Page 1 of 9

1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 5:30 pm
by Citjon
Thanks to the kind generosity of fellow member Martybiff I am the new owner of this fine specimen!

Nicely specced with air con (no sun roof), cruise control and cloth interior it has a few interesting modifications. Not sure what the small bore pipe connected to the inlet manifold is - presumably for some kind of additive? Definitely not factory! Also has a non-airbag S1 steering wheel so not sure how that will go down at MOT time? It must have had one originally as side airbags are fitted.

First priority will be to sort out the hydraulic leak as mentioned in the other thread. It didn't come with any history but it appears to be an ex Wolsey House Motors car if that counts for anything!
DSC_4860_1.JPG
DSC_4856_1.JPG
DSC_4858_1.JPG

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 6:56 pm
by citroenxm
The small bore pipe to the back of the I let is egr inlet.. no additive needed on these xuds.. even at 265k I rarely see smoke out the back of ours.

I think I got stick on fb for mentioning it has an illegal s1 steering wheel on it and should have an air bag equipt wheel on it as it had it from factory.

Late cars all had auto ac on them the deleted sunroof is an envious thing though. . Very desireable.

It has cruise control aswell.. controlled by a separate hella ecu like early cars... works well when it does after some interrogation if it currently doesn't work.. the car only needs alloys and leather and electric arm rest to become an exclusive model.

EDIT.. I see there is already an electric arm rest cradle in the car too...

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 8:40 pm
by Citjon
There is another tiny pipe that has been DIY fitted into the inlet, connected to the white bottle in front of the ecu's.

This will all be coming off along with the S1 steering wheel!

Centre console switches etc have previously been removed and will need checking through / reassembling.

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:01 am
by Dieselman
That pipe will be for water injection, which I can't see is necessary unless the engine performance has been increased significantly.

Other than the exterior paintwork being crazed and the obvious hydraulic leak, that seems a great daily use Xm.
Have you worked out which pipe is leaking?

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2022 9:49 am
by Citjon
That's interesting about the water injection - I hadn't thought of that. I'll have a look to see if there is a bleed valve or could the ecu have been chipped?

I've not had chance to look for the leak yet as I'm half way through a similar job on the G reg Si. That has blown in the usual place where the pipes turn up at the back. Some of the pipes on this car have been disconnected already so the leaky one may have been removed - once the subframe is down I'll have a better idea.

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2022 11:05 am
by citroenxm
What does water injection do.. ? Other then make things wet..

Edit.. ahh reduce nox but increase soot. Prehaps not been driven hard enough to clear out the combustion and exhaust system so its been getting high readings at mot time. ..

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 6:23 am
by Dieselman
citroenxm wrote:
Thu Aug 25, 2022 6:56 pm
I think I got stick on fb for mentioning it has an illegal s1 steering wheel on it and should have an air bag equipt wheel on it as it had it from factory.
You were correct.

7.1.5. Airbags

This inspection is for all airbags fitted as original equipment other than on Class 3 vehicles.

A passenger airbag that is switched off is not a defect.
Defect Category
(a) An airbag fitted as original equipment obviously missing .... Major
(b) Not in use
(c) An airbag obviously inoperative .... Major

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 7:06 am
by Dieselman
Citjon wrote:
Fri Aug 26, 2022 9:49 am
That's interesting about the water injection - I hadn't thought of that. I'll have a look to see if there is a bleed valve or could the ecu have been chipped?

Maybe it has.

MOT history...
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine

Looks like you might be thinking of taking it racing, John.

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 11:48 am
by Citjon
Ha ha it wouldn't be my first choice for any kind of racing! I used to have one as a daily around 2003 / 04 and remember having to plan any overtaking well in advance. I usually gave up and didn't bother trying!

That car was a 94 exclusive and I took it from 160k up to 200k and it was still going strong when I sold it.

Re: 1998 2.1 VSX Auto new project

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2022 8:27 pm
by Citjon
Had a bit of a move around today after replacing some pipes on the G reg Si. The very leaky 2.1 auto is now in the workshop on axle stands ready for the pipes to be checked. It was spewing LHM everywhere but strangely the back end is still up. I was going to release the pressure but couldn't even see the valve behind all the cooling pipes etc.
.
DSC_4913_1_1.JPG
DSC_4927_1.JPG
DSC_4929_1.JPG
DSC_4931_1.JPG
DSC_4924_1.JPG
.
The underside (including the pipes) is covered in underseal and it looks like most of the pipes will need changing. One of them has been flared but is still quite badly corroded about 6" further up. This was quite a contrast to the S1 car where the pipes were sound except for one small patch at the back.

Once the subframe is down I'll hopefully have a better idea of what's going on. I had it running for the first time today, which was encouraging, although the ignition switch / starter wasn't 100% reliable. Another job to put on the list.

I already knew the car was a good deal but discovered that the fuel tank is half full too!