Slow LHM Leak - Xantia - Now With Photos!

mezuk04a · Post by **mezuk04a** » 19 Mar 2008, 15:52

Hello all,

My BIL's Xantia has developed an LHM leak, its used about 1/2 a litre in 3 weeks. When its low the STOP light appears, he fills it up and the STOP light then goes away.

The STOP light has appeared again so he will be popping some more back in on his way home tonight, he's stopping by for me to have a look. Any real areas I should be looking at, as I will have limited light from a walled flood light from above.

Make sure all the pipes and cap are fitted securely onto the LHM Tank?
Feel my hand around that area to try and find out the area of leak?
See if I can feel the leak from underneath?

Regards
Chris

Post by **RichardW** » 19 Mar 2008, 16:21

The only real way is to get it on high and look underneath it. You will need some light though

Don't forget that even a small leak at the front can make a mess all the way under the car.

Xantias seem pretty leak free on the whole. I'd be checking under the front wheel arches to see if the strut leak offs are broken first. I've had one weep from a union on the PAS, the O/S front strut pipe can fracture where it's attached to the inner wing, I had a leak from a hydractive car at the rear, I've heard about a couple of PAS feed pipes rusting through near the N/S/F wheel, leaks on and around the HP pump are not unknown.

If it's leaked 0.5l in 3 weeks the general area should be obvious - but pinning it down might be more tricky - it does like to spread out!

mezuk04a · Post by **mezuk04a** » 19 Mar 2008, 21:10

Well its only a slight leak from what I could see, managed to take some photos of the offending area - the Accumulator Sphere.

Post by **CitroJim** » 19 Mar 2008, 21:38

Looks pretty well soaked in LHM around there Chris.

Two things to check, either the accumulator sphere seal was not quite rightly placed when the sphere was installed and it got cut when doing up the sphere or one or more of the pipe seals have hardened over time and are weeping. More likely the latter.

Give the whole area a really good clean-up and it'll soon show what is weeping. Pipe seals will give themselves away by showing weeps on the tops of the union nuts. When I did my 1.9TD clutch I replaced a seal on one of the FDV pipes and that cured a long-term weep from there.

The plastic cup on the bottom of the pressure regulator is often a little damp and not to worry unless it is really weeping from there.

mezuk04a · Post by **mezuk04a** » 19 Mar 2008, 21:55

I replaced the Accumulator when I got the car which was about 3 years ago so I assume its not that.

Ive advised him to come round at the weekend so I can get it up on some ramps, give it a good clean and watch where the leak is exactly.

Im impressed with my new camera though

uncle buck · Post by **uncle buck** » 19 Mar 2008, 22:11

mezuk04a wrote:....Im impressed with my new camera though

I'm not...all the pictures are blurred

....well someone had to say it...LOL 8)

Post by **myglaren** » 20 Mar 2008, 15:53

Look for the macro setting in the menu or quickset button, looks like a tulip.

mezuk04a · Post by **mezuk04a** » 20 Mar 2008, 17:10

Is that to me?

Post by **myglaren** » 20 Mar 2008, 17:45

mezuk04a wrote:Is that to me?

Yes, sorry that was a bit vague.
Macro will give you a better control of the focus on close subjects.

mezuk04a · Post by **mezuk04a** » 20 Mar 2008, 20:09

I wouldnt have a clue, in its defense, there was no light underneath the bonnet, it was literally pitch black.

Post by **myglaren** » 20 Mar 2008, 22:52

That can be a problem too, hard to tell what the autofocus picks as it's target.