Bought a MK1, and just noticed that the engine probably is blown (links included)

[ekjdm14]

I don't know, I still feel like you're judging the car too harshly & there is no reason it can't be a reliable vehicle if it's maintained properly. The faults you have found I would not class as that major & if the bodywork and interior are tidy it's well worth (in my opinion, of course) doing a little remedial work and overdue maintenance to have a car that you clearly want.

I'll admit it isn't always so easy if you don't do any of the work yourself as costs are an issue but then that applies to any car not just Citroens.

[elma]

Don't give up just yet.
I think you need the full report so you can add up the costs against replacing the car.
The hydraulic pump should be a fairly easy and cheap fix, there is a lot of information here on how to do it.

Xantias are special and I run mine as my only car used for everything.
I don't earn a lot but I manage to keep it alive with a lot of help from other forum members.
Mine is a V6 so it costs a lot to run but is worth every penny.
It's not problem free either, I have a lot of work to do over Summer to get it how I'd like it.
Keep going, don't scrap it yet.
Maybe find all the problems and plan a job a month until it's all fixed unless they are ridiculously expensive.

[van ordinaire]

Shame your Citroen expert didn't look at the problem you took the car in with - & keep his opinions to himself.

Frankly I'd go somewhere else, although I appreciate the choice might be limited.

I'm absolutely with ekjdm14 & elma on this one. Let's hope the pulley/belt problem isn't major or very expensive bto fix, then you you can sort out the other problems & start enjoying the car.

[wurlycorner]

Agreed with all the above.
It's nonsense to say that the car shouldn't have any money spent on it just because it's a bit old - if you like and want the car, that's what matters. How does spending a lot more money on a newer car make any sense compared to maintaining a good condition, old one? It looks in great condition under the bonnet to me.

This is not looking like its a serious fault, should be simple enough to fix and then you just need to keep on top of maintenance going forward, to keep the car in good condition.

As for the hydraulic pump being knackered, well... If that was the case the suspension and steering either wouldn't work properly, or it would be making a racket! What did he say was wrong with it?

Gearboxes normally weep oil, on most cars. Or is he saying its a really bad leak and has caused the gearbox oil level to drop too low?

The scoring on the auxiliary belt could even be as simple as something like a stone having got in there and that could also be the cause of the noise if it's still trapped? (difficult to tell from the video)

[van ordinaire]

Good point about the inevitable consequences of the pump having failed.

Even if the oil in the 'box has dropped too low, it's more likely to have shortened its life expectancy than do permanent damage. I'd drain it (which will give an idea of how low it was) refill it with the CORRECT oil & monitor level then, depending on condition of what came out, change it again within , say, 3 - 4,000 km

[Kiiva]

Well im here now, with my car back

The mechanic wasnt too bad after all. I think it was his way of making me happy. Kinda "i cant do much with this, i will take a look at it but dont expect too much"
And now he did fix the noise and he did a overall check too.

So first thing he texted me was the handbreak wire is broken. He fixed that.
Then he took the car for a ride and noticed that the gearbox was a bit stiff, so he found that the metallic plate under the car (under the geatbox) was damaged and that it had very little oil left. So bad that the gearbox could fail.

He bought a new plate and the old one was taken off. Then he tapped up with gearbox oil to 1.8 liters i think he said. Anyway, he tapped up by the book.

Then the engine sound.. he found out that the pump was loose and that one of the little wheel where i recorded for you, it did miss a bolt.

So the dangerous engine things, the gearboix and handbreak was fixed. As he drove it and inspected it, he coulnt see anything else wrong

And i now have my car back and im happy for it
So happy that i will now do my Dinitrol cure. Just pull out those plugs and completely drain it with Dinitrol ML.
If that helps or not i dont know but still...

Of course i cant be too happy since im always worried. Now im thinking "how long will the car lst? is the pump broken? if so is it too expensive to swap?"

Oh well, for now its great and i might be wrong but i just feel that the MK 1 is better built than the MK 2. I know it sounds weird, and it probably is.
But i just got the impression from driving my MK 2 now everyday, and then a week later picked up my old Xantia.

Thank you for being so supportive!! If this wasnt for you, the car would never seen a mechanic, im sure of that.

[Stickyfinger]

חדשות טובות....

[wurlycorner]

Excellent news. I'm so glad that it has been fixed and is back with you. Care and love will see it give you a long life, I'm sure
Dinotrol ML is excellent stuff, when properly used

[van ordinaire]

So - another success for the forum!

. . . perhaps, I did this Citroen specialist an injustice

BUT, somebody, please, what is this plate under the 'box, which seems so critical?

[Kiiva]

Yes lets hope it will have a good life.
Suddenly tonight when i started it i heard a really scary sound (in lack of better english terms) li think its the band spinning on the wheell, because it didnt last long.
So now i learned that the car can scream for 10-15 seconds, and then stop. Well what can i say

Another thing i noticed, (and i dont think its anything faulty) is that now when i can hear the "real" engine sound, i can tell its a lot different sound on the MK1 and my MK2
The old one has a ticking sound while accelerating, not loud but it sounds tick tick tick from the valvels maybe(?) And my MK2 dont have that. So im thinking that there is some difference between the 8 valve engine that i have in my old one, and the 16 valve engine in my newer one. Or the valve doesnt matter? I never can figure that out

And oh, YES its another success to the forum for sure. I would say it if i didnt mean it, but i know that i did want to avoide a mechanic and hear you all say "no, this is perfectly normal on that engine"
But you broke my walle... i mean my denial So i called the day after. I was expensive as h*ll.Really close to what i paid for the car. But at least i have a car that has been fixed.

חדשות טובות....

haha =) someone know hebrew ♥

[Stickyfinger]

Two things can Tick tick tick

Valves & Hydraulic pump..........

Valves ticking will be constant and always at the same rate as the engine rotation,
Pump ticking should be fast 1-3 secs...followed by a pause, then 1-3 sec again...it is at a faster rate than the engine rotation (like a machine gun)

A weak/worn pump will have a far longer tick period with a shorter pauses between, the same is true if the accumulator sphere is poor/failed.

[Kiiva]

I think its the overall engine sound, the valves(?)
It doesnt sound good at all when i compare it to my MK2, that one has 16 valves.

Let me see if i can find a smiliar example:
Maybe not this sharp but certainly not as clean sound as the 16 valves

[KennyW]

The screaming noise may be the auxillary belt. Is the same belt or a new belt fitted to the car. If the old one fit new one and tension up correctly, do not over tension as this can cause further problems.

Kenny

[Stickyfinger]

or clutch on Air-con compressor ?

[Kiiva]

Aha then i see a mistake the mechanic did.. he checked all, even the handbreak, he had the belts off.
Of course he should see if my belt is worn out, but yet its back on again, so far so good.

But the car screams from the belt or wheel i dont know but its only when i start it cold, it lasts 15 seconds, and its LOUD