Citroen CX GTi | The Ride Is Smooth, The Revival Not So Much...
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- So since the MOT 3 weeks ago this car has been usable for 4 days.. and all those days gave their own challenges... I LOVE this car, But its a hard rebirth!
#Citroen #Citroencx #barnfind
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Probably electrical failure next? Alternator maybe..
It’s great to see you bring this old car back for the simple reason that you think it’s awesome- makes no real sense to anyone who isn’t a car person but absolute sense to those of us who are!
Hi Seppo, as a CX owner myself I can assure you that you’ll drive out of the garage one day only to find a little green puddle on the garage floor. Don’t worry too much, it is almost certainly one of the rubber return tubes which will have split. As they’re all getting on for 30+ years old it isn’t really surprising that the “octopus” has hardened over time, but it’s usually quite an easy fix. Cut out the split portion and insert a piece of tubing to remake the piping. The return is under virtually no pressure, so you don’t even need any clips. The awkward part is actually locating the split, where the puddle forms is no reliable indicator of where the leak is from. Of course, if you get a split pipe on the pressurised side of the hydraulics then you’ll blast at least 3 litres of LHM out of the system in literally seconds. Don’t give up on her, you’re slowly working through the accumulation of years of neglect which would have the same effect on any make of car. It’s easy to say, “because Citroen”, as they have this reputation for weird complexity, but when you get to know the CX better you’ll realise that most of the weirdness is actually very clever solutions to problems which are never addressed on other makes.
From another CX owner, I concur. It's marvellous to see the evolution of Seppo's CX ownership, it's like I remember mine was a few years ago. Going through voyages of discovery when doing jobs on the car and realising why things were designed the way they are is a fun process, meanwhile driving the car regularly is a constant reminder that the clever engineering was all for good reason, they are superb cars to use, an experience every time.
@@jncg2311
It was the same for me on every job I did
I started with why did they do that in such a strange way and after I had done the work it just made perfect sense
A quick fix for the gear linkage is to remove the plastic cup and clean behind, put some grease on the ball then put 2 layers of cling film over the ball, now fill the cup with fibreglass epoxy and press onto the ball using your fingers to press the epoxy in around the bottom of the ball. Wait 10 minutes and because epoxy does not stick to cling film you have a new greased ball joint that will last for years.
I know the problem, it happens to me on my XM. But you can also easy fix it by buying a new rod(not especially Citroen)with the same ball and adjust the length(cut it and weld it).
@@pipodeclown3782 There are replacement kits available for the CX.
It's a pain to change them all but it's worth it because in my experience they are always worn.
Clever!
When the engine is warm (ish) and you shut it down, come back to it, and try to start, if it cranks over fine, but just won't start, (particularly since you have a new fuel pump) there's a good chance it's the crankcase position sensor(s). They go open circuit seemingly at random. I always carry a spare in the glovebox and a wrench to fit it. Also, there's a wiring connection under the passenger carpet in the foot-well that's notorious for rusting or coming apart, breaking the circuit. (It may be connected to the fuel pump circuit.) In every CX I've owned that's fuel injected, I perform preventative maintenance to ensure that the connection is waterproof and sealed, still using connectors for quick release if necessary. Happy Christmas to you and yours. Thoroughly enjoying your videos. Thank you.
True, had that exact issue on my CX with the OT sensor this year.
I had a spare one and my tools with me, so I was lucky.
The "temporary " part got me ;D
Hi Seppo, car is as cool as you haha, many thanks from UK.
What a brilliant car! Next breakdown will be your pride - but don't worry, we got your back, and understand and admire your patience and optimism. Onwards and upwards!
I've just bought a CX Athena, I know nothing about cars, but I'm learning alot on this channel. Thanks, from Scotland.
Living on the edge!!
Athena's engine is much simpler than 25GTI.Sadly, water pumps became scarce and very expensive recently.
@@hmrkovic Douvrin engine?
@@hmrkovic: 400 Euros for an Athena water pump is just greed!!
Bonjour Seppo !
