I'll AX this only once... though there is an Echo in here
Discussion
hmg said:
A propensity for exploding rear windows is all I can remember from my ownership experience in the 90’s
I had a 2 door version, and from memory the tailgate was plastic.We once parked on a grassy slope and opened the tailgate, but it wouldn't close until the car was moved back to a flat surace.
darkyoung1000 said:
cavebloke said:
Has the red paint of the model gone an oxidised pink in sympathy with the full sized vehicles?
That would be period correct, but it’s just the way my poor camera phone has reacted to the very yellow light in the kitchen….hmg said:
A propensity for exploding rear windows is all I can remember from my ownership experience in the 90’s
I had an early warning from the friend that had one previously (from the family of Citroen perverts)….”when you close the boot, always do so from the centre as otherwise you run the risk of twisting the plastic and popping the rear window out.” Wise words indeed….. Still, you have to get your weight saving somewhere!Sounded much like a shotgun going off and due to the bonded/ glued hinge to glass arrangement IIRC ?
Edited by hmg on Tuesday 3rd January 16:46
I had an AX Echo until I scrapped it after in a accident ~15 years ago. No space to keep it and would have cost way too much money for someone else to repair it. Same colour, same go-faster stripes, same engine, same year, 3-door. Didn't even consider learning to repair it back then like I would now and it still breaks my heart. Nice to see one being cared for...
Edited by andy26725 on Saturday 28th January 08:34
andy26725 said:
I had an AX Echo until I scrapped it after in a accident ~15 years ago. No space to keep it and would have cost way too much money for someone else to repair it. Same colour, same go-faster stripes, same engine, same year, 3-door. Didn't even consider learning to repair it back then like I would now and it still breaks my heart. Nice to see one being cared for...
Funny how these things get under your skin, I have similar thoughts about the first car I pranged (because I was young and stupid) and whether it ever got put back on the road by someone more mechanically minded than I was then. 1600GT Beetle (my Dad’s….) that I would love to own again now!Edited by andy26725 on Saturday 28th January 08:34
The AX needs a little attention, the exhaust blow I thought I had noticed is definitely now more noticeable. It also comes with a bonus rattle at certain RPM - as I don’t drive it much, and tonight was the first time in a while (in the dark), I’ve not investigated further. As it’s due a service though, I’ve set next Saturday aside for investigating matters and doing an oil drop.
Time to go back to 10w40:semi as well, I think the synthetic 5w30 is too thin. Other regular service items are grease the brake pad retaining pins, cables, mechanisms, oil the air filter if it needs it, and a general poke about for rust. I’m sure being a mid-90s Citroen, this last item will be a trouble free experience of course….
Suspicious noises, are never good. Especially when you don't drive the car that regularly and the information is second hand.
"Metallic screeching noise on startup" in this case.
Time to take a drive across town myself to get some firsthand information.
Add to that list:
Difficult to get into gear (especially 1st)
Juddering when setting off unless the revs were kept TLGP high
Clutch pedal lower than it should be
Clutch pedal rocking underfoot with acceleration/deceleration.
Not a good list.....
A quick underbonnet check in the dark and nothing rocked obviously by hand, but a quick check underneath showed the return of on old problem....
You shouldn't be able to see the flywheel....but that loose bolt might just be the cause of all the symptoms.
Yup, tightened up with some threadlock and all the above symptoms vanished. When I get to servicing it in the next couple of weeks, I'll take that bolt out again, clean it up (oil contamination from the rocker cover gasket isn't helping) and add more threadlock. I can't find a torque setting for it, so I'll opt for FT.
I should also investigate this, but I do fear for what I might find.....
"Metallic screeching noise on startup" in this case.
Time to take a drive across town myself to get some firsthand information.
Add to that list:
Difficult to get into gear (especially 1st)
Juddering when setting off unless the revs were kept TLGP high
Clutch pedal lower than it should be
Clutch pedal rocking underfoot with acceleration/deceleration.
