Jakbop the Xantia

[CitroJim]

She's coming along John

What's the blower problem? is it always running in Cyclone mode and driving you mad with a howling gale in the cabin? If so this is a common enough problem and indicates a short-circuit Transistor in the speed regulator. Easily fixed but if you don't want to I'm always happy to.

[John Plum]

Hi Ya Jim
I bet you must feel brand new again now!

is it always running in Cyclone mode and driving you mad with a howling gale in the cabin? If so this is a common enough problem and indicates a short-circuit Transistor in the speed regulator. Easily fixed ..

Yes that's the symptom. I've printed out the diagrams and notes, and am going to take a look with a multimeter, when I identify where it is.
Thanks for the offer of fixing it...I'll try to proceed anyway for a while, see how far I can get: confirm the problem with some readings, anyway.
I will read those posts again, when I feel fresh again.

[John Plum]

Progress Taking the Car over: Poised for MOT

It certainly is coming along!

• 1. The side airbag warning light 'always on' problem is solved.
  The exact warnings symptoms were, main airbag warning light lit up upon ignition on, and stayed on. Cleaning the passenger airbag on/off switch solved this.
  
  2. The side airbag warning light did not switch on upon ignition on, but seconds after starting, this light came on and stayed on.
  This was solved by unclipping the passenger side underseat airbag clips (all three), and spraying with contact cleaner, leaving to dry off, then re-connecting. I noticed some slight oxidising to those terminals. Suspect that war moist air re-circulating under the seats is the cause of that.

Only the drop links to arrive and fit, and the car is ready for the MOT, that is, if the re-fitted front brake pads bed in: they may have been slightly warped, due to having been fitted dry to a rusty calipers. I suspect that was the cause of the noise from the n/s drifeshaft and attributed to the abs cog by the former owners' garage. Its one of the nicest things in the world to have a friendly dashboard.
Ignition on:

Fire up! ...


Comfort and Rust
Tested the blower motor
(see http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hlight=fan)

Found voltages read approx.. 8.4 volts throughout the slider control range. The orange terminal No.2 was reached without removing the blower, merely by exposing it by removing the under-parcel shelf carpet piece. Conclusion: the blower speed regulator transistors are shot. After removing that from the blower, i could see tracking marks there. Now its in the post for repair - thanks for the offer CitroJim. It's really nice to have a quiet and smog-free cabin. Look forward to the blower working and under control, particularly for warming up the car for the children in winter.

I noticed by the blower also, some considerable corrosion on the the red and the black spade terminals, and put that down to blower air circulating there, also attributed to the very slight surface rust on a lug there on the inner body. Makes me think about Wax oiling the car shortly, after all other jobs. I'm looking for any decent Xantia - targeted guide.
Elsewhere, apart from some obvious spots like the brakes/suspension which I tackled, and some brackets, rust is minimal on the car - about the best I've seen on a car of this age - any model.

Wire Repairs

Here's my tailgate wire repair in progress. It's definately a weak point for xantia estates. I shall bind the wires for extra stability, and leave the top part of the outer rubber black sheilding out of its slot to promote better wire slide.

UPDATE: I cleaned the green algae out of the tailgate recesses the day after... as well as behind the headlamps and alongside trimming.

fog lamps
How do i get this bulb holder out? Is it a separate bulb? Accessibility isn't an issue. I think it may a sealed unit. Handbook only describes kind that has a popout fog light frame in the bumper, and separate h3 bulb.


paintwork
Been looking the paintwork over with a wet cloth and some magic ingredients: Here it is after a good wash down with wax remover (soda crystals) and a bit of t-cutting.

[Citroenmad]

I think with the fog light you just turn the plug/bulb holder in the back of the slight slightly one way, it will only go one way. Or this is usually the case anyway.

Its looking very clean 8)

[CitroJim]

All credit to you there John, a lot of very good work done 8)

It should sail the MOT. I have a belief that a well presented car that has clearly been the subject of a lot of dedicated work in the recent past has a head-start and gives the MOT man a good first impression. Minor infractions that might result in a fail on a scruffy, unkempt car are likely to be passed by or the subject of an advisory rather than an outright fail.

Looking forward to hearing it's all gone through. Then take a ride up here and we'll Lexiate it for you...

[John Plum]

I have a belief that a well presented car that has clearly been the subject of a lot of dedicated work in the recent past has a head-start and gives the MOT man a good first impression

I do too. A kind of sensibility of a village policeman...with understanding of the driver and their sense of responsibility and workmanship/quality control.
With my BX the local MOT man who, like most, was breif and to the point, still made a point of telling me after with admiration: Gosh ! Do you do this work on the car...and then went on to approve of all the points of my extra care - particularly the deoxidising, and the state of the rubbers and cleanliness, ..while pointing to all the bits he'd seen. He said it's rare to see that kind of care these days.

The encouragement from the community here has helped as much as the advice which is considerable to me, whilst taking over a new car. Thanks.