From another proud Cx GTi owner.Years of neglect may cause hydraulique leaks, because of brittle rubber pipes failure. Nothing serious. That suspension is bullet proof
I'd also say the electrics may act up on you at some point.
Fabulous car! I'm in love with mine too. Best car I ever owned!
Give her all the love she deserves
My favourite Seaside car and of course it wants some extra attention from you; you are the one who rescued it and it just wants to help you find it's faults now so that it can be more reliable on longer trips. How nice of that beautiful CX to help you out that way :) My guess for the next breakdown is the startermotor.
The ball part of the selector rod - there are nylon inserts that can provide a tighter fit.
Heater fix must have been so satisfying!
I don’t think it will breakdown again, you deserve a lot of success on RUclips, you seem like such a friendly possitive guy and your videos are a joy to watch👍
Thank you Seaside Garage,
With all older engines that have already suffered slight water damage via the cylinder head gasket, there is unfortunately very often a risk of excessive wear to the connecting rod bearings. These can normally be easily replaced after removing the oil pan. In the starter motor, one or both field windings of the stator may be defective. However, this can be easily repaired. If you can get hold of the insulating varnish of the mostly copper wires, then the repair can be carried out by unwinding the stator, searching for the faulty area and repair varnishing this, but also - and this is very important - the entire copper wire by dip varnishing in a suitably long thin hose or in a thin tube. Then, after drying and testing in a salt water bath with an ohmmeter, check whether the wire is perfectly coated and insulated. If a (high) ohmic resistance is indicated and this also falls slowly, the lacquering is incomplete and the fault must be searched for again and repaired.
MpG.
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Michael Frithjof Müller
😂 You could say interim, makeshift, provisional, non-permanent, short-term or stopgap instead of the t-word. 😉
Theo Kerger at CXM du Nord in Belgium will sell you a rebuilt starter motor and take your old one back for rebuilding. He’s really helpful.
Next fault: hydraulic leak.
omg that big beautiful brick of a computer is my favorite thing in that garage right now :D a perfect backdrop for this car too
And its awsome!
I was so happy to see a new CX video this morning. Such interesting discoveries you’re making on this car. You’ve got to get the heating sorted. Other than starting! that’s the next requirement of a winter “beater with a heater”. I hope the breakdowns subside for your own peace of mind….and so you can spend some more time polishing her up!
This was another great story. At last i have confirmation that on my 1986 VW Caddy the starter works perfectly when cold and very very tough when hot. This year i re-routed the wiring, away from the engine and more in a windflow from underneath and the warm-starting improved (a bit). I recognise the anxiousness “will it start after refueling” 😂😂
And i also recognise the linkage-system on the gearbox. My VW has the same principle. In my case i completely lost one of the linkages on the motorway. Somewhere in France. I managed to make a new “linkage” out of a piece of broomstick and that lasted all the 1850 km’s it took me to get home.
Man, do i love cars you can fix on the side of the road!
(Never knew about the similarities between a VW and a CX though…..😂)
Hey, I might have the starter that you need on the shelf. If you want it you can have it.
that would be awsome! Could you reach me on instagram or email? :)
Feel exactly the same when I see mine on the floor and then the phoenix rise up! Magical! For the next problem, I hope none but let's be honest, it's french plus it is a Citroën and it has been own by a guy with platic bags. Check the high pressure circuit and abviously spheres... Maybe the "conjoncteur-disjoncteur" (the "clac" thing to put hydrolic pressure on the veins) or the high pressure pump!
If you continue the polishing of the paintwork then the car will return the love and perform well. By tradition French ladies are deeply conscious about their appearance and bodily condition. The next breakdown will likely be another electrical one, perhaps the wipers? Cela ne fait rien, elle est une belle damme!
As a former BX owner back in 1989 I always regretted not getting a CX, one more reason why I enjoy the series even more. Hope there will be more content and would love to see some detailing action in the spring. I guess the hydraulic system will give up next - safe travels!
Another great video.. informative and very entertaining as always. Now, get polishing it will not only look great, but the snow will slide off more easily too..🌨😂
Keep them coming. 🏴👍
Yeah make it all shiny and pretty.
Hi, I myself daily drive a CX with that 121HP engine. But the Break (estate) version.
I think the next thing to brake will be some Rubber part on the low pressure return system on the hydraulics.
To be precise I would say one of the Rubber selves on the suspension cylinders is going to fail next.
They have two lines on them. One is a vent and the other one the low pressure return for the oil leaking past the seal in the cylinder. They crack at that connection and then leak.
In the front it's easy to replace them. Pry it of and put in the new. In the back you have to remove the suspension cylinder for that.
Also known failure points:
OT sensor (put one in your glovebox)
Light switch (many people fit relays)
The motors for the flaps for the cabin ventilation also like to fail. Gears break off and stuff.
Bon voyage!
Shifter linkage, normally plastic cup that wears. Unfortunatley replacement is the most common repair. Squeezing the outer metal casing may work.
Another great video matey, I once rebuilt a fuel pump on a VFR750 that was in a sealed metal cylinder by very carefully opening up the 'swaged' end with a chisel and hammer. I think the word is swaged!? Anyway, the end thats crimped around the terminals and fuel connections. The bike had been stood for 10 years and the pump was stuck. Once inside it was fairly simple job to free up the mechanism and clean the contacts on the points ( i think that was the actual problem) that run it and was able to put it all back together and re-crimp the end carefully with a small hammer. It worked fine amazingly and free!
As for break downs. The fuel pressure regulator, that big blue relay, the idle air control valve(my cx's valve went bad. So i used some plumbing parts, and manually turned it on).
Soon the ignition switch will break in such a way, that you must hold the key with a death grip, to keep it running....🤑
Gear shifter - drill a hole in bracket and wrap a cable tie around it and the shifter shaft.
If you are getting coolant mist in your car, and a sweet smell, your heater core may be partially plugged. If you change the heater core, that should solve the problem. With the shifting problems, the problem may be shifter rod bushings. I am loving the videos... Cheers, Rob.
4:20 Shaving foam on the inside. Or RainX. That will sort it out.
I'm glad I have the TRX with the Douvrin engine! NO computer, NO (electric)fuel pump, and NO overheating start engine!.
Very very very amusing 😂😂😂 Thanks Seppo! Made my evening 😊
Great video. You do a great job with the car to keep those great cars on the road. I share your entusiasme with CX but mine have never caused so many problems, so I know what to expect in the future. But then I have your videos. Thanks a lot!
That’s so funny 😂 TEMPORARY 😂😂😂, who knew Danes have such a funny sense of humour 😉👌🏻.
I LOVE this series (being a former CX owner as my first car) I agree this is a very cool car. Hope the heating/ventilation issues improve for you. Have a great Christmas.
Still sounds like it is hydro locking, could be stuck injectors leaking down and causing slow start.
Starters are meant to get hot, they are connect to the engine block that reaches operating temps.
Id check injector leak test first.
Then if thats clear, starter motor.
Test it out of the car and pull the cover off, if it smells burnt sure.
Then last id check your wiring to the starter, i also notice a bad noise from the alternator. Is it charging well enough? Id replace the bearings myself too.
Excellent channel, just remember mate, dont give up.
You are so close and youll get there! Dont be so harsh on yourself, your viewers enjoy your channel for you. Not so much what you do right or wrong, hopefully its just a ' Temporary ' feeling! Good work as always!
Thanks. :)
I doubt they leak, i guess it would show at CO testing... which it past with flying colors! :) and also, it cranks slow and wierd even without sparkplugs :)
@@SeasideGarage yeah, i dont think starter is to blame.
Silly question, when its hot can you turn the engine over by hand?
When the starter is turning slowly, that is?
I wonder if the alternator is seizing and causing the slow start. Also causing the odd battery power levels?
Never hurts to have ideas thrown at you, im a fellow mechanic.
If it was the starter, it would be always not just when hot in my experience.
Be excellent and a sense of relief when you get it worked out :)
@@emdae921 love the inputs!
Gona test the start system with the SUN computer soon.. that will be interesting!
