Towing a dead Xantia 1.9TD.

mattiker · Post by **mattiker** » 14 Dec 2010, 15:10

Is it OK to use a tow rope to tow this?

I know the brakes are part of the hydraulic system which only works when the engine is running, and the backup measure Accumulator sphere only hold enough gas to stop a couple of times. Is that right?

So would it be foolish to tow it? Maybe a fixed tow bar/pole?

Cheers,

Matt

Post by **CitroJim** » 14 Dec 2010, 15:54

The accumulator and hydraulic system, when in tip-top condition will give about 50 brake applications. However, I'd not trust it to give any at all as your engine has now been stopped for a day or two and will therefore your accumulator will be quite exhausted by now. Result: no brakes at all.

Tow on a bar, a dolly or get it moved by an outfit like Shiply who specialise in vehicles moves on a reverse eBay auction-like basis.

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 14 Dec 2010, 16:35

I have a 2 inch square bar 5 feet long with a 50mm tow hitch attached to the end on the towing end is a shackle to hook the end up to the towing eye of the vechicle behind, this allows the towing car to do all of the braking and xantia brakes are perfect for the job of towing.
the shackle attachment hole is about an inch in from the end of the pole making the connection to the towing eye quite tight so there is minimum movement when braking in the vechicle in front.
if using a fixed bar you can tow on a motorway in the nearside lane just to get the car off the motorway that is all. come to think of it there are one or two fixed bars you can buy fairly cheaply. some have a spring in the middle to aid take off and braking.
failing that can you hire a trailer?

Post by **RichardW** » 14 Dec 2010, 17:11

See if one of your mates has an any vehicle breakdown card, and play that one? How far are you talking, and where is it? Clearly >10 miles, not sure I would want to try that with a dead Xantia....

addo · Post by **addo** » 14 Dec 2010, 19:47

I've towed the Xantia with a rope; it wasn't fun and only a short distance. Definitely better to use a proper setup.

handyman · Post by **handyman** » 14 Dec 2010, 21:28

One of the obligatory requirements of owning any hydropneumatic Citroen is the need to have good breakdown insurance cover or a mate with a recovery vehicle.

Towing a dead Xantia is lethal, as you not only lose the brakes and suspension, but the steering is virtually impossible to control accurately.

Breakdown cover does not cost alot. Look on the Moneysaving Expert website. I think they reckon on starting prices of £32.00.

Handyman

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 14 Dec 2010, 21:34

handyman wrote: Towing a dead Xantia is lethal, as you not only lose the brakes and suspension, but the steering is virtually impossible to control accurately.

Not really AT ALL if done the correct way...

A dead Xantia with WORKING anti sink, Will behave just like any "Normal" coil sprung car and WILL stay up!

This then enables any towing possible! I towed a 1996 N reg Xantia with anti sink from Newcastle (Tyne and weir) all the way to North Wales a few years ago with NO problems What so ever with a One Man Towing A Frame!!!!!

The steering turns fine as long as the car is actually mooving!

Paul

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 14 Dec 2010, 21:40

actually Paul you do have a good point there powersteering was only really designed for people who didnt realise that steering was easier when the car was moving, nearly all old pre-1970 ish cars never even had power steering, something most people take for granted these days.

dieselnutjob · Post by **dieselnutjob** » 15 Dec 2010, 19:36

I towed a mate's BX once
we put it in fourth gear and dragged it along with the engine turning
after about 100 metres the suspension came up and we had brakes, steering and everything
I don't think it would harm a diesel to tow it in gear either but I don't know enough about the Xantia to comment further

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 15 Dec 2010, 20:10

A point to add to that, if you disconnect the Stop Solinoid wire, then NO fuel is added to the equation at the injectors... so the exhaust and combustion chambers dont fill with unburnt fuel..

Paul

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 16 Dec 2010, 11:54

doesnt the stop solanoid on a diesel stop the engine from starting when pushed or towed in gear? surely towing it in gear with the stop solanoid disconnected and turnning on the ignition will bump start it.

on my old BX 1.7 diesel the stop solanoid failed the engine kept running even with the ignition switched off, I had to open the bonnet and close the fuel pump shut off valve to stop the engine for a few days until I could get a new solanoid.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 16 Dec 2010, 12:43

The stop solinoid ENERGISES to make the fuel run to the injectors... Bosch ones never fail.. OR Rarely do..

Lucas ones are common for failing, Not sure what happens but the plunger stays open in them, like theres power all the time.. hence the run on when they fail..

Paul

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 16 Dec 2010, 13:10

Couldn't you just turn the key to disable the steering lock, then turn it back so the ignition isn't on?
Wouldn't that stop the stop solenoid being energised?

dieselnutjob · Post by **dieselnutjob** » 16 Dec 2010, 13:14

just what I was thinking

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 16 Dec 2010, 13:17

There's a video on youtube of a subaru being towed where they neglected to disable the steering lock and end up getting towed into a telephone pole!