y's, it wont come as a surprise with these kind of symptoms - no matter what car make & model.

AthlonZX · Post by **AthlonZX** » 06 Oct 2004, 16:50

I've had a read round other topics posted on this matter, and decided it wasnt a job I fancied doing myself, so I went and got a quote (and full diagnosis) from a local Cit Specialist.
The specialist (Eurocarcare - which was formally Citronome in Derby), quoted me £600 for the replacement of a radiator and a heater matrix. They couldnt find any evidence of a blowing head-gasket but said that it could be a short-term possibility. I'm quite torn on what to do now, I love my zx to bits, but I think I've reached uneconomical to repair territory. Can anyone advise me if the quote I obtained is around right?
new rad £200 (parts and fitting)
new heater matrix £400 (parts and fitting)
I'm giving it a good think over, but I think this may be the time when myself and the car part [:(]
Thanks
AthlonZX (Dave)
Citroen ZX K-1993 Aura TD 133035 miles [8D]
Citroen BX 16Valve (may be back on the road sooner than I thought!)

Post by **Jon** » 06 Oct 2004, 17:52

Hm, well, to do the Matrix is a days work and every part of the dash has to come out. Unless you're really keen its a bit of a nightmare job.
The rad is £95 plus VAT from GSF, but be warned gettting the bayonet hoses back on was a nightmare when I did mine, it took about 8 attempts to get the seal on the bottom hose to seat and seal.
I suppose the question is, whether its worth spending £600 on a K reg ZX. I did the rad on mine, and a clutch (big money at a garage) plus loads of other stuff in the 3 months prior to selling it to MikeG, it was only viable because I got the parts from work and did it all myself.

ralph · Post by **ralph** » 06 Oct 2004, 17:54

Price for the rad certainly sounds about fair, a replacement for the part itself would cost around £100 - £110 including VAT, and about £200 from a Cit dealer.
It's a shame your matrix has popped as well, otherwise this would be a manageable job, and not a full weekend nightmare.

AthlonZX · Post by **AthlonZX** » 23 Oct 2004, 16:33

Hi folks
I've decided I cant stomach the prices most garages are offering to have the heater matrix & Rad done...so I'm having a full-blown go at fixing it myself [:D]
I have two questions. Firstly I'm not sure if I have correctly located my RP number. Contrary to many other posts I have read...mine appears to be on the driver's side suspension strut painted in green (5862 - which puts the date of production in November 1992 - the vehicle was registered in January 1993). Have I found the correct number? There isnt anything on the passanger side near the battery tray other than a paint-code with letters. Once I've determined this I'll know which Rad to get [:)]
Secondly does anyone know if the heater matrix that comes from gsf has all the necessary seals etc? or will I need to get them seperately?
I'm planning to take photographs of the entire process of removing the dash and accessing the heater matrix for everyone's future reference [8D]
Thanks
AthlonZX (Dave)
Citroen ZX Aura TD K1993 133035 miles (been stationary for two weeks!)
Citroen BX 16Valve (the project is on [:)])

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 23 Oct 2004, 17:11

I did not need any additional parts when I did mine, good luck, its not as bad as it seems, none of the electrical plugs will go on to the wrong places for example, just be methodical.
Stewart

AthlonZX · Post by **AthlonZX** » 24 Oct 2004, 22:39

Thanks Stewart
I've managed to get most of the dash of this afternoon (lots of labelling and reference photographs taken [:)])
Can anyone tell me if I need to completely disconnect the heater-control panel (with control cables and all), or can I leave it in place (by just unscrewing and dissconnecting it from the centre of the dashboard?)
Thanks
AthlonZX (Dave)
Citroen ZX Aura TD K1993 133035 miles