But the starter is weak always... cold and warm... but worse at warm...
@@SeasideGarage haha
Youll get there, sometimes it takes walking away and return with a fresh mind.
I would attempt to repair the starter, youll only get a cheap chinese copy anyway and it should only need cleaning.
Usually its the starter solenoid that gives out on starters and can be fixed by cleaning and re positioning the contacts.
The amateur itself will usually be full of oil or rust, good clean and it will keep going. Diagnosis is the hardest thing to learn as it only comes in 2 forms, experience and or a obd scanner lol.
I’m going to say either flat tire or flat battery, obviously I hope nothing happens it’s such a cool car and it’s lucky to have you as a an owner 🇮🇪
man, you [temporarily] made me laugh out loud!
Merry Christmas to you and Mrs Sebbo
Great video as always, next breakdown will be suspension related as you are enjoying it too much 😂😂 Don’t worry it will only be TEMPORARY 😂😂
It's been great watching you bring this car come back to life, I agree it looks fantastic. If I had to guess what breaks next I'd say the lights as they get a lot of use in the dark Winter months.
In Denmark the lights are always on. Day and night, summer and winter
“Temporary” 😂😂
As another Dane making RUclips videos in English, I feel your pain 😆
Hope the CX smooths out in the reliability department 😃👍
Love the follow up video brings back fond memories of CX ownersjip, I would recommend useing a rubber band or thick O ring to keep the gear arm connected whilst remaining flexible enough to prevent a restriction.
I would put a fuel filter in front of the fuel pump. This would help it out immensely. Get another starter and change the wires to it. My guess is that you are due for a leak in the suspension or a loose ground wire. I use WD-40 on my wiring every now and then especially the exposed ones because it is great in getting moisture out of wire bundles or connections. Good Luck and have a Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Great video , I have a love hate relationship with my '86 cx safari.......mostly love though.....keep the cx content coming ,best thing on RUclips.
I'd go with the starter completely giving up for the next major fail, because it's electrical and because french... :P
I had a similar starting issues with the starter motor. I have tried different starters and I recall the latest one was with the reduction gear that seem to make them more reliable.
I would not lower CX to the lowest position because then you lose access to the starter motor 😅
The gear change rod may have popped off because you'd just started the engine which causes it to rock ...and that had dislodged the connection.
in about 1998 I drove CX GTi Turbo several weeks. that timeknowingnothing about CX. (that time was not so common internet)
but what I foundquickly,was to park it with suspension fully up, it was easier for getting in and if soon back,easier toget it.
That's not a good idea as the system will be left fully-pressurised but without proper circulation because the hydraulic pump is not running. Actually better to manually switch to "low" so it's fully-depressurised before switching off.
I'm glad my 1999 Audi A3 is not the only one with gear linkage issues! In 3 years I've had the linkages replaced 3 times. And the gearbox is still dreadful to use.
Great :)
A Quick reliability-win : change crankshaft sensors with modern Ford Escort ones (they need a slight cut to fit).
They are WAY more reliable than original ones, all people who once drove them told me to keep one in my glove box.
Part number 6PU009146-061 or equivalent went well on mine.
Next thing : electrical gremlins - take care to all connectors and grounds under the hood (Grease and all). Especially the ones next to the ignition ECU, main grounds, injectors wires (under the spare wheel on the front axle unit), relays (under the front driver headlight).
Well done, great video again.
Okay, I'll play! 1. Starter (unless you replace it first). 2. Alternator 3. LHM leak.
Up n down, did a video on upgrading Citroen gear linkages
On the fuel pump, I've had luck with reverse voltage to clear to get home.
Kitch did an Upn'Down video on the BX equivalent of the gear change rod, I think it was one of the Professor Tomato updates. I seem to remember he fitted a small rose joint to the end of the rod.
Hydraulics, the next breakdown will be hydraulics - but not ages (hopefully)
The gear linkage cap, looks the same as my accelerator/carburettor linkage.
You can buy a complete adjustable rod/link or just the cap end....
