BXProject

[stu]

Just spoken to a guy who's selling a BX I may be interested in - it seems to tick all my boxes except one.

It's leaking LHM from somewhere around the PAS system, so catastrophically that when parked, engine off and in normal height, the weight of the body pushes LHM out. The seller has a spare litre of LHM knocking around and reckons that will be more than sufficient to get it onto a trailer.

The rest of the car sounds really good, and it's cheap.

Any thoughts on possible causes?

Could be something obvious, or should I run away?

(Sorry Billy - I know you wanted me to take yours in similar condition but this one pips yours because it's nearer to me and it's an estate. Still might turn out to be a dog though.)

[Philhod]

If the thing is only leaking seriously when the pump is not running
Then you have a return pipe off or busted somewhere.....sounds like round about where that other one, someone posted last week, had failed it`s MOT either way it should fix easy enuff

[stu]

My understanding was that it was leaking all the time but also leaking even when the pump wasn't running - which is unusual! Usually you can pinpoint LHM leaks - ie they only happen when running or brakes on or when steering one way or the other...

[Way2go]

It's leaking LHM from somewhere around the PAS system, so catastrophically that when parked, engine off and in normal height, the weight of the body pushes LHM out.

Sounds typical of a burst Octopus!

Could be something obvious, or should I run away?

3 hour job with a good Cit mechanic. Exceedingly dirty job lying on your back under the car to do it yourself and several more hours too I would think.

Octopus to buy is about £30

[Way2go]

Usually you can pinpoint LHM leaks - ie they only happen when running or brakes on or when steering one way or the other...

Not so in the case of the Octopus as the system drains through the returns.

[Vanny]

octopus, tis a doodle if you remove the drive shaft, i work for beer.

Seriously the last octopus i did was in a car park in Salford, took a few hours but wasn't too bad at all, i really would do them again that way as it was quite sraight forward.

[stu]

3 hour job with a good Cit mechanic. Exceedingly dirty job lying on your back under the car to do it yourself and several more hours too I would think.

Octopus to buy is about £30

I got shot of the Big Red Shed when I discovered that the octopus was as shagged as Katie Holmes. My research at that time was that the part cost about £250 - which didn't surprise me because I know how badly Citroen shaft us for hydraulic hose - plus a day's work for a specialist, at specialist rates.

Are you serious? £30 plus a day picking rust out of my eyes?

[Vanny]

deffinately NOT £250, from what i gather they are still ebing manufactured as new and hence not too expensive. GSF where the cheapest place to buy them, not sure if they still do, they've sacked off most hydraulic stuff since taking on non G, S or F brands.

[stu]

Sounds like it might be a goer. I will take many pictures at the weekend and return for brain-picking.

Thanks guys!

[Way2go]

GSF Info:

N43406 RETURN PIPE BX WITH PAS OCTOPUS RETURN PIPE £28.30 + vat

I dunno about photo's, you can't properly see the bloody thing in it's nest in the depths of the subframe!