CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[Mandrake]

Ah, I think you failed to mention all these modifications to work around loom breaks in the context of this fan problem Jim!

Or if you did I missed it. Quite likely that this is the cause of your problem.

[CitroJim]

Or if you did I missed it. Quite likely that this is the cause of your problem.

Possibly many, many pages back in my blog Simon... It's a mess. It's had more work-arounds than a flaky IT system just to maintain some sort of functionality

Odd as that's the only bit of electrics - touch wood - that's given trouble...

I just hope I've not spoken too soon

[Zelandeth]

Just remembered something that might be relevant Jim. When this first happened (in the pouring rain, in the hospital car park of course!), I found that pulling all of the fuse(s) associated with the fans, cooling and A/C according to the handbook would not stop the fans from running. This tended to point to me that there's a short in the loom somewhere and it's finding 12V from someplace it shouldn't be.

Had forgotten that...In my defence, it was nearly a year ago!

Also, the electrical system in the Xantia is an order of magnitude more complex than I'm really used to!

As you say though, save for a dodgy light in the boot and the usual heater blower issue, it's the only electrical issue I remember coming across. Do have to wonder if it might well be why the previous owner sold it when they did.

[CitroJim]

Thanks Zel That's valuable!

The only way to stop the fans if they are running uncontrollably is pull tow of the giant fuses D and E I think it is and then just hope that's all they feed...

Like the 207, I'm determined to fix this issue...

[Zelandeth]

I honestly can't remember what it was that I pulled and whether it included any of the maxi-fuses or not. I just remember consulting the handbook, then pulling anything that sounded like it could be in any way vaguely related that I could readily get to, without it having any effect. After that I grabbed a screwdriver, pulled the cover and just pulled the relay. It was a cold, soaking wet day nowhere near a major city at the time, so a lack of a cooling fan wasn't a major issue at the time.

One thing I *didn't* try at the time was a BSI reset - though as you've replaced the battery since then it can be crossed off the list!

[CitroJim]

It's been a good day today... A nice run out in the Activa to visit Team WFA and do a bit of work on a C5...

Namely replacing the valve block in the Aisin Warner 6-speed autobox.

The engine and 'box was out of the car for other reasons - failed turbo - so whilst at it some value-addeds were done, the gearbox being one.. The valvebolck electrovalves wear over time and make the gear-change a bit ropey on occasion.

New valveblocks are expensive at £450 but against that, it's allegedly the only thing that ever gives trouble in the 'box so it's not too bad overall... A cheap fix compared with a new car or autobox...

It's an easy job and can be done in-situ

I've brought the old valveblock home for a bit of a look at and to see if anything can be done with it.

We also did the cam-belt and water pump whilst the engine as out. A very easy job indeed

I very much enjoyed it all...

Here's a couple of pictures:

[demag]

Urrgh! Failed turbo. What engine was that Jim?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[CitroJim]

Urrgh! Failed turbo. What engine was that Jim?

2.0HDi...

Practically unknown... We believe it was metal fatigue in the shaft or a manufacturing defect... No shortage of clean oil or anything like that...

Basically the inlet compressor impeller fell off and went walkabout in the housing with predictable results...

[KP]

It's not unheard of in a 16v engines but never seems to happen in the 8v units. Could be from heat cycles I suppose as the only. If differences are the head and the turbos themselves changed, but the 16v units are designed to warm up quicker as well to help keep emmissions down and fuel economy up.

[Gibbo2286]

My current 2.0L HDI C5 had the turbo blow for no apparent reason, a lot more damage afterwards when the debris got into the oil galleries and caused the big ends to fail.

[CitroJim]

My current 2.0L HDI C5 had the turbo blow for no apparent reason, a lot more damage afterwards when the debris got into the oil galleries and caused the big ends to fail.

Nasty...

Hopefully, the way the turbo went it looks like none of the bits got into the oilways... The debris ended up in the inlet tract but did not reach the inlet valves...

[CitroJim]

Picked up a puncture on my bike ride yesterday First one out on the road.

Happened on the A428 between Denton and Yardley Hastings - as far from home as that ride took me... Had to fix it in howling wind and with rapidly numbing hands

Used a telephone manhole cover as a work bench!

It was fun and fixing it brought on severe Reynauld's Did it successfully though despite all

The puncture was my fault really - the back tyre was worn out and very thin; it was on borrowed time so I've replaced both tyre and tube - the new tyre has a measure of puncture protection... Fitted without needing tyre levers

Took all of ten minutes and so much more pleasant to do it in my warm lounge listening to Chris Rea on the stereo rather than on the side of a windy and cold A428! And no, I wasn't listening to the 'Road To Hell' at the time I was actually listening to Auberge on vinyl...

[mickeymoon]

I carry a spare innertube in the cold weather Jim, it's so much easier to change a tube than arse about repairing them with numb fingers in the wind and rain! I carry a couple of patches, glue and chalk but not a full kit. I can remove and put the tyres back on without levers.

[CitroJim]

I carry a spare tube on my tubeless-tyred bike Mickey but until now not on this one... No room in my saddle bag but now I may If I ditch the puncture repair kit I’ll have room for a tube!

[mickeymoon]

Just make room for a couple of patches, chalk and glue Jim, as well as a spare tube.. in case you get another puncture before you get home There's no need to ask me how I learnt to do that, after a 4 mile walk with a flat front tyre, in cycling shoes, is there?