![[Tyre
tread]](toyo910.gif)
![[black car]](citroen.gif)
This is a BX 19 TGD no less. It's a hatchback, black, and a 'J', first registered in March 1992. It's a 1.9 diesel engine, but not a turbo, nonetheless it's quicker than my Orion, but that was never difficult.
Since the demise of the Orion, I was driving around in my dad's Fiat Uno 45 while he was on holiday (lucky) while I found myself a new(er) replacement. I had my heart set on a Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel with (as of I could afford) about 80,000 miles on the clock. I was ready to buy when...
"Hi Jon? What do you know about Vauxhall diesel engines?" The voice on the other end of the phone told me to ask Alistar. When I spoke to Alistar he said "They eat camshafts". "Is that the 1.6 or the 1.7 diesel?" "Oh, now then, the 1.7 also eats camshafts but not as many. If you want a good engine get a Peugeot or a Citroen. Come and drive my BX and see what you think."
That evening I went to Alistar's and drove a 1983 'A' reg Citroen BX. It's the car with hydraulic suspension, it goes up and down. He demonstrated by sitting on the back of the car, and up it rose. "I'm 27 stone (378 lbs or 830 kg)" he said. "They always self level no matter what they are carrying." I was impressed.
Then I saw this black BX, with 109,580 miles on the clock, regularly serviced. Alistar gave it the OK, so I bought it. It needed a new sphere for the steering and brakes, oil change and filter, fuel filter, timing belt, number plate lamp, interior lamp, and a jack. I am considering uprating the tyres from 165 S70 R14 to 185 S70 R14. A bloke in a tyre fitting place told me I didn't want to do that as it'd ruin the handling. Anyone like to comment?
POSTSCRIPT: Someone did respond to this, and said that if the tyre is wider at the base than the wheel, then it would suffer from a trapezoidal effect. One fact I do know, is that comparing the handling of my 175's versus 165's, and the 165's hold the road far better. As to stopping distances... who knows?
Sunday 8th October 1995. It was a nice sunny day, so I'd decided to do a bit more wiring on my car stereo. The tweeters from the old system had purpose built recesses in the BX, so wiring was installed. Also wiring was put in for the bass bin in the rear, and for the 12v battery monitor, and a flashing red LED mounted on the dash.
Security at work called me, and asked me where did I park my car? They had called the police as they believed the car to be abandoned, the police traced it to me. How security though that a car would be abandoned INSIDE a locked car park, I'm not sure, however this was the second of two incidents where my car has 'moved'. Brakes have been changed, and I'd not pulled the handbrake on hard enough, the car had just slid!
Latest news. Last night (May 26th 1996) I was driving to the Hospital Radio, when my battery voltage indicator was showing below 12 volts. I decided to turn home, but the voltage dropped to below 10 volts, and the car just stopped. Turned out that the starter motor had jammed on, and I was driving it. The bearings gave up and it drained power from the car, eventually stalling it. It's back in dry dock.
Repair is completed, I picked my car up tonight (May 28th) with a brand new starter motor, they are NOT cheap. Dropped my Dad's Fiat Uno 45 back at his house, and my brother gave me a lift to my car. I owe my brother.
Sunday 7th of June. Post goes up in the UK tomorrow, and I have a letter to post. Got in car, strange noise when it started. Stopped, and when I turned the key to the ON (not 'start') position, the starter went. Hummmm.
I spent this afternoon rewiring the starter, through a switch in the car. I can now isolate the starter. I'm seeing Al on Tuesday.
With the wonder of GSM-900 phones, I've been unable to contact Al. However I'm still managing to start my car using the switch. Since then we are on 127000 miles and I have replaced all the tyres with 175 SR 70 14, Michelin 'energy' tyres. There are q-u-i-e-t tyres, and the handling of the car feels better for the extra width. I was informed I could not put 185's on, unless I went to a lower profile tyre, as there is precious little room underneath the wheelarch at the back.
