Buying this weird 1969 Citroen ID 19 was a total disaster. I am so DUMB!
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- Опубликовано: 15 дек 2024
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All of the issues are hydraulics. They're all relatively cheap to resolve. The harshness is the spheres being out of nitrogen, the clicking is the accumulator sphere and is pretty normal. The leaks are all resolvable. Caveat being availability of parts in the US. I'd put the money into it, but then I've a soft spot for proper Citroen's
Spoken like a true Ex-Pat
@@glennvengroff7235 no mate, I'm not an immigrant. I was born and live in the UK.
This is the truth right here. It's not that bad, tbh.. The hydraulic balls were very cheap 20 year ago when I was trained at Citroën.
If it clicks at this rate, the accumulator sphere is gone. It's just an empty metal ball used to store pressure, unlike the other ones
@@ulrich_badmecanique fair point, and well made. That said if you're doing the other 4 you'd be doing the accumulator anyway.
Watching this was a lot of fun because I’m used to Citroën CX and XM so it is interesting to see a fresh look on the a Citroën from a different perspective. But I’m also almost screaming at my phone for the mistakes you make.
1. The ticking noise is normal, is the hydraulic pump. But it shouldn’t tick this often(replace central sphere)
2. The reason it doesn’t brake or has a delay: air in the brakes, bleed it and it works
The brakes are powered instead of power assisted, with the pedal you open a valve which allows high pressure from the pump/central sphere to the calipers
3. You should only drive in normal rideheight, other rideheights have very poor drivabity
4. The shockabsobers are in the spheres, the things you called shockabsorbers are hydraulic cilinders
5. The boots in the cilinders always have fluid in them, there should be a returnline on it. Wizard broke one by punching it. The cilinders are never perfectly sealed
6. Wrong spheres are mounted, for ultimate comfort you should buy screwable spheres instead of welded ones. But new welded ones already should make a big difference in comfort(welded ones are cheap and easy to replace)(screwed spheres you can buy for instance at CitroTech in the netherlands.
You seem to have quite a nice DS (you can just call it a DS) that with not too much maintanace will be an excellent car. Maybe it even has a 5 speed btw
In the netherlands this is one of the most popular classic cars, it is very different than what you are used to but a lot of information is available. If you want I can send you some companies I know where you can get knowledge and parts.
I really hope you keep it and would love to see your adventures with it!!!
Top advice, saved me typing out similar.,.. Take note of the pump cycling/ticking so often, this points to leaks in the central sphere, and the obvious leak underneath it. Once replaced the ticking will happen at start and then stop when pressure is correct in the system, then only begin again when you start moving and the fluid is being pumped around the brakes and suspension. Bad ride at either end is due to blown spheres, they will need replacing at each corner. Once blown you have no damping, as the spheres are filled with fluid which will not compress when you hit any bumps. The magic ride is a balance of air/fluid separated by a diaphragm in the sphere, hence hydropneumatic suspension.
Exactly. Still miss my BX GTI and Xantia Activa V6.
@@paultjep ... I still have a Activa V6 :)....now those WOULD blow their minds :)
A normal mechanic will not be able to fix a Citroën without doing some reading first. A friend started working in a garage that served French cars and changing a clutch on one type of Citroën took 3 days and was a pain in the a$$ he took the manual home and the next day he did changed it in 1 hour. So read the manual and save yourself some headaches.
Honestly I think this ID is far from a disaster. It only really seems to need to have the calipers rebuilt and one (now two) new gaiters at the rear. Obviously it's not a driver as-is, but it doesn't seem like it would need too much work to become one. You might be able to get the rear suspension cylinders completely sealed internally (in which case the gaiter just become a fail-safe), but I wouldn't bother. I doubt they wouldn't have any internal leakage even when they were new
I would love to see you guys do some in depth work on this. This is 1000x more interesting than most of the car projects on RUclips.
Scott from Cold War Motors owns several Citroën cars. He has a bunch of videos of the SM he’s currently restoring. Check them out if you’re interested.
What do you mean!! Super cars and $200,000+ unobtainable cars aren’t what people wanna see?? You’re gonna blow these guys minds! Surely the people don’t want to see fun and unique car builds!
@@iVolkswagen Haha! Seriously. I don't think I can sit through another video of an out-of-warranty Mercedes that needs it's entire front end taken apart to replace a failing sensor.
You are right, but I have 3 Citroëns in my garage (2 Traction avants and U23) and one SL R107 so I I’m happy this morning 😂
Hear hear!
As a Frenchman, I would say keep it! It seems to be in good condition, the hydraulics is always a problem on these cars but it can be repaired, parts can be found quite easily. This car can run on 3 wheels and you can change a wheel without using the jack. Bisous de France!
Oh sure you would - in reality you’d just spend that money on great food & wine _et la séduction…_ 🍷 Can’t blame you, either,
It belongs to car wizard now
Bien dit, gars!
Bonjour from a Texan in the Cote d'Azur ... yeah, "parts are easily found" ... IF you are in France; shipping will be high. One of our Nice Car Club members has a DS ... smoothest suspension EVER !!! And like the Dog breed "Shar Pei", so ugly they're cute. Good price Hoovie got IMHO ... "AutoScout24" currently has 11 ID/DS vehicles for sale ... 1 DS at $250k !!! WOW. Now we have to get Hoovie and Wizard to watch "Rabbi Jacob" ... LOL
😂
I am from Europe (Netherlands); this is a fantastic car, with many devoted lovers. Yes, it may seem complicated (which at first it is), but there is a reason why so many have survived here over 50 years: they have the best ride ever, are quirky and lovable. Keep it, and make it right.
I am from Europe as well (Netherlands).
And yeah, in the old days we built stuff to last.
Now a days we have people who demand durability, and yet have no problem that the big companies still get away with selling us stuff that is put together in such a way that it will for sure break down.
But yeah, this car does ride very nice. Its like a magic carpet.
Same, the citroen DS and the volvo p444/p544, are, i think the very oldest European cars, that people over here still actually daily drive. They are pretty good now, but must have been absolutely unbelievably fantastic pieces of engineering 60 years ago. Fwd, hydraulic suspension,an aerodynamic body and disc brakes in a mass produced car!
Another Dutch here, we loveeee the DS here in Europe and it's a wonderful exotic car!
@@erikbru-o7k Exotic?
"unusual and exciting because of coming (or seeming to come) from far away, especially a tropical country"
Sure, i agree that it is unusual and exciting. But coming from far away, especially a tropical country?
Hmm. La France is a stone's throw away.
Joke btw, obviously
Another dutchie here. I just love seeing Americans discover French engineering 🥲 They have made some controversial design and engineering choices over there
As a ex Citroen Tech this was painful to watch 🤣🤣 That is in superb condition barring a few LHM leak's.
I've seen much worse DS's that people describe as "superb condition". I wonder how bad the rust is in the trunk.
Hydraulic issues were usually easily fixed on these cars, French electrics was what drove me out of my mind.,
Was thinking the same. Drama queen much!!!
You should call the car wizard shop and talk about repairing this car
Seeing it driven flat on the ground hurt me badly
As many others familiar with the DS have said, primarily Europeans, you don't have a bad example there at all just needs some maintenance and replacement parts. If the parts are a tenth as available in Europe then this will be your first time experiencing an actually reliable version of this suspension. It is a wonderful car.
Agreed. This actually a really good car. The hydraulics isn't that hard to fix. Looks like new spheres (or refilling) and a rebuild of the hydraulic cylinders.
I've had a Citroen. Sort the hydraulics and it will be fine. It's rust-free and in good shape and the motor runs well. This is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, and when it's sorted the ride will live up to the hype. It's a work of art, and maybe more than anything you've ever bought, worthy of being saved.
I'm commencing to think that Tyler really isn't that much of a real car guy.
@@mescko Hearing him say "This car is a complete and utter disaster" made me think "This guy is in the wrong business." I wonder if he knows how to raise chickens.
You have no idea how fabulous that car can be.
Tips: The hood prop is on the bonnet and latches to the radiator on the left as you look at it.
The wizard punctured the rear bladder, now you need a new one.
Don't drive the car super low or you'll have no suspension. There is a mid mark on the control for a smooth ride.
Those spheres are both the springs and the dampers.
That clicking indicates an internal leak somewhere. It should only click a few times per minute.
Stick with it, it will be epic!
I was amazed he poked/punctured it. Well hopefully he comps the part and labor to reinstall it.
Yep totally agree - wizard just trying to get more money
That wizard always trying to run up the bill on gullible Hoovie. Shame on him
@@howardwilliams1218 I think he was just genuinely oblivious to how the suspension works. Surprised neither of them did any research before buying such a desirable car.
Exactly! All what you said, Paul. Also I want to add you shouldn't drive it in the very highest position either and I think is what he did @ 18:40. The highest position is for wheel changes and very careful driving only. (At least it was like that on my BX)
I think the Wizard would definitely take better care of this amazing car, and probably appreciate it more than Hoovie ever could, he should just let him have it....after Wizard gets it sorted out so we can see Tyler's reaction to how it drives on the road with everything working right.
and he can afford to work on it like he does with his Jag both brands needing work all the time
Definitely give it to the Wizard. He seems to appreciate the quirkiness of the car and will want to at least try to do some justice to it. The DS was an amazingly advanced and surprisingly reliable car, IF you took care of it. I suspect that at some point in its life, this car's hydraulic system was refilled with the wrong hydraulic fluid rather than the hard-to-find "Frog Juice", and that ruined some of the gaskets and seals. But certainly worth fixing, IMHO.
It's a wizard 🧙♂️ car for sure I can picture him and Mrs Wizard riding around in it
Dont tell tyler what to do. It wouldnt have been fixed at all if not for him
Yes, he'll love it for the one month he has it before he sells it for another Beetle.
Most interesting car you've had on here in a while. Being able to see the cool French cars rather than another BMW, Audi, or Mercedes is refreshing.
It’s the only thing that’s bought me back to the channel as I’m bored of the ordinary exclusive crap now
OMG - you are a classic car killer! Never, ever, drive a Citroen hydraulic on the lowest suspension setting. That is like taking the springs out of a conventional car. Of course it felt awful. The low setting is for raising a wheel when changing out a puncture. I had the pleasure of owning a DS 21 Pallas some years back. It had the semi auto box and the gear change was just a magic wand. I would love another, but perhaps with a smoother 6 cylinder in place of the agricultural unit that was a compromise in all these vehicles. Watching you and the Wizard was like watching a couple of apes working with a hammer on a Faberge egg. Please keep it, but treat it gently :)
"Watching you two was like watching couple of apes working on a Faberge egg with a hammer. " That's the funniest thing I've read in ages. 😂😂
I CANT believe I’m going to say this: Keep it. Because I want to see more of it getting worked on, because it is SO cool (and uniquely French). The sane play is to run away screaming, but the YTer play is to make the content. But you can’t argue, it’s a REALLY good condition car, and it’s going to be just as rare to see on the road as any of your Lambos.
I don't care who has it, as long as it gets saved. These cars are so cool.
