A few Xantia HDI questions.

[DickieG]

Daft question, but how do I know if it's a 90 or a 110?

This photo is of a 110, a 90 won't have the extra ducting pipe running between the air filter housing and the engine.

[Stepto1]

Mines a 110 then. Seems I'm missing the fwd engine cover going by that pic.

[DickieG]

Mines a 110 then. Seems I'm missing the fwd engine cover going by that pic.

Being a 110 is a result, loads of extra grunt for no penalty in fuel costs

Re the extra cover that was only fitted to models from around late 1999 onwards, if the ECU box behind the O/S headlight has it's own lid then the extra cover wasn't fitted when new. TBH that extra cover is a PITA, it might look OK but needs to be removed every time you want access to the engine for say changing the oil filter.

[Stepto1]

Great stuff! Mine is a mid 99 (I think) so the ECU has its own cover.

That big extra hose is for the induction?

I have to squeeze it out if the way when I have to smack the starter to get it working every so often!

[DickieG]

That big extra hose is for the induction?

Yes that hose runs either to or from the intercooler.

[Stepto1]

Just done the Nottingham to Plymouth run. Not filled up this end but there's a lot more fuel left in the tank then with the 1.8 16V and the 1.9TD!!!

GREAT engine. Never left 5th even on the steep hills.

Speedo over reads by about 10% which probably accounts for the super high mpg figures we hear on here.

I'll do the return trip, knock 10% off the odometer figure and base the mpg figure on real distance and achieved speed. My speedo says I'm doing 87mph when I'm doing 80mph on the GPS.

[RichardW]

Although the speedo reads the high, you'll probably find the odo is not far out - mine is about +3%.

HDi 110 is a choice motor - for some reason the 90 always feels rough and noisy compared to the 110. Better gearbox too - although if the clutch goes west it's

[Stepto1]

It reads 284 miles for Nottingham to Plymouth which I know to be 261.

Must check the tyre sizes.

Need a starter and an alternator by the sounds of it too!!!!

[Stepto1]

Noticed a few things. It only just started after a four hour run the other day, battery nearly flat. Suspect alternator? Need to check the voltage across the battery.

Starter still playing up. Needs a new one.

Thermostat needs changing.

Spheres are getting flat. Bouncy ride.

Rear height corrector still sticking.

BUT, still only used half a tank and the A/C works!!!!!!

[DickieG]

Noticed a few things. It only just started after a four hour run the other day, battery nearly flat. Suspect alternator? Need to check the voltage across the battery.

Starter still playing up. Needs a new one.

Check the battery leads to see whether they are getting hot, particularly the positive one after the engine has been running for a few minutes from cold as this puts quite a load on the electrics. This may be the cause of poor starting and an almost flat battery.

[Stepto1]

And if the leads are hot?

[Xantidote]

The heat tells you there's resistance to the flow of current (hence maybe a flattish battery). The heat is a good indicator of where the problem lies.

Maybe it's corrosion at the battery terminals (a regular problem in the old days). Another possible location is a poor electrical connection where the lead actually terminates in the battery clamp, which may not be easy to see on a cursory glance. Worth also checking the earth lead where it bolts to the car body

[CitroJim]

Why do you say the thermostat needs changing Stepto? You know the HDi runs cooler than a cool thing and can take ages to warm up if you've not got an auxiliary heater or it's not working.

Agreed, the forward engine cover is a right pain... I've been tinkling of binning mine, as I have the under-tray...

[Stepto1]

The starter needs a 'tap' with a hammer so it's faulty anyway.

I'll test the voltage across the battery when I get chance.

The temperature with the heater on rarely gets above 60°.

Once I get the niggles out of the way I'm hoping for a Xantia that will last me a few years. She's lovely to drive. Light clutch, slick gearshift, sweet brakes. Not used to these on a Xantia!

Ps. The STOP light and coolant temp red led sometimes flash slowly for about 10 seconds. Any ideas?

[CitroJim]

The temperature with the heater on rarely gets above 60°.

Fair dos. That's the 'stat Be sure the new 'stat you are supplied with is a 'top hat' type (i.e. it has a small disc on the end of an extension for want of a better description). Using the wrong 'stat will cause preposterous overheating but give you a lovely warm heater...

The 110HDi really is a great car

On the last point, pass. Never seen it. A Lexia session might be called for...