How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

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kentc5
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How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by kentc5 »

Hello guys,

Well I feel silly asking this.... but how on earth are you meant to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi??? I cannot see the side of the bottle ... nor a dipstick of anysort.

Also ... I have seen on some posts or videos that when the car is cold... or in the lowest suspension position the stop light is meant to be on the dashboard?
Or this not the case of a late 2000 Xantia HDi?

Cheers in advance :)
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by RichardW »

There's supposed to be a tube in the neck of the expansion tank with a slot in the side - coolant should be visible in the tube. If the tube is not there, then about 2-3" below the neck when cold is not far off. There is a low light anyway!

STOP light should come on at ignition swtich on, then stay on with the (!) suspension light for a few seconds after start up - if it goes out immediately then suspect the accumulator. If it stays on for a long time then suspect the accumulator :lol: . Shouldn't be on at lowest suspension position, but may come on when putting the height back up from low as filling the suspension robs the system of pressure for a few seconds.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The STOP light can come on to indicate a variety of problems. For example, if the STOP light and the coolant light come on together it (obviously) indicates a coolant issue (my old Xantia did this after I got Mr Clutch to replace the coolant at the same time as the clutch. I don't intend to ever use them again!!!).

If you have your Xantia bottomed out, there will be no pressure in the pnuematic system. When you move the lever to the normal position, the system will try and raise her up. As there is no pressure, the system will tell you this by illuminating the ! and STOP lights. IIRC, once there is 140 bar in the system (abou 2000psi), the lights should go out, and the car will start lifting.

I hope this helps.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Chris570 »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: If you have your Xantia bottomed out, there will be no pressure in the pnuematic system. When you move the lever to the normal position, the system will try and raise her up. As there is no pressure, the system will tell you this by illuminating the ! and STOP lights. IIRC, once there is 140 bar in the system (abou 2000psi), the lights should go out, and the car will start lifting.

I hope this helps.
Close, the stop light for pressure indicates LOW pressure at the security valve. You're right in that when the car is in low there is no pressure in the suspension side as effectively all the valves (Height correctors) are set to open so no pressure can build and the car sits down. As a part of this there is no demand for pressure so there is still pressure in the system (hence why putting the car on low isnt enough to fully depressurise the entire system) Soooo during this state the security valve still sees it's minimum threshold of pressure so that's why the light is out. Neither the sensor nor the dashboard have any clue where the suspension lever is set. Once you put the car into med or high you open both Height correctors up and ask for a lot of pressure and volume of fluid, it is this sudden drop that causes the light to come on and stay on until the pressure is back at the aforemetioned 140bar.

Sorry if that's longwinded but if anyone wanted to know the finer detail there it is :)
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The other reason for the ! and STOP lights to come on is if the reservoir is low. If you look at the level float, you will see a brass disk at the bottom. If this disk drops down far enough it touches two contacts, causing those lights to come on. The down side is that if they come on when you are driving, you don't know why until you pull over and look at the float.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Mandrake »

Can't help being a nit picker :lol: but the pressure switch in the security valve turns off the warning light at about 90-100 bars, while normal operating pressure is between 135-170 bars. (Cut in and cut out pressures for the regulator) The pressure warning light will go out before the suspension starts rising, as the suspension requires more pressure (even unladden) than the warning light pressure switch does. Absence of the warning light only tells you that there is enough pressure available to safely and effectively operate the front brakes.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by kentc5 »

Is it correct .... as I read somewhere if the car is not used for hours... to put it to the lowest position?
Will tha apply to the C5 too?
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Citroenmad »

Hell Razor5543 wrote:The other reason for the ! and STOP lights to come on is if the reservoir is low. If you look at the level float, you will see a brass disk at the bottom. If this disk drops down far enough it touches two contacts, causing those lights to come on. The down side is that if they come on when you are driving, you don't know why until you pull over and look at the float.
Its worth noting that the LHM level float needs to be checked with the car in the high position. Make sure the float is in the middle of the two red lines.


There is no need to drop a C5 or Xantia to low when parked for a few hours. This is not conveinient and is why anti-sink was developed. If I'm leaving the car parked for a few days or weeks then I do put them into low, but not if its in use every day/every other day.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Yes, sorry about not making the float check clear. As citroenmad has said, the car needs to be in the high position, and also parked on level ground to get an accurate reading of the float.

If it is below the lower ring, there is a possibility that air could get drawn into the pneumatic system (not a good thing, obviously), whereas if it is above the upper ring, when the car is bottomed out the reservoir could overflow.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by kentc5 »

So the gold float disk need to be between the two red line rings while it is on the upper most position of the suspension and on a flat surface :)
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by kentc5 »

ooopppsss just rechecked the manual and the red disk is meant to be between the lines ....
lol
a bit over filled ;)
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by Citroenmad »

Yes, between the lines on the high setting.

However, if its slightly above its not going to harm, there is quite a different between being slightly too full and full enough for the car to push LHM out on its low position.
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by kentc5 »

The rear end kind of acts funny when I start the car after been parked for a few hours...

Once the engine starts within a few seconds the rear end will sink in ... almost to lowest level and then will raise up to normal driving height with no delays. While this is happening I do nothing...

Is that because the rear Antisink Sphere needs replacing?
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by jgra1 »

mine used to do this..

it's a good occasional party trick.. stick some nervous outlaws in the back seat and start her up, let her drop, and apply footbrake.. wait 10 seconds and let the brake off

dont do this often though ;)

in fact do it only once or things may break or something .. :twisted:
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Re: How to check the coolant level on a Xantia HDi?

Post by kentc5 »

what does it do then ... bounces up fast? lol ...
How did you solve it?
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