Xsara Hdi 110 - seems slow

Will · Post by **Will** » 01 Oct 2009, 10:22

Hi all.

Bit of a curious one. I'm on a quest to find a decent Xsara Hdi 110 (proving not as easy as I thought at the moment!) maybe a 51/02 plate kind of age.

I've been test driving a few to suss them out. I thought I had found a likely candidate (nice colour, good price, not the other end of the country etc) until I test drove it!

Whilst on the face of it seemed to run ok (no engine mgmt light on, no strange noises or smoke) it just didn't have any grunt to it whatsoever. It felt as if the turbo wasn't actually doing anything at all, and whilst it did seem to propel itself along in a reasonable manner, it had no urgency to it at all. It really was like driving a n/a diesel and certainly a completely different experience to my mates 110 I drove as comparison, which had a real kick to it, and my BX TD would blow it away!

Am I expecting too much or is there something that could be up with the turbo that wouldn't cause it go go into limp mode?

I'll probably walk away from this particular car but I just would be curious to know if its a known issue or if this one is just a duffer.

Thanks
Will

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 01 Oct 2009, 10:30

I have a Xantia HDi 110 with a power issue ! Slightly different fault though , mine loses power intermittently.
When it's running ok , although I wouldn't describe it's performance as fast , it's certainly ok. Saw off a mates Peugeot 306 D turbo without a problem !
The suspected cause of the problem is the boost control solenoid valve. During some swap this , try that diagnosis work the other day I managed to disable the turbo , and the effect was more or less as you describe so I would suspect the car you have tried has an issue with the turbo or boost control.

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 01 Oct 2009, 12:03

A good HDi 110 should feel fast, especially compared to a n/a or a 1.9TD, I had a Xsara HDi (90) as a courtesy car a couple of years back it really had a kick in it.
According to parkers the 0-60 of an Xsara HDi(110) is 10 seconds, whilst that does not sound so impressive, if you check the rest of the figures on the link below you will see only the 1.6 16v is faster and only .6 of a second.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Sum ... ?model=144

I'd be incline to suspect a fault somewhere, or bad servicing, clogged filter and dirty injectors will cause noticeable slow down in an HDi, not enough to trigger a fault though, I'd be wary of the car.

*edit just noticed the 2.0 16v is also a fair bit faster...

Will · Post by **Will** » 01 Oct 2009, 13:20

Thanks for the input. I do then suspect something solenoid related as on others I 've driven you can at least hear the tubo spinning up and down, and this one clearly wasnt. Getting back in the BX after the test drive was an eye-opener.

I'm guessing this might be a pain and/or expensive to fix if it is turbo/boost control related?

Btw, the car has 146k on it and has history up to the start of this year, and its one previous home was as a company vehicle. Doesn't sound too compelling really!

The car is at a dealers so I guess I could negotiate some *serious* money off but I think I'll walk away and wait for the right one to come along.

Will

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 01 Oct 2009, 14:46

To test if the turbo works bridge the two pipes on the turbo solenoid with a small piece of brake pipe or similar so it gets full vaccum & it should pull like it's supposed to, this may bring the management light on after a bit though as the boost pressure sensor will detect too much boost but at leas you will know the turbo works.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 02 Oct 2009, 10:12

If its at a dealer they should sort it all out before selling it out, and you should have some gaurentee with it too...

Paul

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 02 Oct 2009, 10:14

wheeler wrote:To test if the turbo works bridge the two pipes on the turbo solenoid with a small piece of brake pipe or similar so it gets full vaccum & it should pull like it's supposed to, this may bring the management light on after a bit though as the boost pressure sensor will detect too much boost but at leas you will know the turbo works.

This ALSO will NOT put the car into hard limp mode! If it does, a simple switch off of the ignition should reset this fault!

Has done for me on Two cars (Xantia HDI 110's, one was a faulty solinoid valve, similar to a problem on here just last week or so, I think was it Mr HDI?? )

Paul

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 02 Oct 2009, 11:43

they should sort it all out before selling it out

Yes they should, but a lot of dealers have no conscience and will happy sell a dodgy car under the made up rules of "Caveat emptor".

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 02 Oct 2009, 11:49

Make that ALL dealers !!!

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 02 Oct 2009, 11:50

citroenxm wrote:
wheeler wrote:Has done for me on Two cars (Xantia HDI 110's, one was a faulty solinoid valve, similar to a problem on here just last week or so, I think was it Mr HDI?? )

Paul

Yes , guilty as charged !!