As a french Guy following you for some years now, I'm really glad to watch you find all the "quirks and features" of a Citroën ! Please keep it, it's quite rare in the US now, as in France as well !
its rear because they allready where rusting in the showroom
it's rare in france?
I'm Dutch and theres a few of these in my town for sure.
I remember these from when I was a kid in California in the 70s. They weren't uncommon then. I think there was a local importer. This one looks like a US export model: no headlight covers.
@@transformerstuff7029 Sure not so rare here in France, not as rare for example as the Alpine Renault we've seen some years ago on Hoovies' channel. This one was a trully rare beauty since probably not much than 100 have been imported in the states.
Bon baisers de France! Keep it it’s a piece of French history.
Once you sort the suspension you will have the most unique car in your collection and it’s definitely a keeper. The suspension alone is worth buying the car for but the character and memories it brings are likely to bring a smile to your and your kids faces for as long as you own it. A little bit of pure France.
The brake pedal feels weird because it's actually a valve as opposed to a hydraulic piston. When you press the pedal you're opening a valve that increases the amount of pressure that is allowed to go to the brake system. It uses the same pressurized hydraulic system fluid that the suspension is using. I had a 1983 Citroen GS and it worked the same way. It takes a little time to get used to the brake feel.
One of the first cars I drove was a CX, same think and a very strange feel of you're not used to it!
This car doesn't have those breaks.
Not on the ID you are explaining the DS
PLEASE, Hoovie! Do not give up on this amazing piece of engineering. You have the money to fix it, so FIX IT!
This examples is amazing. My old neighbor was a big fan of these and bought many just to make one good one. This car is in awesome shape. You definitely did not get ripped off. Get the small items worked out, gave it detailed and make a killing down the road. Take care of it Tyler. Don’t do anything stupid.
Tyler was just doing click bait; the usual exaggeration to get maximum attention.
@@petesmitt He's getting almost as bad as Scotty - almost. This car's definitely a keeper once this pretty minor stuff gets sorted out.
@@will89687 Kilmer is way worse; he blatantly makes up titles that have no connection to the content of his video.
@@petesmitt And he yells.
The dash says 24,712 miles. I highly doubt its rolled over. Was probably an old lady car driven rarely.
It's not weird, it's brilliant. The hood prop is mounted under the hood. The hydraulic system is very reliable, but it needs a bit of maintenance. The engine came from the traction avant (fwd).
The Anglo saxon aren't allowed to call anything French "brilliant" it's state law ...It'd be like wiping their asses with 120 grit sandpaper ....The only thing they' d have to pass to call brilliant would be a white flag gleaming in the sun , or the intensity of the rear lights when driving in reverse .....
However I , as a French do allow myself to call the anglo saxon strategy to finance Hitler from USA by private parties '( Prescott bush and Ford ) , wait for the mess to be made irreversibly pretexting an "isolationist " tradition , then come "save' us by carpet bombing our industry after Russia did all the footwork , then tie us down with a massive Marshall plan shark loan , a bloody BRILLIANT military strategy ( that only works when you're all comfy and protected by 6000kilometer of ocean tho ) ....
There's not much wrong with it honestly, especially compared to what you've already been through with your other cars. Basically everything you showed us is down to hydraulics and they shouldn't be that difficult or expensive to fix. Starting procedure is probably gonna take some time getting used to (fiddling with choke), but it doesn't sound wrong to me. Like others already said, this is a pretty good example.
You are lucky with the "simple" ID19! I have a DS21 with pretty much EVERYTHING hydraulic. Brakes (on a rubber "button" not a pedal), suspension, steering and the BVH hydraulic "manual" gearbox where the car does the clutch for you. Once you are used to it it's actually pretty logical and simple :)
The hydraulic pump should "click" every 20-40 seconds if pressure is good.
Love the way Wizard destroyed the suspension with a screwdriver! The rubber boot is all part of the return system and is a bit of a pain to replace, kinda has to be turned inside-out, but with a hole in it now that's the end of that side suspension.
To be honest this is a REALLY good example which only needs some minor TLC (by DS standards). Definitely read up in it a lot more before driving it any further, or do anymore work on it :P
as a citroen driver for the last 30 years..these cars are amazing...and once set up correctly..absolutely...and use ONLY the green hydraulic oil.LHM..and nothing else...otherwise you will have problems..the clicking noise is the pump...it will click until the pressure is correct...should eventually stop...but an easy and not so expensive fix...and NEVER drive it on its lowest setting...its just for servicing
Ur right only use LHM… and a experienced Citroen specialist mechanic.. otherwise it’s gonna be an expensive venture..
Growing up in the UK my dad had a total of nine of these starting back in the 60's with a Safari wagon, then all the way through to one of last 1975 DS23 models off the assembly line with all the options, he had that car for years. We drove all over europe at a rediculous high rate of speed for hours at a time and the cars were incredible. You could raise the suspension and drive them out into fields without an issue. Amazing, comfortable, and you will fall in love with it.
A Citroën is seldom a story about making money. More about having a great time between several breakdowns. And especially something beautiful to look at while being broken down
So true! 😆
Dive in and recover this Hooptie. I’d watch this project.
These cars are incredibly reliable when serviced correctly.
@@colingarner6175 uuhm nope.. even the collectors who really treat these cars like their babies get stuck on the side of the road.. let's face it, it's french engineering.. that says enough.
@@snoordman04 it's Citroën that's unreliable, Peugeot and Renault are not the most reliable ever (that's asian cars) but they are far from as bad as citroën
that is a 1969 DS20. They stopped with the ID way back in the 60's. What you thought was high level stop lights are actually the direction indicators. The emergency brake works from the front disk pads. those boots that you poked holes in, have a plastic return pipe on them that redirects the fluid back to the resevoir. Once you have sorted the hydraulics and got used to driving it, you will never sell it!
This is an American version. No turning front lights and no indicators in the roof. Not sure if they put the stoplights or the position lights there instead.
Look at the front indicators too. There is a piece of trim were they should be and there are big ones under the bumper. Quite different to the european version you might be used to.
US Citroën we’re only sold between 1968 and 1971 I believe it was no big success there
The ID 19 was build until middle of 1969 with the old 1911 cc engine 78 bhp.
One year the DS20 with the new 1984cc 94 bhp was parallel built in 1969. I guess it is the DS21 carburetor version with 2184cc 107 bhp, for the us market always the biggest!
But
Yes, and as you suggest, the rear suspension boot is normally filled with fluid. They each have a seal that needs to be replaced from time to time. You just bought yourself a new rear boot, fella.
The Citroen DS was an iconic car when it was launched in the 1950s. Power steering, self leveling suspension, adaptive cornering headlights ( thought not sure if they were available in the USA)… This project is a must. What a glorious car. ❤
Tyler's car is made to meet what were then the headlight rules in USA. In Canada, the French swiveling pair (inboard) and the vertical pitch compensated (outboard) pair were allowed. The latter "feature" was more of a gimmick, and caused frequent bulb failure from excess filament shaking. When US sales were cancelled, one could still import the later '70s, provided that the ride height adjust lever was fitted with a lock plate (which could be easily removed). This was to meet the US bumper height rule.
@@omarjette3859 seeing the Citroen DS on his channel was such a treat. Time for the Wizard and Tyler to check out an old episode of Wheeler Dealers to see how to learn and fix the issues it has.
@@Mouthy_Trucker Another negative Nellie putting in their 1 cent worth in 😐
The early DS cars didn't have swivelling headlamps. There were 2 fixed lights originally. The cornering headlamps arrived in the late 1960s/ early 1970s
As Leno says in his videos, you can’t take a Citroen to Clem at the gas station for repair. It’s amazing how complex and ahead of their time they were.
He also said he has a guy. Club guys would be a good resource.
Anymore; a vehicle ahead of its time should be easy to keep on the road.
The DS is less complex than any new car. Just more exotic, so mechanics don't know how to tend to them.
Nice steal, Wizard!
@@ingrampowell9111 It's innovative (or was), but it's not rocket science. It's just something the average mechanic has never seen before, though they should be able to figure it out with a good manual.
Its not that complex, you just need to understand how it works, people freak out because it's different but different doesn't mean it's harder to work on (in this case the hydraulics are a ridiculously easy problem to solve) you just have to be familiar with it.Most gas station clems rarely saw any and simply had no idea at what they were looking at. The gas station clems in France weren't much brighter than in the US, they just knew of them, better access to spare parts and had more experience with it.
I thoroughly enjoy the departure from the "usual" vehicles for something interesting and quite different. Citroen has approached vehicle design differently and perhaps some viewers might enjoy seeing how they deal with suspension and inboard brakes.
Yeah, the reasonable thing to do would be getting rid of it. But that’s not what does channels for. I’d love to learn about this!
Citroen and Saab the kings of odd design. 😂
The French copy no one.
No one copies the French.
Keep it
Please keep it! The repairs would be fascinating. And when it's all fixed, you'll have a great example of a truly weird and wonderful car.
Now this is the coolest car you’d bought in a long while. Can’t wait to follow this one.
This is one of the 3 best cars of all-time. it'll never lose value. If I were you, I'd keep it.
You were meant to own a Citroën and I was waiting for this for so long!! 🎉
He looks kind of like a Citreon to me.
Quirky, unusual, and you don't know why you like it, but you do.
Ya Hoovie Citroen
His spirit car 😅
His next purchase should be a 2 CV...
To appreciate these cars you have to get up close to one, they are really something special and let's not get started on the small details. Once you have driven a Citroen
with its unique suspension you'll be smitten, basic spring and struts stuff won't cut it anymore such is the experience. Being rust free and so clean underneath is a huge bonus.
@@Mouthy_Trucker fair comment, beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say.
So glad you got a Citroen at last. I've got a 70 D Super (succesor to the ID). That looks a sound ID, rust is the killer, everything else is a (relatively) easy fix. Check sills / rockers, boot floor, take rear wings off to check inner wings etc. 69 is the sweatspot year as well (old style dash). The Wizard owes you though - the rear boots are supposed to hold fluid, he's just burst a $100 part that's a fiddle to replace (and replacement rubber parts are often crap). It's the low pressure return side, the system is designed to leak a little past the high pressure seals and return to the resevoir. Bumpy ride is the spheres. I think you have powered steering (it was an option by then on the ID). Clicking is the accumultor - should be min 20-30 seconds between clicks - leaks and the accumultor sphere are the cause. Bonnet/Hood prop is on the underside of the hood, latches onto the side of the radiator. They're a pain to start from cold - full choke, no throttle, when warm no choke, full throttle. New fuel pump might help. Trade it into the Wizard and get yourself an SM for a fully weird, wallet emptying experience...
Old Citroên are like French people: They´re not complicated, they´re just different. And quite lovely when you get used to them.
It´s perfect for The Car Wizard - no body issues, just mechanical stuff to take care of. I bet he could do a series og videos sorting out those little quirks.
Good afternoon, I nearly choked on my fresh cream meringue when I saw this car on the garage. I am pouring the tea. Only 425 miles from Paris here. 🇬🇧🇫🇷🚗 These two looking at this like UFO crash retrieval made my day.
Yeah in Europe they’re not so unusual an we know they’re strange.
@@jerehada Yeah true, I had two Citroen cars and they are strange. I think they have gone mainstream now mostly.
