May I ask some advise please Gentlemen ???

The Seasider · Post by **The Seasider** » 19 Jul 2010, 00:48

Ok ...Long Story ..... Potted version .....

my "Normal" vehicle is a L322 Range Rover but recently I've had to "Ferry" my Mum around (Shes 92!!) Getting her into a Rangie is ... well a NON STARTER!!!

couple of weeks ago I'm off walking the dog on the beach & pass my "pensioner" (Gordon) neighbours house hes out "Twiddling" with his 99 HDi Xantia... Being polite I say hello & he says "I'm leavin I've had enough of this damned Counrty I'm going to live with my son in Greece, You fancy buyin my Xantia"????

"Oh Yeah" say I "I'll give yer £125 fer it" ......."STORMIN" says Gordon "Heres the keys pick it up when yer ready & stick the cash thru me letter box"

OH DEAR!!! I was only being polite!!!!!

Gordon managed to stick it under the rear end of a HGV truck bout 3 years ago (Been repaired (BADLY) Car is white & has a black bonnet & mk1 bumper & grill) Air Bags gone off Steering wheel stuck down wiv Gaffer tape!!! .... Looks like a Taxi from Bradford!!!!!

Anyways I thinks Well it'll do fer ferrying Mum around ....SO.. to the problem/s ..

1. Brakes are errrrr a bit SHARP!!! (to say the least)

2. "Dogbone" not attached ( looked under it using the bathroom mirror!!!)

3. height adjuster not workin (Obviously)

4 rear end in orbit (I needs a set of steps to reach the boot!!!)

5. Rear Sus sits at high ALL THE TIME.. & then quite randomly drops to LOW .... (leave it alone fer 10 mins & start her up & we're back up to high again

6. SRS light flashin constantly (due to the air bag)

MOT is due 8th Aug ..........QUESTION ......

IS IT WORTH doin???? ... Car has 77K on it FULL CIT history & 1 owner (Gordon) before me.

Car returns AMAZIN MPG.... £20 get me just shy of 170 miles (Puntin about town, hospital, shops ect Back & forth) .. Car starts first time EVERY time .. I have the feeling if I parked it under water ther damned thing would fire up & drive outta there!!!!

at £125 if I had to scrap her it wouldn't cause the NAT WEST Bank to fail now would it !!!

Your EXPERT opinions would be greatly appreciated ...

Cheers Fellas

Keith

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 19 Jul 2010, 01:10

Seems like a decent £125worth actually. Sounds familiar too
- something like it surfaced on eBay a short while back IIRC.

Yes. Citroen brakes work properly as they're intended to so yes they'll
be sharp if you're used to other marques of car!

The rest by your own description is down to the rear height corrector
being awol with the unlinked dogbone. May just respond well to TLC and
some lubrication of the mechanism without costing you a penny!

Sort it and then you can fix the airbag issue by trawling eBay and maybe
even treat the car to a nice straight White bonnet! In the end you'll have
a good car - perfect for your Ma!!

Fix it but if not, I'll buy it off you for £125!!

Andrew

The Seasider · Post by **The Seasider** » 19 Jul 2010, 01:30

andmcit wrote:Seems like a decent £125worth actually. Sounds familiar too
- something like it surfaced on eBay a short while back IIRC.

Yes. Citroen brakes work properly as they're intended to so yes they'll
be sharp if you're used to other marques of car!

The rest by your own description is down to the rear height corrector
being awol with the unlinked dogbone. May just respond well to TLC and
some lubrication of the mechanism without costing you a penny!

Sort it and then you can fix the airbag issue by trawling eBay and maybe
even treat the car to a nice straight White bonnet! In the end you'll have
a good car - perfect for your Ma!!

Fix it but if not, I'll buy it off you for £125!!

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

See, this is what I like ........... People who live in the same world that I do !!!! Whilst I was writing my first post ... it made me stop & think ... "what the hell have I got to lose here ... eeerrrr NOWT really.. I'm gonna chuck it in fer an MOT tomoz mornin & see what sticks to the wall by Lunchtime

That Ebay thing Andrew... it MAY WELL be THIS ONE Gordon did put it up there but some goon wanted to remove the engine whilst it was still parked on his drive!!!!! ( & probs leave the rest there as well !!!)

You gotta smile at the cheek of some people !!!! .....

RIGHT THEN ...DECISION MADE .... Chuckin her in fer the Motty tomoz// will post back tomoz nite on the outcome .....

If I get only 1 sheet of RED PAPER then out come the spanners!!!!...

Thanks Andrew......

Keith

EDIT*****

1 thing I have noticed is the brake peddle has "ACRES" of play in it ....(By that I mean if I put my foot UNDER IT I can raise it about 3 inches!!!!.... I move my foot & it drops back down again ....)

THOUGHTS ??????

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 19 Jul 2010, 01:38

Will echo Andrew there, most of those issues can be attributed to the rear height corrector. Clean it up, get a new dogbone (if it's popped off, it may be worn - they are about £3 from dealer, for the cost of a new one it's worth it) make sure the corrector moves freely.

