Air Conditioning

So, from the value you refer to, I assume it's not E451GJN then!!?
That one looks like a very nice car from the pictures posted on the net...

Andrew

The mirror flopping about every time you brake or open/close the door can only be three things.

There's a big round hollow 1 1/2" diameter bolt mounting the mirror onto the door and this may
not be tightened enough.

More likely the case, a small allan key headed grub screw isn't tight into this previously mentioned
hollow bolt. You'll find the head of the grub screw by rising the rounded black plastic collar 'neck'
covering up towards the mirror glass and it likely needs to be facing inwards towards the door glass.

Finally, it could be the spring is awol that Shane helpfully shows in the link on his webpages:

http://www.shanescitshed.com

>>'85 CX2500GTI TIRBO

>>Fixing the Exterior mirrors

Andrew

This post has been edited by Andmcit on November 23, 2008 10:49 pm

Ta for the link.

The tiny grub screw on mine appears to have been replaced with something non-grub like, probably a regular small screw, and there has then been a very crude attempt to make it sit flush by chiselling off the top and then running a file across the surface to give it a screwdriver friendly head - the surrounding plastic has a screwdriver friendly head too

I don't mind getting my hands a little dirty on this stuff, but not as winter is approaching and certainly not on a car I had envisaged using on a daily basis. Okay so it's a 20 year old Citroen, but it's hardly a vintage car, and supposedly has had a lot of money spent on it in the recent past.

I will keep you updated as to what happens. The CX guys sound rather authoritative on the subject of CX steering and the consensus is that 1) it is unroadworthy and should not be driven in its current condition, and 2) it's certainly not something you would expect to encounter on a car sold by a dealer, let alone a specialist dealer.

Will keep you informed.

This post has been edited by ThwartedEfforts on November 23, 2008 04:38 pm

In my line of work a picture really does help to tell a 1000 words:

this is what the column DIRAVI head looks like:

http://cgi.ebay.fr/CITROEN-bloc-DIRAVI-TBE...emZ250327958675

and this is a side section illustration found on the net:
http://www.algonet.se/~frenchie/p264.gif

You can see the flat foot on the bulkhead end (right hand side) with the two hole
fastenings. Also just visible are the hydraulic feed pipes that have been cut on this item!

Andrew

I found this diagram of the Diravi system operation.

Basically when the steering wheel is turned it causes the linkage (shown by the 'Z' shaped green part under the word 'Filters') to move from it's neutral position and operate on the slide valve. This in turn admits or releases HP LHM to / from the rack piston depending on which way the wheel is turned. As the rack pinion rotates it provides feedback to the linkage which returns to its neutral position and the rack movement ceases until the steering wheel turns again.

On my CX the common high mileage heavy left hand steering problem was caused by wear in the above linkage which meant that the slide valve was not moving sufficiently to operate the rack piston. As I said earlier I was able to effect a simple repair by repositioning some of the linkage plastic parts to present fresh bearing surfaces.

Ken

That's a great illustration Ken - where'd we be without the power of the internet!!
Still, it sounds like it's easier to contemplate a full replacement of the steering head?

I can't recall now whether the ignition lock into the barrel is different than the one
pictured on the LHD ebay auction pic I posted earlier - doesn't it run in from an angle
or is that me being confused by a Xantia and Xm column?

Andrew

After a brusque conversation with this morning regarding my car I've decided to take legal action. Supposedly the CX was sold "as seen" which, aside from being a meaningless term used by shady characters to null and void a car buyer's consumer rights, can get the user of it into trouble with their local Trading Standards:

Of course, I didn't actually see it prior to buying it anyway, and am therefore also protected by the Distance Selling Regulations - not to mention the Sale of Goods Act which demands the goods should be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. You can probably guess from my prior messages that the goods in question are most certainly not - right down to minor aspects of the car's description, such as it having new spheres, when the date stamped on the side clearly shows 2005.

I will not divulge the identity of seller at this point in the event that it goes to court. I come from a family of lawyers so this should be enlightening -- for him, not for me.

Here is a Google translation of the French Diravi eBay sellers write up.

'a power steering DIRAVI for CX, it comes from a 25 TURBO RD 2, it stands as well as on Series 1 Series 2 sedan or break. I drove with this car, it is very good working condition, no abnormal Thursday, it curable very well by taking the speed he recalls very well the wheels in a straight line and had absolutely no point or a hard right or left. the car had 166 500 km of origin. its rubber protection is in very good condition and the piece of steering column inside. it is complete ready to be back, this piece costs a small fortune in Citroen (it seems to me that he is no longer supplied) and it is rare to find a sale like this, know him! .'

Is an 'abnormal Thursday' the day preceding a 'Happy Friday'?!!

I have seen other Diravi units for sale on the French eBay site at around 40 Euros which have failed to attract a bid.

The problem with fitting a second hand unit is that you don't know how much wear might already have occurred and problems may be just around the corner. Probably the quickest and safest bet would be to fit a guaranteed exchange recon unit from Pleiades because you can be confident it will have been fully stripped and completely overhauled.

Regarding the ignition switch / steering lock location, it sits parallel to the steering input shaft and is clamped to the alloy casting using a 'snap off head' type security bolts.

Ken

Purely out of interest, how did you get the car back to you? I take it you did not collect it, so you had it delivered.

Whenever i see a car i like, its always a pain trying to find a way to get it home, especially if it doesnt have MOT/tax.

Good luck with it, its a shame your CX ownership has to come that

Maybe I'm just neurotic - but every day for me is abnormal - so it follows if they're ALL
abnormal, there can't be any that are MORE abnormal...

I've been here numerous times removing the lock barrel off a Cx I've been stupid enough
to lose the key for/snap the key at the thin cut in point...

...just couldn't recall how the locating cylinder held the barrel that has the steering lock.
Parallel to the steering shaft wouldn't engage the steering lock though - would it?

Chris, the answer to transporting cars about the country is a car transporter trailer!!
The clue is in the name of it!!

Andrew

This post has been edited by Andmcit on November 24, 2008 01:39 pm

Andrew

One of the French Diravi seller's other pictures shows the ignition switch location ie the round clamp to the left of '147'. From what I remember turning the ignition switch on retracts the perpendicular spring loaded locking bolt from the notch in the steering pinion.

It is a great shame Diravi wasn't fitted to UK supplied XM's - it really is a brilliant system once you re-educate yourself to it's peculiarities. Ah well, C'est la vie!

Ken

You're quite right Ken - God it must've been a loooooong time since I've messed
about with a CX steering column (fortunately!! )

Andrew

Is the fault on my car likely to have happened over a period of time, or can these things simply 'let go'? Just curious.

I've not had this failure myself on the many Cx's I've got but believe it's a gradual
degradation over a period of time. There is of course a possibility the fluid flow
could be restricted with immediate consequences to the assistance in the steering
system so it can't be absolute/100% certain and not very helpful in an argument
where it could show blatant negligence/ignorance/deliberate misrepresentation etc...

Great help I am - sorry Phil!

Andrew

I would say over a period of time. The problem is caused by gradual wear in the Diravi control unit (which is grease lubricated and nominally sealed for life ie no periodic maintenance specified). The symptoms first appear as a reduction of power assistance whilst turning left. The right hand steering remains unaffected. Gradually the power assistance on left turns largely disappears and it is a real effort to turn the steering wheel and can be hazardous if a swift turn is called for.

That was certainly my CX experience - however after the fix described previously it was still going stong when I sold it at 135K miles (too much rust was appearing and I was fed up being cold due the crap heating system!)

What mileage has your CX done?

Ken

PS I'd recommend a chat to Martin at Pleiades (expert witness maybe?), after all they overhaul hydraulic parts for a living so they have probably forgotten more than I know.

This post has been edited by kenhall1202 on November 24, 2008 05:45 pm