Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

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Mandrake
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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white exec wrote: As commented above, it's unbelievable that it's taken 20 years to spot this. Lack of coolant in a PSA engine is a pretty serious matter, as we all know. The implicit mention of Coolant Level monitoring in the Owner's Manual seems a bit naughty, and could lull anyone into assuming it was actually there!
If nothing else, this discussion has served as a public service announcement to all S1 V6 owners to warn them not to be lackadaisical about regular coolant level checks! :twisted:

The V6 is renowned for split coolant expansion tanks leading to coolant loss, fortunately that usually only results in the coolant dropping to the bottom of the bottle rather than draining to a dangerously low level, (due to the location of the leaky seam) however a radiator leak like I just had, a leaking de-gasser bottle, water pump, hose etc could result in all coolant being lost with no warning apart from overheating and maybe a puddle on the ground - if you're not driving at the time!

I fancy myself very lucky that the leak was noticed on the ground at home, after a very short drive, and not after returning from a 100 mile round trip. And it was only noticed because I went back outside again shortly after coming home to dispose of a dirty nappy. :rofl2: Overnight the puddle may have evaporated leaving no clue...
Simon

2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1978 CX 2400
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CitroJim
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Mandrake wrote:[ And it was only noticed because I went back outside again shortly after coming home to dispose of a dirty nappy. :rofl2:
You have a lot to thank you little 'un for there Simon ;)

Who'd have thought a dirty nappy could have been so valuable!

I had a split rad in a V6 just like you and it was me noticing a puddle that saved the day too although as it was an S2 I may have got a warning, eventually...
Jim

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white exec
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Every old Citroen deserves to be Pampers'd.
Chris
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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I have to issue a massive SORRY....I looked to quickly....It DOES have THREE WIRES

In fact there are TWO GREEN and a red (or pink) wire and a THREE pin sender.


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Alasdair
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Mandrake
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Stickyfinger wrote:I have to issue a massive SORRY....I looked to quickly....It DOES have THREE WIRES

In fact there are TWO GREEN and a red (or pink) wire and a THREE pin sender.


Image
This is the LHD V6 Activa ? So the mistake may only be on RHD ? Looks like yours should work then...

Interesting to note that the connector is also the type with the spring loaded clip that you can press with your finger - mine is of the type with the small wire clip that you have to prise up with with a screwdriver.

I didn't realise these two different types of connector were compatible with the same sockets ?
Simon

2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1978 CX 2400
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Yes...LHD Activa v6
Yes...a spring press clip
March 97 production
Alasdair
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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white exec wrote:Every old Citroen deserves to be Pampers'd.
:lol:
Jim

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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Stickyfinger wrote:I have to issue a massive SORRY....I looked to quickly....It DOES have THREE WIRES

In fact there are TWO GREEN and a red (or pink) wire and a THREE pin sender.
lends some credence to my theory that they may have known but decided to chance nobody noticing on the small number of RHD S1 V6s produced before the S2 came along...

The cost of changing the loom may well have been uneconomic and servicing warranty claims for cooked engines may have worked out cheaper...
Jim

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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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CitroJim wrote:... but decided to chance nobody noticing on the small number of RHD S1 V6s produced before the S2 came along...
and a somewhat greater number of 2.1TDs.
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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xantia_v6 wrote:
CitroJim wrote:... but decided to chance nobody noticing on the small number of RHD S1 V6s produced before the S2 came along...
and a somewhat greater number of 2.1TDs.
That's true! Forgot for a moment this also applies to the S1 2.1TD... :oops:

Oddly, they weren't so prone to splitting their expansion tanks as the V6...
Jim

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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Now that the coolant level sensor topic is well and truly beaten into the ground I thought I'd mention something new. :twisted:

I've just noticed that after the car spending a full week sitting up on high suspension the front ride height has dropped somewhat. #-o

It's a fairly obvious change now that I look at it - I'd estimate its dropped about 20mm. It's still correcting the height just fine so isn't seized, but the height it corrects to is wrong.

I'm assuming that the clamp on the rollbar must have slipped slightly ? Strange, because I always do those clamps up pretty darn tight because I know they are under a lot of strain, and I've never had this happen before...
Simon

2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Have you given it a good drive around since Simon? That might settle it but otherwise it's an odd one..

Can't see the clamp having slipped as they're normally very snug but its extension arm may have bent slightly and when I say slightly I mean very slightly as it only takes a tiny movement to make a big change in height - relatively...
Jim

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Mandrake
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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CitroJim wrote:Have you given it a good drive around since Simon? That might settle it but otherwise it's an odd one..

Can't see the clamp having slipped as they're normally very snug but its extension arm may have bent slightly and when I say slightly I mean very slightly as it only takes a tiny movement to make a big change in height - relatively...
Uh oh. I wonder if the link rod is rusty and has started to "twist" slightly at the welded joint when under strain ? It might be on the verge of snapping. I replaced the very rusty rear steel link rod and clamp some time ago but the front one is original.

Perhaps I better get it up on the stands when I get a fine day...

Yes it's had some driving - I first noticed the ride was a bit low from the stance of the car and the way it rode - it seems to be staying steady at the new lower height.
Simon

2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1978 CX 2400
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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Mandrake wrote:Uh oh. I wonder if the link rod is rusty and has started to "twist" slightly at the welded joint when under strain ? It might be on the verge of snapping.
Definitely worth a check Simon...
Jim

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Re: Simon's new Xantia V6 blog

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All good on the car front so far. The coolant level has not changed at all since the radiator was changed, and its done a good few hundred miles since then, probably more. =D>

The low ride height at the front was starting to annoy me as any big dip in the road was causing it to bounce gently off the low limit snubber on the strut, and the car could be quite fidgety on rough surfaces as well, as was noticed during a trip through Glencoe last week! Not to mention the headlights were too low making it hard to see on the return trip in the dark...! [-X

So on Sunday I got out and adjusted the height. It turns out it was 14mm too low - that doesn't sound like much but correcting it has made a word of difference to the ride, it no longer keeps nudging the lower limit snubber and feels a lot more composed and steady, and the headlight aim is much better, which you wouldn't expect from a change of only 14mm. (!)

It turns out the clamp whilst not loose wasn't that tight either, it was loose enough that I could very well see it slipping slightly when the car was left on high for a week putting additional strain on the clamp. I'll have to take responsibility for not tightening it enough as I have played with the height setting on at least two previous occasions and must not have tightened it enough! #-o It's good and tight now and the height is perfect within a couple of millimetres so that's it sorted. :)

No sign of rust on the roll bar clamp link rod which is a relief.
Simon

2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1978 CX 2400
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD