GT mediated Awesomeness

[saintjamesy89]

So those are the good bits, now for the niggles!

-Radio signal is no longer affected by the headlights (DAB or FM) BUT full beam and windscreen washer pumps do interfere with the signal

-Full beam only works on the 'flash' switch and not the normal switch

-The horn sometimes works, mostly not.

-The foglights work, well one does. Suspect bulb out on the drivers fog but not sure.

-I forgot to tighten the lower drivers trim bolt (the one that secures the relay) so this rattles

-There is something funky going on with the passenger top dash bolt, it's either come loose or like Panky - it has cracked/broken.

-2" dash speakers vibrate at high volume/bass (need a seat or enclosure)

-Heater control panel is not lit and there is a bulb that shines through the gap at your face, very uncomfortable when dark outisde

-A/C condenser thread stripped (hose from compressor to condenser)

-Nether a/c hose fits the thread on the compressor ports.

-Reverse gear seems to always be available, even without lifting the gearstick jobbie (much care needed when going into 1st!!)

So a few bits to sort along the way, I think there is still a poor earth somewhere for the dashboard controls. There was only one I didn't clean and re-tighten just above the fusebeard) but installing a new earth for the fogs, headlights and washer pumps might be one, admittidely seemingly hamfisted, way to overcome this. For some reason Citroen decided to put quite a lot of electricity through the dashboard controls.

The C pillar speakers wil have to wait until next month, this project has been expensive!

My next focus is getting the TRS back together to get it moved on and out of the way, so the GT might just have to stay as is for a few weeks.

[saintjamesy89]

The GT is mooching along lovely, although there continues to be weirdness with the dash electrics and radio signal, we are back to no radio signal with headlights on so I have signed up to a music app on my phone for night time driving! I've been meaning to do it for ages anyway.

This weeks job was installing the under-seat subwoofers, the wiring was in place and ready to roll so really it was just connecting them up! What a difference! I've not changed any settings on the subs themselves yet, nor fixed them in place. The boxes they come in quite nicely fit the rear footwells and stop the woofers sliding around, although they are a snug fit and so far haven't moved - obviously still need securing but will do for a few days.







They are a really good fit actually, snug enough under there but not touching the seat base, rails or anything else and the BASS chaps! What a difference! Lots of adjustment required, the factory settings on the rear are 50% bass and the frequency filter set to half adjustment too, combining that with the head unit settings and I think what I will be doing is as follows:

-Head unit LOUD function off
-HU treble down a notch
-HU bass up a notch
-Woofer bass up a notch or two (to compensate for LOUD off)
-Woofer frequency filter raised, to provide a little more 'mid' frequency sound along with the lower frequency bass.

The rear c-pillar speakers will round it all off nicely, it does all sound very much at the 'front' just now but good so far

[Jugostran]

As a great man once said - a bangin' stereo for your tunes.

[saintjamesy89]

A couple of niggles sorted on the GT today, woofers secured and a plan for the bass control remote for each. Screws and bolts tightened and possibly other stuff?

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The biggest win today was a 99% reassembly of the TRS, it's running very well on choke but then splutters and dies when warm enough for the choke to disengage, the very same issue it had back along. Perhaps too lean a mixture? I've done a little troubleshooting:

-New gaskets for the spacer-to-carb and inlet manifold-to-spacer (I reused the original when this non-emissions control spec carb went on. Unfortunately no change.

-Idle cutoff solenoid swapped from a spare/parts carb, clicks when plugged in and ignition on, so is getting 12v at least some of the time. Tbh i thought this may well be the problem, but not! ho hum.

I think i will try bypassing the autochoke coolant to see if it can run long enugh to load onto a trailer... Cleaning and fluids/pressures etc checked Sat afternoon and the a proper advert.

Still have to be out by the end of the month.

[Jugostran]

Regarding the 16 TRS - dumb question but have you tried tweaking the idle? Because this sounds like the autochoke is correctly engaged when cold, and then once the "cold start" mechanism disengages and the idle becomes governed by the main mixture screw it just dies.
I made a post in the Technical board about that mechanism. I also linked to an article which details all possible adjustments on the Solex Z1.

[saintjamesy89]

Regarding the 16 TRS - dumb question but have you tried tweaking the idle? Because this sounds like the autochoke is correctly engaged when cold, and then once the "cold start" mechanism disengages and the idle becomes governed by the main mixture screw it just dies.
I made a post in the Technical board about that mechanism. I also linked to an article which details all possible adjustments on the Solex Z1.

I certainly have, back in the summer when it was complete and running (before dissasembly) adjusting the idle screw was the only thing that kept it running. I've not touched the main mixture screw for fear of creating further issues, but this is a kind of unknown diy refreshed carb.
On choke it runs lovely though.

[panky]

H Tom
The old central under dash speaker has separate connections for the left and right channels and I just can't find a replacement so I bought a normal 5'' speaker. I've piggy backed the two channels onto the single channel connections on the new one but I realise it's not a good idea, was the speaker you fitted the twin channel type or did you fit resistors in somewhere?

