Dan Cossie

HELPPPPPPP.....the heaters on my Citroen ZX has stopped working...it is blowing cold air and with this weather i need a heater as cant see fook all......anyone got any ideas why???? i have got water in it and doesnt over heat or anything.
i am absolutely clueless

big_wig_074

you sure the heater matrix is ok?and connected (ive seen a zx with one disconnected before! )other than that,an airlock, or a leak,etc... you might need a new heater matrix.

big_wig_074

oh and when you say youve got water in it,i hope you mean theres antifreeze in it too?as OBVIOUSLY itll help in this weather!

Dan Cossie

yeah there is antifreeze in it big wig lol

Dan Cossie

cool, how can i check if there is a leak?? and how do i sort out an airlock??

big_wig_074

a leak?well,have a look in the cooling system,all the pipes,especially the 2 that go through the bulkhead to the matrix in the car.then feel the carpets IN the car below the matrix,are they wet?or damp?if so it could mean the core is going.
airlock?well,you will have to bleed the cooling system,and specific models have specific ways of doing this,read the haynes manual,but generally i would get the car started with the header tank cap off,with the heaters on full hot blowing,then fill the system and wait for the level to go down and keep filling,if there is a bleed point near the top of the system unscrew this to remove the trapped air.squeeze all the pipes to make sure the coolant is circulating the system etc..

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

my missus had a zx, heater NEVER work in it lol

pile of shit...

they are a right cooont to bleed too, loads of valves etc

sell it

or, just stop being a pussy, the heater in the drift car has never worked either, and yesterday the matrix popped so its now bypassed anyway...

im still driving it


just a bit cold like

big_wig_074

get a heated seat cover (my mate did this in his zx! ) that plugs into the lighter and a hot water bottle for the top of your legs,and a blanket!sorted!

Dan Cossie

hahahaha i am no pussy dan lmao but when u got a leaky door and i get ice on the fookin inside of the car it gets rather annoyin not bein able to see

and cheers Big Wig will contemplate having a go later hahah depends if it aint too cold

Dan Cossie

HAHAHAHA how the hell wud i clear the windows

big_wig_074

human windscrren blowers!BREATHE on the window!!!! or get a shitty little fan heater thing and point it at the windscreen! new matrix is probably a better bet though!

Dan Cossie

full of great ideas this morning Wig well my cig lighter dont work so thats the heater out the question....how hard is to fit a matrix???

big_wig_074

hard wire it to the battery! er...matrix,could be accesible by looking under the dash,dunno mate,never taken one out,i simply refitted the pipes last time.might be a dash out type affair,got a haynes?

Dan Cossie

i aint even got a clue mate hahaha...fook it i will get Ginge to do it

big_wig_074

oh dear,just found this write up on net! look at the matrix labour charges!!

What's Good
Excellent ride and handling combination, second only to Peugeot 306. 13' 4" long by 5' 7" wide and weighing from a light 945kg. Comfortable and absorbs bumps well. 1.4 TU engines and 1.9XU diesels are the best buys. All capable of 150,000 miles plus if properly looked after. 130bhp 2.0 Volcane was quick; 155bhp 16v should have been quicker still. 92bhp 1.9 turbodiesel could also be made to shift a bit. Non-turbo XUD capable of 50 mpg. Sensible nearside-only electric door mirror. Bargain basement prices now.


What's Bad
1.6 is a bit of a camel, 1.8 less so. 155bhp 2.0 16v had strange power delivery and throttle delay, making old 130bhp Volcane feel nicer to drive. Turbo XUD not that economical - can drop to as little as 36 mpg. Boot not much bigger than Peugeot 205. Early front brake problems cured by modified callipers. Brake warning light very sensitive to low brake fluid level. If this happens with a diesel, which has a brake vacuum pump, disappearing brake fluid could leave you with no brakes. Brake master cylinders themselves also fail. Cambelts and camshaft end seals must be changed every 3 years and 36,000 miles. Coolant must be changed every two years to avoid cylinder head gasket problems. (Coolant is difficult to change without getting air-locks.) Radiators apt to fail every 3 years or so. Petrol models may have cat converter MOT test problems. Always difficult to sell and becoming increasingly so. Transmission oil cooler of automatic can perforate, letting in radiator coolant which wrecks the transmission. Rod through block failures in 1997 and 1998 XUDTs. In June 2001 Citroen was rated by Motor Warranty Direct as Britain's 3rd worst out of 22 marques for warranty claims. Citroens generally had average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 99.84 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk
What to Watch Out For
See above. 'J' reg ZXs could suffer front brake calliper problems cured by fitting later callipers (this will have been done to most of them). Some reports of sticking handbrakes, easily checked by seeing how easy the car is to push. Early Avantage diesels lacked power steering, as did early Avantage diesel estates which came out long after the hatch got PAS. 16v noisy, not really that quick and best avoided. Upholstery tears easily and is difficult to repair. Make sure all the electrics work. Insist on new MOT, especially if car is post-August 1992 and fitted with a cat. Check spare wheel is in its underboot cradle and not nicked. Look for engine oil leaks, gearbox oil leaks, coolant leaks from radiator and heater matrix, brake fluid leaks from rear brakes.

In summary (with thanks to David W. in The Backroom):-
Timing belt at 50,000ml intervals, tensioner at every other belt change.
Water pump may be needed at second or third belt change.
Coolant should be changed two yearly.
Heater matrixs do go anything after 100,000mls. They are a fair job having a trade time to change from 7-10hrs. At Ł50/hr plus the matrix you can get up to a major bill.
Change brake fluid two yearly.
Front discs may be needed every 50,000mls.
Rear brake cylinders (on drum models) may fail after 60,000mls.
Handbrake cables can fail after 80,000mls.
Front suspension bushes are often needed after 60,000mls.
Diesel fuel filter housing cover can distort giving rise to air leaks..easy/cheap to cure.
Glowplugs perhaps needed every 75,000mls
Diesel fast idle "waxstat" ofen sticks in slow or fast position after 75,000mls.....easy/cheap to replace.
Tailgate lock solenoid assy can fail after 100,000mls...easy to replace.


Recalls
1994 (mostly Volcane, May 1992-Oct 1992, and 16v 1992-1994): Brake pipe chafing. 1996 ('facelift' model from June 1994): faulty seatbelt pretensioners and, on cars so fitted, faulty airbag sensors.

Dan Cossie

not looking good really lol just gettin to 100k miles now

big_wig_074

youu could try flushing out the heater matrix,might be clogged with crap!,undo the pipes going through bulkhead and run a hose to one end,turn on hose,then do it the other way,just look out for leaks inside as youre doing this! when the car is running are both the pipes getting hot?if not its blatantly blocked in some way!

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

Turn the dial from the BLUE to the RED

Dan Cossie

arrghhh morning humour lol.....this is a serious matter i had 3 jumpers on in my car last night haha

and Wig i will have a go later and let ya know

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

re-read my post,

especially the bit that says 'SELL IT'

Dan Cossie

no we all need a shitbox to run around in you have got ya orange shitter and i have my turbo diesel

Roosie

iTrader: (8)

oranage shitter

Dan Cossie

btt for the afternoon lot lol...anyone else got any ideas??

Dan Cossie

tossa