Xantia 1.9 TD LHM Filler cap hose / pipe

[MikeM]

I've got a problem which I'm sure must be related to my recent head replacement (the car's - not mine personally).

When I reconnected all the vacuum hoses after the rebuild, I was missing a vacuum hose, which appeared to run from the EGR valve to a vacuum solenoid on the bulkhead. I dutifully replaced it with a new length and believed all was well, but...

While investigating a LHM leak yesterday (to be discussed elsewhere [edit: make that 'discussed below']), I found a rubber pipe/hose similar in size to vacuum hosing running from the top of the LHM filler cap and going to nowhere. I remembered that I'd tucked this pipe back into that position during the previous work but (shame on me ) I can not now remember where it originally came from.

I cannot believe that it connects to the vacuum system (which is where I'm sure I found it originally) (a) because it would cause vacuum in the LHM resevoir (surely bad ???) and (b) there would be nowhere for the new pipe I fitted from the EGR valve, to go to.

Can anyone please tell me with certainty what this pipe does and where it goes.

Many thanks in advance

MikeM

[CitroJim]

Hi Mike,

That's right, the hose on the LHM Rerservoir cap goes nowhere. It's just a breather hose.

I just tuck it out of the way behind the reservoir.

Always worth checking this pipe is clear though as the end often gets full of muck...

A depression in the LHM reservoir would indeed be bad news!

[MikeM]

Cheers Jim,

I'd hoped it was just a breather - with enough length to get it away from the gungy area like you say. I feel better now.

Just thinking about it If that had previously been connected to the vacuum system via a solenoid, but isn't now - that might explain why the suspension now comes up so much earlier when I start the car.

Now I can get on with trying to repair (or whatever) the LHM leaking from the feed hose into the pump. Citroen want £130+ (emoticon for heart attack needed) for a new hose - there has to be another solution.

MikeM

[CitroJim]

If the breather was connected to the vacuum, the pump would have to fight and overcome the depression so caused in the reservoir and indeed, this might cause the rise time to go up.

That is a lot of money for a hose Mike It's because it's shaped and moulded around the transmission. You might find a V6 one substantially cheaper as it's just a fundamentally straight length of hose that runs across the top of the engine.

Pro-tem, a lenghth of plastic hose can be used but it quickly goes hard under the influence of LHM and then cracks.

You have to be a tad careful with hose and LHM compatibility but one type that is good is fuel hose rated to carry unleaded petrol. I've used this and have a test piece submerged in LHM and it's fine. The only downside is that fuel hose is normally designed to carry high pressure and has thick walls. Apart from this, it's just the job. There is no fundamental need to route the new hose in the same way as the original. Provided it's protected and cannot chafe, it'll be OK.

Any hose you choose is best tested for a few days by immersing it in LHM for a while and see if it reacts.

[MikeM]

Having looked at other threads on the same problem, I'm considering making up a section of copper pipe shaped with two 90(ish) degree bends to point back down toward where the first mounting bracket is and reconnect to hose there. Using a small section of the (now) excess hose to join the copper to the pump.

Any experience with LHM and copper?

MikeM

[CitroJim]

Copper shopuld be absolutely fine Mike.

Again. test a bit in a jar of LHM and swee if there is any reaction but as Pleiades make up new pipes for the HP side in Cupro-Nickel there should be absolutely no issues at all.

[MikeM]

On investigation I, in my infinite wisdom (tongue in cheek emoticon pls) decided that Citroen have got it wrong! Way more hose than is really needed - or perhaps they're just being kind by giving us some spare

I noticed that the hose comes past the gearbox and then drops very low, so I removed the bracket holding the hose to the front of the block (by the two metal pipes) - this gave me enough slack to feed some hose through toward the pump. Trimming the existing hose back past the bend which had split gave me a long enough straight section to fit to the pump and the remaining bend (with a little help) points it in the slightly modified direction.

Repositioning the hose bracket near the pump and fitting what was a loose plastic "hose to pipe" spacer clip and the hose is held securely with (I hope) not too much stress on the final elbow.

The bracket from the front of the block was refitted upside down as the hose was now above this fixing point rather than below.

My local Citroen specialist had told me that he had plenty of LHM in stock, but when I got there he could only muster up just under a litre - so he let me have that for free - nice man!

Reservoir took the lot - just under a litre and is just below the top line (on max height of course).

Citrobics. No problems or leaks (I've said that before though)

Steering light as a feather again

All fixed for free!!! I am one seriously happy bunny!

Thanks again Jim.

p.s. While researching all this I came across an free online 'citroen guide' with fantastic diagrams and explanations of the hydraulics - how would you feel about posting a link to it on their website for others to download?