Citroen ax

maestroamado

I was looking at one of these, when i drove it was difficult to change gears as it is obvious the thing is not lining up properly.
I assume it is something like engine mounting.
Doer anyone here know if this is a DIY job or will the engine need to be removed?

Many thanks.

philstar

a citroen ax ?? they went out with the ark

ianobrien

I had one years ago, they were a really fun thing to drive. Ah the memories.....

Anyway, OP the linkage on them is a rod coming from the gear level to the selectors via three spherical and ball joints. They can wear so check for wear there, assuming none of the bars are bent. There's no need for the engine to come out.

maestroamado

philstar wrote: »

a citroen ax ?? they went out with the ark

yes but can you help with my question?

maestroamado

ianobrien wrote: »

I had one years ago, they were a really fun thing to drive. Ah the memories.....

Anyway, OP the linkage on them is a rod coming from the gear level to the selectors via three spherical and ball joints. They can wear so check for wear there, assuming none of the bars are bent. There's no need for the engine to come out.

Thanks for that, i assume all of this is done from under the car.

ianobrien

maestroamado wrote: »

Thanks for that, i assume all of this is done from under the car.

The gearbox end can be seen from under the bonnet. As that's where the rods, ball & spherical joints are I'd start there. The bottom of the gear lever is from under the car alright.

maestroamado

Ian,
Thanks for reply, i assumed it an engine mount that meant the gears not engaging easily but you seem to know more about this
than me.
I want to do the guy a favor and buy but only if i can fix myself, he brought the car to a dealer and the dealer said the part cheap but labor be quite a bit, this guy has not a clue about cars, i know a bit but i am limited. I will not be able to see the car for a few weeks as they are abroad at the moment.

Many thanks.

ironclaw

My mother had three of these. Bomb proof car back in the day but you'd be insane to buy one in Ireland if you plan to use it on the road. Frankly, its a death trap in terms of safety, I'm fairly sure all of hers had significant rust by the end and you'll never insure it. Paint on the red variant was also prone to peeling and fading. Granted it will go forever on a fill but there are far better ways to spend (or burn) your money.

ianobrien

Oh the ol' AX was fair light. My AX GT weighed 790kg for the NCT. The boot door was plastic for feck sake. Mine was lightened by Ferrus Oxide in the doors, roof skin, boot floor, bonnet, wings, etc. Most of the interior fabrics rotted from damp (thanks to the holes in the roof) and was ripped out. The crumple zone was your legs. Geez they were a fun thing to drive, wheelspin in third on a damp road.....

Anyway, OP, I've been thinking, it could be either the clutch not fully disengaged, the 'box itself having work synchro's or the linkage being fecked. Is there one or two gears that are hard to get into? Is the clutch Ok? Was the car lying up for a while? When I parked my AX for a few months, the clutch stuck and wouldn't disengage.

elperello

Great little cars.
Anyone getting the longing there is one on DD tonight.
A bit of a wash, be grand!

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/citroen-ax/16813469

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^^

ffs!! are they really that lazy in monaghan?

maestroamado

This car i am thinking of is a one owner from new with 80km from new.
There is absolutely no rust but it is filthy and the paint is faded with the sun.
The car was owned by a construction worker/farmer and i would think now washed
in 20 years.
The car is in inland Andalucia 100km from Malaga, i have friends living there.
I agreed to buy if he fixed but when he said not viable i said i would not take.
I would like to buy but only if i can fix myself as not worth putting real money into.
I may drive it back here, what do you guys think of that? i will make sure i am not
too far from airport/train line.

"the 'box itself having work synchro's or the linkage being fecked"

Ian, it could be something like this as it will not shift gears smoothly, the cluch is fine.
I will be over there next month and have a look but i am asking here as i not know what i am looking for.

Many thanks

ironclaw

maestroamado wrote: »

The car is in inland Andalucia 100km from Malaga, i have friends living there.
..

I may drive it back here, what do you guys think of that?

I'd swear I know this car! Very few in the region.

But you'd be insane to drive it back to Ireland, I presume thats what you mean? Its a serious trip for even a comfortable cruiser, I can't imagine it in a 20 year old car. Plus on fast European roads, plenty of hills and inclines on the way going into Winter. If you ain't in a rush, take some backroads and enjoy it. They get cars to Mongolia each year on the Mongol Rally, so Spain to Ireland is a walk in the park.

That said, you could never use it here. More of a headache that I could possibly imagine logistically.