I own one of these (70 DS21) and I'm not sure what suspension mode you were driving it in but you cannot drive it in the lowest notch it lets all the fluid out of the shocks that's probably why it was so bumpy. It should always be the next notch up unless you need to clear a tall obstacle. Hope the wizard can sort it out! Looks like honestly a pretty decent car that you guys just might not know a whole lot about.
Exactly what I was thinking, having had a Xantia with basically the same system. Lowest notch isn’t really for regular driving, and neither is the top level. I guess that the reason for the lowest position is that the pressure is taken off the shocks and in to the accumulators when the car sits.
That being said, hydraulic citroens are something that really need to be learned. A bit quirky, yet super comfortable and even quite reliable!
You're so lucky to own a DS21. I had one with the same colour scheme as Hoovie about 25 years ago and deeply regret getting rid of it.
The way he said "that's highway" when wizard dropped it low makes me think that's exactly what he was doing.
@@Wunderbaumsporting are you in the USA? Xantia stateside would be very cool to check out!
@@lachlancook6718 I know I nearly cried. It's like neither of them bothered to do even a 2 minute Google search. Didn't even know it was FWD! hahahaha so cringe
I once drove a Citroen ID19 in white from (I think) 1965 and I still dream about this car. The comfortable interior, the magnificent ride, the ease of operating it and at the same time the otherness of the car totally impressed me.
A friend of mine here in Germany is a mechanic for these old Citroens, so I'm quite used to see them - and it really entertained me how amazed and baffled you were when inspecting it. But I have to say, I was in total disbelief as the wizard punched through the boot hahaha damn... that's not how to handle a hydropneumatic suspension. It was quite fun to watch though :D
I'd love to see how you cope with this dream car of mine! Don't sell it, you'll love it once it's fixed.
Big Citroën fan here... So funny to watch you guys discover hydrolics. Quite innovative in the time. This car is in an amazing state, you'll have it leak free in a breeze.
Now is not the time to start making rational decisions on cars. You’ve got the ability and the support on RUclips- save this thing!
Tyler: "I got scammed"
Also Tyler: "I bought an old French car" 😂😂
😂😂
Mf never owned a diesel 1995 106/saxo
Ha! French cars= buyer beware!
@@thenormalgamer9037 My grandpa owned various Peugeots through his life, worst POS ever created!
Why does everyone hate french cars when some of the most reliable cars ever made were french like the 505, 205,404,405,504,2cv,4l,twingo,206,2nd gen clio, xantia and far more
This is a keeper. Extremely unique and it's in great condition with just the things you would expect to be failing. I say keep it.
Many years ago I ran a repair shop in a college town and one of the profs had a 1968 DS21. I was young and bullet proof (so I thought) so I agreed to do the wrenching on it every time it quit. Very interesting experience to say the least. Yes everything is hydraulic and uses LOTS of mineral brake fluid. It had a semi-automatic transmission which meant it had no clutch pedal but a syncromesh transmission, so you could manually shift it through the gears or put it in 4th and let it do the shifting. It rode like nothing I've ever experienced, like a giant marsh-mallo. Every repair was a HUGE learning experience.
My dad had 4 of these when I was a wee lad in the 1960's and 70's .
The low position on the suspension control lever is for using the jack to change a tyre.
You first put it at max high position , place the Jack then put it in the low position. Then the wheels on the jack side magically rise off the ground.
Normal main road , highway , driving is the second position..
Beautiful cars, so advanced for their time, if a little underpowered.
You missed one the oddest feature of this car: because of the crazy suspention system, it allows the car to drive on ... 3 wheels! It did actually save the life of the général De Gaulle when his car was shot at with a machine gun during an assassination attemp and a tire was shot flat, the driver managed to run away on 3 wheels at high speed! I hope Tyler will make this demonstration, that's a lot of fun to see.😅
Citroen themselves advertised this aswell
It wasn't ID19 but a special version of DS ;)
This could come in handy in parts of America….
There was a high speed chase on an episode of CHiPs that highlighted this feature; it's widely available on RUclips including at watch?v=CN8YnxcRnzg. HubNut did the three-wheel test on a DS at watch?v=JlGSbNWInIQ.
Who's going to shoot at Hoovie?
You really need to read the Citroen manual about ride height selection. The lowest position is NOT for driving in and you will wreck a LOT if you try it. It’s for jacking the vehicle, put it in high, insert the stunt Citroen supplied and put the lever to low. It will then automatically lift the wheel in the corner where the strut is fitted. The “Balls” are accumulators. They have a rubber diaphragm across the middle of them internally and gas is fed under pressure to the sealed end. The other end is fed to the hydraulic feed and to a hydraulic ram that has seals along it’s length . When the rubber diaphragm ruptures you get a ride with no give, very hard. When the rams seals go, you get the dust boot filling with LHM Fluid (Green Mineral oil). You need seals for the rear left suspension ram.
It's not a dust boot, it's for fluid return, low pressure, it is meant to be leaked into, it is intentional & assures that the high pressure cylinder's piston is well lubricated.
@@alro2434 If that is the case, it might have worked better without a new hole that the wizard put in it. I have owned a GS, CX (x3), DS Safari (x2) and don’t recall a return to the tank from the rear suspension, but you may be correct, either way the amount of fluid present means that those seal were shot.
Thanks for this, i had to turn the video off when he put it in "highway" mode and started to drive it over the car park...I mean how ignorant can u be??
@@kasparpl1993 He has allready said "I am so DUMB!" in the title ..... Yet here we are talking about it ..... Not sure he is so dumb.
