Need some help, thinking of buying an M reg Xantia

stevieb5796 · Post by **stevieb5796** » 05 Dec 2004, 00:43

Hello,
I took an M reg (1994 I think) Xantia out for a spin today and it was a lovely car to drive. They are going to put a new MOT on it for me if I want it and they have apparently just fixed a leak of some sort (LHM maybe?). Anyway when I was driving it everything was fine but on the way back to the garage I notcied a ticking sound coming from somewhere behind the dashboard i think as i got up to about 30MPH. It didn't last long and came off and on. Any ideas what that could be as I don't wanna buy into trouble.
Please can someone give me some idea fairly quickly as I'm supposed to be going back there on Monday with a deposit if I want it.

xantiav6 · Post by **xantiav6** » 05 Dec 2004, 01:50

It is quite common for the dirction indicator to start ticking at twice the normal rate (with the indicators switched off). This is due to leakage in the switch contacts, and can be fixed by replacing the switch, or by making a small modification inside the flsher relay.

bernie · Post by **bernie** » 05 Dec 2004, 01:54

Could be the small fan that sucks air from the cabin across the temperature sensor.
It's behind a series of slots about 20 mm square on the dash.
I've not actually removed it myself but others have successfully and cleaned/replaced it.

Gaskin · Post by **Gaskin** » 05 Dec 2004, 02:25

It might be the hydraulic pressure regulator clicking. This usually a regular clicking, although on my Xantia it is more of a 'buzzd' noise than a click that from inside the cabin seems to come from somewhere around the passengers footwell. The frequency reflects the state of the front accumulator sphere. There are loads of posts here about this from others with more experience than I. Of course it could be something else.......
Cheers
Duncan

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 05 Dec 2004, 03:52

There are lo o o ts of '94 Xantias going for a song at the moment, so don't get fooled into paying too much for it - after all it's a 10 year old car!
Hydraulic Citroëns do make some funny noises (for people who are not used to them), but try and find out exactly what it ws that was ticking. If its the pressure relief valve and it ticks more often than every 30 seconds, then you could be in for a new acumulator sphere.
//NiSk

Cuffy12 · Post by **Cuffy12** » 05 Dec 2004, 04:21

I tend to agree with xantiav6 , if the noise is around the dash then most commonly it will be the indicator stalk.If you take it out again and the noise starts,just flick the stalk up and down and if it then stops it then stalk switch is at fault, not a fortune second hand but they might as well pay for one as you.Also as above,acumalator spere but this is a slower and more pronounced click....Just another quirky common Xantia thing.

Cuffy12 · Post by **Cuffy12** » 05 Dec 2004, 04:31

Meant to say, there seems to be tons around on ebay at the moment for the price of a new set of spheres and a service, so if you can get someone to go with you who knows what they are looking ,and listening for , you might save your self 6-7 hundred quid..Enough to buy the missus a decent x-mas prezzy !!

Keithh · Post by **Keithh** » 05 Dec 2004, 04:53

I had a L Xantia SX which had a ticking noise behind the dash which I put down to the speedo. It was like the speedo cable was catching, i.e. not loud enough to be the accumulator.
I know there's no cable but there's nobody in the cupboard either...
Cheers
Keith

stevieb5796 · Post by **stevieb5796** » 05 Dec 2004, 20:50

I'm pretty sure it was coming from the dash, it came on and then went off a couple of times. My gut impression was it was coming from the speedo, and I wouldn't normally have worried too much except i know these sphere things can be a pain in the proverbial. But I have read that the pressure affects the brakes and the steering as well as the suspension and I would say that the steering was remarkably light (much better than my old orion) and the brakes were lively to say the least (I nearly went throught the windscreen when I first touched em). Plus as the guy pulled the car out for me I watched the car visibly rise after about 15 seconds of the car running. I would have thought this was indicative the pressure is fine? But then what do I know?! lol
Anyhow this one's a 1.9 TD sx with 103k miles on the clock some servie history (although I didn't look too closely at that if I'm honest. It's up for £795 with three months MOT on it. I said I wouldn't be interested unless it had a new MOT and he'll do that for me but it makes it pretty hard to haggle over price then. What you lot reckon? That a decent price with a years ticket on it?
Thanks in advance

davethewheel · Post by **davethewheel** » 05 Dec 2004, 22:40

sounds like a fair price , i paid £1,500 for a n plate 1.9td 2 years ago with similar miles, as for the noise it does sound like a speedo problem if it was the accumulator sphere clicking i dont think you would hear it from inside the car when driving it.

tonespeed1999 · Post by **tonespeed1999** » 05 Dec 2004, 22:51

from my experience as a citroen specialist for the past 20 years,it is probably the hydraulic pressure regulator.this is bolted to the front of the gearbox.sit in the car and wait for the "clicking " noise to stop,then press the brake pedal on and off rapidly about 6 times.can you hear your !clicking" noise now?.if this is the noise it is an easy fix.the pressure regulator should click about once every three presses of the brake pedal.
there is a green sphere screwed to the end of the regulator,this is called an "accumalator sphere".the diaphram inside somes goes causing the pressure regulator to work over time![:)]

stevieb5796 · Post by **stevieb5796** » 06 Dec 2004, 04:27

so if it is the accumulator sphere diaphram having gone is that something i have to worry about? How would I go about fixing it? Bear in mind that I have very little (basically none) experience of doing anything on cars, particularly diesel ones. Although I would happily give it a go if it was simple enough

davethewheel · Post by **davethewheel** » 06 Dec 2004, 04:32

if it is the accumulator sphere its not expensive a replacement sphere is approx £25.00 and just screws on, if it is this get the garage to replace it.

madasafish · Post by **madasafish** » 06 Dec 2004, 16:51

£795 is far too much. Anything over £500 is daylight robbery. Look at ebay and Autotrader and haggle. Old Xantias with over 100k are unwanted and unloved at the best of times.
This is winter so they'll be even more unwanted....
Offer £450 and insist on the MOT and budget to spend £750 to keep iot running...

Post by **RichardW** » 06 Dec 2004, 17:00

Find out if the clutch has been changed - if not, it will imminently need doing, and the car is worth buttons given the cost of the job. There's a smart looking 94 TD SX in Autotrader this week, only done 61k, FSH for £795 - it's in Perth mind you....