Couple of issues with the 1.1

  1. Newbie Joined: Mar 2015 Isle of wight Posts: 17 2001 Citroen Saxo Desire 1.1!
    #1
    Hi Guys,

    Hoping you can help me out. Got a few issues with the Saxo which I want to address. I love driving it, it's been enjoyable to get out and get some miles in since I passed my test last Feb!

    Firstly, the main issue. When looking from behind, both real wheels have some negative camber. Not a lot but it doesn't look right. It's been like this since I brought the saxo a year ago, however reading online finding out that you can't adjust the rear camber makes me think something isn't right!

    Secondly, when driving on anything other than a polished smooth surface, I get this annoying rattle/creak from the rear. It sounds like it's a rattly parcel shelf but it's not. The creak occurs whenever you hit a bump. It's really annoying as you can be out just enjoying the road and then all you can hear is this rattling. I've tightened the spare wheel carrier as much as I can so there is no movement in it

    Next up a couple of electrical issues. Firstly, the Rev counter occasionally goes weird. It will still move, but it's about 2k below what it should be. Turning the car on and off sorts this. However I want to know what's causing it. Finally, the light for the heater control occasionally won't work. It may be on and then if I hit a bump it will turn off or vice versa. I've pulled apart the dash and it was all fine so I'm not sure


    Hope some of you kind chaps could point me in the right direction!
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #2
    Get a pic up,the creak could be anything from the shocks to sticking rear brake.
  3. Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2016 manchester Posts: 256
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jgmu97 View Post

    Firstly, the main issue. When looking from behind, both real wheels have some negative camber. Not a lot but it doesn't look right. It's been like this since I brought the saxo a year ago, however reading online finding out that you can't adjust the rear camber makes me think something isn't right!
    Everything I've read says that rear wheel camber is caused by either worn bearings or the bearings eating into the stub axle (which would require a new/reconditioned rear beam).

    Jack it up at the back, hold the wheel at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and see if you can move it back and forth. Same for 3 and 9 o'clock checking for any play.
  4. Newbie Joined: Mar 2015 Isle of wight Posts: 17 2001 Citroen Saxo Desire 1.1!
    #4
    Right, here's the pictures





    I'll look at jacking it up this weekend to see if there's any play.

    Have you got any ideas on the other issues?

    Thanks!
  5. Established Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 2009 Saxò VTS 16v
    #5
    I was going to say remove the rear wheels and check the M8 end plates bolts are tightened down good but seeing the photos the driver side rear wheel as WAY too much camber,I would be very surprised if you don't find any play,if not the stub pin could be bent if you hit the kerb at speed or something similar.

    First and second issue most likely are related.
  6. Newbie Joined: Mar 2015 Isle of wight Posts: 17 2001 Citroen Saxo Desire 1.1!
    #6
    SORRY FOR THE OLD THREAD BUMP!!!

    I have finally spent some time looking at this... I'm quite a novice when it comes to working on cars. Give me a mountain bike and i can do anything work wise, but with cars, not so much. However, now i've got some spare time, i decided to try and fix the Saxo up...

    I jacked the car up, and checked the rear right for play. To my surprise, there was no play either way... So, i'm kind of happy, as the above post suggests thats not a new axle time, which after researching, i can see are quite expensive, however i'm now worried that it might be a 'bent stub pin' as stated above...

    What would my next call of action be?

    Thanks, and sorry again for resurrecting an old thread!
  7. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #7
    Next port of call refurbed axle mate.
  8. Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2016 Oxfordshire, bicester Posts: 152 Saxo Vtr in black 53 plate Silvertop with a few mo
    #8
    Unfortunately rear wheels look to be related to the axle... New axle time... As said above the creaks/rattles you are experiencing are probably related to the camber of the wheels in some way, as for the electrics side of things, when you say the Rev counter "goes weird" what does the needle actually do? If you start the car up does it sit at idle smoothly or does the needle jump up and down? Have you had the car Rev irraticly before? And the heater control.... Do you mean the controls for the air con or for the heated rear windscreen?