Vince's XM...213k and slowing....

CitroJim · Post by **CitroJim** » 01 Nov 2009, 11:56

It's an age thing Vince and it's where those hoses always go. Right on the point where they stretch over the bell-end of the metal pipe.

Great to have a natter with you yesterday afternoon; albeit right in the middle of separating gearbox from a V6 and delighted to help as always.

Good luck on the repair and glad it's easier than the same job in the V6. I had to do exactly the same repair to min a few weeks back and it was almost inaccessible

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 01 Nov 2009, 12:55

vince wrote:Yes, i bought it from Abode Window Film, they make loads of colours for stained glass windows. Check out their website....its only £8.50 for a big sheet

How about this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YELLOW-STAINED-GL ... 398wt_1165

vince · Post by **vince** » 01 Nov 2009, 18:03

That looks like the same stuff....only cheaper than what i paid

What i will say is that once you yellow the fogs the light output is reduced quite a bit....

It still lights up the sides of the road, but i kind of preferred the light intensity before

vince · Post by **vince** » 02 Nov 2009, 23:10

CitroJim wrote:It's an age thing Vince and it's where those hoses always go. Right on the point where they stretch over the bell-end of the metal pipe.

Great to have a natter with you yesterday afternoon; albeit right in the middle of separating gearbox from a V6 and delighted to help as always.

Good luck on the repair and glad it's easier than the same job in the V6. I had to do exactly the same repair to min a few weeks back and it was almost inaccessible

Well the lion's share of the job is done

Getting the pipe of the end of the metal union was a right bugger due to only having a small hole to fit both your hands through holding and operating a pair of hose clip liers. Its like working in hand cuffs

Anyway, the new 5/16ths hose is on the metal union with a new jubilee clip and the return pipe cut in the middle ready for the piecing together trick. I did try to piece it together with a plastic pipe connector, but the original LHM pipe is slightly smaller in internal diameter and i couldnt get it to fit inside it......so im taking an offcut of each pipe to work tomorrow to get something the right size

So again...tomorrow after work, no rest for me...

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 02 Nov 2009, 23:23

Damn it vince how do you keep it so clean!!
Still as ever, well impressed

vince · Post by **vince** » 02 Nov 2009, 23:32

It was its first wash in about 2 weeks....

I was ashamed

vince · Post by **vince** » 04 Nov 2009, 22:49

Well finally the repair is completed

No more LHM leaks 8)

I had to wait for a couple of days for the rain and wind to die down enough to venture outside

vince · Post by **vince** » 17 Nov 2009, 23:15

Well not much new to report.....LHM leak fixed

MOT looming

I cant believe the weather.....will it ever stop raining here

I need to get my ABS sensor fitted but i just cant seem to get round to it.

I removed my aftermarket horn i fitted a long while back and took it to work to clean up and test. I fitted it then after nearly electrocuting myself trying to wire it in gave up so its never been used in anger

After a bit of a splutter it still works so that will be being wired in on MOT day....Im going to mount it just above the alternator though using a bracket off one of the alternator mounting bolts that way the connectors wont rust as they did when it was fitted under the N/S/F wing.

If you strive for a louder horn then i recommend picking up a Stebel Nautilus horn....

I cant wait to get it fitted

Still no progress on the dash bulbs....i admit i tried but failed as it was getting very late and i wasnt making much progress

Im better at cleaning cars than fixing them

That said i have been spending some time reading up on the detailing world forum. I am very interested in some of the products and techniques used on there......my paint finish may be in for some serious investment of time in the spring....I am curious to see just how clean i can get the paint finish......

I might see if i can book some time off work and "borrow" some time on one of the unused ramps int he garage next door to work...nice and dry and i will be able to get the ABS sensor fitted and the rear height corrector lubed up

KP · Post by KP » 18 Nov 2009, 09:40

Vince those rear arms are availble for you. may be easier than trying to mess around with a new sensor as they have been Jim approved as well

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 18 Nov 2009, 13:44

vince wrote:I cant believe the weather.....will it ever stop raining here

But Oldham is close to that well known rainy place,,,,

vince · Post by **vince** » 18 Nov 2009, 22:40

You mean the north of england Richard

That said its worse down south at the mo isnt it.

I have found a solution......I asked the garage at the side of the shop if i could borrow a 4 post ramp for a few hours one day and get some stuff done....They said i can borrow it whenever i like

Bonus

So at some point next week i will take it in and get on with what i need to get fixed

Then they can MOT it.

Working in the trade has its perks

vince · Post by **vince** » 23 Nov 2009, 15:09

Quick update people......

Braving the wind and rain i finally fitted my rear ABS sensor

and YES the light has gone out as predicted by some on here...thankyou.

The spare wheel well had to come out (Thanks Jim for the heads up) although it did show that it is truly buggered and will have to be replaced

Its rotted through on one side where the bracket pivot attaches on....so for now it remains off.

I must admit however that ive cheated

. The lord onyl knows why Citroen fed the sensor wire through the tiny hole you cant get at and after a few failed attempts at drawing the new one through tied to the old one i took the easier route of re routing it over the top of the rear sphere and cable tied it to the small hydraulic pipes next to the plug connector.

Care had to be taken to make sure that the rear bump stop didnt foul the cable when in low and also the big rear wheel dust plate remains removed. I am presumung that i will need to cut a hole in it to pass the sensor wire through.....that said it is now a 2 minute job to do that

Did manage to find another LHM leak on the back though

Box of matches anyone

Anyone got a good spare wheel well lying about

vince · Post by **vince** » 24 Nov 2009, 23:00

Well the MOT happened today

I was quite surprised but it failed on a N/S track rod end and the leak on the rear brake pipe was picked up.

We had a track rod end in stock but it was incorrectly boxed so didnt fit

and i have ordered the pipe from Citroen....circa £50 all in

So touch wood it will all be finished tomorrow......I hope

Then its just a spare wheel holder to get and its all hunky dory again

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 24 Nov 2009, 23:14

Nice one vince! your vsx will soon be the best looking and best mechanically

Glad you have kept it in the end, it would have been a shame after all you have done to it!
I have the joy of a rear ABS sensor to do soon on the xm!

vince · Post by **vince** » 25 Nov 2009, 01:50

Good luck Dave

Looking at it today on the ramp, i will definately have to customise the backplate because of the re routed sensor but its worth it to have sensors more easily accessible.

On the subject of keeping the Xantia, my wife started the conversation tonight of....."its costing a bit this car isnt it.....when i start driving could we not get something a bit smaller"?....

I showed her a Nissan Micra (great cars by the way) and a Peugeot 306 (also very good cars) and she said "Well, i do like our car....if you do all the niggly bits that it needs doing then it will last ok wont it"?

You cant beat having a bit more comfort, size and gizmo's

Just wait till she drives it