At this point I must stress the importance of having the car supported firmly. Under NO circumstances venture under a hydraulic Citroen without being ABSOLUTELY sure it cannot shift, especially as you are working on the height corrector. Hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs...

As for the 'play' in the pedal...this is once again, normal.

Good luck with the MOT

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 19 Jul 2010, 01:44

For the brake pedal, I'd say how it feels being depressed is more important
as long as it doesn't drag. Put it another way, it must be alright as you say
the brakes work sharply!!

Least you're not afraid of the red sheet!! Helps you know where you stand for a start...

It'll be interesting to see where things pan out for you.

Andrew

dieseldoggy · Post by **dieseldoggy** » 19 Jul 2010, 02:23

Welcome to the world of Citroens etc and the forum.
Please dont forget that the handbrake is on the front wheels??? Plus can only reiterate whats written above as if you start playing with the height thing on back end and underneath you will find out pretty sharpish what a citroen bear hug is like if not supported.
Theres a few places underneath that an axle stand will be ok and many will help you out if not sure?

It will fail on the airbag light etc you could just plonk another wheel onit or just the bag but do find out abit before changing/disarming it!.BANG! oops

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 19 Jul 2010, 10:09

Brake pedals lifting up miles is perfectly normal on these motors too!! They all do it!

What a bargain - a HDi engine for 125!! They can fetch upwards of 200 with that low miles and service history! Even more so if its a lucky 110bhp version! Two hoses at the right side of the engine next to LHM tank..

Paul

The Seasider · Post by **The Seasider** » 19 Jul 2010, 11:11

Dieseldoggy ..... NO it won't fail on the Airbag light .. (SRS is a "NON TEST" item) ....My rangie has had its "AirBag" light on fer 3 years ...& passed 3 times...

I used to think as you SRS=FAIL!! it doesn't .....ABS= FAIL OH YEAH!!...

When you think about it just how the hell COULD you "TEST" an SRS system ......Ram the car into a wall & watch the bag go off!!!!

They'll POP IT UP as an "Advisory" nothing more...

Paul.....Just checked ......YEAH it HAS got the 2 hoses !!!! so its a 110 eh??? .....

I ment to mention before ... when I first collected it it had 3/4 tank of diesel in it ... (Probs about £50!!) ....so in real terms it cost me £75 !!!!!!!!

Well. just booked it in at the local MOT station ..... Mark ( the garage owner) said ...."Oh you've got this now have yer, I've MOT'ed this fer 4 years Taint much wrong with it"......

9AM tomoz mornin ........Will keep you guys advised on the outcome ....

Keith

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 19 Jul 2010, 12:41

you jammy bugger!! desireable engine the 110bhp 8v.. IMO the BEST hdi engine... not the 16v problems with injectors, they do come out easyer!

Thats good with your MOT man! If he knows the car should be ok.. By the way.. Air Bag lights ARE NOT part of the MOT test, so in theory he cannot fail it on the Air bag light!!

Good luck!

Paul

davetherave · Post by **davetherave** » 19 Jul 2010, 14:28

I think i have a spare airbag under my stairs if your interested!

The Seasider · Post by **The Seasider** » 19 Jul 2010, 16:05

davetherave wrote:I think i have a spare airbag under my stairs if your interested!

AH!!!!!....... MUSIC TO MY EARS!!!!.....YES PLEASE DAVE!!!!....I'll PM yer later with my details mate...

The Seasider · Post by **The Seasider** » 20 Jul 2010, 12:47

OK Fellas .....Are you ready fer this ...................

IT WALKED IT!!!!!! [running round the garden here like Beckham scorin at Wembley!!!]

FLEW THRU .... NO ADVISORIES.... NOTHING...NOT A SAUSAGE!!!!!!!

Even Mark (the Tester) didn't believe it .... It looks like a CHICKEN SHED!!!

The bonnets BLACK, The Bumpers are GREEN, the paintwork is Flat as a Fart the Suspension has a mind of its own, The air bags stuck wiv Gaffer tape...

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 20 Jul 2010, 12:58

Congratulations - so maybe treat it to a facelift now!?
It'd be worth it by the sounds of things.

BTW, if you don't mind going to Hull and back

:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Breaking-Citroen- ... 0600786761

Andrew

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 20 Jul 2010, 13:14

thats most odd as the suspension if stuck in high or right down low should have failed the, as no movement in the suspension is a fail,

that is if you had not re/conected the doggybone before the MOT,

regards malcolm

The Seasider · Post by **The Seasider** » 20 Jul 2010, 13:23

citronut wrote:thats most odd as the suspension if stuck in high or right down low should have failed the, as no movement in the suspension is a fail,

that is if you had not re/conected the doggybone before the MOT,

regards malcolm

Hi Malcolm

Aint it amazin what you can do with ZIP TIES these days!!!!