Spot on, the Wizard and Hoovie should read this and the "Macman" comments before screwing up what seems to be a reasonably sound example ... or are we all clickbait at this point? 🤔
I'm a big fan of that car, the problems it has are normal and easy to solve, it should be noted that the parts that failed are over 50 years old... if you look carefully at the mechanical parts compared to other cars from 50 years ago, this looks like a spaceship and what is very interesting, the parts for it are available for purchase and are not expensive.
As long as we get to see more of the car I don't mind if its owned by you or the wizard! Its so unusual and I admire the way they went about it instead of looking at what everyone else does and copying that or doing something similar Citroen did there own unique thing and thats what gives a car character!
The bemused amazement at things done differently is very funny. Stretch your envelope Tyler and read up on the Citroen. Despite your horror stricken reaction there is nothing that hard or expensive to fix. It looks like a beautiful example, nurture it.
This is among the top 5 coolest car you've ever bought on this channel, I'd love to see more content of it! If it's on Wizard's channel, so be it, but personally I'd prefer it here.
Now imagine the looks on the faces of French car mechanics, when this came out in the late '50s... they probably thought the guys at Citroen totally lost it :D
I seem to remember hearing somewhere that the factory had to give workshops to mechanics so they'd have a clue what to do with this spaceship on wheels... basically everything made different on it, just for the sake of being different. I think they wanted to make it flat engined as well, but decided not to complicate it even more... (or there was time/money restraint)
And of course it's front-wheeled, Citroen was among the earliest pioneers of FWD, along with DKW in Germany.
The DS predecessor, the Traction had a straight six engine, but it was over 20 years old so they couldn't keep using it. For the DS, they wanted a brand new flat six engine, but André Citroën was never one to spread his bets, instead gambling all the company's money on one idea or another. They were haemorrhaging money (why they were eventually acquired by Peugeot), and couldn't afford to develop it. Instead, the DS was stuck for all its life with an underpowered 4 cylinder engine.
@@MikeArott actually, for the development for the SM the bought Masarati!! They let them develop a 6 cilinder V block for it. No great succes though, there are videos about that here on RUclips..😊
@@thijsvdakker1615 Thanks. I never made that connection. Didn't they acquire Maserati later, when the DS was already a few years old. I'll have to look it up. Maybe a V6 wouldn't fit under the bonnet of the DS, hence the idea of a flat 6.
New car technology classes are very common for factory mechanics these days. But I could see that being something out of the ordinary back then.
@@MikeArott The Traction Avant started with 4 cylinder engines, and that basic design was used in the DS. The 6 was later, and that's a Traction Avant 15/6 or 15/6H (for hydraulic rear suspension). Michelin acquired Citroën after the introduction of the DS, Peugeot took over in 1976.
What a trip ! I was a Citroën mechanic for a year or so around 75 in Houston .Weird car .The one I primarily worked on was weird too , the SM . Thanks for the memories. !
This is the coolest car you've gotten in a while, you HAVE to keep it
Seems pretty good apart from the hydraulic issues. Not too hard to fix, you can still buy all the parts. Looks like it doesn’t have any rust issues which is good. I think you got a good deal. BAT definitely does have to get sellers to disclose more information on condition and problems with some vehicles- but that’s why you should inspect a car in person! I had a shock a few years back with a vehicle that should have been described as a ‘project’. Got it sorted eventually but much more work/cost than anticipated.
Auctions are often dumping grounds where people fight each other in an effort to overpay. BaT has gotten so large, it can't vet these vehicles properly anymore. They do get plenty of nice units through there, and there are some occasional deals, but much of it's overpriced. I'll never forget the day someone paid $69,500 + fees, for a rusty '72 Espada, sitting in a field with the engine and interior in pieces. They might break even in 25 years.
It's such an interesting car, it'd be a shame to punt it right away. Watching you and Wizard discover all the weird French engineering was fun.
Hi, I'm a Citroën mechanic and I have several hydropneumatique cars, BX, XM, CX, and one DS.
Nothing is like a typical american car, so you need to learn a lot about it.
The clicking noise is from the "conjoncteur/disjoncteur", the part that regulate the hydraulic pressure in the circuit. You have a sphere on it and it is shut, because the clicking noise should not be so fast, it should takes several minutes between 2 clicks.
The other 4 spheres for your suspension are shut too.
The front break caliper are leaking, that's why you don't have break in front.
And finaly the rubber parts of the rear hydraulic cylinders are dead. It is called in french the "cafetière" and are a common source of leaking on a DS. You have the same thing for the front cylinders.
No major issues, no rust, it is a beatiful ID 19. It needs time and care, that's all. You should contact a DS owner club, they are some in your country, they will help you if you have questions for the repair and other things on the car.
Good luck and sorry for my non perfect English
Tristan from France
A fun example of great engineering.
Love the steering wheel among other things.
I used to work for a guy who was military and raced these things in Germany. He had a lot of great stories to tell about them.
Inboard disk brakes says they were thinking about suspension performance by reducing unsprung weight.
The self-levelling suspension, known as hydro-pneumatic suspension was designed by
Paul Magès (think that's how his surname is spelt) and as a kid, being brought up round my fathers businesses in the car trade I've been intrigued by the suspensions on Citroens
Back in the '80s, I had a Jaguar with that great" suspension", it never worked.
@@aaronlopez492 The hydro pneumatic was always the only thing that worked decently on Citroens. I wonder where Hoovie got this one, its not rusted away. Strange.
@@wolfgangpreier9160 Its not rusting because its been covered in leaked oil since its first day out of the factory, its not a bug, its a feature.
