Discussion
Thread update, obviously with covid I was limited with places to take the 104 last summer/autumn. It ticked over 200000km with mainly local journeys and has been tucked away in the garage since late October. There's an intermittent fault with the autochoke on the carb somewhere so it either starts first turn of the key or refuses until I hold the choke mechanism open. Fine once the engine is warm, can be a pest when half-warm. Hoping this summer yields more drives and events than last.
And of course now acquired a mini-104!
And of course now acquired a mini-104!
Some nice spring weather the last 2 days so I taxed her and got her back on the road. Intermittent carb fault is still there, it is something in the autochoke mechanism I'm sure as once it's started it normally runs fine. Had the carb off again for a look but the autochoke is one of these heat-expanding metal coils with various springs so all a bit of a nightmare and Solex 32/35 TACIC carbs are like hens teeth. Hmmm might end up exploring fitting a different set up to it.
Well, I now have a growing jobs list for it. Rear brake shoe linings have disintegrated so I’ve got the hellish fiddly job of replacing the shoes when new parts arrive.
Added to that the drivers door has decided to refuse to open again: the door latch plate has a metal lobe that should move fully when the handle is pulled but now isn’t so this evening’s job is to dismantle the door from inside to get it open!
Added to that the drivers door has decided to refuse to open again: the door latch plate has a metal lobe that should move fully when the handle is pulled but now isn’t so this evening’s job is to dismantle the door from inside to get it open!
Successfully replaced the rear shoes on the buggered side, easier to do than I feared. Springs looked in okay condition.
I know shoes should be replaced both sides so yesterday I went to do the N/S and found the shoes to look nearly new including nice shiny adjuster so have left them be after a quick clean. Photo pre-clean.
Took the car out for a run up Loch Ness and now the alternator bearing has gone noisy. The joys of old cars and chasing jobs around. At least a replacement looks easy to source. Pic taken as I stopped to investigate the noise.
I know shoes should be replaced both sides so yesterday I went to do the N/S and found the shoes to look nearly new including nice shiny adjuster so have left them be after a quick clean. Photo pre-clean.
Took the car out for a run up Loch Ness and now the alternator bearing has gone noisy. The joys of old cars and chasing jobs around. At least a replacement looks easy to source. Pic taken as I stopped to investigate the noise.
Alternator replaced with a ‘new’ one manufactured in Yugoslavia! I was thinking of replacing the noisy bearing and keeping old one as a spare but it’s fairly knackered. Took the opportunity to clean around that area of the engine block whilst I had access. If it wasn’t aluminium I’d be leaving the oily crud on as rust protection...
A small update. I have no acquired this to join the 104S: a Citroen LNA in beige. e bay purchase, probably paid too much for it as the car was advertised as having been off the road for 20 years and not started for 10 years. However it turns out to be hopefully a go-er. One owner from new who put 33000 miles on it over about 16 years until she had to give up driving. It then sat in a garage until now. The car is very solid underneath but does have a few rust scabs on the bonnet, door tops and roof. A battery, jump pack and some petrol sprayed in to the carb and she coughed a bit. Unclogged the fuel line and she ran and idled on the 20 year old fuel in the tank. I'm now draining the tank, and heck 20 year old petrol doesn't half stink.
Bromptonaut said:
I think we saw your 104 on the road to Kyle of Lochalsh on Thursday. Quite excited to see it as I had a bright orange ZS from 82-86. Lovely car to drive but it had ongoing CHG problems that were never really solved. Possibly in part due to the fact that the radiator fan, along with several other essential bits of electrics earthed to a rust prone 'rose' on the side of the engine bay.
A friend christened it 'The Bean Can' on account of it's small size and colour. The name stuck.
Like yours the automatic choke was a PITA.
Yep, well spotted. If it was parked I was walking up Moruisg just south of Achnasheen.A friend christened it 'The Bean Can' on account of it's small size and colour. The name stuck.
Like yours the automatic choke was a PITA.
Edited by Bromptonaut on Saturday 21st August 17:21
Well, the 104 made it to PugFest and back again at the weekend past there. 1000 mile round trip, only one breakdown when it refused to restart when hot (presume punishment for me stalling it!). Averaged about 40mpg and quite comfortable at motorway speeds with replaced door seals. Great to meet up with some other group owners, Talbot Samba’s 40th birthday.
2 and a half years in to ownership now. A bit late taxing it this year having been busy with lots of other things but that’s it back on the road for the summer. Old cars definitely benefit from regular use: first run out it spent most of the time stuttering and not running very cleanly.
Now much better with a run up to Inverness for the day and a chance to see some other cars at Cars and Coffee. Spotted a very lovely BX TZD there too
Now much better with a run up to Inverness for the day and a chance to see some other cars at Cars and Coffee. Spotted a very lovely BX TZD there too
Time for a brief update, all too aware I haven't posted anything about it for a while. The wee 104 is now on 205000kms and I took it for its first run for 2024. Since last post I found a replacement Solex carb (still with autochoke). It seems to be running better on that now, smoother power delivery. But it's still not keen on starting when warm. Fine when cold, fine when hot, spark seems weak. So I'm suspecting something on the ignition side so will investigate that next. It might also be developing a grumbly front wheel bearing.
Cars do like being used. Home from a 4 day weekend and over 1000 miles added to the mileage. A charity car run for a friend and a visit to other friends in Wales. One door catch is stuck, the fuel gauge is less accurate than normal, a front bearing is slightly grumbly but she's been starting perfectly and running nearly perfectly. Needs a good clean now but I'm also tempted to put her to more regular use for the summer months now.
dontlookdown said:
In the three years since my last comment in this thread, I haven't seen another in the wild. It's v gratifying that you and it are still going strong;)
I did think when heading up the M6 if I am in a crash there's not exactly a surplus of others to replace this. But then again cars do need used and there's little point them sitting hidden away for years and years in garages.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff