Made 300 miles!!

Xantia2.0 · Post by **Xantia2.0** » 08 Aug 2010, 19:36

Woohoo!! I made the 6 hour drive without ONE flaw! I was sat in a traffic jam for 40 minutes with the engine idling and it didn't go any higher than the 3 quarter mark on the temperature gauge. I'm also getting GREAT fuel economy as I filled up to the brim before leaving and 300 miles later its barely lower than the quarter mark! So, I'm not going to be on the site much as I'm on holiday! But thought I'd tell you guys the Citroén behaved herself!

Oh and I did get the cam belt changed before leaving!

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 08 Aug 2010, 20:24

Ideal, nice quick cambelt change that!!

Don't go telling too many people how pleased you are or they might think Xantia's are unreliable

Citroening · Post by **Citroening** » 08 Aug 2010, 20:47

red_dwarfers wrote:Don't go telling too many people how pleased you are or they might think Xantia's are unreliable

They are very reliable, we went all over the country in our HDi Estate before we got the C6. And that same Xantia is still going strong racking up the miles as our mechanic is using it. "So much better than the BX" he was using...and he loves the a/c!

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 08 Aug 2010, 22:08

Im yet to be let down by a Citroen, they tend to be very reliable. Niggles are common, but generally they are reliable.

Xantia2.0 · Post by **Xantia2.0** » 08 Aug 2010, 23:34

One problem I will have to address when I return home though is when I was out tonight to get some food with the high-beams, radio and heater on, the (I presume) serpentine belt was slapping a bit. Obviously the tensioner is not set tight enough so when there are a lot of electrical items on, the belt is under more strain and slapping. That's not a real problem though as a part hasn't failed, it just needs tightened!

It's pouring rain at the moment so I just got back in time!! Hopefully the grass won't mud up, cos the car has no T/C and the drivers side tyre is almost bald and the passenger side is not much better! Plus the car is parked on a slope and has to reverse up-hill to get out. Eek! And rain is forecast for tomorrow too!!

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 09 Aug 2010, 15:33

When you check the aux belt, make sure its not the dual mass crank pulley breaking up, as this gives all the symptoms of a slipping belt.

Xantia2.0 · Post by **Xantia2.0** » 09 Aug 2010, 16:31

Will do.

My fears were confirmed this morning. Started the Xantia up, put it in reverse, and got nothing but wheel spin! Ugh, it's due to dry up tomorrow so I'll have to wait till then!

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Aug 2010, 16:55

Seems like you need to invest in some new tyres as well as a belt then!

I wouldnt worry too much about it not having traction control, its often next to useless. Last winter i did a mini test with the C5s, mine doesnt have traction but the estate does. I had just had new premium tyres fitted to the front a few months before, the estate withs its half warn cheapies (now replaced with Goodyears). Usually when it snows, my drive, which is slightly sloped, soon turns to polished ice, which does make opening the front 5 bar gate tricky without falling over, but can be even worse at getting the cars out.

My C5 with its good tyres but no TC would pull out of the drive fine, if using little throttle and being careful with the clutch. The C5 estate with its TC but awful tyres just sat there spinning the wheels while the TC applied the brakes to try and get grip. When i eventually did get it out of the drive it was so poor in the snow that we left it parked up, my C5 was very good in the snow.

So good quality tyres are far better than TC in some cases!

Xantia2.0 · Post by **Xantia2.0** » 09 Aug 2010, 17:06

Well I'm going to buy some Michelin tyres, as I've never had any problems with them! Should I just replace the front or would it be more economical to replace them all ?

The spare-tyre is also needing changed (measured it the other day and it has 0.5mm treds!!) but I'm not worrying about that. It still holds air and that's all that is required of a spare-tyre!

No wonder the car is crap on mud, it has Kwik-Fits "ArrowSpeed" tyres!

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Aug 2010, 17:20

Michelins are good tyres, ive never had a problem with their durability, however they do often have soggy sidewalls which is great for comfort but not so for spirited driving.

Im not very keen on the Michelin Primacy HPs which i had fitted to my C5, i find them too soggy and have since swapped them to the rear, im not sure if id buy them again, not great for £266 the pair.

The new Michelin Energy Savers are good, wear well, quiet, grip very well and provide a good ride. Ive had these on one C5 and just had some fitted to the Xm, very nice tyres. These will be the ones suitable to your Xant.

The majority of our cars have Michelins, they are among the best. Goodyears are my second choice, along with Contis.

If your rear tyres are getting worn, 3mm or less id replace them, but if they are still worth keeping, then use them a bit longer.

Cheap tyres often ruin a car, ive not used Arrowspeeds but they are probably not great.

Xantia2.0 · Post by **Xantia2.0** » 09 Aug 2010, 18:05

Well the rears are Dunlops and have 2.9mm on the O/S and 2.0mm on the N/S, so I'll replace them! The car has non-original alloys, but their the same size as the originals so standard size tyres will fit fine!