[John Plum]

The fog-light bulb holder is out. Turn it 90 degrees clockwise - not the usual anti-clockwise for screws. I found it easier to apply the force from above, after unclipping the indicator lens above...the holder lies plainly within reach below. You can also see how a slot dictates it must turn clockwise - you can't see this looking from below.

[John Plum]

The Piece of Paper on the Windscreen:

If you look at the picture of the car a couple of posts back, you'll see this notice in the windscreen:

Dated: Friday 9th October 2009:
Citroen Xantia, Reg No. W*****

Tenant: ****************************

NOTICE: This Car is not illegally Parked!*
Recently Aquired Vehicle awaiting Documents. Car Tax is not available to until corrected log book is received.

DVLC Reference: Friday 9th October: 12:48 pm
Informed DVLC : - Log book arrived with error in Owners' name.
Action: DVLC To send out corrected Log Book, to arrive by post by 23rd October .
Name of DVLC Officer : Kate - section/desk No. 422

* N.B. NOTICE in case of REMOVAL:
Any person or company who removes this car, shall be liable to a a recovery fee of £1, 000. Any letters in persuiance of the preceeding, shall be charged at a cost of £500.00, or phone calls £10.00 per minute.


Signed: _________________________________________
John ********************

[John Plum]

New radiator is ordered. £102 inc. delivery from Autocool. It is a slightly unusual one.


That should cure the leak as well as stop-leak filler.

I would like to use the OAT technology antifreeze. I wonder if it'll be OK with gaskets that have been used with the old blue/green stuff?

[CitroJim]

Hi John,

I have edited your windscreen notice. Too many personal details.....

[John Plum]

Thanks, I see, a too-swift mistake.

[CitroJim]

Hi John,

I'm in receipt of your sick blower module. Fault confirmed as a Collector-Emitter short on at least one of the transistors. Will repair ASAP and get it back to you in a similar timescale. Sadly, I cannot do so this evening due to dad's taxi work but should get a free-run tomorrow evening.

[John Plum]

Glad its in your hands.
No pressure, car runs without.
Drop rods and radiator came today. Drop rods are on. Radiator tomorrow. MOT Friday am.

[lexi]

I found with the new rad John that if bottom hose bayonet is not in VGC it`s best to bite the bullet and get a new hose . It is expensive but ensures an easier and more permanent joint as nobody wants to go in there again. Nice blog and well done with all your work.

Will be a fantastic tool that car when finished.

[John Plum]

Thanks Lexi. Well, the old hose is still in position. If I had had more time...

The blower is working beautifully now, and I've been driving around for two weeks since passing the MOT. Unfortunately, my local exchange knocked out my asdl broadband for over a week and couldn't post or read.


The car is driving well now that....
I sorted out the brakes and hydraulics, which entailed new discs and pads, new spheres all round, and a fix to the diver side abs ring, the diagnosing and fixing is detailed in this topic http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=28573. The symptoms had involved pulling to the left and both small (nitrogen) and large (air) bubbles in the hydraulics, along with pulsating through the brake pedal when braking, as well as abs coming on all the time. I am really grateful to all who contributed to that, and so helped me.

I also took a look at the alternator belt, which squealed a lot, and found it to be slack with a shorter (than specified) belt fitted, and the automatic tensioner faulty. The tensioner needs to be replaced shortly, though I have tightened the belt with the eccentric tensioner, and it's quietened down. I got good help here in this topic : http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=28670

New wipers were a joy to use in warm cabin. The car is watertight, and I drove through a couple of deep - about 2' - tunnel floods, with height set to max.
Managed to get some genuine roof bars, and found they didn't fit - too wide. Disappointed I drove half the load to the other side of London, and then discovered that the front bar is wider than the rear bar: they do fit afterall!

I have a nice car set up to run with loads of renewables fitted.

The process of filling some scratches by building up with acrylic paint and rubbing down is well on it's way. Then it'll be ready for a final cut and polish.
The rubber fuel priming bulb is badly cracked and developed an air leak with my testing. I temporarily bound it with tape, and that fixed it OK for the time being, as it wouldn't start. I felt like just removing it. I guess I can

It's been intensive and hard at times. I am on top of it now, it's been worth it. It would have been much easier if I had been able to do so much work indoors indoors, and if I had known xantias before I had begun! It's great to be sure. The questions drove me a little crazy, not as much as the ordering did, and the constant re-setting up a work space, and sorting the tools. Having taken a much needed rest from all that, I feel quite lazy about the car now. My children like the car. I had one booster seat, and used a cushion for second, I should hope that's legal , and as good a solution.

I have two jobs upcoming
Replace a driveshaft outer sphere and alternator belt tensioner. Also, replace the gearbox oil on a lexia machine. It's running on hydraflush right now, so that'll be to replace in about 1000 miles. Feels slightly twitchier with that blood. I noticed the car sunk overnight at the back when filled with a heavy load. The flush is doing it's work at the moment. I may have to turn y attention to the anti-sink valve in the future. I guess I'll also turn my attention to the engine mountings and cam belt, when those are completed.


I imagine all the things to do will be delayed by winter and moving to the North of England. Anyway, The parts are arriving, and I like it one thing at a time, again!