Not a good list.....
A quick underbonnet check in the dark and nothing rocked obviously by hand, but a quick check underneath showed the return of on old problem....
You shouldn't be able to see the flywheel....but that loose bolt might just be the cause of all the symptoms.
Yup, tightened up with some threadlock and all the above symptoms vanished. When I get to servicing it in the next couple of weeks, I'll take that bolt out again, clean it up (oil contamination from the rocker cover gasket isn't helping) and add more threadlock. I can't find a torque setting for it, so I'll opt for FT.
I should also investigate this, but I do fear for what I might find.....
Hopefully that's just a bit of surface grot. Round cambridge they used a huge amount of salt this winter which hasn't helped either of my cars.
As for the gearbox, I'm with spinakerr, I'd get a longer bolt and put a nut on the other end. I'd be worried about stripping the thread in the block if I was repeatedly going FT on it.
As for the gearbox, I'm with spinakerr, I'd get a longer bolt and put a nut on the other end. I'd be worried about stripping the thread in the block if I was repeatedly going FT on it.
A little bit of time spent on the AX yesterday as the MOT is next month and the last oil change was pre-Le Mans. I needed to try and fix the smell of burning oil that was following me around.... I'm glad it fits in the back yard as its makes work a lot easier!
Standard oil and filter change, Bosch this time as its was what Halfords stocked and I was using up a voucher.
Evidence of oil on the downpipe from the manifold, with the source being known (rocker cover gasket), but very obvious unfortunately.
A quick look at the rockers show all appears well though.
Unfortunately, the new cam cover gasket despite boldly claiming it fits an AX, doesn't. Unfortunately, that meant a clean up and bodge until I can find a replacement...
Other bits of fettling involved tracing a suspected exhaust blow (the system underneath and all the connections looked fine). Ah, found it.
All 8 manifold nuts needed tightening, I'm not sure why they'd worked loose, the specified torque setting seems low at 16Nm though.
I also checked all of the gearbox to engine mounting bolts. Good news, the one I did a couple of months back is fine, although it's equivalent at the top needed tightening. There is room for a nut on the bottom (good suggestion both, thank you), so if it's happens again, that's what I'll do.
The nearside sidelight bulb has blown more then once, the the connections were a bit green and furry, so those were cleaned up, although of course I didn't have the correct (capless) bulb in the stash.
The offside headlight was slightly loose, and potentially an MOT fail (the Tiger Seal having done a sterling job up to this point). It appears your can now get replacement headlights though, but I don't want to replace it for the sake of some snapped plastic if I could avoid it.... UHU proved unsuccessful, but JB Weld and the correct sized cable tie has formed the perfect new socket. Morebodgery innovative engineering....
More plastic related repairs conducted to the front bumper following the unfortunate pheasant collision last year. I didn't want it getting worse and breaking up the bumper (an enormous consideration given the high speeds the AX can reach of course
). Now sealed front and back with metal stitches in strategic places. I might tidy it up a bit with some sanding in the future though.
Hopefully that will be sufficient for the MOT - I'll come back to the non - structural corrosion under the bonnet at a later date....
Standard oil and filter change, Bosch this time as its was what Halfords stocked and I was using up a voucher.
Evidence of oil on the downpipe from the manifold, with the source being known (rocker cover gasket), but very obvious unfortunately.
A quick look at the rockers show all appears well though.
Unfortunately, the new cam cover gasket despite boldly claiming it fits an AX, doesn't. Unfortunately, that meant a clean up and bodge until I can find a replacement...
Other bits of fettling involved tracing a suspected exhaust blow (the system underneath and all the connections looked fine). Ah, found it.
All 8 manifold nuts needed tightening, I'm not sure why they'd worked loose, the specified torque setting seems low at 16Nm though.
I also checked all of the gearbox to engine mounting bolts. Good news, the one I did a couple of months back is fine, although it's equivalent at the top needed tightening. There is room for a nut on the bottom (good suggestion both, thank you), so if it's happens again, that's what I'll do.