129000 miles and the back box of my exhaust has fallen off. I was heading north on the M6 last night (I'd been to Malvern to climb the hill for a day - August 17th 1996) and in my rear view mirror, the headlights of the other cars picked out this object that my car left behind as I continued, the noise level rising slightly. In addition, the electrical problem has worsened, and I have to disconnect my heater relay after the first morning start.
130020. Time for a wash. I've also hoovered out the interior and polished it!
132400. October 1997. Bump. I can't say any more than that, last time I had an accident, I said I'd get the police involved, but I didn't quite bargain for what happened. My car has been mended now, good as new, it's had antifreeze in it, and I have bought it a new battery. I'm still having problems with the heater plug relay, i have at least one glo plug, if not two, dead, and as it's getting colder, you can tell.
Service at 134420, 5th December. It turns out that only one of the glo plugs was duff, however the relay was causing the problems. We'll see tomorrow cos it's going to be a frosty night. Also it seems that there wasn't any antifreeze in the radiator, since it's repair. It's had the usual oil and filter change, fuel filter and once over. The top hose on the radiator is rubbing and will need replacing next time, a jubilee clip is stopping further damage. Also it seems that the rear bushes and also spheres will require some work. The rear suspension will need some work.
Between Christmas and New Year, there was some snow! I found the nearest car park covered in snow, and drove around, on my snow tyres! Well, they work!!! It's like driving on a normal road, and when driving on snowy roads the same is true, lots of grip.
139280. Feb 23 1997 Changed the snow tyres off the front, and replaced with my ordinary ones. That was after I'd seen Alistar to pick up some more wheel rims. I told him about my red STOP light coming on when I went fast round a corner. He told me to stop going fast round a corner. Seriously, it's due to the low fluid level of 'Citroen blood'.
Service at 141200. April 9th 1997. I bought some of the green LHM fluid and stopped the flashing red light. Alistar has not let me have the car back yet. Seems that when the MOT was done, the put the wrong brake pads on, and the were incorrectly fitted, causing linkages to seize and possible risk of them falling off due to not using the peg to hold them in. It's taken him a while to do it. Also a pair of new drive shaft boots. The fan belt will need replacing next service, as will the timing belt (it'll be coming up to 40,000 miles since the last change).
144444. May 22nd 1997. Hmmmmmmmmmmm BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Ah. Pulled over. Well I hadn't lost any of my exhaust, but the end of the downpipe that goes into the first box was now floating freely! I dropped over to see Alistar, who using a bit of copper wire mated the two corroded ends and noted which bit he needed for the next night. The next evening he wrestled to get the old parts off, in which time I saw him, with his bare hands, snap a 1/2 inch bolt! He also did a look over under the far, seems that the offside rear suspension boot needs replacing, and a couple of new rubbers for the oil breather and return pipes at the front. also a camshaft end seal which is losing a bit of oil for me. My car is now quiet again. Ahhhhhhhhh!
May 25th. The old car stereo giving some problems. Mainly because it is old. I replaced it with another, fitted it, fitted a booster amplifier for the bass tube, and it sounds OK. Also stops the stereo going into meltdown as the volume's turned up rather high! Not a bad price either.
146050. June 23rd 1997. The quiet didn't last too long. I stopped to find the back exhaust box hanging off (the piece I lost last August) with part of the middle box attached. It had rusted off. 'Phoned Alistar, "We should have replaced the whole lot", he said. He went on to tell me a story of being run off the road by a road raged driver, the police getting involved, a few exchanged words between the police and the raged driver, and Alistar was told to go on his way. He thought that was odd, but later that night his car was nicked. In it were some old, and some new Citroen parts. Among the items stolen from the car, when it was eventually recovered 3 days later out of petrol, were two empty spheres, and my new camshaft oil seal. They left the engine head in, and my suspension boot. Oh, and no it wasn't a Citroen! He's now replaced my middle box, and, ahhhhh, it's all quiet!
Front tyres are 5mm (checked) and rear tyres 6mm. I've been keeping my eye on the pressures too. Michelin have brought out a new improved grip version of their Energy range, including a 'Road and Winter' tyre, which has a tread pattern designed to work better with snow conditions. When I get down to 3mm on the front tyres, I'll change to the new ones I think!
August 1997. 149200 Odd interference on the car radio, sounds electrical. After stopping and checking under the bonnet, I proceed slowly. Then the air blower gets fast, then slow. As it appeared to vary with engine speed, I thought it was the alternator. I slackened it off, and started up. Blowers went full pelt and the interference was still there. Hmmm can't be the alternator then. Next I pull the power plug on the fan. It's fine! Tried to dismantle the control panel, but nothing seemed wrong. I'll have to pull out the fan itself. Another day...
September 1997 149879 miles. MOT. Passed. Also A suspension boot was replaced. I've still not sorted the blower out yet...
October 1997. Reconnected the blower, I needed it during heavy rain. Worked ok... Hmmm?
November 1997 152831 miles. Time to put on the winter tyres. Front two are 3mm centre tread, 4mm outside tread. The snow tyres are uniform 8mm. Weather forecast looks wintery!
March 1998 155898. Apart from one night when snow fell for just two hours, it's been pretty mild. I've started a new job, and with business class one on the insurance I do a bit of multi site travelling in my car, but living only a short distance from my base workplace, I'll do a lot less miles. However the brake lights stopped working. It was a wet, windy, dark night, and I spent some hours pouring over wiring diagrams, with a meter in my hand. I attempted to rewire the apparently severed cable, but to no avail. I called Alistar who offered various advice. Still nothing worked. The next evening I turned up at his pub (keeping the fiance waiting too) and we fiddled about, this time in the light. When trying to affix the extra wire to the back light cluster, Alistar pulled the connector off. "This is a bit green" he announced. Second from the end too, the brake contact. A bit of flick and scrape, and the brake lights, including the high level, started working OK. Next day it was dry, I took out a wire brush and sorted it properly.
March 15th 1998 156272 miles. Time for the winter tyres to come off. They are at 5mm now. So in 3441 miles, they lost 3mm of tread. Not a bit of damn snow either. The rear tyres are at 6mm, front tyres at 4mm, and pressurized to 30 psi.
April 14th 1998. 157677 miles. Put the snow tyres back on after a heavy shower of snow! Well February 2nd (If Candlemas day be clear and bright, winter will have a second flight) was sunny and warm. I've also fitted a MIN MAX outdoor thermometer, and a little compass.
July 7th-10th 1998. 163561 Miles. Service. Also there's a squeaking coming from the rear. Turns out it was the radius bearings. They cause the wheels to lean, and at around this mileage, they go! One of the bearings had actually broken, causing the squeaking. The pressure in the front two spheres is 120, which is pretty low. Usual oil, and filter, fuel filter. The pads on the rear are getting a little low now. Al tightened up the door posts so that the doors shut a little closer, making for a quieter ride. The MIN-MAX thermometer showed 66.1 C, then I remembered Al has steam cleaned the engine!
![[in a garage]](alsphere.gif)
Around this point I got another Citroen to play with.
September 21st 1998. MOT. Passed. Noted was an earthing fault on a rear light cluster and maybe in need of new front discs. The back brakes were replaced.
October 4th 1998. Last Friday returning from 'customer site', the red battery light was flickering. Al reckoned the Alternator was going, so it was swapped at 166257 miles.
October 12th 1998. 166557 miles. The replacement alternator failed. Al swapped it as a new one would take a couple of days to get in, and I haven't got that. I also swapped the front and rear tyres, rear are at 4mm minimum and front at 3mm minimum, with around 1/2 a millimetre more at the edges. Lots of coppergrease on the wheelnuts too.
October ??th 1998. Returning from my grandparent, the battery light started flickering. It was night and I needed lights, to conserve power, I removed the nearside headlight bulb. Near home, I phoned Al, when we lifted the bonnet, he saw a flash, the connector was loose. Tightened it, and all was well.
For reasons explained here I got yet another Citroen to play with!
December 6th 1998 169120 miles. On the way to mediate between in laws and relatives, the back box of the exhaust fell off. The last time this happened was on the motorway and it vanished in the rear view, this time, I stopped and put it in the boot.
