Cold weather niggles

Stepto1 · Post by **Stepto1** » 20 Dec 2010, 10:03

My Xantia 1.8 16v starts great in the cold weather but my steering is really heavy and jerky till the car really warms up. Is this normal? I guess it's because the LHM oil is cold. Also my nearside door mirror doesn't defrost at all while the offside clears in no time. Any ideas?

Kind regards,
Stepto.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 20 Dec 2010, 10:11

RE: Door Mirror. The heated element behind the mirror could be broke, or less likely on passenger side, a broken wire between the door and pillar. But more likely to be the mirror glass...

Heavy steering. This can be because the LHM is due a change, system flush with Hydraflush, and re-fill with new LHM.

My HDi Xantia is currently like this, and needs the LHM changing.

Paul

Stepto1 · Post by **Stepto1** » 20 Dec 2010, 14:24

Just happen to have 5L of hydraflush waiting in the garage. Been meaning to do it. Found a good thread on here of how to go about it. Quite looking forward to doing it. I know my car was left standing for a few years and it's the last area of neglect I've not sorted out yet.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 20 Dec 2010, 14:33

Heavy steering can also be caused by the hydraulic pump belt slipping, the cold LHM puts much more of a load on it.

Peter

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 20 Dec 2010, 15:09

As said before Peter - Very Rare on 5 ridged Poly belts...

Certainly ones that have the auto tensioners on them, because these are Bloody tight...

Most likely poor LHM

Paul

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 20 Dec 2010, 15:22

Something else to add into the mix is the possibility of air getting in somewhere. I found on mine that I didn't clip up one of those hose clips on top of the LHM tank when I changed it back in the summer

Post by **Peter.N.** » 20 Dec 2010, 16:11

Keep forgetting about them Paul

the XM ones slip for a pastime.

Stepto1 · Post by **Stepto1** » 20 Dec 2010, 17:47

Thanks guys. As soon as the weather breaks I'll get the LHM fluid changed.

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 20 Dec 2010, 17:47

woke up to minus 10 degrees C this mornning this temperature stayed until about 2pm my 50/50 mix of diesel and vegetable oil froze in the fuel lines.

yes it is thourgherly dewatered and filtered right down to 1 micron, got the car started eventually preheating the plugs several times before starting, I am learnning albeit the hard way.

Stepto1 · Post by **Stepto1** » 20 Dec 2010, 17:50

I used to run a 106 1.5D on cooking oil. It ran great on it, better I thought then on normal fuel! I only had probs in the winter when I used a 50:50 mix. Never had it freeze on me though.

falling-out-with-my-car · Post by **falling-out-with-my-car** » 20 Dec 2010, 18:05

it has never in the 12 years i have lived here been minus 10 C

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 20 Dec 2010, 20:43

Peter.N. wrote:Keep forgetting about them Paul the XM ones slip for a pastime.

Yes Peter, I know that from the V6 12 and 24v's, and the SED as the Pump is on a V belt, and the altinator on a 5 Ridge Belt... untill the 2.5 came along, However, Ive a customer with a 2.1 N reg estate VSX, with a Xantia Setup, with anti sink... IE: Single 6 ridge belt and LHM pump down by the oil sump.

The only 2.1 Ive seen like that, with Bosch Mchanical fuel system.

Paul

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 20 Dec 2010, 20:49

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:it has never in the 12 years i have lived here been minus 10 C

It has been -8 almost all day today, we had no running water all day at work and the heating wasn't working. Really looking forward to the same tomorrow

My C5 has been no problems though, battling through the ice and snow admirably and warming up in no time, giving me a nice warm interior within a few minutes.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 20 Dec 2010, 22:48

Hi Paul

I have had four 'YBLs' all reg Jan 96' and they have all been different in some way, only the first one had a key pad, the others had differences in the auxilliary belt layout and sump, but as far as I remember they have all had a 'V' belt on the pump, so that one is unusual.

Peter

Stepto1 · Post by **Stepto1** » 21 Dec 2010, 09:57

Ok. Checked feed to door mirror with a lamp and it's fine. Best go out and by myself a new heated glass then. Any ideas?