The nearside sidelight bulb has blown more then once, the the connections were a bit green and furry, so those were cleaned up, although of course I didn't have the correct (capless) bulb in the stash.
The offside headlight was slightly loose, and potentially an MOT fail (the Tiger Seal having done a sterling job up to this point). It appears your can now get replacement headlights though, but I don't want to replace it for the sake of some snapped plastic if I could avoid it.... UHU proved unsuccessful, but JB Weld and the correct sized cable tie has formed the perfect new socket. More
More plastic related repairs conducted to the front bumper following the unfortunate pheasant collision last year. I didn't want it getting worse and breaking up the bumper (an enormous consideration given the high speeds the AX can reach of course
). Now sealed front and back with metal stitches in strategic places. I might tidy it up a bit with some sanding in the future though.Hopefully that will be sufficient for the MOT - I'll come back to the non - structural corrosion under the bonnet at a later date....
Niponeoff said:
Not VTS'd it yet! I've had so many of these, would love another one.
It was allays a tempting thing, especially when the head gasket went on the original engine. This is going to sound daft, but I really like the 3 stud hubs on tiny wheels, and the VTS job while making the car an absolute hoot to drive, was more than I had the time to commit to. The engine refresh and manifold tweaks make it feel a lot quicker though! Bobupndown said:
Love the simplicity of this and your perseverance keeping it on the road.
My sister and mum had Saxo and 106s, similar simple light weight French fun. I preferred something bigger and despite having viewed a number of Xantias I always ended up buying 405s.
Can't beat the comfy! I do love a 405, but the lightweight hilarity of this is part of its attraction... My sister and mum had Saxo and 106s, similar simple light weight French fun. I preferred something bigger and despite having viewed a number of Xantias I always ended up buying 405s.
Couchwarrior316 said:
Great thread here. Love these basic old Frenchies
That is part of its charm. Nothing too complicated to add weight or break!I forgot to add as part of my log that I'll need 4 new tyres when I checked. They're all legal, but that eccentric wear pattern is still an issue. Lots less tread on the inner part of the tyres than the outer.
4 new tyres booked in for Friday, given the wear pattern on the inside shoulders, I've booked for tracking as well (now the front suspension has been replaced....)
Also tackled the last known fail, the blown sidelight bulb.
Truly rock and roll!
Then got stuck in on a couple of motorbikes, but there are no threads for those. It's been a busy day.
Also tackled the last known fail, the blown sidelight bulb.
Truly rock and roll!
Then got stuck in on a couple of motorbikes, but there are no threads for those. It's been a busy day.
2 hours at ATS for them to fit 4 new Ecowings and sort out the tracking. 2 degrees out on one side, 9 on the other.
The car was older than the person fitting the tyres, and they had to be shown how to find the track rods on an AX....
The car feels good to drive and I had a nice chat with the guy behind the desk who has a Renault 5...
Good to have tread across the full width of the tyre again!
The car was older than the person fitting the tyres, and they had to be shown how to find the track rods on an AX....
The car feels good to drive and I had a nice chat with the guy behind the desk who has a Renault 5...
Good to have tread across the full width of the tyre again!
Of course 760kgs of French finery makes an ideal tow car, why do you ask....
Worked out OK in the end, all cars shuffled to assist the Rallye Resolution make progress and no clutches were harmed in the process.
Driving back, the N/S headlight (the unbroken one), seemed a little out, thankfully just a loose clip.
While I've not done many miles, the cam cover sealant appears to be holding (although I now have a proper gasket for when it fails).
Worked out OK in the end, all cars shuffled to assist the Rallye Resolution make progress and no clutches were harmed in the process.
Driving back, the N/S headlight (the unbroken one), seemed a little out, thankfully just a loose clip.
While I've not done many miles, the cam cover sealant appears to be holding (although I now have a proper gasket for when it fails).
Edited by darkyoung1000 on Saturday 29th April 11:07
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