Goodbye 9000 Aero, hello BX 17TZD....

[mat_fenwick]

The Maestro...erm...lover?

[Matt H]

Anyone want to buy a saab?

Erm... Yes!

Although it would have to be a manual, and black.

Nice BX by the way

[themildbunch]

that's the one - black and black interior, manual and no TCS - 1996.. great car, monster mileage and not mint but time's change... send me a PM if you're interested.. it's in Bristol

The BX was Stuart's dad's car.. thanks again if you're reading this!

[themildbunch]

mmm i may have a little problem.. i've just noticed bubbles in the expansion tank...
no smoke that I can see in their or white smoke in the exhaust or milky oil so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I'd hate to have to take the head off or pay more than the car to get it done when I've only driven it less than 20 miles!


Getting it tested on Friday......

[Defender110]

You will get some bubbles with the natural circulation of the coolant, is it a continuous succession of bubbles?

[themildbunch]

hi -

yes it does seem to be continuous bubbles but I haven't really driven the car much as the cambelt is a little overdue - when I did, power seemed fine and it starts easily apart from first thing in the morning which from other posts seem to suggest glowplugs...

[Defender110]

Unfortunately the car could still start OK with no apparent lack of power with the head gasket gone. The garage will probably do a pressure test tomorrow which should soon let them know if the head gasket is leaking into the coolant system but the head gasket isn't a weak point on these diesel engines, in fact they are quite bomb proof. How well do you know the garage will they give an honest appraisal. Don't let a few bubbles let you think the HG has gone, take it for a good run and see how it behaves.

[themildbunch]

Well - took it into Bristol 2CV's this morning who seem pretty honest, down to earth and know their citroen's well...

I couldn't leave it for a pressure test and we just looked at it while running.
They thought the bubbles definitely seemed more that just normal circulation.

Would be around £300 labour and then machining costs and VAT on top...

Just for the record there's bubbles and fumes from cold and when it's warm.. There is also a fizz of pressure after 30secs of running from cold.

[mat_fenwick]

Almost certainly the HG I'm afraid, especially given the fizz just after a cold start. I've heard good reports of Bristol 2CVs from people who live there, so you should be in safe hands.

[Defender110]

Yes i'm afraid pressure build up 30 seconds after start up is a pretty conclusive pressure test in it's self.

[themildbunch]

yep.. I definately missed that one when I bought it! I thought I'd been so careful checking it out too...

Bristol 2CV's seem really good - very willing to chat about BX's etc.. and even suggested before this HG thing that I should do the cambelt myself as it's pretty easy!

I'm weighing up my options now - I'd love to fix this myself but lack of space (I have an unfinished 16v in my only storage space) and time will likely stop this..

There's a scrap TZD very near here at a dismantlers that could be a source of a good head / engine but then that's still a fair bit of work..

Even if I had a spare head it'd probably need some work and the old one's got to come off etc... not much labour saving at the garage...


mmmm - it'd make financial sense to look for another TZD and sell this one but that's kind of goes against my DIY grain..... if only I had lots of land and garage space!!