Test Drive Citroen BX 1989 - 1993 Hatchback

"Citroen" for 2000 "Green"

And not buy Citroen? - We thought with a friend, seeing the announcement of the sale of Citroen-Vx14 1988 in the newspaper with a mileage of 160 thousand kilometers. Inexpensive, just a half thousand dollars. By that time, we sold an old BMW, and the boiled and latal Zhiguli had already breathing incense. Winter they do not live. And without a car - and us too.
His owner by phone said: the car is completely cleared, but not on the go - in the engine burned the head of the block head. Everything else works. The body is unbound and stainless.
If there really covered the engine there, I reveal it that I would have happened to him, "said my friend (he is an excellent motorist)," take a little - take. After all, in this French there is something to see. I really wanted to try the legendary hydropneumatic suspension. I confess, they frightened these Citroenov's bells (probably, there is something faulty), but the low price and curiosity took over doubts.
External inspection confirmed that the body is really strong. We found only two focus of corrosion in size with a pile of each, and symmetrical, both on the rear wings, above the wheels. Inside it was worse than outside. In the driver's door, self-made glass of plexiglass, handles of windows and door locks from the inside are almost all broken. Caused doubts about the year of the car. In the serviceport there was 1988, but hardly the car was born later than 1986. Nevertheless, at the price of us, Citroen quite satisfied. Hit hand.
But the trouble is: to tow the car, you need brakes, and they did not turn out - it remained a lifeless Motor of Citroen for a very long time. The fact is that a pump is given from the camshaft, which pumps the working fluid into the suspension and brakes, and without it these systems do not work.
In general, it became clear, today it will not be possible to pick up the car. Agreed that we will arrive in a week with a trailer. And during this time, we will try on the identification number to determine the year of release. And if it is not confirmed that the car of 1988, the owner assured that the price will notice.
The representation of Citroen in Moscow (the 5th Upper Mikhalkovsky, 7) said that this WX 14 was released, most likely, in 1984, and the European Bureau confirmed - the car was born no later than 1984.
The tenth position (the letter of the Latin alphabet) in the identification number (VIN) of Citroen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes does not mean the year of the car, as taken from many machine manufacturers. Special literature is needed with factory tables and data. It did not need to look for - the opinions of European experts and Citroen is quite authoritative. Moreover, it did not mind the owner. Most likely, he himself did not know exactly what the year is French.
We gave $ 1,100 and about $ 150 into a notarized office for the design of the contract of sale, including the assessment act. The winch dragged Citroen on a special trailer and went home.
We decided to disassemble the engine. I note, the Citroenovsky power unit is something! When we first discovered the hood, they saw a motor, but some octopus. On top of the cross-lying (!) Engine, unknown where the tentacles were drawn: hoses, cables, wires. A small four-stage gearbox was attached to the motor from below (they have a common carter), and the clutch side. We have not met anyone!
But noted for themselves - this layout is very convenient for preventive maintenance and small repair. Easy access to the generator, water pump, ignition distributor, carburetor, starter. But it is difficult to get to the candles.
To remove the motor, I had to sweat. They pulled down through a small subframe. To get to the sleeves was also not easy. I had to disassemble the entire engine, gearbox and clutch. For example, at Muscovite it is much easier.
Here we were expected by the first surprise. Of the four pistons, it was only one, the other was completely destroyed, and in the rest - cracks on skirts. Cracked was one sleeve. Pistons were brewed in one of the defense funds. And I was looking for a replacement for a long time. For the new piston of firms specializing in the delivery of spare parts for foreign cars, they ask for big money - about $ 150, and old (used) are sold by a set, that is, four, which is also expensive. But we still found a way out. In our garage, the piston from the Volkswagen-golf engine of 1.3 liters was discovered. Help - his diameter coincided with Citroenovsky. After a small lathe (borsages of the hole under the piston finger and the fitting of the weight), the German fits perfectly into the French unit. The sleeves bought on the ad - old, for just $ 10.
Assembled and hoisted the motor in place, let it - works like a clock. And most likely to the suspension control levers. They rearranged a small lever into another position, and the body swam up. Great! It was found out, he can occupy four positions in height relative to the road.
Go. But why such a tough move? Where is the praise of the softness of the Citroen pendant? Side as if on a stool, the impression that there are no shock absorbers, no springs. It turned out: the latter is really not. Their role (elastic suspension elements) are performed by green gauges-hydroaccumulators. These are metal spheres, the inner cavity of which is divided by a plastic membrane. On the one hand, the LHN liquid is green (hence the folk name of the greenstone), and on the other - gas nitrogen. The spheres are screwed onto the racks resembling the amortized, in which the greenflower is served in thin metal tubes. All such racks (and, accordingly, the spheres) four are one on each wheel. The more fluid in them is pumped, the higher the body raised. The move of the wheel perceives nitrogen - the liquid presses on the furniture, the gas that is compressed. Valve system These oscillations are very efficiently quenched.
