Xantia HDi electric water heater

Unread post by **RichardW** » 04 Apr 2011, 22:16

This post is somewhat aimed at DickieG - we share more than a name it seems

We both changed Xantia HDi 110 cambelts, both had problems bleeding the system, resulting in both of us cooking the electric heater, and both of us (as I discovered earlier this evening) ended up with the heater leaking

Now, DickieG has changed his - how is it done Dickie? I had a look earlier, and access to the fixings (underneath, going downwards I assume) looks nigh on impossible. I suppose the engine fitted to mine (EEC 2000) which has the EGR / water heater on the back of the block makes things harder, but even so, it looks a dog of a job. Got to track down a new heater unit first - Citroen want £160....

My only wonder is that the heater appears to made in 2 halves bolted together -wonder if there is an O-ring inside that could be replaced to fix it? I've enhanced the note about the water heater in my Cambelt post in handy hints and tips to save someone else the grief later....

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 04 Apr 2011, 22:53

I sourced a replacement unit from a breakers yard, making sure its a good one simply by ensuring that there was no evidence of anti-freeze/white staining nearby.

Removing the unit is a right pig of a job, firstly getting the hoses off each end isn't made easy by the spring clips as they are invariably placed at a very awkward angle which meant that I needed to use several different types of pliers in order to compress the clips. Removing them in the breakers yard was easier as I used a saw to cut through one of the hoses, obviously that won't be an option on your own car!

To remove the heater unit I used several different spanners, especially stubby ones including stubby ratchets as the securing bolts run under the metal hydraulic pipes. You'll also need to push back/down the heat shield as the lip is higher then where the securing bolts are

.

The heater unit itself is split in two (where its most probably leaking from) with a bolt from each half securing it to the mounting bracket so undoing the bolts holding the two halfs together won't allow you to split it without first removing the mounting bolts. On the original unit fitted to my car the heater unit to mounting bracket bolts were Torx bolts so with the lack of room there was no chance of getting a Torx bit in there, however the replacement unit used normal hexagon headed bolts so it might be possible to remove the unit from the bracket leaving the bracket in place, quite how you'd refit the bolts might be rather difficult though!!

Ultimately it can done but lots of patience is required, not to mention being able to balance yourself on top of the bonnet slam panel with your head pointing down the back of the engine

Rather than scour breakers yards for a replacement heater unit try http://www.edwardsandson.co.uk/

KP · Unread post by KP » 05 Apr 2011, 08:20

is this the webasto heater out of curiosity or another fangled device?

If its another was it fitted to all 110's or just exclusives as im considering buying a 110 and a coolant change will be the first port of call going from all xantias i have owned they have never had one before unless the cambelt has been changed and even then its usually years ago

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 05 Apr 2011, 08:32

KP wrote:is this the webasto heater out of curiosity or another fangled device?

If its another was it fitted to all 110's or just exclusives as im considering buying a 110 and a coolant change will be the first port of call going from all xantias i have owned they have never had one before unless the cambelt has been changed and even then its usually years ago

This one is the electric version which consists of four glowplugs within a housing located on the bulkhead at the rear of the engine, it was fitted to most HDi's but it appears that Exclusive HDi's changed over to the diesel version sometime in 1999.

Unread post by **DHallworth** » 05 Apr 2011, 09:13

I don't remember seeing this on our 2000 W registered HDi Exclusive when I was working on the EGR valves.

It did however stick out like a sore thumb on the bulkhead of the 2001 HDi SX that I was working on during the weekend.

David.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 05 Apr 2011, 09:22

DHallworth wrote:I don't remember seeing this on our 2000 W registered HDi Exclusive when I was working on the EGR valves.

Can I refer you to my post above

KP · Unread post by KP » 05 Apr 2011, 09:24

Oh pants...

Should i get the local cit dealer to do the coolant change instead then and when it burgers up i can get them to replace it??

Unread post by **DHallworth** » 05 Apr 2011, 11:50

DickieG wrote:
DHallworth wrote:I don't remember seeing this on our 2000 W registered HDi Exclusive when I was working on the EGR valves.
Can I refer you to my post above

I read that earlier! But I skim read it quickly and didn't take it in obviously! Sorry!

Not convinced the Diesel one on ours works either! If I fix it though you can guarantee the Mrs. will moan that it's using her Diesel so it can stay broken lol.

David.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 05 Apr 2011, 12:07

DickieG wrote:Lots of depressing stuff

Cheers - I think

It's only weeping, having lost only about 500cc in 4000 miles. I may just ignore it, and hope the Forte does the business and seals it up - but if it hasn't in 4k, then it's probably not going to! A job for the summer perhaps

kp wrote:Oh pants...

Should i get the local cit dealer to do the coolant change instead then and when it burgers up i can get them to replace it??

Coolant change is OK as long as you are aware of the potential issue. Fill her up, and either use a big header tank to get plenty out of the heater bleed point, or blow into the tank and again vent the heater point. Start the engine and monitor the housing - if it's short of water, the housing will heat up pretty quick - in this case, stop the engine and bleed more out of the heater vent. DickieG alluded to a relay somewhere - you could pull this till you get it bled properly, then the plugs won't heat up. The load is about 0.5kW so it will heat up pretty quick with no water circulating!

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 05 Apr 2011, 12:14

RichardW wrote:DickieG alluded to a relay somewhere - you could pull this till you get it bled properly, then the plugs won't heat up.

There are two relays located in the fusebox behind the battery, each relay operates two glowplugs.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 05 Apr 2011, 12:33

Cool, that's got to be the best plan when bleeding these. I've added that to my cambelt post in Handy hints / tips.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 05 Apr 2011, 12:49

Oh, and plan B is just to bypass it and wear a coat

KP · Unread post by KP » 05 Apr 2011, 13:26

I had a HDi 90 for a while and got used to it taking a while to warm up comapred to the XUD's and the activa so i can always go for that method lol. though using .5kw of juice would but a dent in the mpg from each tank when it would only be doing 20mile trips each way i imagine anyway