Independent garage in Oxfordshire/Berkshire/Hampshire areas?

[Daniel B]

Hello gents,

I have a coolant loss issue on my 16V, we have flushed the system and changed the thermostat, both fans are working, but under load it is pishing fluid out the header tank, and the temp goes way up.

I am looking for a good independent locally if possible (I'm in Newbury) but realise that for a proper good one I may need to travel a little way, which is no big problem.

If I can't find any good recommendations, then it will have to be Witmuns, in Surrey, but a closer alternative if as good would be more convenient.

So, does anyone have any personal recommendations please?

Someone who plays in my girlfriends band works for a main citroen dealer, and mentioned this chap who has his own place now:
http://www.markdunncitroenspecialistsn8.co.uk/

Cheers

Dan

[messerschmitt owner]

i would suspect head gasket failure. do the water hoses pressurise up and do you get bubbles coming through the system if the header tank lid is off?

there is a place near oxford - http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/4662/citroen.htm

[electrokid]

It does sound like head gasket - there's Andy's Autos in Woking - ex Citroën and a fan of the BX - he's more than likely to know all the 'wrinkles' with HG replacement on the BX - I'll drop in and have a chat next time I'm passing (which is likely to be this week) and try and get a ball-park quote.

[Daniel B]

Thanks for those replies gents,

opinions seems to be divided on whether it is a headgasket or not.

There were some bubbles when we were running it at idle to try and get the air out yes.

EK, that would be greatly appreciated if you are passing and could get a ballpark figure - clearly you can't give an accurate price for a job like this,

Cheers

Dan

[electrokid]

Hi Dan,

This isn't good news... I think you should check out some of the posts by The Doc regarding some stuff to put in the rad - aparently there's some product that actually works.

Chatting with Andy this morning - possible head gasket or cracked head - good idea to check by removing all the spark plugs, pressurising the coolant system (no - didn't think to ask what pressure to use but I'd guess start with the normal running pressure of around 10 psi to be safe) then turn the engine over on the starter and see if any water is chucked out of any of the spark plug holes.

There was a particular design of head with enlarged inlet ports where they got a bit too close to the waterway on pot 2 so the head can more easily crack there.

In terms of repair - hope you are sitting down - if the head is coming off, and whether there's obvious damage to the gasket or not, the head should be pressure tested anyway unless there's some obvious problem in which case it would have to be replaced anyway - not cheap. If it passes pressure testing then it should be skimmed as a matter of course. Any repair shop willing to take the head off will know someone who can do the head skim (if they don't it's unlikely they know what they're doing anyway).

If there has been serious overheating then there may be other damage - this engine has wet cylinder liners - later 16v engines also have an "O" ring seal at the bottom of the liner which can be damaged during overheating. Whether these need replacing is a matter of judgement / how much overheating / guesswork - or replacing as a matter of course to be sure.

Andy's estimate didn't go into money terms but gave a "12 hours labour" as a minimum time for the job since the above are the wrinkles we know about before stripdown and there may be others found when the head is off. Do what testing you can first - Andy is on 01483 751828 and likes an early start - 7.30 / 8... and an early finish - sometimes 3pm. He shares a workshop with a motorbike repair guy - there's not much storage space for keeping a car overnight so a head-off job is a bit inconvenient but if you still think it's a good idea then I guess he could be persuaded.

I'd check out Doc's additive first - and probably use it anyway if you're going to drive the car to a repair shop.

Cheers,
Brian.

[electrokid]

One thing I forgot to mention - if you are getting a few bubbles during tickover and if it's due to a gasket leak then that will get 10 times worse when you are driving due to the much higher pressures in the cylinders - the plugs-out test is a much better indicator.

[mat_fenwick]

A quick and easy test that David Rutherford has suggested in the past, is to start the car from cold, and take off the expansion tank cap after say 30 seconds of running. If you hear a hiss and a release of pressure, the engine won't have created enough pressure due to temperature rise in that time so it must be down to combustion gasses entering the cooling system.

[electrokid]

Yes that sounds good to me - and prompted a variation on the same theme. Take off the rad cap and fully block any side vents - stick a balloon across the mouth of the rad making sure it's fully sealed. Start the engine from cold - if the balloon inflates then any bubbles that are showing are not due to outgassing from the coolant (air not being replaced by water therefore being introduced via gasket or head).

[Kevin B]

If your up for doing the head gasket job your self I can recommend someone in Newbury who will skim the head for you while you wait, and at a very reasonable price for cash. PM me if this sounds interesting, and I will pass his contact details onto you.

Dont be put off by the fact its a 16v, as accesibility is easier than the turbo diesel version IMHO. One word of warning though, I have seen first hand cylinder head bolts snap off, because coolant has leaked down the cylinder block stud holes and the stud has then rusted solid in the block.

If the HG has gone, and it sounds increasingly likely, you would be well advised to have a look at the radiator condition, as the 16v has a tiny radiator in comparison to say the turbo diesel version, hence any blockage due to sludge build up, however small can severely reduce its heat rejection ability.

Look on the bright side, its a chance to change the water pump, timing belt, tensioners, do a top end overhaul, and a good chance to change anything else that you dont like the look of at the same time.

I live quite local to you, and if you need any pointers I would be happy to help (within reason).

[Daniel B]

Thankyou for going to that trouble electrokid, much appreciated

I was expecting a big bill to be honest, I imagine somewhere in the region of £500, or maybe £750 even.

Your man sounds good, but the lack of storage overnight sounds a bit problematic.

Mat - thanks for that tip, I will give that a go this week.

Kevin - Never seen another BX in Newbury, or not a regular one at least!
I'm totally not mechanically minded, and the chap I own the car with is pretty competent, but he's not really up for a go at it (Above and beyond what we've already done) apart from the fact that we both have busy jobs and weekends, so time is limited

The rad is in pretty good condition to be honest, but yes I take your point, I imagine it would be the time to change most hard to get to parts, and the cambelt as well.

Cheers

Dan

[electrokid]

Thankyou for going to that trouble

No probs - it's always a pleasure to chat with someone who knows what they are talking about

I can recommend someone in Newbury... PM me if this sounds interesting, and I will pass his contact details onto you.

This is probably a good place to start - Dan, get this guy's details from Kevin and pop along to have a chat with him. Machinists will be doing work for several of the local repair guys and may well know people who have replaced head gaskets on Citroëns - they may also have a reasonable idea of how good they are. For example, Andy takes any machining around the corner to Dave - who has also done some odd machining jobs for me - it becomes a bit of a club so they tend to know each other's skills.

Look on the bright side, its a chance to change the water pump, timing belt, tensioners, do a top end overhaul, and a good chance to change anything else that you dont like the look of at the same time.

This could make the final bill quite buttock-clenching - but it makes a hell of a lot of sense - if you find someone in Newbury via Kevin's machinist contact, have a chat with them before committing to having the work done.

[Daniel B]

Hi EK,

I will drop Kevin a PM, and I have since been recommended someone in Thatcham also, which is nearby, so have a few options.

I've spent many thousands on the old girl already, not planning to skimp and save on her now

Cheers

Dan

[electrokid]

not planning to skimp and save on her now

Excellent and the nearer to home the better. I've just bought a new control shaft and bush for the diesel pump - being a Bosch that was just shy of £100. If I didn't drive the car for a couple of days the fuel would run out of the pump due to a slight intermittant air leak and it would need priming again - maybe one in twenty starts - I'm fairly sure the worn shaft is where the air is getting in. It's a BX - it's worth doing [/quote]