I should've known .......

[Prilliant03]

Well, the honeymoon was never going to last more than a couple of weeks.

My Xantia HDi 110 has decided to throw up 3 problems, all within the space of a few days.

Most worrying was a substantial fuel leak from underneath the car when I filled the tank to the brim. It looked like a good couple of litres on the forecourt of the filling station, rainbow pools wherever I parked the car, and a very annoying trail of diesel left behind until I had driven almost 100 miles. As a motorcyclist I'm extremely aware of the dangers of diesel leaks, so this must be sorted as soon as possible. In the meantime I'll be forced to avoid using the tank to full capacity. Does anybody know of any particular areas of weakness in the fuel tank/filler neck? I've not been able to aquire a workshop manual for the car yet, so apologies if I'm asking obvious questions. I did a search but failed to find anything definitive.

I'm also getting the legendary curry smell from the vents when the heater is blowing, so I'm guessing the matrix is leaking. Doesn't seem too bad just now. No major steaming up and coolant temperature is nice and stable, but definitely going to be a big job to tackle in the near future. The only real hassle is I have a drive to Glasgow and back booked for the coming weekend. Might have to invest in some Forte stop leak as a temporary measure.

FInally, my LHM pump seems be clicking every 10-15 seconds as opposed to the 30 seconds I was expecting. Ride comfort seems to be fine and the car lowers and rises as expected (if perhaps a little creaky). Am I right in suspecting the accumulator might be at fault? In the meantime I'm watching the LHM level like a hawk.

Apologies for the long post. I think I have an awful lot to learn about these cars

[DickieG]

The fuel leak could be coming from a few obvious places worth checking, the first being the seal between the tank and the in tank pump/fuel sender, particularly if its been disturbed, lift up the base of the O/S/R seat then remove the large black plastic bung, another place worth checking is the fuel cooler under the O/S floorpan in case its been grounded or the tank venting pipes.

Matrix, well as you've described it really.

Your description does sound like its the accumulator sphere that is low on pressure and needs replacing. LHM level will only go down if you have an external leak or a sphere diaphragm ruptures which allows more LHM to be stored in the sphere.

[Prilliant03]

Thanks for the quick reply. The fuel leak was definitely towards the offside rear of the car so that gives me an idea where I need to be looking. I'm thinking it's unlikely to be the fuel cooler as the leak only appeared on filling the tank to the brim and seems to have stopped now that I've driven 100+ miles. It would stand to reason that the leak is related to the fuel level. Hopefully the leak will be repairable. Really don't fancy having to splash out on a new tank.

The heater matrix will have to wait until I have a free, dry weekend. It sounds like it more of a long job as opposed to especially difficult.

The sphere can wait until after the Glasgow trip. It'll give me a good opportunity to get under the car and get my head around the hydraulic system

[Xaccers]

If the accumulator sphere needs replacing then I'd replace the rear one too (known as the anti-sink sphere) as that also gets overlooked and testing it's state accurately in situe is not really possible.

[CitroJim]

On the heater matrix side of things, you're lucky it's an HDi as you have lovely, easy access to the matrix elbow connector Only the V6 is as easy in this respect...

You're right, it's not a demanding job of intense skill, just long and tedious...

On the rising and lowering, are the creaks at the front and is the front a bit jerky going up and down? If so then the problem is dry struts. Put on high, pull down the strut gaiters and lightly grease the exposed strut pistons with thin grease.

The gaiters are a bit of fun to get on again. Lubricate the ring on the strut top where the gaiter fits with a drop of Vaseline and gently 'screw' the gaiter back onto the ring until it's secure. There's a bit of a knack... Just use your fingers and don't be tempted to use any sort of tool or you risk tearing the gaiter.

If the creaks are at the rear than your trailing arm bearings are likely on their way out. Another sign of this is excessive negative camber (/-\) on the rear wheels.

[Prilliant03]

What a fantastic forum! LOads of great info to help me make a start on this. Hopefully I can sort the fuel leak out today and get an accumulator replaced before the saturday drive to Glasgow.

The heater matrix will have to wait, but some stop leak should keep it from doing anything too nasty in the meantime.

Thanks again guys. Much appreciated.

[Homer]

The fuel leak sounds like the breather pipe on top of the tank.

IIRC it's a tank off job to get to it.

[Prilliant03]

The fuel leak sounds like the breather pipe on top of the tank.

IIRC it's a tank off job to get to it.

Oh bugger!

I can only hope you're wrong on that score

If the tank needs to come out then it'll be going to my local specialist for the work. I don't have the space to take on such a big job.

[Prilliant03]

Sphere and tool have been ordered so fingers crossed I'll have them before the weekend. Looking forward to getting stuck into this job. I do love a challenge

[citroenxm]

I would NOT of thought it would be a breather... Is this the first time you have brimmed the car??

My bet also would be the seal between the plastic retainer "Screw Nut" and the sender... As they are an electric pump they have a but of swirling when running, and they do leak when full if the large ring has been disturbed.. Theres never a way to tell if its sealed untill the tank is filled.. Seeing as it goes after a hundred miles its quite likely, as asked above, you have had the Fuel Pump/Sender replaced recently???

That ring needs to be damm tight!! Even when its screwed tight its not always tight enough...

Ive just done a HDi heater matrix this week on a 110 SX.. you do need to move the air con pipes to get at the elbow, but caution is needed here.. I have sussed a way to get them off, with a large screw driver, place it BEHIND the elbow, then CAREFULLY and I mean carefully apply light pressure behind the elbow while holding the spring clip towards the passenger side, and ease it out! They are tight.. I must Disclaim though.. I WILL NOT BE HELD responsible for breakage of the elbow! They do get brittle and break easilly...

There are a few more tips for dooing them not in the fashon of the BoL too...

Paul

[Dommo]

My technique for tightening the big plastic nut/ring on the top of the fuel tank is to get two big flat bladed screwdrivers, or a blunt chisel, or a mix of the two, and if possible get two of you, both pushing the ring clockwise but 180 degrees out from eachother, that way the ring doesn't become tight from being pushed all wonky, it only becomes tight when it's actually tight.

[CitroJim]

I've seen on here somewhere someone describing a tool for the tank ring made out of MDF. Basically it looks like a big open-ended spanner that goes onto the ring vertically and sits between the peripheral ridges. Using such a tool as this, which can easily be made with a jigsaw and a rasp, there's no worry about getting the ring nice and tight.

Paul, your method of removing a matrix connector is risky and you are wise to issue the warning you have! I've tried it twice and it's ended in tears every time.

I'd much rather the two-person tug-o-war method as I've described earlier... That's when one person in the engine bay holds it steady and another person inside the car tugs on the section of pipery left after disconnecting the matrix inner flange joint...

[lexi]

I've tried it twice and it's ended in tears every time.

Why? Does the screwdriver jump off and hit you in the goolies

I HATE the sound of the acc sphere ticking and always change it right away. I feel it is doing the pump no good.

[CitroJim]

I've tried it twice and it's ended in tears every time.

Why? Does the screwdriver jump off and hit you in the goolies

You're right about a flat accumulator sphere lexi - it does the pump no good at all, or the pipery between it the the pressure regulator. It might not even do the pressure regulator a lot of good too...

[Prilliant03]

Sphere arrived from GSF today/ Less than 24 hrs from ordering. Very impressed. Now just awaiting the tool. Might yet get this done on friday. Would love to have this all done for the Glasgow trip on saturday night.