Modding my Xantia.

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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by myglaren »

Giulietta, lovely name :)
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Dommo »

Deanxm wrote:Koni produced special lowering spheres for this purpose back in the day, they were yellow.
Seriously, did they??

Speaking of Cavaliers I've seen four all in the space of a week, I'd not seen them for ages and ages and then 4 came along this week, all looked half decent too, not just your typical run down shed.

My dad had a Vectra for about 10-11 years, took a bit of rust and a ruined clutch for him to finally send it to the skip, he really liked it, he said it was good on fuel (1.8 16v), but I put that down to the ruined clutch which he drove with for about 4 years - it was so bad that any more than 1/3 throttle and it would start slipping - or engage kick down as my dad called it :lol: . Handled like a bag of s*** too, I used it a number of times to go to uni when my 306 was off the road and it used to suffer from absolutely rediculous understeer!
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Deanxm »

yep i had a cav sri, understeer like a pig but every now and again they decide to snap oversteer for reasons i couldnt understand, only car i had that would lift off understeer at almost any speed too :lol:

I believe, if the rumours are true, that a certain well known member of this forum owns a few koni lowering spheres, they are real its not a joke or anything Dommo :-D

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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by CitroJim »

myglaren wrote:Giulietta, lovely name :)
That's it Steve :-D Still can't pronounce it :oops: :lol:

Mike, you see here how a thread on this fair forum can drift well off-topic and I'm sorry that as a new member you've seen one of yours go the way so many do on here!

It's all quite normal and to be encouraged :wink: Take no notice and enjoy the ride :-D

We 'do' off-topic like no other forum on the Internet :)

On some other forums the Mods would be down on it like a ton of bricks...
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Monkee-Mike »

Hi Dean.
Im unsure if its the hydractive how can you tell...sorry I'm a bit of a noob on the suspension system..previous two cars were fiat Stilo...yep the skip lol and a ford focus Tittanium 1.8 petrol s**t a cornering unlike my xantia..and to be honest with you I've never ridden in anything as comfy or as fun in my life :-D
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by CitroJim »

Monkee-Mike wrote: Im unsure if its the hydractive how can you tell...
Very easily Mike. Look at the front strut tops (the thing the sphere screws into) and if they have a thick 10mm pipe going into them that soon becomes a short length of heavy rubber pipe then you're Hydractive. Non-Hydractive cars have thin 3.5mm pipes going into the strut tops.

Generally only VSX and Exclusive spec. cars were Hydractive, along with the Activa.
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Monkee-Mike »

im enjoying the off topic chat, your all giving me sound advice on the upkeep and update of my car not that it needs much updating as the styling still fits in with todays models (the french thinking ahead) gonna attempt fit some day lights at some point not the silly dame edna around the headlight style but the 2 that sit under the grill :-)
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Monkee-Mike »

Its the non hydractive its only got the 3.5mm pipe coming out. After looking under the bonnet looks like i need a new sphere the one at the front in the middle is looking a bit tatty and looks like it hasn't been replaced for a while the ones on the struts are pretty new.
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by myglaren »

CitroJim wrote:
myglaren wrote:Giulietta, lovely name :)
That's it Steve :-D Still can't pronounce it :oops: :lol:
Giulietta is pronounced joo-lietta, not jee-oo-lietta or ghioooooleee etta
:-D
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by CitroJim »

That'll be your accumulator Mike.

Looks can be deceptive and the only sure way is to pressure-test it on a test rig. Sometimes spheres that look like old cannonballs can be perfect and those that look pristine can be as flat as the old proverbial..

Two tests for an accumulator:

1) with the engine idling listen for a characteristic 'tick' from the Pressure Regulator just behind the accumulator sphere. The tick is the sound of the regulator cutting in and out like a thermostat to regulate the hydraulic pressure at 170bar. The ticks should be spaced at least 30s apart. If the regulator ticks like a ten-bob watch then the accumulator is flat or ruptured and must be replaced at the earliest opportunity as without it you have, for one thing, no reserve of pressure to operate the brakes when the engine is not running. This is now an MOT failure.

2) Just after running the engine for a while switch off and then sit in the tailgate. The rear will sink down under your weight. Carry on sitting there and if there is a good reserve of pressure in the accumulator (i.e. it's healthy) then after 15 or 20 seconds the rear of the car will lift back up to normal ride height. Similarly, if the accumulator is good there’ll be enough pressure left to correct the ride height back down again when you get off the tailgate and the rear rises well above normal ride height.

If you need to change it there is a good guide in the 'Supersticky' area of this forum...
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by CitroJim »

myglaren wrote:Giulietta is pronounced joo-lietta, not jee-oo-lietta or ghioooooleee etta :-D
Excellent, thanks Steve :-D It's an even nicer name when you know how to pronounce it :wink:
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Deanxm »

I think it should just be known as a Julie, simple, compact easy to spell, done.
And yes, the Julie is a nice looking car.

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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Harry1975 »

what have you done to the engine ? I have an Xantia 1.8 16v. just done the head gasket and new idol speed sensor and boy its made a BIG improvement ! but have no idea on how to get more power out of her, or any mods that can be done to Xantia petrol engines. I did take mine to be tuned a few years ago to a boy racer garage, but they told me there was nothing they could do. TBH I think they could not be arsed as it was not a scuby ,evo or an saxo.
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Timmo »

the alloys on the white Xant on ebay are indeedy Venoms, mid 90's Uber popular wheel, late 90's Uber Unpopular wheel!!! should be able to pick them up for next to nothing if you can find a set,

have a look at Cituning, as they had loads of kits for random frenchies, inc morrette quad lights for the car, or the XM that had 6 optic morrette's!!! they may still have something left over!
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Re: Modding my Xantia.

Post by Rhothgar »

CitroJim wrote:
Rhothgar wrote:Don't run a Series 1!
Why not? Should we all run a Series 2 then Roger? :lol: :lol:

I'm sure you mean 'ruin' and I quite agree. The Italian styling houses are the tops when it comes to timeless and beautiful car design. I'm never sure if Bertone or Pininfarina are my top favourites. I think Pininfarina have it - just.
Yes. Well spotted Jim. It was a typo!

Pininfarina have designed some ugly crap in their time and some reasonable stuff. Peugeot 406 Coupe was one of their best. Name another nice car they've designed. Forget Ferraris!

Lest we forget - Marcello Gandini worked for Gruppo Bertone and designed the Lamborghini Countach LP500S, Miura, Lancia Stratos and Citroen BX (Citroen BX?).

He left Bertone in 1980 and the BX was not launched until 1983. This means he must have designed it sometime in the 1970's. It was well ahead of its time, design-wise, when it was launched and it is easy to see the similarities with the Countach - mainly the angularity of the bodywork. Shame they didn't produce it with gullwing doors!!!!!
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