My daughters Saxo 1.4 auto.

22nd August 2012, 18:23

Dear All.
I have noticed that over the last few months, that my daughters Saxo has been needing about a litre of coolant putting in the radiator every couple
of months, ( which amounts to quite alot of topping up ) and there appears to
be no apparent exterenal coolant leaks.
When we bought the Saxo last year ( from a current serving Citroen tec-
nition ) who had renewed the cambelt, head-gasket and a complete new full
exhaust system including a new cat ).
I am at the moment trying to get to the bottom of the reasons why the car keeps breaking-down, " losing power " and the engine " dying ". I have
checked the cambelt condition and it new, so I know that has been replaced.
I was just working my way through, doing the tappets, I noticed when I took
the plugs out, that they are new spark plugs and nos. 1 and 4 cylinder, are a
nice light colour, but nos. 2 and 3 cylinder spark plugs are an orange rusty
colour. ( To me this indicates that coolant is getting into both cylinders ) What I am expecting to find when I strip the head off, is a new head-gasket,
but a " warpped head. ( that will probably need skimming ).
My next step is to do a compression check on the cylinders, to see how
bad they are.
The Saxo did " cut-out " on me the other day as I was putting it onto my
driveway, so I pushed it the rest of the way, so that I could try to see what
was missing under the bonnet, but I have checked all the plugs, leads and coils, which are sparking normally, and the fuel was there aswell, so I need to
get to the bottom of that problem still.
All I am trying to ask for, is comfirmation of what I am doing, so any advice/comments would be very gratefully received indeed.
Many thanks.
Vince.

22nd August 2012, 18:31

nice light colour, but nos. 2 and 3 cylinder spark plugs are an orange rusty
colour. ( To me this indicates that coolant is getting into both cylinders ) What I am expecting to find when I strip the head off, is a new head-gasket,
but a " warpped head. ( that will probably need skimming ).

When they did the hg they should`ve skimmed the head,orangey coloured spark plugs may indicate a cracked head.

22nd August 2012, 19:58

Dear Stevo.
Fristly, thank-you ever-so much for your really kind reply Stevo

Problem was Stevo, we bought the Saxo ( privately from him, the Saxo, was on ebay, for £ 895.00 ) we paid him in cash.
I won,t know whether the head is " cracked " until I strip it, so how much
do you think a new head would " run at " Stevo ?
Anyway, I wll have to go and do some " more " thinking Stevo, thank-you
so much, I hadn,t thought of that one. I will keep you posted though OK

Many Thanks.
Vince.

22nd August 2012, 20:15

This may give you some idea. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_tr...+head&_sacat=0

24th August 2012, 15:31

Dear Stevo.
Firstly, thank-you so very much for your very very kind " link/s " for the
autobox suppliers and aswell for the one for the cylinder head suppliers too
Stevo

I think I may need them at some point.

I managed to do a compression check this morning on her Saxo stevo,
they are as follows No-1 cyl. 170 psi or 11.75 bar. No-2 cyl. 157 psi or 10.50
bar. No-3 cyl. 165 psi or 11.00 bar and finally No-4 cyl. 170 psi or 11.75 bar.
I don,t why, but I was expecting the middle 2 cylinder readings to quite a
bit lower maybe ?
I did this one test with the engine " cold " Do you I should do it again " hot " ?
What would be your opinion then Stevo, I am heading more towards the
warpped head problem !
Again thank-you Stevo, you are a star

Many Thanks.
Vince.

24th August 2012, 15:37

Doing the compression(to my knowledge)shouldn`t really matter if done hot or cold.What your readings indicate though is uneven compression on cylinders 1 & 3,hence the lack of power.You`re only going to know what condition the valves etc are in by stripping it down & possibly getting the head checked for having a crack in it.

24th August 2012, 15:38

Dear Stevo.
Sorry

should have been a

of course

Vince.

24th August 2012, 15:58

Dear Stevo.
Firstly, thank-you so much for your very rapid reply Stevo

Secondly, it is " both " of the " middle " two cylinders that both of the
" low " readings.
Many Thanks.
Vince.

24th August 2012, 16:08

If it were me & to save time i`d just replace the head with a known good one.

24th August 2012, 16:22

I very much doubt the head is cracked tbh.

24th August 2012, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam

I very much doubt the head is cracked tbh.

Well theres 2 possible scenarios CAM,a cracked head or head gasket.

24th August 2012, 17:39

Dear Cam.
Hi there again my freind, it is very very nice to hear from you again

I have been doing some thinking, and I am convinced now that if the pre-
ious owner had had the head " skimmed " the new head gasket wouldn,t have
blown again, after just one year and only 7,000 miles. So I now know that he
can,t have had it " skimmed "

If he had, the gasket wouldn,t have blown so
quickly.
Take Care Cam and all the best

Vince.

24th August 2012, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by citroensaxo

Dear Cam.
Hi there again my freind, it is very very nice to hear from you again

I have been doing some thinking, and I am convinced now that if the pre-
ious owner had had the head " skimmed " the new head gasket wouldn,t have
blown again, after just one year and only 7,000 miles. So I now know that he
can,t have had it " skimmed "

If he had, the gasket wouldn,t have blown so
quickly.
Take Care Cam and all the best

Vince.

never say never though. People can do some impressive bodges on cars. Do you have proof the head was definitely skimmed with the new head gasket?

As has been suggested, a reconditioned head is probably the safest/quickest way to go.

Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble with the car mate.

25th August 2012, 17:40

Dear Ryan.
On the first point Ryan, no the previous owner only said that he had just
" renewed the cambelt, head gasket and a new full exhaust including the cat "
I saw the " old " exhaust system, on his driveway. He also said that he had to
" renew " the cat because the car was " over-heating badly " when he bought
the Saxo. This car was a " part-exchange " at the Citroen dealership where he
was a technician. So no he never mentioned anything about having had the
head skimmed Ryan.
On your second point Ryan, Thank-you for that idea

However, I have
had someone has suggested that the " wet liners " may have " dropped " if the car has been badly " over-heated " which it has been, and they are sugg-
esting that I need to relace the engine ? I really would love your opinion on
that one Ryan

Thirdly Ryan, I " also " still have to find out why she is " cutting-out " This
is my main focus at the moment. All this head-gasket stuff is all having to
wait at the moment, until I can sort that one out first, I am most probably
going to stick a new crank sensor on it to " hopefully " cure that one.
Lastly Ryan, " ditto " so am I Ryan, so I am I.
Many Thanks indeed Ryan

Vince.