Tales from beyond the grave AKA Dan & Emma's Black Xantia, pug 206HDi, Daniel's 206 Verve 1.4i, GTi180 plus XUD9TE 206!!

[ekjdm14]

OK further to my last, I'm halfway through that thread now and have seen Falcon's experience of trying to twist off the retaining pin only served to break the part that wasn't supposed to break! Think I will have one more try on the inboard side if I can get the car a bit higher up for access, using the cut/file flat/HEAT the bejeezers out of it and punch straight-on method. At least should be less invasive than wrecking the pushrod.

If the worst happens, does anyone know if the pushrod is available & what it's "for real" name is? Can't find anything on a quick look, maybe a specialists?

[ekjdm14]

Not had a chance to look yet, but 306 recovery day is today (unsure what time yet but should have some carnage to show later with any luck.)

Speaking of carnage, there's a short video of the sickening noises if the link works here [url]

[NewcastleFalcon]

.... have seen Falcon's experience of trying to twist off the retaining pin only served to break the part that wasn't supposed to break! ...

There's a lot of blood sweat and tears in the dusty archives Dan, nice to know some of my struggles from my Xantia days still get an airing from time to time!

Neil

[ekjdm14]

Yes, if anything it's at least comforting to know I'm not alone in my struggles even if I'm one of a select few still playing with Xantias in 2026

306 is home at last, too tired now to get much in the way of photos but we did collect 6 or 7 "jigsaw pieces" of block from the ground & have confirmed rear engine mount/intermediate bearing carrier smashed as well as the alternator casing. Also, have had eyes on the #1 big end through the front hole, confirming the rod let go not the cap/bearing (also poked it with a screwdriver & it turns easily so didn't lock the bearing).

[CitroJim]

306 is home at last, too tired now to get much in the way of photos but we did collect 6 or 7 "jigsaw pieces" of block from the ground & have confirmed rear engine mount/intermediate bearing carrier smashed as well as the alternator casing. Also, have had eyes on the #1 big end through the front hole, confirming the rod let go not the cap/bearing (also poked it with a screwdriver & it turns easily so didn't lock the bearing).

I'll be very interested to know what will be revealed in the post-mortem Dan... It's a very unusual failure. I've had a Fraud Fester Zetec engine blow up like that and that smashed the starter motor!

I know why that happened; the owner/custodian allowed it to run dry of oil...

[ekjdm14]

Yes it is very strange, I think the strip down will have to wait until Black is healthy again since it still runs enough to get onto the driveway once that's clear. Bit sore about the potential gearbox damage really, have heard the pull-clutch unit from the 406 is/was quite desirable (and it was notably smooth shifting compared to our others).

Definitely never ran low on oil or overheated in our ownership, we did have the recent coolant leak but I pride myself on knowing how to keep fluids in a car so that was never allowed to run low either. This whole setup has done over 30k miles with us, only work apart from routine servicing has been replacing the clutch & rebuilding the turbo (this is the engine that TRIED to run away if you recall that debacle, but I never let the revs get anywhere near 5k before realising and stalling it, maybe 2500 at the most) and we've got a good few thousand miles on it after that.

Only thing I can think at the moment is perhaps there were rare cases of DHY engines being assembled with the bad rods infamous in the DHX series, they were built around the same timeframe I suppose.

Anyhow, have given Black's rear suspension pushrod pin a round of heat/quench but rain's closing in now so that's a bust for the day! By the way, does anyone know if the pushrod is available as a seperate part and from where? Or is is supposed to be part and parcel with the cylinder? If all else fails I may be placing a wanted ad for said cylinder!

[CitroJim]

Only thing I can think at the moment is perhaps there were rare cases of DHY engines being assembled with the bad rods infamous in the DHX series, they were built around the same timeframe I suppose.

I think that's a good possibility Dan...

[ekjdm14]

Here is a photograph of what victory looks like!

I dunno what all the fuss was about in the end, just apply a healthy dose of the legend's own "Percywhatsit" (and lots of "heat, beat and repeat" probably helped, along with the air hammer!) and she's apart so I can now finally repair what was a self-inflicted leak after way too long. (original issue here was I forgot to loosen a sphere before depressurising a couple of years back, and I managed to twist the cylinder enough to break the leak back nipple off the gaiter ).

Now should be plain sailing to sort the rest of the fixes prior to MoT. oops, did I just say that out loud? better not have jinxed the show now!

[ekjdm14]

Rear suspension back together and no leaks so far, can't really test with a full Citerobics workout 'til I've done the welding that's on the same corner. (I did find I'd got a bit "excited" with the blowtorch & melted the ends of the leakback lines, but nothing a quick splice couldn't sort).

Got the tinworm chopped out & ready to make patches now, just a 9x6" section of outer sill and a little 2x2" square on the bottom of the inner sill, will just have to be more mindful of where the heat's going as it's close enough to the fuel filler neck. Then onto smaller jobs, rack gaiter/drop links, coolant pipe and interior cleanup. Can't wait to be "back in Black"

[CitroJim]

Excellent work Dan! Well done

[ekjdm14]

Patches done (in 304 stainless no less! making good use of a sheet we found left in a removal van a couple of years back!) and seam sealer drying up. Did notice another leak from the suspension, turns out 31yr old rubber Y's don't appreciate being disturbed so off to Halfrauds shortly to see if they have anything.

Have already siliconed the broken one back together & will coat that in epoxy if I come back empty handed, it'll do it's job if it has to. Excitement is building now.