Engine mounting holder, timing belt end.

[sparksie]

Hi all
Finally got to the bottom of a problem that has mystified me since getting my Xantia.
Sometimes, over 50% of the time really, the engine moves around in the engine bay, in a manner reminiscent of old Mini steady bar problems.
Yet we could never establish how/why it was doing it, as the mountings all appeared to be in good condition and we could never move the engine by hand, even using levers.
Today, however, Cit had to pull a Corolla, using a solomatic A-frame. About 30 miles into the journey, it became much more pronounced and engine vibration was being transmitted to the body every time I pressed the (literally!) loud pedal!
Upon investigation, I found the top mounting, at the timing belt end of the engine was quite secure vertically, but displayed an alarming amount of horizontal movement. This is because one of the rubber buffers has vanished, allowing the engine to lean back under torque, far enough for the metal of the mounting to touch the metal that used to have a rubber pad bonded to it. QH call this the "RH mounting holder".
Anybody know why one from a X1 won't do?
The pictures look the same, but the X2 one is out of stock everywhere and the X1 type is supposedly incompatible.
I'm contemplating trying to bond a piece of PU to the old one, as a temporary measure, as she's quite unpleasant to drive now and will probably break the exhaust, or wiring/plumbing, due to excessive movement.
This issue aside, she took to towing like a pro. She hardly noticed the Corolla behind her, even on the hills and bends.
A good day, all things considered.

[addo]

I've flat towed a builder's ute, fully loaded with dreck, up hill and down dale with a 2 litre petrol and AL4 - no real problems.

[citronut]

cant cross check your mounts today as service citroen is having a day off

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =2&t=49013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gibbo2286]

I can see two part numbers for the 'Suspension buffer' but they seem to be mixed up between models, some petrols have either, some diesels have either on both the series one and two. looks as though you need to stick with the correct part to match the vin. 95 132 379 and 1844.25 are the numbers.

[sparksie]

Delving to make sure there were no nasty surprises lurking waiting to trip me when I do the timing belt, I couldn't resist having a go at repairing the buffer/holder/whatever it's called.
I cut a triangle off the tread of a scrap tractor tyre, smeared the cut edge with black Sikaflex and dropped it in where the rubber pad was missing, allowing the engine mounting to lean against it overnight, while it cured.
Today the car was transformed! Without thinking about it, I've been avoiding a resonance at certain revs, particularly while accellarating, and also been careful when going from power to overrun, to avoid intermittent sloppiness in the driveline. The latter was not always there, but was a dramatic "bang" when present. All of that was gone today! Engine noise has become a muted background hum and under no circumstances is it intrusive.
It's better than a similarly engined 406, now!
I'd never dare try something like this on a client's car, nor on one that was going to be driven by others.
I'm having fun with this one, as it's exclusively MINE!!!
I wonder how long this little bodge will last

[Hell Razor5543]

I knew somebody who was a wizard at electronic repairs. He once did a bodge repair on a PSU for a hospital X-Ray unit (the PSU was filled with oil, to keep it cool. His repair was mounted outside the oil chamber). About 5 years later the hospital asking him to come back and tidy it up. He asked what the problem was, to be told "No problem, the unit works perfectly. However, we are upgrading our X-Ray suite, selling the old equipment, and we would like it to look good!". His bodge jobs usually outlasted normal repairs, as he took time to work out why the equipment had failed in the first place, so that he could try to prevent it happening again.