Brigsy's Xantia tales.

KP · Unread post by KP » 21 Feb 2009, 09:24

Have you got the old or new style plip as i have the newer style one if you need one??

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Feb 2009, 11:01

Funny how radiators just die and yes, those dreaded bayonets

Sometimes they are just impossible..

I'm never happy about attacking a sphere with a hammer and chisel, especially an accumulator.

If you intend to keep any hydro-cirtoen for a fair while, it's well worth investing in a proper sphere tool. The Pleiades one is best but you can easily make a "Xac Special" tool and I can vouch for how well it works

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 21 Feb 2009, 15:22

Aye i wasn't 100% happy with using the chisel method Jim. I was very wary of piercing the sphere! From what i read a 'flat' sphere still has a lot of pressure in. Im 100% sure it was the original, seemed to be welded on with rust!

Im going to get some stuff together to knock up a tool like Xac's for next time, think front spheres will need changing soon. Mine look like they have been regassed, have chisel marks where they have been persuaded off in the past.

For interest how much is the proper Pleiades tool? i missed out on one on ebay a while back.

One thing about the rad, i noticed it was made by Ordonez. Every rad ive had by them has failed, compared to the valeo units. Makes me wonder if there poor quality compared to valeo. Ive had new ordonez rads fail on the r5gtt's after 6 month! Saying that im not complaining too much in this case as it was the original.

Been down the scrappy today, got myself a mirror cover finally. Grabbed the receiver for the rcl too, still cant get it working. Test meter out later me thinks, time to check wiring!

My car has the old style rf plip KP, cheers For the offer though!

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 25 Feb 2009, 19:12

Fitted new radiator monday night, had a right carry on getting the bottom bayonet fitting back in due to rust on it, not a job i want to do again in a hurry! Now washer jets are failing to work, must have disturbed some wiring when refitting the bottom hose..

Was running well until today, then the clutch started slipping

Not looking forward to changing it. Oh well its lasted 150k & judders on pull away so that will be next job..

On the plus side the ride seems a lot better with the new accumulator sphere fitted. No more ticking/nasty noises too.

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 02 Mar 2009, 13:27

Got my clutch from gsf, so its all systems go on the swap this week after booking a couple of days off work. Using my newly rented 2 car lockup to make things a little bit easier.

Ive dug out my clarke strongarm engine support to keep the engine held in place, as i don't have an engine crane at the moment after lending it out & not returned

knew it would come in handy at some point when i bought it cheap years ago 8)

Ive also bit the bullet & ordered new strut tops as they both look like there ready to fail soon, rust stains from the top of the rubbers & dodgy knocking on turning to rh lock! Going to do the spheres up front as the ride is a little bit bouncy. 2x balljoints are on the list too as both rubbers are split & there's still a knocking occasionally up front.

Also changing the timing belt/waterpump too. Hopefully once these bits are done ill be able to drive it to the moon & back with no probs!

Feel like ive put a bit more money into this than i wanted to, but need it to be 100% reliable for work use. Ill be down to one working car when i take my van off the road later on this month for cam swap.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Mar 2009, 13:51

All the best with the clutch change Brigsy

Have you had a read of my Blow-By-Blow account of the job?

A crane will make the job a lot easier but if you have strong help, you can manage without it..

You'll love the feel of the new clutch and you may find it difficult, at this stage, to believe that the clutch will be as light as the lightest feather

After all the jobs are done, it'll be just like a new car

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 02 Mar 2009, 14:23

The blow by blow is a good read Jim. Do you know the part numbers for the clutch shaft bushes & driveshaft oil seals? I tried to find them on the citroen service website but have had no luck.

Im looking forward to a light clutch with no judder, it must be down to the rivets or the springs are snapped! Its even heavier than the performance valeo cover/plate in my van at the moment

Also just been looking for spheres on the gsf website, i notice theres the cheaper spheres & the gen citroen, which are twice the price. Im assuming the cheaper ones are regassed, will these be ok as im a little short on cash. If its worth the wait they don't need doing asap so could be refitted until next month.

I need to do the rear anti-sink aswell as it looks like the original.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Mar 2009, 18:12

I'll look out the part numbers later Brigsy but to do so I may have to reinstall my Laser... Bear with me for a bit on that one. Mondays is a busy night for me and "Dad's Taxi".

You'd be amazed at what a difference the clutch shaft bushes make to nice, smooth clutch operation. They're cheap and well worth replacing.

The GSF spheres are brand new and made by Amtex. Generally they are good and a few I've had on the pressure tester show them very close to design pressure or if anything a tad on the high side. I've never had the slightest issue with them.

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 02 Mar 2009, 19:52

Thanks Jim

Have ordered the spheres & the rest. Looking forward to getting it all sorted 8)

Next job is to get the plus gas on various bolts, want to make this as easy as possible

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Mar 2009, 20:02

Ahh, now I really rate Plus Gas

Expensive but worth every penny. It has done the trick for me on countless occasions..

Here's the part numbers:

Top Bush: 2175 21

Bottom Bush: 2175 20

RH Driveshaft Seal: 3121 46

LH Driveshaft Seal: 3121 44

The driveshaft seals are/were available from GSF...

Not a bad idea either to replace the gearbox input shaft seal whilst you have it in bits. Part No. 2109 40

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 06 Mar 2009, 02:00

Well new clutch is in, balljoints are done too after a good 8 hour session today. Had a nightmare splitting the old balljoints from the tca's but got there in the end after breaking various tools

They nearly broke my excellent scissor type splitter, has removed anything in the past ut it wouldn't budge these!

One thing it was definitely a 2 man job for first attempt of taking box off, the access is pretty tight. I didn't remove anything that didn't need to come off, lhm tank & pipework all stayed put.

I did make one embarrassing error, forgot the clutch/release bearing is a pull type & didnt put the clutch arm in properly, good job i checked before going any further, could have been an embarrassing mistake. Sorted now though just whipped box straight back off an inch. Clutch feels so light now 8)

I got the old balljoints out of the hubs surprisingly easy when the hub was clamped in the vice with a pair of stilsons, clout on the end with a mash hammer sharp shocked the rust off

Should be totally knock free now as they were both totally shot..

Tomorrows jobs are to change both strut tops, refix accumulator/reg to the box, refit starter motor, plug in a couple of multiplugs, refit driveshafts & gear oil then were ready to roll. Should be back on the road fingers crossed.

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 06 Mar 2009, 19:07

All back together now, drives like a new car! Clutch is so light. Gear change feels really good with new oil & greased up linkage. I regreased all the cv joints with new cv grease & my vibration has nearly gone, so no rush for new driveshafts! The one that is causing the problem is the long shaft with intermediate bearing, play in the inner cv joint.

Have only changed the o/s strut top for now, the other one hasn't turned up yet

To be fair the original didn't look too bad, but the plates underneath were bent with rust.

Still got the timing belt to do, Saving that for next weekend.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Mar 2009, 09:08

Excellent stuff Brigsy

After that lot a timing belt will be child's play

New clutches are lovely arn't they 8)

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 07 Mar 2009, 12:23

Clutch feels class, Its taking some getting used to. Stalled it straight away when reversing it out the garage

Im dreading taking the aux belt off to do the timing belt after the carry on i had when changing the aux tensioner. Im happy that the cambelt has an auto tensioner though, not like the old tu diesels, guess the tension without the proper tool!

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 07 Mar 2009, 19:31

Just fixed the remote central locking/alarm finally 8)

After looking at various threads on this, i found one that numbered what pins do what on the receiver. As i had tested both plips & they appeared to work fine on a mobile phone camera, thought id check the wiring out with me test meter.

Upon testing i found the +12v wire to be a whole 4.8v

So i improvised & pulled clock out to borrow a +12v. connected that up & the plip sync'd up straight away

Rewired the +12v to the interior light on passenger side of the car as its not exactly pulling a lot of current, works every time now!