Bought a Xantia off Ebay.....

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 11 Jul 2007, 08:34

I posted a query about LHM in the NEARSIDE footwell in the past for a mates
HDi - never got a conclusive fix for this either, and the car han't been used
much since either to nail the problem. It was suggested the overflow pipe
had managed to get LHM from the reservoir through the scuttle trim...

The obvious offside would be the brake valve, but there's nothing else on the
passenger side that could remotely get fluid inside the car other than the leak
off from the LHM reservoir - a bit far fethed I accept!!

Still, it's not coolant as this tastes different!!

Andrew

nick · Post by **nick** » 11 Jul 2007, 12:06

It is incredible where fluid spilled in the engine bay of a Xantia can end up. When emptying the reservoir on mine to change the fluid I slipped and poured about half its contents down the back of the engine. A few minutes later LHM started dribbling out of one of the drain holes in the sill just in front of the nsr wheel

paulbx · Post by **paulbx** » 11 Jul 2007, 13:45

As above probably a good price really. However your rear subframe should not be rotten like that! You need to treat it and then put some underseal in there

Paul B

Post by **CitroJim** » 11 Jul 2007, 16:40

Check the leakage return pipe from the Brake Doseur valve. This runs very close to the bulkhead on the passenger side on it's way to the LHM reservoir. There are a lot of leakage return pipes behind the reservoir, any one of which could have leaked and allowed LHM into the footwell.

As Nick says, it is amazing where it ends up and a little goes a long way!

On the original subject, it looks not a bad deal. If that was all that was wroung with my e-bay Activa, I would have been very happy!

I replaced my rear spheres in March and they already look a thousand years old

BrianA · Post by **BrianA** » 17 Jul 2007, 10:32

I just put it through and MOT.

1.Front drivers seat insecure.
2.N/S front indicator wrong colour.
3.O/S front indicator wrong colour.
4.N/S headlamp aim too low.
5.O/S headlamp aim too low.
6.Offside FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER has NEGLIGIBLE effect.
7.Nearside FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER has NEGLIGIBLE effect.
8. O/S front brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check).
9.N/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
10.O/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
11.O/S front position lamp not in good working order.(Function impaired).
12.Parking brake efficiency below requirements.
13.Front wheel brakes imbalanced.

Not the bargain it looked in my opinion and it seems it wasn't as described,have I got any cause to complain?.

Thanks for looking.
Bri.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 17 Jul 2007, 10:55

Who are you going to complain to and what good will it do?

Trading standards - won't be interested as its a private purchase - and will say you didn't pay much so you can't expect much. If the did do anything it would be a prosecution - fine to the state and possibly a compensation order but you'd have to prove that (possibly experts who would be entitled to a fee - might take your rectification costs - and take 6 months minimum)

County Court - costs you money - tedious procedure - need to attend hearings - and probably take the same view even if you proved your case. Having got your judgment you will then have to enforce it if he doesn't pay - further expense on bailiffs etc.

There's not much wrong actually.

Indicators - correct bulbs - should have coloured?

Headlamp aim - could be a height corrector sticking - back? loads of info on here about them - it may respond to lubrication or may need replacement. Otherwise re-align if possible - won't cost much. Are the bulbs in correctly?

Shock absorbers - it hasn't got any as such! - If its too soft - possibly air in the system - do Citroebics - raise and lower a few times (like 10) and see if its any stiffer. Otherwise remove a sphere and make sure its got a valve block in the neck. If its open and you can see down a tube for about 1 inch then its an accumulator sphere - new proper ones about £20 or less from GSF or Eurocarparts.

Brake hose twisted - loosen and re-align - brake may need bleeding afterwards.

Handbrake - are the cables sound - new are not expensive - (£12?? - Quinton Hazell have a heavy plastic sleeve to prevent chafing on the guides.) Sometimes pressing the pedal hard to the floor with the engine running and operating the lever can encourage them to tighten.

Parking brake - covered

Front brakes imbalanced. Have a good look at them particularly the weak one - looking for recent work - are there any pads - is the slider free (the caliper should move freely from side to side - especially with no pads. Are the pads running on a rusty section of the disc (not all pads are the same shape - and new ones can run on a previously unused and rusty section of the dsc which stops them biting properly) . If this is the caliper with the twisted hose there's a chance that the brake is full of air and needs bleeding.

lolingram · Post by **lolingram** » 17 Jul 2007, 12:39

I just put it through and MOT.

1.Front drivers seat insecure.

Surely not difficult to fix?

2.N/S front indicator wrong colour.

Bulb change

3.O/S front indicator wrong colour.

Bulb change

4.N/S headlamp aim too low.

Adjust it? Not a faiure if too low surely?

5.O/S headlamp aim too low.

Adjust it? Not a faiure if too low surely?

6.Offside FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER has NEGLIGIBLE effect.

NOT shock absorber but sphere?

7.Nearside FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER has NEGLIGIBLE effect.

NOT shock absorber but sphere?

Frankly stuff all that cannot be remedied cheaply!!!

8. O/S front brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check).
9.N/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
10.O/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
11.O/S front position lamp not in good working order.(Function impaired).
12.Parking brake efficiency below requirements.
13.Front wheel brakes imbalanced.

lolingram · Post by **lolingram** » 17 Jul 2007, 15:03

Should have read: 'All stuff that CAN be remedied cheaply'

8. O/S front brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check).
9.N/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
10.O/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
11.O/S front position lamp not in good working order.(Function impaired).
12.Parking brake efficiency below requirements.
13.Front wheel brakes imbalanced.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 17 Jul 2007, 15:41

BrianA wrote:I just put it through and MOT.

1.Front drivers seat insecure.
2.N/S front indicator wrong colour.
3.O/S front indicator wrong colour.
4.N/S headlamp aim too low.
5.O/S headlamp aim too low.
6.Offside FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER has NEGLIGIBLE effect.
7.Nearside FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER has NEGLIGIBLE effect.
8. O/S front brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check).
9.N/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
10.O/S front parking brake recording little or no effort.
11.O/S front position lamp not in good working order.(Function impaired).
12.Parking brake efficiency below requirements.
13.Front wheel brakes imbalanced.

Not the bargain it looked in my opinion and it seems it wasn't as described,have I got any cause to complain?.

Thanks for looking.
Bri.

brian -

Thats a VERY common MOT fail list - even on newer and more expensive cars.
I dont see any expensive items on that list ? Every single failure listed is a completely common service issue - not repair issues (except maybe the single issue on the seat).
Its the type of MOT list that can make any real DIY'er happy, as all issues are completely basic service issues, with really high savings as there is a lot of time & fiddling involved.

lolingram · Post by **lolingram** » 17 Jul 2007, 16:01

Exactly so Anders.

Thats a VERY common MOT fail list - even on newer and more expensive cars.
I dont see any expensive items on that list ? Every single failure listed is a completely common service issue - not repair issues (except maybe the single issue on the seat).
Its the type of MOT list that can make any real DIY'er happy, as all issues are completely basic service issues, with really high savings as there is a lot of time & fiddling involved.

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 17 Jul 2007, 16:05

The seat locking via the piston handle is a regular Xantia failure
- the torx screws have simply dropped out...

Andrew

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 17 Jul 2007, 16:11

andmcit wrote:The seat locking via the piston handle is a regular Xantia failure
- the torx screws have simply dropped out...

Andrew

Basically just another DIY service item then.
Its really the kind of car I want to find, when I buy cheap.

BrianA · Post by **BrianA** » 17 Jul 2007, 22:53

I wholeheartedly agree with all of you and I'm not afraid of doing any work to the car,what has bothered me is the fact that the spheres seem to have failed within 5 months....

The front suspension spheres were renewed 12/02/2007
brakes are fine

This may seem picky but I didn't expect to have to replace the spheres after reading the mans description.

I've ordered all the gear I need off GSF now so my rant is over.

Thanks for all the replies.

Bri.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 17 Jul 2007, 23:33

I don't think the spheres have failed - I think they are the wrong ones! - in fact the wrong type altogether - as accumulator spheres have no damping at all. If they have failed the suspension will be solid - and your teeth would probably have fallen out by now!

BrianA · Post by **BrianA** » 18 Jul 2007, 00:01

I've ordered all 3 front ones as the accumulator was ticking quicker than a cartoon bomb.
However I think a seal needs replacing its at the top where a pipe goes in behind the 2 rubber pipes in the picture as there is always some (brown) LHM on it.

Not a very good pic it's on the front left handside as you look at the engine.

French Car Forum

Bought a Xantia off Ebay.....

fix the rust

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!