Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[Mandrake]

I knew that was too easy - after placing the order, choosing next Monday and paying, I've now got a phone call to say that they don't have the window in stock (not surprised TBH, not many Xantia's still around!) and that they'll have to back order it and they can't give me an estimate at the moment of when they'll have it in except to say it won't be next Monday. Argh! MOT clock is ticking away...

[myglaren]

You might be lucky and just get an advisory for it.

[Mandrake]

You might be lucky and just get an advisory for it.

For a crack that's over 12 inches long and a second crack that's 6 inches long ? Nah, I doubt it....

If there is going to be a significant delay waiting for the window I'll just go ahead and fit the spheres and give the rear brakes some TLC, and possibly also fit the front suspension arm in the interim.

[RichardW]

Make sure you get a tinted one as well - I had a non tinted one fitted to one of mine, difference was amazing!

[RichardW]

The manual is a bit vague on the windscreen subject.... it says 'damage more than 40mm' in the swept area, but then also says 'Failure for damage is only justified if the damage significantly affects the driver’s view of the road. You do not need to consider the effects on tall or short drivers. ' so there must be an argument that a single crack, although longer than 40mm, if it is out of the driver's line of view, shouldn't be a fail. Depends on how the tester is feeling.

I have a few MK2 dash switches here, but not an AC on - they are different part nos, but if you think they could yield useful bits let me know!

I also see I have an air bag.... there might have to be a 12V vs Air bag event for a laugh!!

[Mandrake]

Make sure you get a tinted one as well - I had a non tinted one fitted to one of mine, difference was amazing!

Not sure that I'll get a choice !?

Are the original factory windows tinted ? Can't say I've noticed. They claim they replace with a window that is OEM so I guess we'll see.

The manual is a bit vague on the windscreen subject.... it says 'damage more than 40mm' in the swept area, but then also says 'Failure for damage is only justified if the damage significantly affects the driver’s view of the road. You do not need to consider the effects on tall or short drivers. ' so there must be an argument that a single crack, although longer than 40mm, if it is out of the driver's line of view, shouldn't be a fail. Depends on how the tester is feeling.

I have a few MK2 dash switches here, but not an AC on - they are different part nos, but if you think they could yield useful bits let me know!

I also see I have an air bag.... there might have to be a 12V vs Air bag event for a laugh!!

The large crack radiates from the front lower left corner diagonally up towards the middle of the window right through the swept area of the passenger wiper blade.

No, it doesn't affect my visibility for driving in any meaningful way (and I have been driving the car the last few days anyway - a couple of test drives in preparation for longer trips in the future, given that it's been off the road so long, and a few rubbish dump runs!) however it's a structural weakness - the crack has doubled in length in only a couple of weeks and seems to be growing even when the car is parked presumably due to hot/cold cycling. (I've marked the end of the crack a few times with a marker pen only to see it move a day or two later)

At the rate the crack is growing it will be half way across the windscreen before the MOT is due!

So there's no way I would take it in for an MOT when it's that bad. I should take a picture of it, it's comically large and growing...

Re the switches - while the switches are all different I think the bulbs and the little holder for the bulbs are the same apart from the colour filters, but if you have one that was of the same colour (green) then I could probably swap the bulb and the holder/colour filter over.

Failing that I'll try the LED mod - although it's probably a fiddly little job to retrofit an LED as I may have to retain the legs of the original bulb so it wraps around the little posts properly.

They certainly don't make the bulbs in these switches easily user serviceable!

[Stickyfinger]

I would have a chat with the tester and show him all the correspondence from the glass suppliers/payment details etc before the test/day before ?.....he may accept that and give an advisory (to cover himself)....easy to accept delays on such things with older cars..... and hope he is a reasonable man/woman/person/them/it/frying pan/that/thing

[xantia_v6]

MK2 switches have LEDs I think, not bulbs.

[Mandrake]

MK2 switches have LEDs I think, not bulbs.

Retrofitable to a Mk1 switch ?

[xantia_v6]

I don't know, I think you would need to swap the whole switch, but I don't know if the pinouts are the same.

[Gibbo2286]

Try one of these, used one before with success.

[Mandrake]

Try one of these, used one before with success.

Unfortunately it's not just a crack (two cracks actually) there's also a thumb sized chip that has separated on the top layer right in the corner of the window - I think this has been there all along as it connects with the white fogging in the glass I've pointed out previously.

