Xantia Activa - Indicator fault

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 07 Sep 2005, 01:46

In warm weather my indicators play up.
Suddenly, whilst driving, the left one comes on permanently. not flashing, just stays on.
Then they both come on and stay on, again no flashing, just on.
They go off, then if i indicate to turn/change lane, both indicators flash like hazard wrning lights.
If I press the hazard warning button, the indicators just come on without flashing.
So, I've studied Haynes wiring diag and i recon its a problem with my alarm system.
So, I took out the passenger seat and lifted the carpet.
Underneath was ringing wet. Actual puddles of water. The foam backing on the carpet was dripping and if I squeeze it water gushes out.
The alarm unit was laying on the floor so must have got truly wet and that could be the source of my indicator problem.
So, where do you think all that water has come from ?
Could it be condensation ? its a 1996 car, so plenty of chance for condensation i suppose.
Or, more likely, where do you think I have a rain water leak ? Bottom of front screen ?
Any advice would be welcome.
Cheers
Kevin

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 07 Sep 2005, 03:29

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

Or, more likely, where do you think I have a rain water leak ? Bottom of front screen ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
that would be my guess,check that the scuttle panel is securely in place all the way along the bottom of the windscreen.the water runs past here & in through the heater intake.

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 08 Sep 2005, 02:12

I now have all the seats and carpets out(front and back). I've sucked up the water with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
I still haven't investigated the scuttle panel yet apart from a quick look over. It isn't cracked or loose. I'll haveto spray a hose pipe over it to see if it leaks.
Haynes says that a new scuttle panel seal should be fitted when refitting the panel. What does this look like ?
I have found two other problems after removing the carpets and seats.
Firstly, There is a crossmember that the front of the driver's seat bolts down on. It is just a faily thin section steel channel which runs across the car floor from sill to centre tunnel/console. Its spot welded to the floor pan, sill and tunnel. But, the centre console end has all broken up. There is a captive bolt that is welded to the channel, but this bolt and the surounding metal plate has cracked in several places and just disintegrated. At some time there must have been a heavy downforce on the seat which deformed the crossmember. Subsequent vibration fatigue has caused the whole channel to break up. So now I have nowhere to bolt the front left corner of my driver's seat to.
Secondly, in the driver's footwell I have a small amount of coolant. Damn it, I've got a matrix problem. So, I may aswell carry on and take out the facia etc and do a matrix change while I'm at it.
Facia removal sounds like a very tricky job.
So, at the moment the inside of my Activa looks very sorry for itself.

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 08 Sep 2005, 05:15

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

Haynes says that a new scuttle panel seal should be fitted when refitting the panel. What does this look like ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
its not an actual seal,it just windscreen/mastic type sealer that is used.

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Jan 2006, 17:41

Update on this thread. Now I know how to use PhotoBucket.com. I have some interesting pics to show.

Crack in Xantia Scuttle trim over heater inlet. The crack is so neat I though it was a join in the plastic.

Damaged cross member under driver's seat.

Close up of damage.

Cheers, Kev

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 05 Jan 2006, 18:12

Is that a seat fixing nut snapped off it's sheeting surrounds ?
I.e. like the sheets were crisp in that area ?

Otherwise it looks good. Not the usual rusty mess often seen from soaked mats.

Xantiae are prone to flood the interior when the scuttle drains are clogged.

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Jan 2006, 18:29

There was no sign of rust thankfully.

The seat fixing nut has come away as you can see.

I am rather suspicious of the cause. It could either be brittle metal in that area, a very fat person has owned the car, a young couple have been using the car for nocternal visits to the countryside (but they'd use the passenger seat surely !) or my worst suspicion is that it is the type of shock loading damage you get if the car has been in an accident.

The car is all back together now. I fabricated a saddle out of some sheet steel (a heavy duty shelf from work... they wont miss it !). I bolted it in place and all is well.

I sealed the scuttle panel and the crack with some car body silicone sealant and its been dry ever since.

I attached the alarm ECU to the white metal bracket to keep it off the floor just incase of future leaks.