Not expensive....or
Remove the rod...drill a very small hole through the cap at a point below where the "ball" fits...after refitting the rod cap in the car fit a paper clip through the holes and this will hold the cap on the ball joint end (there is a special clip on my carburettor link)
Go to Brookhouse Volvo - Volvo Amazon 120 130 220 - D) Fuel System - F) Throttle linkage
A couple of turns of thin lock wire around the 2 pieces would keep the ball in place. Not too tight. Even a tie wrap in an emergency.
This car is epic, and I can't wait to see you polish and wax the entire bodywork! I don't want to bet about the next failure 😛
I half expected a rat to pop it's head out of your air vent! 😁
We get a lot of critters in rural Scotland where I live, and they primarily nibble the car insulation. But seeing mice in my motorbike shed, I laid down some 'blue bait' for them (wheat grains and poison) and was pleased to see the bait had disappeared a few days later. A week later, out on the motorbike, it was obvious something was not right, power was down and the tickover was poor. A mechanic pretty soon found out that the airbox and airfilter was blocked with the blue bait wheat grains that mice had stored in it! (House mice eat bait immediately, but field mice tend to store it). Mousetraps are better.
Winning. Simply put.
It's a very cool car
Have you checked to see if there is a cabin air filter? It could also be blocked up or even wet, which won't help with the condensation issue. Good luck with the rest of the revival, really enjoying seeing this project.
There's no cabin air filter on CX. You can put one on top of airbox under bonnet.
If you get a rubber glove finger over the linkage end it will fit better for now
Thank you for another great video. I think the next thing to go wrong with the Citroen will be the hydraulic fluid for the suspension/ brakes. Due to age, length of pipework, stresses of driving. again. Good luck with the next job Sur la Citroen.
I have a paris-rhône d9e16 starter for a CX, I'm fairly sure it will fit the 2,5 engine. If you can use it it's yours.
This could be a new version of the 12 days of Christmas. The 12 Breakdowns of Christmas 🎄😂
I think the next thing to go wrong will be something to do with the central locking because of the cold 🥶 Keep up the great work 👍
Ha! no central locking! :D or well... it does not work at least! :D cant breakdown if its already down!
Demist problems, you need to de-water the interior with some disposable dehumidifiers just have couple in foot wells when not driving and maybe one each under the seats in the front, then do a vinegar and newspaper cleanse of the interior glass, its impurities on the glass that catch the water and condenses it and it lands in soft parts and pools up making it difficult to demist. My car which being a plastic Reliant is a fiend for windscreen water on the inside and I have a couple of those squeezy chamois bricks and some microfibres and every third month do the vinegar and paper clean as it really kills off any water born growth which modern glass cleaners don't always tackle.
Im quite curious what would happen if you lightly sand and DIY apply a high gloss top coat to the paint. It might reveal a beauty.
lol, nice one.
My Danish wife also struggles with 'temporary' 🤣
Great video. Would be worth carrying a TopDon jump pack in any car you're in - it's also cool to be able to help others out as and when 👍
What a brilliant series of videos on this fascinating car. I had to grin when you discovered your `ecological` air filter ! I think the seventh driving day may fall on Sunday (the day of rest !!). Have a restive festive.
Haha yea... some mouse has had a bit of a storm in their home lately
Could you wrap the exhaust with that woven stuff used on race cars? That should help with the starter temp. Pulling out the plastic bags was funny. I had an Ami super years ago, loved it, with a strange rattle coming from one of the air vents. When I eventually got sick of it and took the thing apart, I found a 19mm spanner in the vent! I never could work out how it got there. Wierd.
The next thing to break will probably be the nut holding the steering wheel. 😀
Next breakdown will be a hydraulic leak (lhm) of course! Really like this series, what a car.
Day 7, it work just enough to make you feel good and confortable, then it shuts you down some reason least when you expect it 😅
Maybe the gear linkage wearing through the hydraulic pipe under the spare wheel ?
Great video! 🎉
Maybe the heater blower is well past its prime, or a least I think for a big car like this with lots of glass surfaces it should blow substantially more air. I had a similarly underperforming blower on the Bluebird, replacing it solved the moisture issues!