It really does need a new glass!

[DHallworth]

Well done on the heater matrix, Simon.

When mine started to leak I chickened out and paid BL Autos to do mine. A few years later the scuttle panel came unstuck from the windscreen on the passengers side and let water into the footwell so once the scuttle is replaced and the new screen goes in, keep an eye on it and make sure it’s not lifting from the screen.

I’ve been waiting for a new windscreen for the C6 for 6 weeks now. AutoGlass have advised that it’s on back order. I called Citroen who confirmed that it’s on back order but currently has no date for delivery on it

Hopefully yours comes in quickly for you to get it MOT’d.

David.

[Mandrake]

Well done on the heater matrix, Simon.

Not a job I ever want to do again...

Probably the worst, most frustrating job I've ever done on a car.

When mine started to leak I chickened out and paid BL Autos to do mine. A few years later the scuttle panel came unstuck from the windscreen on the passengers side and let water into the footwell so once the scuttle is replaced and the new screen goes in, keep an eye on it and make sure it’s not lifting from the screen.

I’ve been waiting for a new windscreen for the C6 for 6 weeks now. AutoGlass have advised that it’s on back order. I called Citroen who confirmed that it’s on back order but currently has no date for delivery on it

Hopefully yours comes in quickly for you to get it MOT’d.

I don't think it will to be honest. The MOT runs out on the 9th of August but I need to get it tested before then as its difficult for me to take time off work after that. I phoned them to chase it up after a week and they still have no ETA but assure me it is on order but from a different supplier than usual. (I wonder if they could be sourcing it from somewhere crazy like SAIPA in Iran ??! )

I fitted the new anti-sink sphere and accumulator sphere a few days ago - no problems there however in the process of testing I realised the rear corner strut spheres were absolutely shot! Completely rigid at the rear bouncing on the tyres when the car is in the firm mode. Can't leave it like that so I bit the bullet and ordered the three rear suspension spheres and fitted them yesterday, again from Westeron. The hydractive sphere was IFHS branded, the corner spheres were original Citroen branded ones complete with the long part numbers!

Surprisingly I had no problem removing any of the spheres - all quite easy. I did spray the sphere/cylinder junctions a few days earlier with LPS1 expecting a real fight to get them off without doing damage, but it was all a bit of an anti-climax.

What a difference!! The rear went from completely rigid in the firm mode to having quite a bit of travel but with very slow rebound - as it should be. And the soft mode no longer "wallows", it's soft but well damped. Yesterday I did a couple of rubbish dump runs so I could marvel in the smoother ride.

I then switched it on this morning and I have an ABS warning light! This car seems to want to test my patience it seems! Payback for letting some of the maintenance slide the last couple of years...

Out with the Lexia and it says the front left sensor is faulty - I haven't even touched the front suspension. It seems to be a permanent/static fault as it comes back after clearing it without even driving the car. (which would be needed to detect a dynamic fault like worn teeth) Also weird is that none of the speed sensors report sensible values on the parameters display page - the front left reports 93km front right 56km and rear both zero even when the car is driving.

I can only assume that when a static fault (like open circuit sensor) is reported it goes into some kind of lockout mode where it refuses to provide any wheel speed data - either that or my ABS controller has died...

So I now need to quickly order an ABS sensor but I'm struggling with part numbers. Autodoc are listing two completely different Delphi sensors as compatible with the same car...

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/abs ... %5B1%5D=VA

One says the OEM number is OEN 4545.73 — CITROËN

The other says OEN 24.0751-1136.3 — CITROËN, OEN 4545.43 — CITROËN

Can someone help me out with the correct OEM number for the front left ABS sensor on a 1997 Series 1 Xantia V6 ? I think Series 1 and Series 2 cars use different sensors hence the confusion in the Autodoc listings ?

Sorry to keep asking for part numbers but I'm starting to panic trying to get everything on this car sorted before its test especially when I'm going to be away all next week....

[DHallworth]

That really is a bugger, Simon.

My Activa hasn't seen the road in 4 years now so I really need to get my finger out and get it sorted.

If you're going to park it up, wash it properly before leaving it so that there's no salt hiding in places where it can fester and cause problems. Cars in Scotland really don't like the salt and sitting around.

David.