My Xantia HDi

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 31 Mar 2009, 22:03

Colin! Thank You!

I will endeavour to get to Trents at some point - not sure how but will try. You say it's now £1 to look round yard?

May be able to pick a few other small bits from it that could come in useful.

I think I will try to get the union from the scrapper as I have no clue about union sizes so wouldn't know what to ask for at those companies you mentioned. However, to know they are there is useful.

Thanks again

Unread post by **admiral51** » 31 Mar 2009, 22:35

Hi Toby
Yes Trents is just £1 to have a wander round the yard any small bits and bobs are covered in the entrance price

If you can get the old one off the scrapper then take it with you to one of the firms and they will atleast give you some advice

Colin

PS PM sent

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 01 Apr 2009, 09:11

If you don't mind slumming it in an old Astra, I'll drive you up to Poole and anywhere else you think you need to go, just say when and I'll shuffle my diary.

I'm not after payment Toby, but if you want to throw your money around feel free to donate it to the FCF fund if you like.

(I always felt the lads with the Lexia's should suggest/ask for a small donation for each diagnostic session they volunteer but that's for another thread).

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 01 Apr 2009, 11:52

I wouldn't even worry about refitting the screw that holds the disc on, Its only there to make refitting the wheel easier. If your feeling flash get some from your local fasteners, they will be under £2..

A decent set of molegrips will shift the union, get some plusgas on it beforehand. My old vice grips have done a few brakepipes in there time

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 01 Apr 2009, 12:29

Handbrake cables sourced and just need collecting.

Am now concerned that I will not be able to replace the rounded off flare nut as easily as I first hoped. On thinking about it, because the end of the pipe is flared I don't think I can just slide the old nut off and the new one on. I would loved to be proved wrong on this but I fear I am right?

If I have to renew the entire rigid pipe on that side I may just lose it completely

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 01 Apr 2009, 13:02

I need to see your brake hose before I could comment on what I think's possible - two heads better than one and all that.

I've got to go to Pentons (Citroen Stealer) to pick up some clips that came in today. If you want to come along, I'll postpone collection.

Send me your address via pm or text and when you want me to come over. My diary's looking good for all day/evening today and probably Thurs/Fri too. Otherwise how about Saturday?

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 01 Apr 2009, 20:42

No longer need to go to Citroen now Mike. Will try to get to Trents tomorrow, family is available so I may be able to go first thing.

I fear now I may have to replace the entire brake pipe on that side due to the flare.

PM Sent Mike

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 02 Apr 2009, 09:25

Alas, it is the case!

Been out armed with some molegrips and got the nut undone. The end of the pipe is flared as such the nut will not slide over the end.

Seems the entire rigid pipe needs replacing. I've had a look and it's not nice, it snakes along the subframe then up behind the gearbox disappearing somewhere I can't see it then it seems up to come up to the ABS block. All because of one little fixing. Wouldn't be so bad if I had rounded it off myself but the fact is I didn't, it was already rounded off.

Am considering just putting the new hose on then tightening the nut with the molegrips and leaving it like that. Is this a good idea?

Unread post by **RichardW** » 02 Apr 2009, 10:34

Toby_HDi wrote:Am considering just putting the new hose on then tightening the nut with the molegrips and leaving it like that. Is this a good idea?

It's a lot easier than replacing the pipe

The union doesn't need to be too tight, so it should bea easy enough to get a seal. Not pretty, but pragmatic!

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 02 Apr 2009, 11:46

Nip it up with the molegrips again. If it leaks then replace it, if not leave it be.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 02 Apr 2009, 12:15

Test it after the "pragmatic" tightening by having, an assistant press, and hold the pedal down for you to check it under pressure.

Although ensure that you are not too close to it, in case there is a leak for safety reasons, although I hope he says typing this with his fingers crossed,

that it does not leak, and that all is O.K.

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 02 Apr 2009, 14:46

I got your pm Toby, thanks. If you find you're got time/inclination to work on the car before the weekend and need a helping pair of hands/eyes at short notice, give me a call and if I'm free, I can be there in not time.

I noticed there's a pair of very reasonably priced front brake hoses on ebay if you need them.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 03 Apr 2009, 23:45

I shan't be working on the car until Sunday now.

I may get a little time tomorrow evening but only about an hour. Will try to get new brake hose on and nip that union back up. Then can hook up handbrake cables and do rears on Sunday. Would appreciate a hand with them and another opinion on the fronts. Want to make sure they are ok.

If your about Sunday Mike, would be much appreciated

Thanks. Let me know

I still think the brake hoses were fine so not sure why they failed MOT on them.

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 04 Apr 2009, 08:19

Sunday it is then. If you do need help today, I'll be around, just call.

If it were me, I'd take the hoses to the MOT retest and ask them to identify why they failed.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 05 Apr 2009, 19:44

A fairly successful day.

First of all, many many thanks to MikeT for coming over and giving me a hand, well I think he did most of it while I was looking for things inside

Handbrake cables seem to be fine, just need to see how I get on with them, as I'm not too certain on how they are adjusted but it seems fine.

The rear brakes.....

We managed to get the pads out and then realised we needed to remove heatshield to get at the caliper union bolt to remove the caliper to replace the disc. On doing this one bolt on the offside stripped half its thread off and one sheared leaving half its stud in the mounting bracket. Tried to drill it out but it wasn't having it so we think it'll need to be retapped. This I shall leave to a garage I think. So now I am left with the heatshield held on with one bolt...it will not be driven til this is rectified so I think another trip to Trents is in order to grab them, so if anybody wants anything let me know and I'll try to get it. I know they have 2 MkI Estates in there at the moment.

All is now done really. Discs and pads and brakes bled. All that remains is to sort the heatshield, see how I get on with the handbrake, bed the brakes in and take it for its MOT.

Mike kindly bought over a spare battery he had as mine is now completely dead. Started first time on that battery. We have a couple of suspects as to the reason for the dead battery. The first one is a fan problem (more in a minute) and the second, more probable cause, is the fact that negative clamp is shot and not providing a decent connection. Therefore a new one them to be bought.

The fans....we discovered that these are constantly running at half speed. Pulled the coolant temp sensor and still they ran. On checking the air con, they run with it off, though Mike thought he could see the gas flowing past the sight glass even with the switch off. So it is possibly my air con is running constantly unless the sight glass issue is normal? Any thoughts on that one?

Once again a thanks to Mike, if I have missed anything out I'm sure he will add and correct me.

I'm certainly taking the hoses to the MOT station, it seems very likely the tester mistook the handbrake cables for the brake hoses as they both seemed fine.