Yea its not great...
A Quick and dirty fix is to put
a piece of fabric on the ball, and next breakdown is break related 😉
No uncommon and complex failures 😊 considering mileage and age ... The next breakdown I bet is related to the electrical system. Parasite current that will drain the battery let's say 😊 this happened to me twice
Knowing it's a french car it will probably be electrical issues, probably with cables being old and brittle, or mice activity. Maybe moisture? :D
This year i have replaced most of the cables in my 40 years old project car because of a short circuit from damaged wires, it will both be fun and pain in the bottom :D
I love the CX, it is THE dream car of mine, and yours is just amazing with all that patina. Can't wait for more videos about it!
My shifting cable rod also popped out I had only 3/4 gears. Is because of worn out plastic bushing inside ball. I just put zip tie around it loosely to keep it in place. Not Citroen :)
Wrap the exhaust where it’s close to the starter? For next problem, some crap in the fuel tank creating a blockage somewhere?
Temporary brilliant, ask a Frenchman to say February it’s hilarious
"february", no troubles :D
Februlæh
Driveway guy here. I do envy your garage
Yea... its tough but still fun in the driveway!
New gear shifting linkage is inexpensive, you can get one for around 10 euro @ CXBasis. Sadly, that's not the only common problem with shift linkage... Plastic bushing on main linkage rod often desintegrate and cause imprecise and relatively loud shifting.
Love this video of the cx, cool car. My guess is the starter will fail..
Fault nr 5 will be a pipe that burst due to way too much showing off at parking. That gear fault I have seen on way newer cars with similar rods, usually a ziptie is a good get them home fix
Great job. Because french I think the hydraulic problems will occur. Otherwise Thank You for a great videos. Keep going. Merry Christmas!
They are so cool. I have a C5 2005 Citroen and it has fancy bells and whistles but its not anywhere as cool as my GSA
And I'm betting the next fault wont be the hydraulic system. On all the Citroen I've owned not one ever had it fail. It's pretty robust and basically pretty simple. Perhaps it's done all its faulting.
Next break-down: probably something simple. I think failing lights at the rear (brake or indicator)
Hi Seppo - on the gear linkage upndown vids does a fix on a BX gear linkage with the same balljoint wear issue. Might be worth a watch. Possobly a Professor Tomato vid
Another great video. Thank you. I think the next breakdown will be ..... the owner's nervous system 😉
hah!
Got to love old cars for honing your detective skills. Hopefully no more breakdowns, 🤞.
Tak for endnu en spændende video. Jeg tror på at CX holder mindst en måned uden at bryde ned. Det gælder nok ikke som et bud, men det ville gøre mig glad hvis CX er til at stole på. Selvom en stikker ville se godt ud på min TMYP.
Det håber jeg ! ingen problemer siden videoen!
I was laughing at him not able to say temporary but then i realized as a Dutch guy i cant say it either 😅
I love the the old lighter in front of the air vent trick. Do you smoke Gauloises cigarettes if you don't this car may make you start.
Fedt den kører igen!
Til lykke.
Næste break down bliver hydraulik lækage fra en returslange (octopus).
Men den skal nok blive pålidelig - det er stærke biler, når de vedligeholdes.
Twist some thin tie wire around the rod and the lever.
I think it could be the hydraulic system, as it's getting a whole lot of use now😊
As for the rod slipping off the ball joint, (bit hard to describe) but if you make a L bracket, with a slotted hole in each face, one can go on to the shaft and one on this the base of the ball, then squeeze them so they clamp down. A bit like the small bracket that holds the break line on the rear caliber, but this would be like two of them together
I’d love a cx, I’m very envious!!! I think the next issue you might have will be a suspension related hydraulic leak?
It should be possible to get the starter motor rebuilt by a specialist. I'd explore that option first.
Put some silver foil in the gear linkage joint
It's hard to think of what will be next to break, who've gone through a lot of them already....some kind of ignition problem, no spark...the coil pack maybe, broken HT lead?
Or fingers crossed..... nothing 🤞!