Project Xantia II

[Sturdybloke]

Ok, here we go (again)

To bring up to speed - After blowing the Volvo we needed transport quick. Ended up buying a 97 TD Sx hatch for the Buy it now price of £300 from ebay (arrghhhh I hear you cry) . Striped the old 93 Sx for parts for the new car as it needed new front spheres and N/S/F ABS sensor. Not to keen on the colour - murky grey but hey ho.

Swapped the interior from the old Sx into the new car as it was terrible. Much nicer now its been completed and the doorcards are fitted. Also I removed the cabin air filter and cleaned it up as per Alan S said in one of his prev posts. Also new rear spheres have been fitted and its given a much better ride. The front tyres were shot due to under inflation, so I had 2 good ones on Granada rims kicking around doing nothing that are now fitted (the tracking is fine). The rev counter is still playing up and it appears that I have another duff ABS sensor or a duff connection, will check in the next few days. I also bought a 5th alloy from a breakers to complete the set.

So the above has been done in the last month, and I have done over 1300 miles in it









Keep em peeled for updates.

Cheers - Craig.

[CitroJim]

Good work Craig Looking very sweet now!

I especially like the final black and white picture, very atmospheric Where was it taken?

[myglaren]

Good work Craig Looking very sweet now!

I especially like the final black and white picture, very atmospheric Where was it taken?

Same here - the colour of the car looks fine to me but the B/W photo is a nice variation you rarely see these days.

[Sturdybloke]

Its coming along piece by piece.

As to the picture guys, It was taken in the Welsh Valleys - On the A4061, Just outside a place called Nant-Y-Moel. Its an excellent stretch of road with lots of hairpins, twists, turns and open stretches 8)

I must admit that I am rather pleased on how it turned out

[CitroJim]

I've got that picture set as my desktop background on my office PC as I like it so much

It's a bit ragged at 1024x768 though Any chance I could please have a better resoloution copy of it Craig?

It really is a cracker of a picture...

[Sturdybloke]

No worries Jim, I will email you a copy from my memory card.

All the best - Craig.

[CitroJim]

Thanks Craig, picture received and on my desktop

[andmcit]

I don't know how you got that shot without getting sheep in it...

or the Corsa on it's roof in the ditch!

Andrew

[andmcit]

Actually, with a potentially talented bunch in FCF here why not have a bit
of fun and have a photofest - (on the main forum as a sticky even) where
unusual arty or striking images of the cars we all know and love can be a
nice welcome to the forum for newbies? The main criteria being the shot
of the car, not a vote for the car itself; if you know what I mean!!

The unanimously preferred best shot could receive a new height corrector
doobrie! Jim's desktop picture could then be a new one every day...

Andrew

<TBH - I'm not sure many folk see the footer of the forum web page
to even realise there's a blog and pics section - on club-xm there's a
'readers rides' which generates quite a lot of interesting anecdotes...>

[Sturdybloke]

MOT came and went today, and guess what it passed 8)

Only advisory is a slight shimmy through the front brakes when on the brake roller. The ABS fault was cured by a new ABS sensor on the O/S/R fitted at the 11th hour

[andmcit]

Wahay!!

Great stuff - at least a years' worth of happy Xantia'ing here we come!!
Does this mean the strut heads are OK as you did express concerns
about one or both of them?

I need to change an offside rear ABS sensor on one of mine; how did you
find the job to do? Does the lead feed from the arm to the rear subframe
allright or does the arm need moving out of the subframe by undoing the
main pivot bolt?

Andrew

[Sturdybloke]

Hey Andrew, yep another year of motoring to come

I really was up against it with the ABS sensor for the MOT and as such had to rush fitting the chafing grommit into the subframe, hell even my thin fingers couldn't manipulate it into place. I intend to drop the rear arm for more access and get the grommit into place and refit the arm - then job complete.

The MOT tester never mentioned the strut tops but knowing the devastation than ensues if they go I will be changing both front ones in the near future as they are deffo on the way out. Also a major service will be undertaken in the next week or so

The MOT man was very impressed with the condition of the car for what I paid for it

And we continue with the project

Cheers all - Craig.

EDIT - And I have done over 1850 miles in it

[Sturdybloke]

Ok, Completed this week a oil, oil filter and air filter change.

Still have a duff ABS sensor on the front

Timing belt and water pump to be changed this weekend

and I have now done 4061.8 miles to date in it

[Sturdybloke]

Ok the final Chapter, where to start................

After doing all the work the Xant (now named Jenny) it shredded the aux drivebelt 20 miles from home after having a new aux drivebelt, cambelt, water pump, idler, tensioner, cambelt, coolant, airfilter, oil and oil filter. I had to drive 20 miles without the belt and using the handbrake as a brake (2 am in the morning so it was quiet)

After much **********, ok Bollocking from the boss the car had to go as I was having the book almost thrown at me (no joke I got my arse chewed) as we had a car that my family would not trust so she had to go. For some stupid reason the Xant went (im not in charge here.....) and a SAAB 9000 Turbo has replaced it

Bloody uncomfortable (the exact car)



Some idiot went and fitted Koni shocks to it

Once its served its use it will be replaced by a hydro Cit

So thats me out for a bit. Cheers - Craig.