stopped for 5 min. temp gauge in red..................

[john]

and a red STOP on the clocks, along with a bleeping

this if the best pic i can get, it flashes off and on



ive checked the coolant, its between the min-max but brown as hell



also checked the oil, again its between the min-max but removing the cap it looks a tad dry





so what is that all about? i only bought the car today (cheap enough) and did 100+ miles no problem, this all started when i stopped when i got home.

[citroenxm]

Water brown as hell indicates NO anti freeze, which will cause all sorts of unwanted issues in the cooling system. The brown is rust from the block, and it will collect in the smaller water ways and narrow water flow. Its also possible the Temp Sensor/ High emp sensor switch is chocked up or something and giving a false reading.

Idealy it needs a drain out, a BLAST with a good hose, till the water runs out clean from a bottom hose or the drain even from the bottom of the rad..

Once the water is all clear refill with a good anti freeze to about 40/60 mix, Ive done 50/50 with no ill effects before now.

As for oil, looks like its not been changed for a while, and also too many short journeys in a petrol gives a Mayonase sort of emulsion in the oil, because it doesnt reach operating temperture to dry out engine internal condensation. Thats what it looks to me..

[john]

so the high temp reading could be caused by 1 (or both) of these.

[citroenxm]

Possibly.

I had a temperture reading issue on a C5. It kept beeping at me and reading into the red.. HOWEVER, the top hose was always cold. It also threw the cooling fan on maximum overdrive.

It ended up being a faulty temp sensor in the thermostat housing on the side of the engine.

Looking at the colour of your water, thats a very good sign of an un healthy cooling system.

[spider]

I'd go with the temp sensor too, as it may well have one for gauge and one for 'too hot!' which will bring the stop light on amongst other things.

[addo]

If this is the Y-reg 1.4, it'll be multiplexed (came in with late X-reg) and probably EGR'd so only one sensor and the oil? "They all do that, sir."

Needs a head gasket and light service; nothing too bad. Maybe new tappets (couple of quid the lot).

[john]

If this is the Y-reg 1.4, it'll be multiplexed (came in with late X-reg) and probably EGR'd so only one sensor and the oil? "They all do that, sir."

Needs a head gasket and light service; nothing too bad. Maybe new tappets (couple of quid the lot).

yes it is a y-red 1.4, took another look today (cant remember seeing an EGR), as it has an oil leek i removed the rocker cover







now its done a few miles but it looks kind of dirty in there to me (im no mechanic though)

also had a look at the air filter as im going to change it and there is oil on the inside of the filter housing but not on the filter, is this normal?

[citroenxm]

That oil doesnt look to black to me... it looks ok really..

The water is the most important.. oil leaks from tu rocker covers are common. Useually new gasket and re fit should sort it..

[john]

sorry i meant the colour of the tappets etc, i think its from more than just the rocker cover judging by the amount of oil on the engine.

[spider]

No EGR on those as far as I know. Some later 1.6 (I think 1.6) have a curious air pump arrangement that can cause problems, easily thrown away though without any detriment.

[john]

If this is the Y-reg 1.4, it'll be multiplexed (came in with late X-reg) and probably EGR'd so only one sensor and the oil?

it appears to have 2 sensors in regards to the oil, 1 on the back of the block (oil pressure?) and 1 under the oil filter (you can just make it oil though the oil).

[addo]

The round one pictured is your knock sensor.

Are there one or three plugs around the thermostat housing?

[john]

cant say off the top of my head, i'll report back later (car is in my lockup a few streets away).

[addo]

If you have the VIN it will enable this to be easily determined. X is the changeover year.

[john]

well its a y reg and i have the vin, how much of it do you need?