I'm back! (And looking for a Citroen...)

[Mandrake]

Some MK2s had an aerial pre-amp that can fail and cause the problems you are having Simon. Sounds like the signal is weak. Does the display say 'searching' when that happens?

No it doesn't say searching. And its doing it on nearly all the channels even when stationary. It's definitely switching rapidly between mono and stereo. Ah, so there is a preamp ? Is it in the roof by the antenna or just behind the radio ?

All good luck on the cruise control. Most likely you'll find it's the brake switch. If it is, sometimes they can be provoked to work for a short time by carefully hooking your toe under the edge of the pedal and pulling it upwards. Do please only try this on a clear stretch of road... !

I'm pretty sure its not the brake pedal switch. I can hear the relay click when I activate it with the stalk and click again when I touch the brake pedal to deactivate it.

Now that I've read your article on how to fix it again my money is on corrosion of the two electrical connectors on the vacuum pump, there is a lot of rust in that area, including the nearby horns/siren which are nearly all rust

[xantia_v6]

The preamp is fitted to the base of the antenna. If you remove the sunvisors and the front pilla trims, you can pull the headlining down just far enough to get to it (easier on a car without sunroof). pop the bottom cover off the can, and remove the 8mm nut.

MK2 amplifiers have the DC feed through the coax, MK1 amplifiers have a separate 12V feed connector.

If the amplifier is faulty, you will get better reception if you reassemble with the coax connected to the antenna base with the amplifier thrown over the fence.

I have had similar symptoms from an antenna rod with an internal break.

[CitroJim]

Now that I've read your article on how to fix it again my money is on corrosion of the two electrical connectors on the vacuum pump, there is a lot of rust in that area, including the nearby horns/siren which are nearly all rust

That's very likely Simon. It'll be the three-pin triangular one most likely. The one on my Old V6 was a bit iffy. It was corroded with verdigris and was intermittent.

It's a heck of a job to get at it. It'll help to have the front bumper off...

[myglaren]

All those buttons are a mystery to me too Simon and I'm an ex-radio engineer

I only know that RDS is a system that keeps the wireless tuned to a given station on FM as you motor around. It retunes automatically to the strongest signal in the locality for the particular station you want. It's also responsible for putting the station name in the display.

The TA button seems to be something to do with roadworks. If on then every now and again your chosen station will be interrupted by the most local one to tell you of a burst water main in some God-forsaken place you've never heard of. About as much use as a chocolate teapot...

PTY. Never tried it. perhaps it tells you the location of the nearest party?

Some info on those abbreviation here

[addo]

The PTY is probably most useless of the lot; since most radio stations make a quid flogging adverts, it "makes sense" for them to spruik as being relevant to many program types as possible...

[lexi]

I love that statement "pining for cruise control going to Edinburgh"

Coatbridge to Edinburgh?...........' bout 35 miles

[KennyW]

Waste of time cruise control in Edinburgh with all the trams works @ Haymarket

Kenny

[Mandrake]

38 miles actually

The motorway trip along the M8 was fine, nice and fast and just asking for cruise control. Central Edinburgh was a complete nightmare though, traffic jams, construction, roadworks and confusion everywhere, and nearly got side swiped by a bus. A very stressful drive in the city centre itself...

[KennyW]

Simon,

Having lived in and around Edinburgh since 1976 and driven in Auld Reekie since 1979, I prefer driving in London and Paris instead. I take the bus since it is so bad

Kenny

[Mandrake]

Simon,

Having lived in and around Edinburgh since 1976 and driven in Auld Reekie since 1979, I prefer driving in London and Paris instead. I take the bus since it is so bad

Kenny

I've only been to Edinburgh a few times and only driven in it twice... first time wasn't too bad but this time was awful. I think Glasgow is easier to drive through, although the state of repair of the road surfaces in some parts of Glasgow is diabolical... you could loose a whole car into the potholes let alone a wheel

[Mandrake]

I've got my eye on an owners handbook on ebay to replace the missing one in the car, all it says is "CITROEN XANTIA 1999 HANDBOOK WALLET WITH OWNER'S MANUALS (33909A)" with no indication of which model it was for, I asked the seller which engine/model it was for and he said "it should cover all types of engine".

Is this true ? I don't remember the owners manual for my last Xantia very well but I don't remember it covering all engines, surely the owners manual is customised to each model sold ? There were certainly a lot of differences between the owners manual of my Dad's 1994 Xantia and my 1997 one - lots of differences in the listed fuses, and other things like oil type, tyre pressures etc.

If they are different for each model and year and the information I want is things like which fuses are what, oil/coolant/tyre information etc that varies between models theres not really any point in getting it.

So are the manuals fairly generic for the year they're from covering a range of specs or are they customised for the specific model and installed equipment spec of the car ?

[addo]

I've a Xantia II owner's handbook pack and it covers pretty much all variants offered in the market for which the booklet was produced. Extra stuff like the radio is covered in a separate booklet.

[Mandrake]

I've a Xantia II owner's handbook pack and it covers pretty much all variants offered in the market for which the booklet was produced. Extra stuff like the radio is covered in a separate booklet.

Thanks. Perhaps I'll get it then. If its a 1999 book its just a few months newer than the car and will definitely be for a Mk2 so it should be pretty close.

[Mandrake]

For parts listings, diagrams and prices register on http://service.Citro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;ën.com/where you access the dealer parts computer and you can buy timed hours of access to service manuals.

Just having a look at that website now, when trying to register I have to choose either:

Motor Trade Repair Professional, Other Motor trade professional, Other professionals except emergency services, or assistance and first aid...

No idea what to put there as it looks like its not intended for access by the general public, and it goes on to ask a lot of contact details...

[DickieG]

Just fill in the basic details and you'll get registered, click on Motor Trade Repair Professional or something similar, where it asks for a VAT number just leave that blank. I believe the details they ask for are in the event of you paying for extra services such as buying time to access workshop manuals and so on.