But there is another one, the fifth sphere is the main hydroaccumulator located on the engine. It is necessary in some cases for submission to the system for a very short time of the working fluid, for example, with sharp braking.
Clearly, in our Citrogen, spheres are not working: either nitrogen evaporated, or mixed with liquid if the membranes are broken. In the first case, they can be restored by pumping nitrogen. Special equipment is needed. We have no such. And on the Citroenov service, such an operation is not affordable. Again turned to newspapers. Most of the spare parts are certainly offered from hand to hand. For the new spheres asked from $ 50 to 100, for the maintenance 25-50.
Chose from the second row. We agreed with the seller: if the hydroacumulator is unsuitable - we will refund. From the top ten selected only five. And the mainly removed from the broken Citroen-Hmm 1992 release, which was also found on the announcement.
Finally, installed all spheres. They moved - and again a nuisance: before depreciation perfectly, and the ass is still oak. We change the hydroaccumulators in places, but the picture is the same. We'll have to tinker and rear suspension.
Here without leadership could not do. Citroenov's literature turned out to be very deficient. And only in the store behind the wheel (Dolgorukovskaya, 36/1) managed to find a book about Vx 16. We know that it differs from 14 only by the engine, otherwise all the same. Although the translation of disgusting and illustrations leave to desire the best, we still figured out what what, and understood the cause of the defect.
The one who sold us the car said that he changed the rear axle (a crack formed in one lever casing) and found this node on the announcement for only $ 150 (together with two spheres). Then installed old levers then. But after repair, almost no one went to the car. Probably when replacing something not so collected. So there is: I was ineptly put the rear axle - the conical bearings were pulled, in which the wheeled levers are swinging. Disassembled, washed, smeared, adjusted the gap, as prescribed by leadership, and cheers! - The suspension has earned.
In addition, I had to change the external shoes of the front wheels drive. A pair of new bought for $ 250. Suitable, by the way, from Peugeot 405, what for some reason for some reason is silent. Replaced the glands in the gearbox under the semi-axes (internal hinges - shoes). How it is impossible to get the best of Volgovsky. Restored the main brake cylinder - the cuff scattered. After a small boring, a similar Zhigule oil seal was granted there.
Four diethek-free tires SEMPERIT (sempert) 185/70R14 bought for $ 90. The descent glass of the driver's door cost $ 50. These were the last spending on the car. In general, Citroen cost about $ 2000.
Renovated all the handles and windows. And then only went, not looking anywhere. They rolled out. True, to the management bodies get used to long. The instrument panel in our car turned out to be an old type - they produced until 1986. The light, turning pointers and wiper switched on the keys to the right and to the left of the instrument panel, and not with steeped switches. On the speedometer did not turn the arrow, but the scale. Then, of course, accustomed - everything turned out to be comfortable. Ergonomist designers tried not in vain.
Having read the closer with the body, I understood the secret of longevity. It is phosphatized, and from the inside (in the doors, thresholds, wings, on the floor and other cavities) are covered with a thin elastic and very durable polymer film. To tear it from metal even a knife is very and very difficult. Such a coating reliably protects the body from corrosion. Vulnerable hood and rear (fifth) hatchback door and plastic.
But the biggest praise deserves, of course, the unique suspension of Citroen. How gently works gently! Pile, small bumps and other irregularities are barely noticeable. We did not meet such a smooth move on any machine on which you had to ride. Neither BMW, nor Volvo, nor Volkswagen and Audi will not compare with the liner Citroen. The comparison of the Frenchman with the plane is quite appropriate - after all, it was in aviation for the first time a hydropneumatic suspension, similar to Citroenovskaya, was applied. Only there it can admire just a dozen seconds when the plane runs on the runway, and on Citroen all the time. I note that this suspension Citroen makes for some models of Jaguar, Mercedes, Peugeot and even Rolls Royce. And what a miracle changeable ground clearance (clearance): This car is not afraid or a trip to the country or in the forest on off-road summer, nor deep snow or dumps of ice in winter - raise the body and safely pass. I do not like in our Citroen only the handbrake - it blocks the front wheels. To put into the controlled drive, the front-wheel drive car will not succeed.
In general, the car is good and not so complicated, as estimated before. It seems that Citroen is specifically designed for Russia. He would have a four-wheel drive - there would be no price. But there are such: Citroen-Wh 19 4x4 and Citroen-Wh 19 4x4 Break, that is, with a body of a wagon. In Switzerland, they are more than in any other country.
We are already thinking there to go there for this wonderful model.

Motor compartment of VH 14. The engine (1400 cm3 volume) lies with the head of the cylinders back. With this scheme, the carburetor, oil filter, generator are convenient for maintenance. Green spheres (shown by arrows) - hydroaccumulators - the main elements of the Citroen suspension.

Rear suspension. Another advantage over traditional is compact. An additional volume has been released in the trunk.

The dashboard of the old sample is unusual. No steep lever switches. All functions perform switch-switches located on two special protrusions.
Vyacheslav Varenov

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"