French Car Forum

You should replace the seal if you disturb it. I have just done the rear brakes on my Xantia, but I had to replace the pipes as well. I don't think the rear brakes had been serviced on mine since it was built (95 TD with 107k miles) as they were totally rusted up. The caliper was rubbing on the disc, the pad retaining bolt was seized in and had to...

Best way to pinpoint an oil leak is a good engine clean.
the next couple of days will then show the oil traces.
Common problem is the valve cover gasket.
The sump gasket commonly start to leak after some 4-7 years - if it is a gasket. May simply be a compound on your engine.
Same goes in the pressure regulator (PR) area : clean with engine cleaner...

That's normal (well, mine's the same anyway!). There is usually enough lift to get the plasic spring canister out the back of the pedal, which is about 2 long.

In sounds to me if the rear arm bearing are worn severly. Do the rear wheels at the back lean in excessively and look like this / \. If so its defo the rear arm bearings and the only solution is a replacement rear beam. A reconditioned beam should cost about £300

You should have starting from the left of the dash:
--Oil Temperature
--Water temperature
--On board computer (you will need a manual to work out how to use this... One of it's features in a clock. It's probably showing Opt or something similar). Lift the left door on the center console to find the keypad.
--Outside temperature.
These displays...

Hi Mosser
Have you tried refitting your old plugs? - could be ONE dicky new plug,I`ve had this in the past.
Then if you WANT TO find out which one it was you just replace them one by one until fault occurs.
Also you could look for a plug lead shorting out somewhere along the way - best to do this in the dark.
Good luck

Mine is Hydractive.
Fast A roads/motorways,smooth & comfy,
Around town,mostly ok,though can be a bit hard over bumps etc,
Rolls a bit if you press on on country roads.By pressing the switch for hard ,the ride becomes harsher.You feel all the bumps etc more,although body roll is slightly reduced.The hard mode is good for towing or carrying...

hi Jonathan -
done 2 of these - but quite some time ago I admit -
My worst part was to get the end caps (6 ea) out - those secured with a small circlip. The circlips were no problem to remove, but then the caps stuck because of rust.
I then found copious amount of rust-loosener - and light tapping with the weight of a large drill did the trick....

My 1.8i 16v Xantia does exactly the same, i thought it ws normal though ?
I have noticed there is a ball on the top of the throttle butterfly and am going to try fitting a hydraulic throttle damper to see if this gets rid of it, i think it will

If you put it up on the automart here, you will be marketing the car to serious people who will offer a reasonable price if they want it. Dealers won't and I have heard that Ebay isn't a very reliable way of selling a car.

You think the seats in a Mk2 Xsara are hard! I really cannot believe that, theres bags of give in them. If you think they're hard, try a late Focus Ghia - I've sat on concrete with more give than those things! All modern cars have a firm ride compared to those built 10 years ago, almost without exception. Again, the Focus is a prime example -...

Be aware that manuals sold by manufacturers are very basic compared to Haynes. They do not have step 1-68 for instance as they are complied for 'trained' mechanics with some degree of prior knowledge. They also constantly refer to specialist tools which are unlikely to be available to the home mechanic, Haynes whilst far from perfect does normally...

the aux drive belt has to come off to fit the new cam belt so you might as well fork over the extra tenner to get it changed, the belt has probably streched a little, or you might have the wrong one on it, there is a belt that is just a few mm longer that the proper one (think its for the air con model??) and the erratic tensioner is an eccentric...

People at work have found this site very helpfull, concerning picasso's Lots of owners with hands on experience.

I am not familiar with that engine but removing the rocker cover might reveal how lucky/unlucky you have been, chances are you will have to go that far to get at the belt, look for valves that dont come up as far as the others or even camshafts snapped,bearing caps split its often pretty obvious.
Stewart

The SM saloon did make production, albeit with a restyled nose. I had one; it was badged Eldorado!

1) Check the wheel cap
2) then check the wheelbolts
3) Jack up rear and remove offended wheel, then check the brake components.
4) Very likely to be an early symptom of the dreaded rear suspension arm pivot bearing wear - the most common problem on PSA cars.
Whatever : take it serious - have the problem investigated ASAP - as it tends to quickly...

Theres a service join on the cable near where it goes through the bulkhead, split here and you can prove which end you need to look into, I usually spin it with a small screwdriver with an accomplice watching the needle
Stewart

This is quite common on the Saxo range. Provided the fuse etc is OK you can test the heater motor by disconnecting it and putting a live feed to it. If it works then the fault is usually with the Ignition switch, which has become overloaded and will need replacing.

If it was Comprehensive insurance, and they've paid you out for the car, then it belongs to them. If you tried to sell it you'd be selling their property!
Probably best to contact them to advise unless they remove it you will be charging them Storage at £10 a day or whatever, then they will get someone to collect it plenty quick!

Defo know what you're trying to explain :
Some cars just drives along very relaxing, and you only need to help now and then.
Other cars needs constant corrections & attention, really exhausting to drive.
1) check the rear suspension arm pivot bearings. When worn they can drive the car (& you) nuts.
2) check the front suspension for any wear...

I think it looks sh*te.
IMHO of course!

The roto pump itself ?
Leaks in the diesel fuel systems are often very hard to trace, as the leak tends to be at some elevated point, and then the fuel seeps back down into the pipes running low under the car.
Unless the leak is exactly in these pipes - you'll never see a wet leak anywhere, as the gravity of the fuel makes for vacuum.
Common...

