2.1 TD Xantia on a budget

[KP]

Nice spot on the tool! I had been looking for another for ages and couldnt seem to find it on fleabay

Looks like the same supplier as my last one as well which was a great piece of kit for the money

[Hell Razor5543]

Yes, she will need the brakes bled again, as there probably will be air in the spheres (and the cylinders from when you took the spheres off). I would do a half hour Citrobics session first, to get as much of the air out as possible, and then do the brakes. I personally always bleed the brakes if ever I do any work on the hydraulics just to make sure.

What is the state of the main accumulator sphere? If you are not sure, how long between the 'clicks' with the engine running, and the suspension on normal? If it is less than 30 seconds between 'clicks' the accumulator sphere will need to be replaced (or, if you can find somebody with the right kit and knowledge, re-gassed), and (because there is no way other than a pressure test to tell its' state) most people replace/re-gas the anti-sink sphere at the same time, based on the assumption that it will probably have aged at the same rate as the accumulator sphere.

The hydraulic pump does not generate a smooth pressure on the system, but spikes. One of the purposes of the accumulator sphere is to smooth out the spikes in pressure. However, if the sphere has failed, the spikes come back, and can cause damage to the pipework, the regulator, and the pump. When I got Gracie the 'clicks' were about 5 seconds apart. When I found out about the spikes I replaced all 6 spheres, which sorted out the ride comfort and got the 'clicks' to better than 1 minute.

[Skull]

KP yeah very good tool - looks to be modified as has two bolts now

[Skull]

Hell Razor5543

Thanks for that info - I will re-bleed the rear brakes tomorrow and have a listen before that to see how much clicking is going on .... not driven her much yet and haven't heard a click from the front accumulator yet ...

[CitroJim]

Skull, well done - excellent

[Skull]

CitroJim thanks

Hell Razor5543 I have tried to time the 'clicks' on the main accumulator sphere but am having trouble hearing anything over the noise of the engine running or even holding the sphere to feel when it might be clicking .....

I was intending to put the Xantia on the road after selling my Saxo but so far there's not a lot of interest. The Xantia
is just sat there waiting to be Christened and commissioned into service so I will probably swap the insurance over and
get her taxed from 1st September ...... looking forward to seeing what she drives like after just fitting the new rear suspension spheres ....

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to all the forum that has helped with advice and suggestions .... I'm sure that without it I would
have broke something

[CitroJim]

Skull, there is a way to listen for clicks above a noisy diesel... Use a long screwdriver as a stethoscope on the hydraulic pump body...

What you'll hear is mainly silence interspersed with the occasional short burst of what seems like machine-gun fire. These rounds of machine-gun fire is the pump working to restore the hydraulic pressure and the start of each round equates to one tick of the regulator.

The rounds should be of only 3 or four seconds in duration and the silence between each round should be well in excess of thirty seconds.

Anything less and the main accumulator is getting a bit weak.

[Skull]

CitroJim

I tried that as well ....but was listening to the actual regulator sphere

Neighbour thinks I'm a loony .... I'll have another go tomorrow

[Hell Razor5543]

You won't have any clicks from the anti-sink sphere. The noise is generated at the pump. The thing is, as there is not a simple way to test the anti-sink sphere (the only way to test it that I am aware of is to take it off and pressure test it) most people replace it at the same time as they replace the main accumulator sphere.

I wonder how old the accumulator sphere is? I also wonder if it is so old that it no longer clicks? Does anybody know if that is possible?

[Stewart(oily)]

I think they go to rapid clicks when knackered as there is no stored pressure.

[Skull]

Skull, there is a way to listen for clicks above a noisy diesel... Use a long screwdriver as a stethoscope on the hydraulic pump body...

CitroJim Tried again today but just sounds like a constant rattle .... maybe that's the constant clicks talked about

[CitroJim]

Skull, there is a way to listen for clicks above a noisy diesel... Use a long screwdriver as a stethoscope on the hydraulic pump body...

CitroJim Tried again today but just sounds like a constant rattle .... maybe that's the constant clicks talked about

Yes, that means the pump is pumping constantly and the required pressure to cut the regulator out (170 bar) is not being achieved. This really does point to a flat main accumulator and possibly other spheres being flat too.

Swap out the main accumulator first and see if that changes matters.

[Skull]

CitroJim

Thanks for that info .... I will make that next job on the list .....

Just sorted the interior boot light today was infuriating as I thought the alarm sensor in the boot was the switch for the boot light all sorted now was a rusty ball inside the switch ... only took me 5 hours to fix

[Skull]

CitroJim

Swap out the main accumulator first and see if that changes matters.

[Skull]

Swap out the main accumulator first and see if that changes matters.

OK I've swapped that for a new one - very easy to change although the old one was only 3 years old from the date on it.

Got her insured (nightmare transferring Insurance over) and after a short drive I am resigned to changing the remainder of the spheres

It's good but it's not right

This highlights the dangers of buying a Xantia non-runner even though the previous owner said it drove 'fantastically' before the burst pipe.

So I will now change the remaining spheres (anti-sink and front suspension) and hope that she finally appreciates my commitment ....advised of 10 day delay for out of stock parts from AEP

£399.13 Purchase (£330 delivered) and repair (osf brake pipe £47.34 (4886 70) (5 Ltr LHM £21.79)
£30.15 24Hrs Insurance (for MOT and retest)
£35 MOT fee
£3.54 bulb (ventilation panel / illumination) (611260)
£17.50 sphere tool (ebay)
£52.67 2 x rear suspension spheres (527234) (plus ltr of LHM always handy)
£31.91 1 x accumulator sphere (95 666 763)
£569.90 It's not easy to do these on the cheap
£921.39(Including + £126.49 for 9 months Insurance transfer + £225 for 12 Months Road Tax)