Hey all. 'new' Xantia diesel, water leak and bumpy rear end!

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 15:59

Hi FCF people.

I did a lot of sniffing round BXs a few years ago with a view to buy, but after a few near misses never got one. I kept an eye on my mates mums Xantia though for a few years, and bought it recently when she downsized, as it was well looked after, well by that I mean driven slowly 2k a year. its old (1994), not spotless, and NON turbo

but its feels a lot more like a new car than anything else I own, its only done 115k. It has a tow bar

and I'm looking forward to using the magic carpet ride for filming with. The GF loves the creature comforts like, erm, 5 seats, and cigarette lighter socket!

Water leak

It came with a water leak on the drivers side of the engine, I think it might be the thermostat area. (?) a fat pipe bolts to the side of the block, its rubber grommet/gasket had split, bad aftermarket fitment I think.
I got a new one off GSF, I awkwardly tried to fix it in the car park on my bill but no joy, got it in but with only right hand able to reach up and no torch holder, i don't think i got it sealed/seated up correctly! Difficult with only one side visible. So one to re try this week.

Bumpy ride

Sphere wise, it was done in 2002 at a local specialist in Chorlton Manchester. The car has only done 15k since then but 7 years ago!!

It rebounds a couple of times after speed bumps and the like so i think it needs looking at.

Has anyone any ideas whats causing it and any good cheap experts to fix it in Manchester, or not far away?

key
The blipper doesnt work, doesnt work for us, the ex owner used it once somehow. is it poss to get a replacement/spare?

Cheers, will post pics when I get home.

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 17:26

Pics for your (dis)pleasure

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Apr 2009, 18:50

Looks very tidy 8)

Its likely the spheres will be in need of replacemtn after 7 years. They should be regassed every 3 years or 30K miles, so its well overdue replacements i would think.

An LHM flush and change would probably be a good idea too, you might also want to get the front spheres checked for pressure, as they might be getting low now too.

Looks like a nice example, not many early Xantias about now.

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 07 Apr 2009, 19:01

It`s quite a quaint example. I had the non turbo on a ZX. Slow but gets you there and doesn`t put much pressure on head gasket.

Excuse if I`m sucking eggs but I take it you have axle stand under subframe to back up the jack?

If you are new to these cars read up on all the precautions RE supporting the blighters.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Apr 2009, 20:35

lexi wrote: If you are new to these cars read up on all the precautions RE supporting the blighters.

Yes, Axle Stands are essential and NEVER rely on a jack. These cars can KILL.

Lecture over. Good to see an early "sinker" in tidy condition

The new ring should sort out the leak on the water distribution block. The coolant in there looks a bit rusty suggesting it's been running a bit short of anti-freeze recently. That's not good in these engines and they do like a good diet of 50/50 water/antifreeze to ensure a long life. As well as shorteningt he head gasket and heater matrix life, running on low anti-freeze can runst out coreplugs and the favourite one to go is the one behind the diesel injection pump and it's naturally the least accessible

The bouncy ride is most likely the spheres but do check the height correctors are working properly. A sinker should be quick to react to the height lever. make sure it sinks fully when the lever is in low, rises fully in hing and settles back to normal ride height when the lever is returned to the mid position from both low and high. As i say, this will happen much faster on a sinker than on a later anti-sink xantia.

The pilp may need new batteries and re-pairing with the receiver. Does a red light come on when a button is pressed on the plip? Also, the plip needs to be pointed directly at the black dome (the receiver) on the headlining above the top centre of the windscreen and the old infra-red ones don't have a huge range so it's near the window and aim carefully.

The receiver can also suffer from damp-induced problems from either a leaky aerial base or sunroof so it's not a bad idea to have the panel it's attached to off and check.

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 21:24

Thanks for all your replies, knew you'd be helpful and knowledgable. 8)

Firstly the safety thing, does look dodgy doesn't it!

We picked the car up on the 31st, drove it home and went for a quick test, and the water was leaking more than I expected. My GF was keen to get it done and sorted taxed and fixed as we were due at a wedding on the 2nd, ended up with only one morning to get to Gsf and have a crack at fixing and all my good tools are kept 35 mile away. yeah not ideal really. there was a big fat wheel and tyre safety netting the front end out of sight so not too dodgy. I've heard about these dropping on people so I wouldn't be quite that daft

thanks for your concern, will have more holding up next time.

Armed now with a bigger set of pliers etc, an hydro jack, an axle stand and the other stuff now. So need another crack at it with less time stress. looking at the old rubber i thing that was snagging at a strange angle. I've got long arms and fingers and don't give up too easily...

Thanks for the info on the water/coolant, I picked up a litre of proper Citroen coolant at GSF while I was there, no idea if thats enough, possibly not if we're talking 50/50.

Also Thanks for the Hydro and sphere advice. The bit that makes everyone but the Citroen boffins nervous about these cars. Looks like I'd better get it seen too. so a nod to cheap and quality specialists would be great.

The suspension does raise up to the top fine, takes a while but it bumps up the front seems to lift highest, and same at 'normal' heaight, but that could be an optical illusion with the wheel arches aswell as probably the way they just sit... It drops to the floor nicely too.
Not seen any signs of green stuff apart from two drops when I had the wheel underneath the car.