This indicates an air leak!
Very irritating for a diesel engine - causes power loss and difficult starting.
Norlam leakage points on a Xantia are the fuel filter/water separator, then old cracked fuel hoses. They don't have to let fuel out in order to let air in! so they canbe difficult to detect. Start by checking that the seal between the filter...

Isn't the usual little hole in the back plate there? If so try and get a small screw driver in and release the brakes off. It sounds like the drums have a lip in side of them and the brake shoes are up against the lip. Could try slakening the handbrake cable off.

Engine mounts OK?

My breather just dangles down behind the LHM reservoir. The filler cap just pushes on.

Nick
Any reason you don't have a go yourself? Not a difficult job.

You can now buy a small battery (9v) device that fits in to the cigarette lighter socket on any car that is for this exact purpose. Don't know about the cost but I belive it'd not too much. Any how your local Citroen dealer will be able to supply the code for your radio. Just go along with proof of ownership, log book etc and he will by using the...

I have a set of A/C pipes (and most other A/C parts). They are used but believed servicable. I was going to add A/C to a non A/C car, but I have now bought a V6 with A/C.
Located in Woodford Green, Essex.
Make me an offer.

Hi Mark,
I have sent you an e-mail regarding a pdf of the wiring diagram, if you can't wait for that, the followimg applies: (letter/number combinations in brackets () are the pin numbers in the connector block.
The grey/red wire (B4) goes to fuse F24 via relay contacts 3 and 5 of relay 817 (live feed)
The orange wire (A5)is the lighting feed for...

shame they didnt get it more power really to make it as quick as the saxo vts if not more but Citroen say they are not interested in the power battle thats going on with small/medium hatches

What you are describing is normal. I have a 2.1 and my clutch pedal has been like that from day one.

If there is no discernible reason for the extended pipe I know what I would do. Join the pipe and see what happens. It may just turn out to be a Citroen idiosyncrasy.

I would gues that what you call RP number we may call VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which in the old venacular was called the Chassis Number and is usually stamped on the top of the mudguard in the channel where the return of the bonnet sits and usually on a RHD car on the passengers side.
It seems all Governments employ little men in...

Phil
I'm not to familiar with AX wiring system, but can give you a few pointers that may help.
If the led had wire tails attached it was most probably sited somewhere on the dash or adjacent to the tax disc holder for visual status for the alarm.
If the red or green wire found, appeared about 4-10 inches long -- single core, this could have been...

Bernie ,I've got a 1998 2.1 td estate which does around 40 mpg ,thats to work and back and running around localy.Does improve a bit on a long run if you keep below 90 mph.

How hot does it run when towing?Mine runs about 90-100c on the level,but up hill it will go to 105c.Only once has the warning light come on,in France.I have a theory on this...
The rad is at the back,behind the a/c rad,and the i/cooler.When towing uphill,or flooring it,i can really hear the turbo working,and the sucking sound.I think that the...

I've often fancied one as a future replacement for my 2.1 Xantia but I've been a bit concerned about reports that they are not too DIY-friendly. Checkout the difficulty of replacing the particle filter and the fluid.

Can you hear the sensor fan running?

Hi Paul,
If it doesn't bounce at all you should definetly replace the wheel spheres (on top of the struts) and probably the hydractive (third) sphere as well which lives underneath the car near the front. (Only if you have hydractive, but you most likely will because I think it was standard untill 1996) Replace the acc. sphere if the pressure...

Sorry everyone I have found the search facility.
I will shut up and read the results now

You have to lower the rear on the torsion bars, see
The front, you need some lowering springs. What sort of ZX is it? (Engine, petrol/diesel, is it Volcane, 16v etc etc??) When I know that I can tell you some more about lowering the front.

I had an old Datsun Sunny that whistled under hard acceleration. I reckon it must have been the alternator bearings, though it was quiet on tickover.

I have just changed my accu sphere and found this forum topic invaluable
Only I couldn`t find a strap spanner strong enough and didn`t have time to make one so used large cold chisel and hammer to crack the seal before removing by hand(tip also found on forum) Do make sure you do not damage radiator fins when doing so;but it came away easily...

Yes, it's normal. Try not to break it because new ones can be quite expensive.
Mine got a fit of the sags a few years ago - in fact it had been scraping the ground for quite a while before I discovered it. Fortunately I only needed a partial replacement, which wasn't too bad.
Best of luck with the job!

Your 'accululator sphere' has nowt to do with the clutch, but you should replace it (£20) before return pipes start blowing off and leaving your car sitting in a green puddle!
What do you mean by 'harch'? Does it go into reverse OK when standing? If not, does the clutch need adjusting?
If the gearchange is just stiff, have you tried lubricating...

Hi Silverback
Does the internal height adjustment work OK?
Have you tried Citaerobics?
Is your LHM absolutely clean?
How much too high is the rear?

does the engine management light come on ? do you know if there were any fault codes & what they were ?
the engine wasnt really a sucess & i dont think they even use it any more.

Quick reply to these points
1)Dampers for ZX TD Volcane are in fact N45552 and N45554 (same as Berlingo 800kg!)catalogue is not correct here.
2) ZX Arms are all the same apart from 2.0 16v. Its normal to simply change the small front bush and the big P bush at the rear. The arm itself should be fine.
3)The dampers mentioned above are Sachs Boge....