Spelt?? LMAO dude you gotta be kidding
@@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus 🤣🤣😂😂👍👍
You have to keep this - I LOVE IT!!! The head engineer Paul Megès was immortalized by the French playwright Marcel Pagnol with these words of praise "Everyone thought it was impossible, except an idiot who didn’t know and who created it.” I've always wanted one of these or probably the more elaborate DS. Watching you deal with this will probably remind me not to get one, but I will very much enjoy the journey.
You have tried your luck with lots of cars most viewers are familiar with (although most have not actually driven them) now you can take almost everyone on an adventure with a car they have not seen in detail. I understand the motor is underpowered, something to do with post war France taxes on power. This being an ID it might never had the corner headlights swept into a turn with the wheel like the DS. Thiat was never available on the US legal cars. The design of the earlier DS in the late 50's was about as out of the world as the Jetsons were to us in the 60's. Almost every innovative (perhaps crazy is a better word) idea in car engineering was let loose on this full size car from the shape, the front wheel drive (on a big car), the full underbody sheet metal aero cladding, the suspension, the brakes (at least for the hydro-powered DS brakes), the strong self-centering steering wheel, the brake lights (I think both the one on the bumper and at the roof line light up), and the incredible comfort you have yet to experience. But there is more. If you have a flat tire (I think on the rear wheels) you can pump up the suspension to raise it and the drive it to service station at reduced speed. You can even drie it with the wheel off - perhaps not exactly recommended, but shown on RUclips somewhere.
The rear roof mounted lights are the turn signals, while licence plate, back-up, running & brakes are in the lower group. To do "three-wheeling" the third wheel goes on the back.
@@omarjette3859 Thanks, for the correction I goofed up on.
Paul Magès. And You shouldn't be scared away - it's all very easily understood and very logic, in terms of hydraulics. I had a bunch back in the days when these were the cars that were the cheapest and most advanced way to drive a Citroën, and I had no budget whatsoever for shops or dealerships to spare. It was always the same three failures and always the same easy fixes. DS being a bit more prone to irregularities, but the same logic. I had hardly ever any easier-to-fix luxury cars than DSs and DSupers. And the conventional part, engine, gearbox, clutch, periphery like starter or alternator .... bullet proof was an understatement. Citroën-overengineered. I had DS and DSuper cars (in plural) with well over 500 k km and no maintenance besides repairs where it failed and never stranded ever in a grand Citroën.
Good for you for taking the leap. Refreshingly different than all the usual origami McLamborrari stuff we see offered out on RUclips car channels. Give it a go and see what comes of it. I suspect that even if you put lucre into fixing it, you won't lose money (or not too much at least). I also think it's interesting and significant that the Wizard sees the attraction of it.
I've been a huge Citroën SM fan for a very long time, after I had an opportunity to drive one. The Maserati engine aside, my takeaways were the oleo pneumatic suspension, the brakes (especially the round pedal itself) and the self leveling headlights. It was a masterpiece of engineering for it's time. While I'm sad to see what's actually happened to Citroën over the years, their rich history is full of weird and wonderful engineering qwirks. This ID19 is no exception, what a classy looking car. I've always been fascinated by their futuristic engineering. The positioning of the brake lights is also rather clever.
It’s probably the most interesting car you’ve bought. It also seems very simple to maintain. KEEP IT.
Whatever the scam is, if you end up with one of these it's all fine.
Tyler! You are NEVER supposed to drive in the lowest or in the highest positions! Lowest is usually for servicing, and highest for tyre change or to pass over obstacles at a reduced speed, but both positions are like having no suspension at all!
The Citroen DS was introduced in the 1950's. It was way ahead of its time. I rode in a DS 23 fuel injected in Europe. It is the most comfortable car I've ever ridden in.
Did you like the break button?
@@Blasterxp The travel is so short, it takes some time to get used to but it works very well.
My uncle had one identical, but in tan. You should definitely keep it. Of all your crazy cars, this is the one your kids will remember when they are 65. They say “there is nothing like it” about many cars but with this one it is absolutely true. All the issues on this will be resolvable. Just takes time to learn about them. Ps- as you will learn you should definitely not have popped that bulb.
This is a really nice example. The hydraulic issues are not too much of a problem. I can't wait to see Hoovies reaction when he discovers you can drive these on three wheels.
@@grayfool France's President was driving in one of these (Gaulle) and terrorists shot up the car, one of the tires was flat, but the driver was able to use the hydraulics to drive on 3 wheels and get the President to safety. Yeah, these are special cars. They were the Tesla of their time.
@@rebeltvr6046 Yep, these are incredible cars.
Can you imagine attending the 1955 Paris motor show and seeing the new Citroen, it must have as if a space ship turned up.
Whether it's you Hoovie or the Wizard who takes the challenge, I'm watching!
This car was made for you. Definitely fix it
The opposite...its a mechanics car
You follow Hoovie and the Wizard too?
@@elvisladIt’s quirky, odd and temperamental lol. Seems like a perfect fit
@@zollotech but Wiz said he wanted it,you could just tell he really wanted and Hoovie has got lots of cars he doesnt give a shit about
To remove the rear tires, you must first remove the rear fenders. There should be a tool in the trunk to turn the clips that hold the fenders on.
It could drive on 3 wheel, right?
ruclips.net/video/JlGSbNWInIQ/видео.html
@@Blasterxp oui
@@Blasterxp I have heard that, and I have seen video of that. But I never tried it with mine. I always raised it to the highest level and then placed the static prop under the car and let it back down. The wheel is then left in the air ready to be removed.
These are amazing cars and we see quite a few of them in the UK. Normally you need a Citroen expert to look after them, so it looks like the Wizard is about to become a Citroen expert. Can't wait to see him sort this out, whoever owns it, because these are great cars.
