My name's Anthony and I am a Xantia owner :-(

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anno888
Posts: 32
Joined: 01 Dec 2004, 18:22
Location: United Kingdom
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My name's Anthony and I am a Xantia owner :-(

Post by anno888 »

I've come to this help group for the same problem that you all have, I own a Xantia.
I've owned my fair share of cars all of which were Japanese (Corolla's back in Australia) but the problems all began when I came to the UK and decided to buy a French car.
I thought I'd go for something a little different and get a Xantia, mistake?????
Since purchasing about two months ago I have constantly had the bonnet up fixing little bits and just when I thought all was good she decided to spit the dummy and coat the M25 with LHM.
It was late, dark and very cold and there I was standing in the bushes beside the road where she decided to dump me.
I have now lost all faith and confidence in the girl as she sits in my drive (after a £150 tow) and even if I get the problem fixed will now hold my breath untill I arrive at any destination.
See, the french like to overcomplicate things. Yes, she might have smooth suspension but to be honest it's not that big an improvement to warrant all the extra complications on a car.
If it was soooooo good then why haven't more car manufacturers filled their cars with spheres, LHM, heigh correctors, accumulators.......
And now even the mighty Cit themselves have pretty much dropped the system.
I'm sorry all but I have to rant. I was furious! (and still am)
So, I now have a car in my drive that will not rise to the occation so can't be driven to the mechanic and I really don't want to pay for another tow although I may have to.
Does anyone know a mobile mechanic who knows Cits hydro's or can I fill her up whith LHM again and drive her 5 miles or so to the mechanic ( I may give her a second chance). If so Is there a procedure for refilling an LHM bare Xantia???? Have not had a good look under the bonnet to find the leak (can't bare to make eye contact yet) but in the dark I could see the left half of the engine bay is covered with LHM and the LHM container also covered. (loose pipe maybe) I hope.......
Welcome to Cits anonymous!
weety
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Joined: 24 Oct 2004, 13:49
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Post by weety »

to be fair to citroens i had an escort mk5 burst a front brake hose, a montego lose the brake master cylinder seals and a carlton lose the vacuum from the brake servo, every time i was left in a situation with very little brakes and no warning. My BX used to have the stupid little plastic hoses for the lhm that would come apart vomiting lhm (before i actually got round to fixing them) but every time i got nice red warning lights before anything went seriously wrong. Overall i prefer to deal with one system than having seperate brakes, power steering and suspension units and my xantia's have been the best cars i have ever had in terms of the mileage they have covered for the maintenance they have needed (and i just spent the day bodging my throttle back together)
anno888
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Post by anno888 »

Yes, I must say that I was impressed with the way I was warned before I noticed anything had gone wrong. Also, the power steering went before the brakes or suspension which is good.
Robin
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Post by Robin »

Anthony, where are you based?
Before any of us can really answer you we need to know which Xantia you own and where the fluid came from. If it is not known or obvious then you will have to fill her up and try to see where it came from.
Also, how prepared are you to get involved yourself?
Take heart, they are worth getting to know and she will only be uppity when not being cared for like most ladies!
Robin
anno888
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Post by anno888 »

It's a 93 Xantia SX and I am in South London.
I can't tell where the leak was from as there is LHM all over the place. Can I just fill the resevoir and start her up? Obviosly this will not be enought to fill the system so do I just keep pouring with the engine running. Also seeing as I am out of LHM completely should I do a flush with hydraflush?
jeremy
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Post by jeremy »

First - a couple of warnings - don't get under the car and rely on the hydraulics - make sure its properly supported at all times - you wouldn't be the first fatality!
Secondly some of the hydraulic pressures used are enormous - and spray may penetrate the skin etc very easily.
having said that you should have a single outlet pump, a flow divider valve to feed the power steering - and no anti sink - if I'm correct. This means that its essentially the same system as a BX.
The warning light can come on for 2 reasons - low fluid level and low pressure. If the level drops it generally starts flashing on cornering etc, low pressure producing a continuous light.
On examination you will find loads of pipes, all small rubber ones are return pipes, most of the steel ones are high pressure.
Normally if a return pipe fails the oil drips/runs downwards onto the ground. The fact that you say its all over the place makes me think that you have a high pressure problem and it probably isn't that expensive or difficult.
I'd suggest you arm yourself with some fresh LHM (don't try and re-cycle - dirt will cause you more problems) top it up to get the light to go out when its running and start up and see whats happening. be careful you dont get a faceful of LHM but try and see where its coming from. Likely sources are a pipe union(may tighten - seals 80p or less depending on size) or a cracked pipe -readily available from GSF or Citroen at reasonable prices.
Actually it probably hasn't runout and will rise and function properly as it is. If the pump won't prime try disconnecting its feed from the reservoir (by now I'd expect the pipe to have been fitted with a jubilee type clip - its garden hose size) and tip some LHM into it. This is usually enough to prime the pump but if it doesn't - try a search of this site.
When you've found the leak and cured it flushing could be advantageous especially if the LHM has been in there for some time. Again search for instructions.
Jeremy
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