Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

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Marcello Gandini
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Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by Marcello Gandini »

Hi,

I'm new to Citroen BX ownership having admired them for years. I grew up with Dyanes and 2CVs but my own cars have been Minis, a Renault 4, and most recently a Saab 900.

The Citroen has been a pleasure over the last 2 months, but I'm not hugely mechanically minded and there have been a couple of issues.

A couple of weeks ago the STOP and (!) lights came on when driving at about 40mph. The car had been sitting all week at an airport garage and I'd driven it home about 50 miles, mostly at 70mph when this happened. I put some water in the radiator and all seemed fine. When I got home I put in some coolant. I then drove the car a good 300 mile round trip with no issues.

At the weekend I found that the lights came on again but intermittently this time, mostly when cornering to the right. They sort of flicker on and off. Most of the time they are off but occasionally they'll come on for 5-10 seconds.

Any ideas? Does this mean I have to fill the LHM up? The chinese hat thing seems to be sat low when I put the car up high. I understand this is a way to test. I'll reiterate, I can do basic stuff but am far from a mechanic. I have a very good, non-dealership Citroen specialist nearby though.
Tinkley
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by Tinkley »

Check the LHM (green tank on O/S under bonnet) level. The yellow disc in the clear top 'dome' should be at the marker height or close. My guess is that it is too low, you may need at least 1ltr of LHM to top it up to a satisfactory level. You may also have a slow leak, most likely front suspension return pipe(s).

You can top the fluid easily, but if you don't want to change the return pipe (if that is the problem), find someone familiar with it. Not in fact a difficult job if you have a few tools. It is described in threads on this Forum.
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electrokid
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by electrokid »

Welcome to BXClub :D

Several of the warning lights bring on the STOP light as well. If you get the 'coolant low' warning light - that's the 3 (?) wavy lines in the vertical row of warning lights in the middle section of the display - just above 'sidelights' and 'headlights' then you will find that, as the coolant level gets close to the operating point of the sensor, the warning light will tend to come ON during right hand cornering and OFF during left hand cornering.

If the coolant level is close to the operating point of the sensor then it can come on when starting from cold, go off at the first left hand corner, and stay off from then onwards because the engine heat will cause the water to expand and raise the level slightly.

And - always top up with de-ionised water - never tapwater.
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Marcello Gandini
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by Marcello Gandini »

The wavy line lights don't come on. The coolant is fully topped up, though there is a small amount of tap water in there as a get me home. Probably only 250ml. The rest is mixed coolant from Halfords. It should be all good. I filled up from cold and then revved the engine. There was no visible bubbling coming from the radiator.

I'll try the LHM. The yellow disc definitely appears to be too low (pretty much sitting at the bottom) when the car is in full height suspension.

Thanks guys. Hopefully this solves it and there isn't a leak somewhere. It was all great for the first month and I did nearly 2000 miles in it. Just starting to create a few issues now.
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by Marcello Gandini »

I'll post a pic at some point. It's a 1993 1.9 TXD. Pretty tidy for the most part.
citronut
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by citronut »

hi and welcome
Marcello Gandini wrote:
I'll try the LHM. The yellow disc definitely appears to be too low (pretty much sitting at the bottom) when the car is in full height suspension.
this is defiantly a cause of the STOP light lighting,

to check the level you need the car on level ground, height lever set to its highest setting, and engine running,

wait for her to fully rise then check were the yellow disc is in the sight glass/plastic dome,

when the correct omount of citro blood is present the yellow disc should be between the two red bands,
if the yellow disc is higher this mean s the tank/systen is over full, which will NOT affect the system in the slightest,
apart from it could make a mess once the suspension is at its lowest/fully down, as most of the citro blood returns to the tank, and can seep out past the rubber dist seal around the tank head unit

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
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David
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by David »

Welcome to the mad house (I mean BXClub). :)

There are 2 thing that bring on the (!) light, one being hydraulic level as already mentioned, but also the hydraulic pressure, but if this was the case then you wouldn't have any brakes, steering or suspension.

I would suggest you read a owners manual & get to know what all the lights mean. The last thing you want is an unknown evil eye looking at you in the dashboard when your miles from home.

If all the red lights come on together then that is low engine oil pressure & if any red or yellow lights come on in the right hand bottom of the instrument panel then they are overheat lights. (assuming it isn't one with a temperature clock, that is).

I think that is most of the worst ones you'll need to know if you see them.
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citronut
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Re: Newbie to Forum - STOP light question

Post by citronut »

David wrote: If all the red lights come on together then that is low engine oil pressure
thats not always the case,
as a few years ago my X boss was running a MK2 BX, which one day the
instrument panel light up like a Christmas tree,

tuned out if a diode on the flexi print in the warning lamp circuit at the back of the instrument panel fails, then when something puts a warning lamp on, it can light all the warning lamps,

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
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