My first Citroen

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 04 Nov 2008, 21:39

Ok, well, good evening (uk) and here's my post. So I'll try and make it clear and comprehensible.

I have just bought a 1995 Xantia, 1.9 SX. I haven't seen anything more than a photograph, as yet, as it's on fleebay, and I've yet to collect it.

I'd love to know where to start with it. By looking at the following fleebay page, you know just about as much I do about it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... SA:GB:1123

Ok, so she's pretty nice looking. But I do know something more about this car since paying the deposit and getting hold of some of the documentation.

I have been able to telephone the previous-but-one owner about the history of this car. Here's the story if you'll indulge me.

The car was sold by the previous owner but one because she was faced with a bill for replacing the clutch. She told me that the bill would have been about the same as the value, then, of the car. So she took the decision to let the car go.

To a dealer, I think in PX for another Cit, a C4. All fine. The Xantia on fleebay then found its way into the hands of the guy who I am now buying the car off. All fine.

I have no problem with the above, but I really hadn't expected to need to replace the clutch, as well as the road tax. This potentially puts the car's cost up from £550 (sterling) to over £1000.

Like I say, YOU can see what I have seen of the car. I do want it, I have done lots of research into the prices on the auction site, and I reckon this one is good. 73K on the clock, cambelt done... no obvious dents...lady owner since 2003...

I only ever had a Peugeot 306 before, and I'm a bit of a Francophile, I have to admit, so I think I (we, the family) could have a long relationship with this car.

My big question is, what should I do about checking this car over once I get it back home?

Many thanks for reading, and I look forward to reading the back posts here, and making more contributions in the future.

A bientôt!

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:02

Hi, Here is a link with very detailed information on buying a second hand Xantia:

http://www.citroencarclub.org.uk/PostNu ... 0&meid=140

I hope it would be useful.

rory_perrett · Unread post by **rory_perrett** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:08

Nice low miles for a 1995 TD - but on a car that age check the front strut tops see http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... ht=speared

75k seems a bit soon for a clutch - last one we had done was about £250 at a national clutch specialist.

Good luck with it an welcome to the forum.

Rory

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:20

Check the colour of the LHM with a torch in the resevoir, if it's not green, replace it with hydroflush for around 1000 miles and then replace with new LHM.
Pop out the fuel sender and make sure the mesh filter is clean.
Bung some vegetable oil in the fuel tank and enjoy cheap environmentally friendly motoring

Clutch change isn't too bad if you have an engine hoist.
It might be that the clutch cable just needs adjusting.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:21

Welcome Napoleon

That's a very fine looking Xantia you have there. You're going to enjoy it hugely and all the support you could ever want is right here.

The clutch is not such a bad job and it looks like the car is well worth a clutch. Worn clutches generally get heavy and a new one makes all the difference.

If you can use a spanner and have a good strong helper, a clutch can be done in a weekend. Have a read of this account of the first time I did one. I've done another since...

Once you've experienced the delights of a good hydraulic Citroen, there's no going back!

Have a look at our blogs down in the members area to get a bit of a feel for how there Citroens can get under your skin and the fun and games we have with them!

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:39

Hello chaps, just back from watching a bit Obama vs McCain's had his chips on Beeb1....

Thanks for the encouragement about the clutch. I do have an engine hoist, as it happens, but I've never worked on cars before so it's all a bit new. Not to worry.

Quckie: what is the 'LHM'? Left hand... something?

I'll do some serious reading around the car, that's for sure.

Oh, and running it on vegoil had not escaped my attention either... in fact, that's how I ended up here, although the main reason for the Xantia is to have a family car that can cope with, well, family duties. I'll get into the vegoil motoring as and when (like when the cost of fuel at the pumps goes up, as surely it must).

Later, and nice to hear from you.

Oh, and sorry about the name, Napoleon ... it was nearly Manon des Source.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:46

Very nice looking Xantia you have there!
Dark green is always a good colour!
These are good cars to learn about.

As Jim says, take a look at some of our blogs and stories in the members area and don't forget to make your own

We all like to know what each other is doing with their cars.
Did I mention that this is probably one of the friendliest forums on the web too

I will also second Jim on the delights of a hydraulic Citroen, once you've got one, there's no going back

I really don't like travelling in my parents Astra, so uncomfortable

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:47

Liquide Hydraulique Minéral, it's the green hydrolic fluid used to drive the suspension, brakes and steering (aka green blood).
Hydroflush (aka hydrorincage) is a fluid used to clean the hydrolic system.

I've never come across cars that are as easy to work on as Xantias, especially the diesels.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:51

Napoleon wrote:Hello chaps, just back from watching a bit Obama vs McCain's had his chips on Beeb1....

Thanks for the encouragement about the clutch. I do have an engine hoist, as it happens, but I've never worked on cars before so it's all a bit new. Not to worry.

Quckie: what is the 'LHM'? Left hand... something?

I think I know who's going to win these election

LHM (Liquid Hydraulic Mineral - well its actually some weird french spelling) is the life blood of a hydraulic Citroen. Its a bright green colour, imagine alien blood! The car uses this to power the brakes, suspension and power steering. Im sure theres a starting guide to whats what with the Xantias running around.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:53

Now I have something to tell the evening class next week:

Semaine derniere, je achete un Citroen Xantia. Il a liquide hydraulique minéral sous le bonnet, et il a une bonne voiture avec une histoire tres fort!

Will that do?

LOL!

Cheers, got to go bye byes....

Unread post by **myglaren** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:53

Napoleon wrote:
Oh, and sorry about the name, Napoleon ... it was nearly Manon des Source.

Persuming you got the gender right with your choice, Boney

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:57

Gender is correct.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 04 Nov 2008, 23:15

Manon is prettier but you can't have it all ways.

Welcome to the forums to you and your Xantia, hope you will be happy together.

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 05 Nov 2008, 11:58

un Citroen Xantia … Will that do?

Welcome Napoleon !

The French will do of sorts, unless you have to teach them.
In French, everything has a gender.
Cars are female, liquid is male, bonnet is male.

The most hilarious thing an Englishman can do is to use French slang words with an English accent.
So, it becomes:

La semaine dernière, j’ai acheté une Citroën Xantia.
Elle a du liquide hydraulique minéral sous le capot, et elle est une bonne bagnole avec une très bonne histoire.

Have fun.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 05 Nov 2008, 13:38

What on earth is a 'bagnole'? Or perhaps I shouldn't ask.