Big weekend of Xantia love. Back on the road!

[mirafioriman]

That's true, when I bought them I wasn't totally sure they would fit my car but I guessed I could sell them on easily if they didn't.

As an aside the stop light went out considerably quicker this morning and tonight. When putting it all back together I put a jubilee clip on the tank outlet to the pump. Perhaps it was drawing air before?

[citroenxm]

Well they should.. i fitted a set from a T reg 1998 series two onto my L reg 1994 Sx a few years ago.. the only one to watch are the V6 as they have bigger diameter strut piston and the activa...other wise all the same..

[411514]

Thread hijack: I have heard a lot about rusty stut tops on xantia's, is this a problem that afflicts c5's too. Around the suspension sphere mounting (is this the strut top) of my c5 is some relatively severe and extremely localised rust, the only rust on the car, sam

[citroenxm]

The outer parts of C5's tops do rust, but the problem with the Xantia tops is the rubber coating UNDER the wing which over time sucks water in, and then it sits there and rots the metal, its like an inside out action then its too late once you spot the rot.. The C5 tops appear to be constructed differently, theres no where near as much rubber under the arch to suck water up..

mirafioriman, the best thing you can do now with those new tops is complete COAT around the under the wing all around the edge of the top where it sits against the body with under seal, and stop the water getting sucked in again over the next 10 years....

[mirafioriman]

Thanks for the tip I will protect them next time I work on the car.

Another point (that I didn't get a photo of) was that both bottom ball joints were in good condition, with the passenger one looking quite new. It must have been replaced at some point.

[ashy90]

What did they do to the MK2 1997 onwards Xantia strut tops? These don't seem to fail, or rust anywhere near as bad as MK1 Xantia's, am I correct? Or perhaps they are indeed all the same, it's just the MK1 Xantias are of of course older...so had more time to rust?

[citroenxm]

Mk.2 xantia are 1998 onwards... the tops do appear to last a bit longer but they do suffer the same. ive just broke a 1999 W reg car that had 300k on it. yes 300k.. the rubber had all peeled away and the base plates are rusty But there was no day light through the metal and will still after a bit of attention serviceable...

yet Im working on a 1997 P reg vsx estate with 155k and the drivers strut top is shocking.. i can see through from the top under the bonnet to the floor!!!

[Mandrake]

My 1997 Series 1 Xantia had serious signs of rubber deformation underneath the strut tops when I bought it in 2005 - eg only 8 years old, and it had only done 139,000km (86,335 miles for you guys ) and was otherwise in excellent condition. (It spent the first 3 years in Japan, then 5 years in New Zealand)

The replacement strut tops purchased new in 2005 and fitted by the seller were considerably more beefy and robust looking as far as the rubber block was concerned. Clearly some sort of redesign of the rubber block there with a lot more rubber. Whether that only applied to late model replacement parts after the Xantia had ceased production, or whether the more beefy rubber block design was introduced as an original part in the Series 2 or later in the Series 2 run is unknown.

[citroenxm]

It looks to me like a Series 2 mod from 1998... The S2 tops Ive seen to look thicker.. However, it doesn't stop the rubber de-laminating as a recent S2 breaker showed me.. Despite rubber de-lamination theres still pleanty of plate thickness left..

[mirafioriman]

More done this weekend

Oil and filter replaced along with a new genuine Citroen sump plug and copper washer Hopefully this will sort another oil leak out

Also did the fuel filter (last done when I got the car over two years ago

Next on the list is a cam belt replacement while I replace the front crankshaft seal to hopefully cure yet another oil leak

One question what oil grade is recommended for my 1994 (L) 1.9d non turbo Xantia?

[CitroJim]

10W/40 diesel stuff should be fine. I use 10W/40 diesel oil in all of my cars as I get it in bulk from Costco...

[mirafioriman]

Thanks. My local factors supplied me with 5W/40 fully synthetic which I don't think I used last time. Anyway it's in now so it will have to do!