The right hand drives were build at the Slough factory in the UK.
I believe it’s worth diving into the vehicle. Overall it looks like the car is in good shape, with a few issues to iron out. I believe the main issue is going to be the logistics and cost of the parts for the repairs. But I believe the journey will be worth it for you, and will also be extremely rewarding for your subscribers to watch. Good luck!
It's actually very good simple engineering. Once you get your head round it you may wonder why all cars aren't like it. The wizard should love working on it. There is great support from the various clubs should you need it.
You should keep it! My father has a 69 ID19 wagon also US speck like yours. It is one of the most comfortable and unusual cars you can get. Once you get the suspension and hydronic system sorted it’ll be amazing!
You definitely need to keep it! The ride height needs to be set in the middle of the range, you have it sitting on its bump stops. I doubt you will need many parts to put it right. This is going to be inexpencive, but you may want to find someone who understrands it. You dont need new struts.
Wizard will know how to appreciate it ;)
Keep it. Totally different from your other projects. It would be nice to see it in working order!!
I had never thought about this but Hoovie has made the wizard a better mechanic because he brings him so many different cars, with all kinds of problems. His knowledge now is unparalleled!
Hoovie! I am so thankful that you share your pain for our entertainment! This one I will enjoy following!
Hydraulics on these are easy to fix. However, you do need access to spare parts and knowledgeable technicians. It’s rust that kills these cars, so a clean body shell means no real fears.
This was hard to watch because of the total stupidity.
When the hydraulics start to leak, the first thing to go is the rear suspension, then the power steering cuts out more and more and by then there is no pressure on the brakes. A perfect car
Please keep this one it's super unique and quirky. It would be super interesting to see all the inner workings of this blue jelly bean on wheels
Car wizard seems to own it now
Never thought I'd see you with a Citroen, beautiful machine and rides like a cloud.....when its working.
There once was a car company called NSU. When VW/Audi took them over they found the company had an awkwardising department. Once a car was designed, the deparment were set loose on ot to make everything on it as difficult as possible to work on.
They sold this department to Citroen, who, apparently quadrupled it's staff and let it loose on everything they produced.
From the Citroen BX, I remember that you should only use the central position of the suspension-handle for driving! Up and down leaves no suspension travel, thus making the suspension stone hard, and that is only for servicing the car! I guess it is the same with these older types. Usually suspension repair is not that difficult, just change the spheres...
You are absolutely right!Lowest and highest position is for servicing only.
Sounds like the hydraulics issues are well understood, definitely would love to see more videos on this car
One of the most stunning designs ever made. When the systems work it’s like floating over bumps etc.
I knew the wizard would love it. Its so unique you have to be amazed it was ever made. Just makes it that much more special
These are way way cooler than just about anything else you've had on the channel. My '87 Mercedes has those spheres for the self leveling rear suspension. It's a pretty robust system, so I'd just fix the hydraulics and and most of your issues will be resolved.
In 1996 my father had a brand new Citroen xm 3.0 v6, 24valve if Im not mistaken. Had some kind of hydraulic suspension system, up to date my fathers says it was the coolest and one of the most comfortable cars of the day. Considering at the time in ex Jugoslavian countries there were Zastavas, Lada, and the top cars were fiat 1200 and vw golf…. We still love these giant old cars and people try to keep them going forever.
One of the last all hydraulic Citroens. Nice car.
My father also used to have a XM, damn was it smooth
Hoovie please consider keeping this one and providing more content on this car. It’s such a interesting car and an amazing piece of design and engineering.
This is your best purchase ever ! Please keep it ! It deserves it. Would love to see you dive into other quirky French cars like the Citroën SM, XM, Xantia Activa, Venturi Atlantique, Renault Twingo, ... Cheers from France !
If he wants a Xantia Activa V6 Manual, I have one in the USA for him...
Jay Leno recently did a "re-issue" of his SM.episode. One can also access his DS feature - both on RUclips. Check 'em out.
@@charleskaneb6629 Lucky you !
Wizard sees mineral oil like a river of $100’s, flowing freely into his account.
😂
Be patient and you'll eventually fall in love with this. It will take a bit of study because of all the unique features. My first car was a '65 DS-19 and I only have good memories of years of trouble-free use.
Love you Hoov&wiz. I'm sitting in hospital with kidney stone , I just got a shot of Demerol and I haven't told you lately how much I love you💚
I also love the X-ray ologist. She is a sweetheart.. she's nice to look at it as well.
I should propose to her
I dated a girl in high school who’s father had about three of these. The good one, the bad one and the parts car. He was a physician that was always covered in grease in his spare time!
The wizard needs this car in his life
scammed? aside from those fairly easy fixable leaks, you seem to own an excellent survivor there. worth taking a look into exactly how this car was ahead of its time!
'scammed' gets the clicks. Pathetic
Please keep it! It’s a fantastic car, it was WAY ahead of it’s time back then. The shape is absolutely timeless and if you’ve spent some time in understanding it, you will definitely fall in love with this weird and absolutely awesome car. If you want it a little bit more modern, try a Citroën CX.
Does the US spec ID/DS have cornering light like the Euro spec?
The overall condition of the car would warrant keeping her! When you have completed the repairs of the brakes and suspension systems, you will find out this car will have the most amazing ride you've ever experienced! Citroen has a very strong cult following including Jay Leno! Because of the cult following, there's plenty of information on how to repair and maintain these and other Citroen models as well as good sources of parts. Best of all, it won't be hard to find that one "guy" that knows these cars inside and out!
Every time Hoovie comes in with a new car, you can see the Wizard thinking about trading up to a larger yacht.
That won't be hard since he doesn't have any yacht anymore.