BX fail

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:41 pm

Don't be daunted by the hydraulic system. Just post up your specific problems in the tech section and it's amazing how it begins to make sense after a while! Height correctors can and should be lubricated I believe, but I've never done it myself. Something else to learn...

I wonder if a non-return valve in your fuel line would help with the carb drain issue?

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:23 pm

Very rare for a height corrector to actually fail, the internal bits can be changed as there are kits out there i believe, but its most likely the linkages which are a bit seized, get some WD40 on them to free them up & do some citreobics to help it along, then get some grease onto them for better lubrication than wd40.

Have you tried lubricating the front struts yet as per the DIY section? Don't forget you can also add some 3in1 oil or similar into the tops of the struts where the rubber bungs are below where the spheres are mounted. One side won't have a bung in it, so just pop a couple of drops in & then do some citreaobics, hopefully that'll help.

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:59 pm

Thanks for the tips, I'll try lubing the struts re this thread and greasing the height corrector linkage, not so sure abut the latter though as the internet will only tell me about Xantia stuff there.

Eugh fuel starvation has become so irritating now. Even after just one night of standing the routine is: five seconds on the facet pump, then three or four cycles of a few right-pedal pumps and cranking. Even after the engine finally catches it might die a few seconds later. Booo.

In other bad news the brakes are starting to feel weirdly ineffective (unless I've just forgotten how much force needs applying on the pedal) and much worse than all this mechanical nonsense, the red on the tailblazer is starting to fade

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:29 am

Is there much left on the pads, if they are low then that might account for them seemingly to feel a bit soft? Or, is your lhm old?

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:04 am

Could this now be a fuel evaperation problem, is the engine running hot, has it got an insulation gasket between the carb and manifold, is the carb still bolted down securely?

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:10 pm

MULLEY wrote:Is there much left on the pads, if they are low then that might account for them seemingly to feel a bit soft? Or, is your lhm old?

Bob never professed to have changed the LHM himself, so its been about 2 years/10k miles without changing. But the power steering does feel a shade heavy too, so this may well be the root of all my problems

Also, first squeal this morning! Engine turned and heard a little squeally belt for the first time for a couple of seconds.

And yes Kevan, I believe it is evaporation as the car does seem to smell alot of petrol around the bonnet when it's been parked up, and google agrees with me. Something else to investigate later.

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:21 pm

Onto the operating table...

Working in a concoction of piss, vomitus and dead rats... lovely

Tried lubing linkage:

And my poor snap on the HC itself

Well, it made no difference. Operating the linkage from the lever still feels quite stiff, and after one low to highest cycle the front steadfast refused to budge. I couldn't therefore lube the struts either as they were somewhat innaccessable and incitaerobatical. So I'm now parked up like this until it sinks back down at the rear and (fingers crossed) rises up to normal as per that "first start" of the day:

Looks like it'll be a somewhat expensive trip to the garage before long...

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:03 pm

Did you lubricate the bush on the sub frame that the height corrector linkage pivots on?
It is a bit difficult to see from underneath but i think you can see it on the o/s from under the bonnet on the petrol models behind the engine near the steering rack.
It is number 4 in this diagram

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:52 pm

Thanks for the image Gary - I can see what you're pointing at although I couldn't quite get lube that far in, it was fairly inaccessible. Haven't had any new rising problems though, goes up to normal fine, but still requiring some playing with the adjuster lever.

My HP belt isn't as tight as it could be though, if this would affect anything?

In other news... Picked up the new Speedlines from Dean yesterday, what a nice fellow, threw in his cat too

, or rather it threw itself in...

Wheels were a bit grubby, but a bit of brillo pad has got the worst of the muck off, and then some rain helped clean off the copious amounts of brake dust I released, mm lung cancer! Hopefully some chemical wheel cleaner will get rid of the small stain patches and then they'll be all good in that hood.

Now, to investigate my rapidly deteriorating fuel consumption...

djoptix · Post by **djoptix** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:01 pm

I sold those to Dean back in the day. They came from a chap called Tom on the old old BX16v forum. I paid him £100 and stripped a load of stuff off a 16v down Essex way.

They were very badly curbed so I restored them with a wire wheel on my drill

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:05 pm

Don't cars look lovely under a uniform layer of frost

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:28 pm

I recommend you get an immersible pump to clear the water from the pit.

you don't want to drop your tools in there!

Mike

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:49 pm

We have one of those actually as our cellar doesn't take kindly to the local river flooding.

In the nearby Vauxhall garage on my way home earlier, spot the mistake and win a big prize:

Post by **Tim Leech** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:15 am

Willy wrote:In the nearby Vauxhall garage on my way home earlier, spot the mistake and win a big prize:

Well they do work for Vauxhalll..................

Willy · Post by **Willy** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:21 pm

Squeeeaaaky squeaky HP belt this morning..