[saintjamesy89]

H Tom
The old central under dash speaker has separate connections for the left and right channels and I just can't find a replacement so I bought a normal 5'' speaker. I've piggy backed the two channels onto the single channel connections on the new one but I realise it's not a good idea, was the speaker you fitted the twin channel type or did you fit resistors in somewhere?

The speakers I bought had four total connections on them handily so direct fit and plug and play., Obviously I only used one of the pair I bought so i'd happily sell the other to you. The sound quality is great

£50 posted?

https://caraudiosecurity.com/ap5-13cm-5-25-woofer-150w

[Jugostran]

Regarding the 16 TRS - dumb question but have you tried tweaking the idle? Because this sounds like the autochoke is correctly engaged when cold, and then once the "cold start" mechanism disengages and the idle becomes governed by the main mixture screw it just dies.
I made a post in the Technical board about that mechanism. I also linked to an article which details all possible adjustments on the Solex Z1.

I certainly have, back in the summer when it was complete and running (before dissasembly) adjusting the idle screw was the only thing that kept it running. I've not touched the main mixture screw for fear of creating further issues, but this is a kind of unknown diy refreshed carb.
On choke it runs lovely though.

The main mixture scarew (the one on the back of the carb with a spring under it) basically directly adjusts idle. You can't really fumble anything by touching it. Start it, wait for it to heat up, and when it starts to stall just turn the screw clockwise (I think), and it should bring the idle up and keep it from stalling.

[panky]

H Tom
The old central under dash speaker has separate connections for the left and right channels and I just can't find a replacement so I bought a normal 5'' speaker. I've piggy backed the two channels onto the single channel connections on the new one but I realise it's not a good idea, was the speaker you fitted the twin channel type or did you fit resistors in somewhere?

The speakers I bought had four total connections on them handily so direct fit and plug and play., Obviously I only used one of the pair I bought so i'd happily sell the other to you. The sound quality is great

£50 posted?

https://caraudiosecurity.com/ap5-13cm-5-25-woofer-150w

PM sent

[saintjamesy89]

I've missed a few updates, the BX has been back in use since the end of November after a rushed exit from the place it was stored. All is well although the a/c isn't quite done, the hose securing nuts aren't quite the right size, or the threads on the condenser are knackered. A problem for later!
The new sound system is bloody brilliant, I must say - even if I haven't gotten around to the c pillar speakers yet!

Today we're off on a little jolly to Versailles, we're seeing a classical music performance tonight in the Royal Chapel inside the palace (very excited) and then a few days mooching around the gardens and palace generally. We're going in the GT of course

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[panky]

Perfect choice

[saintjamesy89]

Back in the country and unfortunately back to work today, still it was a great trip and even more enjoyable by going in a property suitable car

We took Le Tunnel home, a fair amount of extra driving in the wrong direction but it was the best for timings and logistics, just a shame that Le Tunnel/Calais is too far east in France really and then Dover to Dorset in the UK is a bit of a trek too!

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There are a few front suspension gremlins that really need sorting soon on the GT, various clunks, cracks and creaks that didn't appreciate all the cobbled streets around Versailles! But after all the hours of 130kmh driving (3700rpm ish), she's singing like a beauty now - a few tanks of fuel with redex in should have at least helped a little too.

[saintjamesy89]

Well I have had to move the TRS again! Still waiting on the bloody DVLA, even though the poor thing was on the verge it still apparently outstayed its welcome. Ho hum, after a reluctant start it ran beautifully until the autochoke came off, then spluttering and stall. Good enough for moving, perhaps I'll have time to do the inlet gasket and see if that helps, quite likely given how long the DVLA are taking so far

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We've had a bit of a vehicular shuffle around at home, both Lexus hybrids are now gone (450h and 400h) and hubby Steve is using a lovely MK1 Nissan Leaf for commuting, its saving us a fortune in fuel at the moment and I'm actually pleasantly surprised by it. The range is only 70 miles at best but costs 5p per mile - or less seasonally as we have solar etc at home.
That means a practical vehicle is also needed, lots of looking about and several Volvo V70 P2 D5 test drives later and we ended up with a 1 late owner from new 740 with a/c and lots of factory extras, not quite where I expected but its a lovely old barge, even more so when fettled etc.

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I did the wheels over the weekend, the old originals were a bit sad and the tyres really badly cracked, otherwise it'll be standard fettling with some small upgrades here and there. Needs a bloody good clean and polish but happy with the purchase, best service history to date for me with this one, pretty much everything back to the days it was purchased, delivered and inspected in 1990! Great stuff.

[saintjamesy89]

What luck! NOS C pillar speaker brackets, I will need to measure the available depth and then I had better get some 3" speakers purchased. That should round off the ICE in the BX nicely, then I can start the same on the Volvo, although it should be significantly easier with the conventional speakers in each of the doors. I have a 3d printed bracket that allows a double DIN head unit to be installed in the centre console, so plenty of scope for a fancy system.

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