December 19th 1998 169774 miles. Called at Al's to get the back box replaced.
February 20th 1999. 172112 miles. Full service. The fuel filter was not changed, but it was checked. The front disks were replaced and new Ferodo brake pads fitted. Air cleaner was changed, the oil is Millers XFE. The fan belt was tightened. Al noted the scratch on the windscreen, which was caused when the wiper broke.
March 25th 1999. 173480 miles. While returning home to check out the dinted door on Meggen's Citroen, my battery light glowed faintly. The alternator is duff. Again. Also I had a puncture a week back, but the tyre has only 2.5mm tread, not worth fixing.
March 27th 1999. Al found another alternator, unfortunately in the rolling around in the boot of his car, it had failed (small crack in housing), so from his bench be produced a rusty one, which worked OK.
June 20th 1999 177177 miles. Houston, we have a problem. Leaking water, about 0.5 litres a day. The thermostat housing was a little loose, no gasket, but I tightened it up, it's also dripping from near the alternator pulley (the alternator is also playing up, being a little lazy). Al reckons its the water pump going. Well a whole load of water and I'm still motoring, but it needs sorting. I also got a reconditioned alternator.
July 7th 1999 177922 miles. It was the water pump leaking. No antifreeze in, just see how it goes for a week or so. Also swapped the alternator, and did an oil and filter change.
August 7th 1999 179082 miles. The exhaust pipe to the back box was 'perforated' mainly by rust! It was replaced.
August 28th 1999 180900 miles. The winkers stopped winking and just stay on... Intermittently... I reseated the relay and it didn't happen again...
February 2000. 186186. New tyres. After some debate, I went for 175R65 size. Also with the January sales, there was money off the H rated, so I went for Toyo R610 'Road Pro' directional tyres. Start at 7mm outer, 6mm centre.
February 21 2000 MOT. 188098 miles. Passed with warnings, and a service. All the brake pads, front and back replaced, four new heater plugs, two were dead, one was on its way out, one seemed OK, rear discs cleaned, clutch cable adjusted, throttle cable adjusted, leaves cleared out of air filter, new cam shaft oil seal. Al noted that the handbrake cable was on its way out.
June 11th 2000 193150 miles. Tyres swapped front for rear as per care guide. front down 0.5 mm over rear.
September 4th 2000 196255. Oil and filter change, new handbrake cable. Al pulled out all the stuff that dropped into the interior cover for the handbrake! He recommended that the green citroen blood was totally replenished.
October 18th 2000 197283. Timing belt change and citroen blood change (lhm). Seems we'd overlooked the timing belt so it was due for a change. Al noted that the car seemed 'spongy' so he recommended changing the LHM. It certainly pumps up quicker, and seems a better ride.
October 29th 2000 197822. Time for winter tyres, Snowprox Toyo S940's, 7.5 mm on, front pair off. Snow? who's knows.
December 20th 2000. 199200. The last dash bulb went, meaning I could not see how fast I was driving. All 7 bulbs replaced.
January 7th 2001. 199900. I was losing water and the radiator seemed not to be getting hot. Al drove around in it for a while, but it was only when it was left idling that a small hole in the top hose exposed itself, the hose was shortened.
I've been given a company car, so all the adventures may just come to an end.
By popular request, all my servicing is carried out by Al, Britannia Motor
Services, and he can me contacted on 07966 194035 and is based in the Leigh,
Golborne, Wigan area.
![[Britannia Motor Services 07966 194035]](alcard.gif)
Here is a web site featuring DIY stuff for Citroens: http://argus.vki.bke.hu/%7Edjg/bx/ and http://argus.vki.bke.hu/~djg/bx/
Here's another homepage featuring a Citroen in Germany at http://home.t-online.de/home/Nimmermehr/bx4tc.htm.
More Citroen links can be found from http://www.links2go.com/topic/Citroen
And another one, http://come.to/citf
There's an on line maintenance guide at http://meds.ktu.edu.tr/citro and a US mirror at http://meds.md.webjump.com/citro.
Feel free to drop an 'I told you so' to email nic