Holiday nightmare

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 23 Feb 2005, 14:57

Decided to go to the market yesterday morning where I´m staying on the Costa del Sol. I left the Xantia in a car park and as I walked away from it, I noticed the hydraulics were bleeding to death over the ground. As I drove, the STOP light had not been showing. Under the bonnet everything looked clean and dry, but the lower engine cover and suspension was flooded with LHM. The car had to be lifted and transported 40 miles to Malaga where it´s being looked at. I´ll be going along later today to hear the worst. Meanwhile I´m driving a horrid little Fiat.

Post by **Jon** » 23 Feb 2005, 15:01

Well John, at least you've escaped the weather! I'm in Birmingham right now and its snowing heavily.
Keep us posted on the Xantia!

Stuart McB · Post by **Stuart McB** » 23 Feb 2005, 16:03

Went to majorca last November forgot to take my wellies.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 24 Feb 2005, 14:40

Took a one hour bus ride back to Malaga yesterday afternoon and arrived at the garage to find the mechanic/owner (fortunately he was Scottish) with the car up on the four poster. He was fitting a new flow diverter valve. I waited whilst he finished and refilled with LHM. Back on the ground, we checked the rise and lowering of the suspension. A drive around the block, and everything seemed to be back to normal. For the parts, labour and 5ltrs of LHM, I was charged 160Euros. I was well pleased.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 24 Feb 2005, 22:35

I should have thought the 40 mile tow would cost you more than that! Must have been a second hand FDV for that price - and thats what most garages in the UK would charge you just for fitting it.
//NiSk

Dave Burns · Post by **Dave Burns** » 25 Feb 2005, 02:05

If this is your 2.1 td estate John, whats it doing with an FDV.
Dave

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 25 Feb 2005, 14:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NiSk

I should have thought the 40 mile tow would cost you more than that!
//NiSk
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The lift was covered by my travel insurance - as also (I hope) is the 60Euro taxi ride back to my site. What´s this Dave? The gubbins he replaced had several pipe unions going into it and was situated underneath the LHM tank. The mechanic referred to it as the 'splitter'.

VisaGTi16v · Post by **VisaGTi16v** » 25 Feb 2005, 15:10

Did you have fun explaining what was wrong or can you speak Spanish(?). I had to use sign langauge before when a rear shock spring mount broke on my Visa in the middle of france. Got it towed 10 miles and 2 new rear shocks inc fitting was about £160, good value I thought and the mechanic getting in the wrong side thinking it was left hand drive made me chuckle

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 25 Feb 2005, 15:12

Was it the ABS valve block?
That sort of lives under and in front of the LHM tank.

Post by **RichardW** » 25 Feb 2005, 15:28

Doesn't the anti-sink valve live under there too - and I think failure of the anti-sink valve a known issue on later cars?

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 26 Feb 2005, 15:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by VisaGTi16v

Did you have fun explaining what was wrong or can you speak Spanish(?).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Much to my relief, when I got to the garage, after my initial 'Hola', I discovered the owner/mechanic was Scottish. He'd just taken over the business.
That´s interesting Richard - I´m waiting to hear what Dave Burns has to say about it.

RichG · Post by **RichG** » 26 Feb 2005, 15:16

I had a failed anti-sink valve a few years ago. This resulted in a 'Niagra Falls' of LHM dropping from the rear of the undertray on the nearside whilst the engine was running.
As the car was less than 3 years old I had the job done by the Main Stealer. Citroen Assist transported the car to him for free. I had to pay for the repair as I only had a 1 years guarantee. I think that it cost me about £130.
I wrote a letter to Citroen in Slough however they said that it was an isolated occurance although later I did find someone who had had the same problem. I understand that the leak on the anti-sink occurs on a blank plug that is inserted into a drilled hole during manufacture.
Richard

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 02 Apr 2005, 20:32

Its not a flow diverter or ABS block. I think I know what an anti-sink valve looks like!
jeremy

bernie · Post by **bernie** » 02 Apr 2005, 23:46

Link will not work for me

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 03 Apr 2005, 00:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bernie

Link will not work for me
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Try that then!!!