more problems with my xantia

baffsfishing · Unread post by **baffsfishing** » 25 Feb 2006, 19:48

it never rains but it pours,just went down to start her and the battery has failed resulting in losing the radio ,dont have the code ,have to sing away to myself when driving, also there is a funny smell coming from the heating(smells like molasses). thought it was only going to be the rear suspension to get sorted at the garage grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. by the way she had not been started for 2 weeks due to me being in hospital, could this cause any of these problems

cheers
roy

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 25 Feb 2006, 20:11

Hope you're feeling better

If the battery's on its way out, it could ceratinly have self-discharged over a couple of weeks despite being OK for day-to-day use.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 25 Feb 2006, 21:55

I don't like the sound of the smell.... can I say that? if its antifreeze that you can smell, could be the dreaded heater matrix leaking, you will soon know because your windscreen willl mist up when you put the heater on.

Unread post by **KennyW** » 25 Feb 2006, 23:03

HI Baffsfishing,

I agree with Peter.N it sounds like your Matrix.A great job to do !!!!!!!!!

Plenty of good advise to be found on site and how to go about doing the job yourself.
Any garage with knowledge of Xantias will enjoy the job because it will cost you a few £££££'S.

Not the hardest job but long and laborious.The haynes manual is pretty good as well.

Hopefully it might be something else.

Regards

KennyW

Quackers · Unread post by **Quackers** » 25 Feb 2006, 23:06

I had to have my heater matrix changed on my old Xantia (2.0i SX 94). It cost me well over £350 and that was at a independent citroen place, the part was not expencive, it was the labour, whole dash has to come out of the car, which means its in for at least a whole day. You better hope its not the matrix or like KennyW says, its gonna be ££££££

Unread post by **KennyW** » 25 Feb 2006, 23:26

For your Info if you are think of changing same and requrie a second pair of hands I'll happily have a drive up to your neck of the woods to give you a hand.

Please let me know, as I only live an hours drive from where you stay!

Kenny.

baffsfishing · Unread post by **baffsfishing** » 26 Feb 2006, 12:27

wow cheers kenny i might take you up on that offer,i went and jump started the car and there isnt any misting on the windscreen or any fluid in the footwell of the car the smell goes away if i put the air condition on? could it be a dirty filter somewhere?if it is the matrix would radweld or something like it cure it meantime.

thanks for all the help everyone

roy

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 26 Feb 2006, 12:58

Try a short while without pollen filter.
They cause smells, and can be washed.
Story here:

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=17033

baffsfishing · Unread post by **baffsfishing** » 26 Feb 2006, 15:21

hi
just removed and cleaned the pollen filter then sprayed everything with oust spray now i have a nice fresh smelling car it worked great

thanks for all the help
roy

DaveW · Unread post by **DaveW** » 26 Feb 2006, 16:36

I've not got around to looking at the pollen filter yet but just out of interest, if not required, is there any reason why it could not be dispensed with.

Would not having one in the housing affect the airflow through the rest of the heating system ?

Dave.

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 26 Feb 2006, 16:55

Decided to have a look at my pollen filter today... but no joy.... I found the housing ok and because I had the time I quickly removed the fan assembly and could see the filter... but no way could I find a way to get to it... no screws or clips and no apparent way of sliding or other otherwise getting it out. Then it started to p*** down so I gave up

baffsfishing · Unread post by **baffsfishing** » 26 Feb 2006, 16:57

hi dave
dont think you could go very far without the filter in,when i took mine out to clean i was shocked at the amount of debris there was,everything from moths to leaves and small twigs,wouldnt think that would do your system any good if that all got into it.

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 26 Feb 2006, 18:18

I found the housing ok and because I had the time I quickly removed the fan assembly and could see the filter... but no way could I find a way to get to it.

You reach the filter from underneath. Remove the carpet / felt from 'above the passenger's feet', below the dashboard, and you'll se the bottom of the housing, which either slides off or has a few screws, depending on model.

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 27 Feb 2006, 06:31

OK thanks, I couldn't see any screws or anyway of 'sliding' a cover off.... I'll look again in the better weather.

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 27 Feb 2006, 12:19

Driving without pollen filter, but with the lower cover in place wont affect the air flow.
Without pollen filter, all the debris will finish up in the evaporator, causing reduced transfer of ‘cold’.
The evaporator is also wet when operating, and will have bacteria and colourful fungi sticking to it, if the filter isn’t there to protect it.
Just the recipe for a foul stench, and catching legionnaire’s disease or the plague.

To clean the evaporator, the dash will have to come out.

First picture shows the sliding filter cover on the floor, probably as in the Mk II.
The Mk I has a cover held in by 3 brassy Philips screws.
Second photo shows the evaporator, visible through the filter slot.
This arrangement is for air conditioned cars only.

French Car Forum

more problems with my xantia

more problems with my xantia

Smell!!!!!