Worrying slightly I bought another dawg with all this needing doing! it really is a lady owned nice thing though, basic slow but feels right, just like my mates dads BX TD did years ago, that was a great car. Oh its got just short of 12 months MOT too by the way so thats encouraging too. yeah i'm sure it will be great once its sorted.

cheers

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 07 Apr 2009, 21:27

It may be worth seeing if you can get your spheres regassed. We do that all the time here, and I know two or three specialists in the UK offer such a service - depends if you're near one. Usually cheaper than new - and just as good.

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 21:30

addo wrote:It may be worth seeing if you can get your spheres regassed. We do that all the time here, and I know two or three specialists in the UK offer such a service - depends if you're near one. Usually cheaper than new - and just as good.

Yeah i think these were regassed in 2002, my mate reckons the regassing is same price as new spheres, but he talks craziness, and I bet DIY fitting isn't easy as he says either!
yeah i'll get looking at sorting it once mobile. ride's meant to be the best bit!

cheers again.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Apr 2009, 21:37

reanimation wrote: Worrying slightly I bought another dawg with all this needing doing!

The great thing about an early "sinker" is that they're basically really quite simple and not much more than a BX in a new outfit

Xantias only get complicated as they get younger and boy, do they... Compare a 1993 1.9D to a 2000 HDi, Activa or V6 and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was an entirely different car...

There is nothing to be frightened of in the hydraulics and again, yours has the simplest Xantia setup of all - same as the BX bar the 'orrible octopus but sadly still with the dreaded FDV

And on here there is all the advice you'll ever need

Xantias wear well generally and a great thing in their favour is that they don't rust to any significant degree and the 1.9D engine goes on for ever

Do have a read of the "sticky" post at the top of this forum about Strut Tops and check yours very carefully, unless they've been changed, it's virtually a "given" that they'll be well on their way out and potentially dangerously so. Happily, replacement is a doddle but not cheap. Having 12 months MOT is no guarantee they're OK as they're often overlooked by MOT testers unless they really know the Xantia inside-out.

Another "Sticky" you may find useful is the one on spheres, hydraflushing and brake bleeding.

Lastly, a warm welcome to the FCF and Xantia ownership

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 21:55

Thanks Jim. believe it or not this is the newest car i've ever had!

Good to know. If I enjoy this car and come into money to spend on another I do fancy something newer with a more exciting engine. Right now keeping it simple and cheap is the winner, with the 'projects' to think about too.

Will have a look at the stickies. Cheers.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Apr 2009, 22:08

You need a minimum pressure in your spheres to be able to safely regass them. If they are too low on gas there is a danger that the diaphram has been damaged and it could go pop with the gas inside.

As you say the rear is bouncy i bet they have very little or no gas left, however the fronts might regas. SPheres are usually around £30-£40 each, depenind on where you get them from, they could be more or less. Id avoid very cheap brands as they can cause problems, going pop and losing the pressure.

We only ever fit genuine Citroen spheres to ours, you can get the multilayer diaprham ones for Xantia, which are like the ones the C5 use, which keep there gas much much longer. However they will most likely be the more expensive.

My dad used to be a Citroen specialist, so its easy for us as we still have the pressure testing and gassing gear, means our Xms get regular checks and top ups when needed.

You say it bounceys into high? It should go up smoothly, juddering or bouncing when the car is chaging height could be a sticking strut.

A good idea would be to lubricate the hight correctors, remove the LHM and fill with hydraflush for a while then replace with new LHM and to get the spheres regassed if possible or replaced.

One good thing about regassing spheres, if they have enough in already, is you can add slightly more pressure if you wish. Which gives a softer ride. Or in the search for the magic carpet ride you can fit spheres from different models, BX for example, to give a softer ride.

Then you should have close to the magic carpet ride.

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 22:29

Thanks for that, its reasonably smooth, I still find it awesome when it moves up and down, I think its just me, ya wait a moment and then Uuuup, or Doowwwn

I doubt there is a lot wrong but defo sounds like the gas might be out like you suggest, which with that warning I'll get it looked at at the soonest. I imagine the lady didn't notice the change of ride, they are like that!

Thanks again for the help, very welcoming. 8)

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Apr 2009, 22:38

Its a very odd thing, it going up and down. Have you found out about 'Citrobatics' yet? Moving from top to bottom suspension travel to keep your suspension working right. A few Citroen owners choose to do it while sat in traffic, you really get some funny looks from the people around you

Incase you ever try that, just a warning, when your car is in low, there is no brakes!

A lot of people dont notice the ride quality, as if you drive it every day the change happens over a period of time and is so slight people not knowing how they work might not notice it. Unless it got really bad. If its very very bad ive known them crack windscreens and pop the front strut tops through the bonnet, i think most people would notice that

Sounds like your front ones might regass, which should save you a bit if you can find somewhere to do them. The acc. sphere will want checking too, is there any constant clicking noises?

Good luck with it

reanimation · Unread post by **reanimation** » 07 Apr 2009, 22:53

Ohh, scary!

didn't realise the low setting meant no brakes!

I did wonder if pumping up and down a could times would help so its been up and down 2 or 3 times.
, as I'm sure that the lady ever had gadget factor going up and downshe would have got bored of it after 12 years. gotta be an innuendo in there!

reet, ace will keep ya posted, and if anyone thinks of a recommended specialist for the spheres and maybe a check over I'd be happy and appreciative. cheers

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 07 Apr 2009, 23:01

Well, very limited brakes anyway, as the pressure has gone from the system in low.

Im in the NorthEast area, so im not sure about specialists in your area, im sure someone will know of a good place to take it though.