A non-sinking feeling...

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northernchap
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A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

Hi all, new to the forum and in case you didn't see on FB I'm the guy who bought Malcolm Goldberger's old red TZD estate on eBay recently.

I'm having a few issues with the suspension though, I guess because it basically sat on his driveway for ten months or so unused.

When I collected the car the suspension was set to normal height and it drove OK. I then filled it with wine in Calais and it adjusted itself to compensate, again all OK. However, when the wine has been removed it hasn't sunk down at all. I have been reading through the forum and I heard about 'Citrobics' so I tried raising and lowering the car with the lever but it seems to be stuck on high, even having been left overnight with the lever in low it hasn't budged. I tried standing on the towbar and jumping up and down too but it didn't do anything.

If I push down the front corners they do move but the rears seem very stiff. Again from my forum reading I believe there are some height correctors somewhere which may have seized? Any more info on what/where/how I can free them up if that sounds a likely culprit?

Cheers!

Jimmy
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
1965 Ford Mustang [Black]
rutter123
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by rutter123 »

Sounds as tho the rear height corrector is stuck in position or maybe the linkage from the high/low lever has broken, rear height correctors can seize/stick from road salt, depending on how stuck it is sometimes can be freed off with a soak of lube spray. You will need to get under the car and follow the link rods back from the high/low lever to the height corrector which is mounted around the rear beam. Worst case scenario is your h/c may need a refurb or replacing. Plaedies can refurb your h/c or supply a replacement unit "off the shelf" .
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by Defender110 »

Without trying to patronise you but as you may be new to Citroen's , don't forget to make sure the car is properly propped up before you get underneath and play about with the height corrector. They can drop very quickly.
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
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northernchap
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

Thanks, and no need to worry about being patronising - safety first! :)

This is after 24 hours, definitely too high for my liking!

Image

Then there is this, but I'll pretend it didn't happen for now...

Image
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
1965 Ford Mustang [Black]
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by Richb »

Mines on its bum at the back six hours after running and front down the next morning so guessing about 12-15 hours.
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northernchap
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

Still up after 48 hours, at least the seals must be alright....!

Guess I'm fettling it at the weekend then.
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
1965 Ford Mustang [Black]
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by Defender110 »

Nice car BTW.
Kevan
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2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by rutter123 »

Pretty sure i have rear h/c spare if you need one.

Where was the puddle of fluid escaping from?
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
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northernchap
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x 2

Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

rutter123 wrote:Pretty sure i have rear h/c spare if you need one.

Where was the puddle of fluid escaping from?
Thanks, I'll see what's what underneath at the weekend. Haven't had the bonnet up yet to check where it is leaking from (for various complicated reasons I had to leave it at work for a few days) but the MOT advisory states:

n/s/f suspension pipes perished, damp
n/s/f brake hose perished

Now the pic shows the leak on the offside, under the front spoiler rather than near the wheel/strut but I guess it could still be the pipe TO the NSF from the Octopus that is leaking at that end. I'll have to look into it once I get it home.
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by Tinkley »

The puddle might be a loose union at the pressure valve/relief box. Also could be the (low pressure) return (black rubber pipe) has perished. Or maybe the union to the pump, it's too far over to be the reservoir connections directly.

BTW if you do one brake hose, check the other. I personally do them in pairs unless there is an abrasion issue as per my auto where some dunce fed the pipe incorrectly so it chafed!. Front strut returens, get the ones from a Citroen dealer, have a life, something around 80k or so. Only exception, as is well known on this Forum are the GSF Spanish made ones which won't see even a year.... :twisted:

The rear does look suspiciously like a rear height corrector issue, maybe even flushing it would clear it. I've had a couple of rears go, but in my case they generally were a little on the low side and worked around 80% OK.
northernchap
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed May 04, 2016 11:17 am
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My Cars: 1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate, 1988 Fiat Panda 4x4, 1991 Peugeot 309 GLD, 1965 Ford Mustang
x 2

Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

Well I drove it home with the lever set to normal, by the time it got home it was dragging it's arse on the ground near enough but the front was still up. I dropped the lever to minimum but nothing happened either front or rear. I put it to the one above normal (but not max) and it raised it's arse back into the air again as before. Put back to normal, stayed up where it was. Tried messing with the lever each way but no further influence on the height at either end.

At least it is home now so I can check it out a bit more at the weekend.
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
1965 Ford Mustang [Black]
northernchap
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed May 04, 2016 11:17 am
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
My Cars: 1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate, 1988 Fiat Panda 4x4, 1991 Peugeot 309 GLD, 1965 Ford Mustang
x 2

Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

Didn't get chance to jack it up at the weekend but I did have a look under the bonnet and discovered where the leak is coming from. There's a cap on top of the Octopus where you fill the LHM, which has a T-piece on top, connected to what I presume are return pipes? One of these is clear plastic and about the width of a drinking straw, this one is OK. The other one seems to be a big piece of black rubber tubing, like fuel pipe - is this normal? I suspect not because it's leaking like nobodies business and dribbling down to the floor. I looked into the reservoir and the LHM looked like lentil soup so I guess that needs changing too.
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
1965 Ford Mustang [Black]
Defender110
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by Defender110 »

No they should both be the same , one is a leak off return pipe and the other is just a breather that goes into the wing. It is designed as a 'Y' return so the leak off runs down into the tank and not across to the breather and then onto the floor.
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
northernchap
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed May 04, 2016 11:17 am
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
My Cars: 1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate, 1988 Fiat Panda 4x4, 1991 Peugeot 309 GLD, 1965 Ford Mustang
x 2

Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by northernchap »

Hmm, now the front is rock hard and down and the back is springy and up... definitely something amiss!

What colour is old LHM? I thought it went yellow but the stuff in mine is basically opaque and looks the colour of pus - it also smells bad, so I'm wondering if someone perhaps put the red fluid in as that had a bad smell if I remember right? Sort of like Copydex glue is what this stuff smells like. Could just be age I guess.
1992 BX17 TZD Turbo Diesel Estate [Red]
1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 [NATO green]
1991 Peugeot 309 GLD [Champagne beige]
1965 Ford Mustang [Black]
rutter123
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Re: A non-sinking feeling...

Post by rutter123 »

Old LHM is still green but can go cloudy often with a yellowy tint but still should remain green-ish, sounds as tho you have something mixed in your LHM that shouldn't be there perhaps brake fluid or ATF ?? If this is the case then seals in the hyd system will get damaged. I would suggest a full drain down of the system and and then some Hydraflush to see what prevails. Hopefully whatever has been added hasn't caused too much damage. From what i remember copydex glue has quite a fishy smell about it, LHM certainly shouldn't smell like that.

I had a Mk1 BX16RS moons ago and the chap i got it off had topped the LHM res with hydraulic jack oil or power steering fluid cos apparently "it looked the same" luckily it never got pumped round the hydraulic system enough to cause any lasting damage, a flush and some new fluid and all was well in my case.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
90 BX Tzd turbo estate 46k awaiting surgery
65 Peugeot Boxer Van the new workhorse
52 Toyota Rav4 180k Bulletproof Jap reliability
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