XANTIA HDi RUNNING ROUGH

[NewcastleFalcon]

Looking forward to a change to your thread title from a problem to a success, you may have to consult with a friendly admin for such a celebratory change, the ability to change thread titles for mere mortals was removed some time ago.

So I'll watch out for Xantia HDI Running Rough turning into Xantia HDI Running Rough...Sorted!

or... maybe better to transmit a flavour of the pain along the way and your own persistence, with...

Xantia Running Rough...161 days later sorted!

I have a thread on speak EV entitled 2015 24 kWh Acenta: Resurrection possible or Scrap? 171 days later Sorted and returned to motoring for pleasure!!

I reckon from your thread starter on October 26th 2025 to today that is 161 days so far, 10 days to sort it Skull to just beat my own efforts...a reasonable challenge?

I have enjoyed your thread always a good read! A few pics of the Xantia sorted and returned to motoriing for pleasure would finish it off nicely!

Neil

[Skull]

Neil I hear what you’re saying but see what happens when I ‘rush’

[NewcastleFalcon]

No pressure from me Skull, my own 171 days...over the winter period as was yours was when the real cause of the problem which had immobilised the car completely was discovered. If you have a broken wire which is supposed to supply 12V to the Battery Controller, the battery controller doesn't work and neither does any of the other systems which require signals from the battery controller to operate, and nothing goes through the correct start up procedure. Repair cost....less then £1 in monetary terms, a lot of blood sweat and tears to finally discover it.

I had a bit of a coolant in the oil faux-pas just the other day Skull when as part of the sorting of the Bargain Basement Clio I changed the oil.

I did have new oil and filter, but I thought I would just use up the 4 and a bit litres from a couple of half used Shell Helix left over containers from previous oil changes, rather than using the new oil I had just bought.

Yes everything was ok as I began refilling clean oil emerging, but taking my eye off the ball I did think the oil was looking a bit thinner as the half full containers reached the bottom. Yes major water ingress into the half-used stuff. Just had to empty out what I had poured in and the first gushings from the drain plug were pure water!

Neil

[Skull]

Well suffice today it would be ready for a drive by now if I'd only made certain it was orientated correctly the first time

I've managed to split the engine again today with the help of my hoist

Skull's - Mind The Gap

Just enough room to get my hand in the gap and clean up the surfaces ....

Skull's - Cylinder Head cleaned up again

New Head Gasket in place (both dowels moved to the block to stop it sliding off)

Skull's - 2nd attempt

Head Gasket in correctly this time

Skull's - CORRECT Head Gasket

New Head Bolts fitted but they aren't very deep heads and easy to chew them up .....

[moizeau]

Top man

[Huskyxantia]

This chap deserves a medal , well done an amazing job and a very informative read . The finish line is in sight

[MattBLancs]

Just caught up with this, well done on the hypothesis (have to be honest it stumped me as to how coolant was getting into the oil SO quickly!)

Bit of a painful learning curve but definitely a step forward after the couple of stumbles back!

[Skull]

Cheers Guys ... sticking evrything back together ...I dropped the small 8mm nut off the glow plug feed....whilst looking for it I noticed my long lost rubber pipe hiding behind the fuel filter!

Skull's - illusive pipe spotted

Skull's - Missing Pipe retreived

Reunited but no sign of the missing glow plug nut yet....

I've just got the Catalytic Convertor to refit and replenish the Coolant and Oil and I should be ready for a re-start ...

I am expecting to need a new cambelt tensioner as there was a whirring noise after I'd disturbed the belt previously, but I'll see if the engine runs before I tackle that and the ABS ring that needs replacing before I refit the Drive Shaft...

[mickthemaverick]

Well found Gary, what happens when you go nuts sometimes. Maybe get bobins to pop up wih his pitchfork and have a stab at finding the nut for you!
Looking forward to a magic purr!!

[Skull]

Well the big day has arrived .... finally started the engine again



It started up nicely on the second go (fuel pressure) and sounds a lot better than when Jim and Mick were here (last year )



Still a bit smokey but I followed the instructions, allowing a heat cycle and a long cool down and will try it again tomorrow.

Skull's - Head Gasket Instructions

Previously back in October 2025

Today


I'm hoping it will run cleaner than today after the diesel is burnt off the Catalytic Converter

It's not all good news as I still have to do the ABS ring before the Driveshaft goes back in and I can have a shuffle on the driveway and also have to try and repair the low pressure LHM+ leak that was threatening to detach, that wasn't actually leaking but is now, a missing glow-plug nut, a missing exhaust nut, the dipstick has disintegrated, windscreen wash tube has snapped (gone brittle at the bonnet hinge) and exhaust bracket needs replacing as it is too distorted to clamp correctly and a bit of a de-mould of the cabin is required after it's winter lay-up.

So time will tell if it's been truely succesful .....I would like to Thank you all on the FCF for your advice and encouragement, which was needed (especially the second time )

[NewcastleFalcon]

Nice to see it back together Gary. A bit of gentle rehabilitation, and proving on a few trips out, and a few photos out and about, and back to motoring for pleasure.

Back in 2010 ish when I resurrected my Xantia Turbo Diesel, when the timing belt snapped, by swopping heads with a spares car I had on SORN I took the resurrected Xantia on a trip from Northumberland to Pickering in N.Yorks up Sutton Bank and all. Couple of hours there, couple of hours back! It managed to survive it!

From 2010 the Falcon Xantia!

I think my earlier calculations were a bit suspect...but well done for the persistence of the last 193 days Gary, quite an achievement!

Neil

[Skull]

Neil I'm not counting any chickens yet as the fat lady hasn't sung yet and I probably wont take it off SORN until end of June '26 as It's surplus to requirements at the moment ....

[mickthemaverick]

Well done Gary, that sounds great considering the bedding in still needed. Fanastic demonstration to everyone that he who believes can crack anything!!

[moizeau]

Superb news, well done. Just goes to show nothing is really broken, it's just a case of time, money and methodical patience.

[Stickyfinger]

Persistence brings prizes

Well done you...