1996 Xantia 1.9TD - misc queries

Mad Ax · Unread post by **Mad Ax** » 10 Apr 2006, 14:08

A couple of miscellaneous queries, if anyone can help.

1) Can someone tell me if my 1996 Xantia has a cable-operated speedo, or an electronic one? The needle and mileometer look mechanical (barrel type) but they don't work properly. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it flickers on and off randomly.

Where is the cable / transducer connected? The Haynes manual says "it's mounted on the gearbox." Fine. Where..? I can't find it anywhere

2) My 1.9TD estate seems very gutless at low revs. It picks up beautifully from 2K onwards, but before that it has no power at all. This is particularly annoying as I do a delivery job around Bath city centre (very narrow / tight / lots of hills and traffic lights) and I find I spend most of the time changing gear. Because I have to keep the engine revs so high in order to keep the old tank moving, the fuel economy is no better than the 2.0 16V Nissan that it's replaced. Is this just part of the characteristic of this engine? If so, anyone want to swap it for a petrol Nissan Primera..? (I miss that car so much

)

3) I was going to have a moan about the most awful, trouser-staining on/off braking system I've ever used in a car ever, but I've already seen the thread about replacing the spring with a steel tube. Cool

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help

Ax

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 10 Apr 2006, 14:41

Have had that years ago.
There is no cable, the speedo has what they call a 'modulator' on the transmission to pick up the rotations.
It either goes faulty in a way that cannot be repaired, or may just need a clean of the connector.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 10 Apr 2006, 14:44

Being a '96 it could be either as that was about the changeover point, but if it stops working altogether I would suspect its electronic.Sorry, dont know where the sensor is although it would have to be on the final drive somewhere, I ams sure someone will tell you.

The characteristics of your engine are normal for a turbo diesel as the turbo doesn't really come 'on song' untill about 2,000 rpm and then your engine power goes up by about 30%. The poor fuel consumption will be due to the way you are driving it. Diesels thrive on bieng driven fairly gently on a small throttle opening. Driven sensibly on the motorway at a fairly constant speed should return you 50 mpg.

Mad Ax · Unread post by **Mad Ax** » 10 Apr 2006, 16:53

Peter.N. wrote:The poor fuel consumption will be due to the way you are driving it. Diesels thrive on bieng driven fairly gently on a small throttle opening. Driven sensibly on the motorway at a fairly constant speed should return you 50 mpg.

TBH it's not really "poor" consumption but very difficult to guage, because I can't tell how many miles I've done

I was always deeply impressed by the economy I got from my Nissan - whether it was town centre, open roads or motorway. I could get from Bath to London and back on a tank at a steady 85mph (on private roads, ocifer).

The Xantia seems to be pretty much flat-out at 85mph. It cruises quite comfortably at that speed, but when I come to a steep hill and go for more throttle to keep the speed constant, I find I'm already near WOT. That's not good for fuel consumption! OK, it would be significantly better if I stuck to 70mph, but then what's the point in better fuel consumption if you have to go slower to achieve it. Surely that's not progress - that's just common sense

The biggest bug-bear for me tho is town centres. The gearing just seems way too high for the motor. My Nissan would pull from 15mph in 3rd gear with just the barest hint of throttle; the Citroen needs constant changing. Since it's quite a heavy box compared to the nissan, and I work for 5 hours a night, this gets rather wearing!

I dare say I'll get used to it - I've got to go from Bath to Camborne and back next week - if I still can't get on with it after that, it'll be in the used car ads

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 10 Apr 2006, 17:35

if it has not got a speedo cable the transducer is mounted on the diff housing behind the engine,at the same point a cable would be fitted if it had one,i have fixed these by unpluging the wire and removing the unit from the gear box clean the terminals and bung it back together,this usualy works,also if the car aint got any get up and go it could be cam or pump timming out slightly
regards malcolm

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 10 Apr 2006, 19:33

The Xantia is a bit under powered, I would imagine that the fuel consumption would be better better with the 2.1 engine. I live in a rural area and dont make many short journeys, I dont drive all that fast either, but my XM averages 40 mpg + with a best on my north of Scotland runs of around 55mpg, driving at the legal limit. Add to that a 17 1/2 gallon tank and I can do Axminster to Inverness on about 3/4 tank. The best has been 900 miles on a tank full but I think 1000 would be attianable with a little restraint. Some of the new common rail engines do phenominal mpg, which helps offset the ever increasing cost!

Unread post by **RichardW** » 11 Apr 2006, 08:00

My 2 Xantia TDs have returned a fairly steady 40 mpg over 70,000 miles. Economy starts to suffer if you cruise at more than 3k rpm (75 mph)

It should pull no problem up hill on the m-way - probably worth checking that there isn't a split in the small pipe from the air trunking to the injection pump. Remember this is only a 90 BHP engine in a 1400 kg car, so it is working pretty hard! It should pick up 3rd at 1000 rpm (15 mph) - it won't have much go, but it should trundle along quite happily.

These engines also seem to like being worked hard to keep them loosened up. Both of mine have needed 15k miles to get them into shape after I got them 8)

To some exent the on/off braking is also helped by using the brakes. My 97 had the fade in / out brakes when I got it, but they were much improved after quite a lot of firm use.

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 11 Apr 2006, 08:12

I'm only 20 so dont have much in the way of experience with a long list of cars however I can say that I enjoyed the Xantia everyday.

It was so comfortable enough that I could do 55-60mph (when theirs no HGV's about) and get very cost up in the chair but trying not to rest my eyes

However when i wanted to drive faster it certainly let me...ok so I'm aware that I'm breaking the limit on occasion but in response to the OP's posting...I think you need to give yourself a bit longer with the car...Fill the tank up and drive nicely

that will give you your max(ish) fuel and then drive like a bat out of hell (safely of course) and that will give you your minimum.

I ranged from about 450 to 600 miles...and since work only takes 400miles a week its a good car when i only have to fill up once a week

unlike this Toyota.....4 days and its time

Give yourself a bit more time with the car.....I'm very unhappy that I dont own mine anymore but at least its my Brother in Laws across the road

awg2 · Unread post by **awg2** » 11 Apr 2006, 09:18

I have found town driving 'leisurely' which is not say that is is sluggish. The perception is very different compared to a petrol car and to begin with I tried too hard which did make it feel faster but at the expense of fuel consumption. Now I don't bother and objectively travel times are fine.

I have been averaging 42/43 mpg during the winter but the the last fillup gave me 47 mpg after I had deliberately changed driving style - less braking. A little more thought, no difference in journey time and less fuel leaving via the disc pads. 10% improvement in consumption with no downside will do me.

I shall check on the next couple of fill ups to see if this is maintained. I know that my petrol BXs had better fuel consumption in the summer but is this true for diesels?

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 11 Apr 2006, 09:41

Having got used to driving a petrol car, the tecnique of driving a diesel is different. Not owning a petrol vehicle for over 10 years I have almost forgotten what they are like to drive. On the rare occaisions I have driven one my first impression has been how lively it seems at first, but it doesn't last, you dont get that terrific increase in torque around 2000-3000rpm which gives you all the power you need to do anything. You find yourself having to change down to go up hills and overtake and even to drive slowly. Once you get used to driving a diesel, you will find that it is pointless driving at over 3000 rpm, as there is little power there, and I think that is the mistake that most newly converted drivers make. You dont need to change down to overtake in a diesel, in fact if you do, you will make slower progress. I dont like driving petrol engines - to much hard work

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