Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[elma]

Turns out it was slightly catastrophic, I ended up back in hospital. My GP has gone bonkers and said I should have basically been house bound for another 2-3months. Funny because he was more than happy to sign me back to heavy work about a month ago. No choice now though I must go to Swindon or its no food, no house and no heat.

Greens being true to her Citroen pedigree. The temperature gauge fixed itself yesterday while I was going around the car greasing and oiling bits. It displays randomly -11 to -80. Explains why I've felt so cold outdoors I guess.

Shes also having some gremlins with the old rear axle. We're getting bum in the air or bum to the floor, nothing in the middle. The rears always been a bit slow on green so I'm off for a look now. Hoping for a popped/broken clip but have a horrible suspicion I'll be a manky height corrector. It will go to the top and bottom on the lever which is what makes me suspect it's not the plastic arm.

I have to admit though I have been hammering green on the track up to and past the house. It's all legal because its my neighbours land and he doesn't mind. My mindset is to weed out the issues here and now before I find them halfway down the m6. It's an amazing vehicle off road, with the m+s tyres it goes everywhere the 4x4s do at twice the speed. I think the farmers eying it up a bit because he keeps asking about the suspension.

[Xantianut]

Ay up, Elma!

This does indeed sound like a problem with the bone. On ol' blue, I found the balljoint had popped out of the corrector mechanism so was able to weld it back in. Hope this is the case with Green.

[elma]

I'm writing this under the car. Thankfully just the plastic clip is off, no damage. Popped it back on and back to resting. Happy days.

[CitroJim]

Glad it wasn't 'I'm writing this under the car because it's sun and trapped me - HELP!!!' LOL

If it popped off it might have a hairline crack and might pop of again...

Was it hard to pop back on?

[elma]

Yes incredibly. Unfortunately the cars even worse. Front now sits at low and the rear goes high or low. Rechecked and the clip is still on. Prity fed up, giving up before I put a hammer through the car.

[CitroJim]

Have a rest and look at it tomorrow James.. It'll all be good then

[Pshemsky]

OK, done. Just quick Hi from new member. I went through whole blog on one go and found lots of interesting information and tips - subscription on :]
I'll follow thread and wish You all the best with mighty Xantia !

[Xantianut]

Ay up, Elma!

Sounds like a seized height corrector linkage as well. This happened on both the BX16TRS and the Xantia. Give it a goodly squirt of your favourite de-seizing compound (I used WD40), leave for 20 mins and reapply as necessary. Took 3 attempts on the BX but the linkage did free off.

Easier than changing the %&£$!!!!!

[elma]

Hello again, I've had a little bit of a holiday. Back now and a fair bits gone on whilst I've been away.

Thanks Pshemsky by the way, blogs back on so hopefully something interesting for you.

I've finally got Green on the road at the beginning of this week. The work wasn't documented as normal so I'll probably miss loads but theres still plenty more to do. It's been a really nice car to work on compared to a car bought up here, seems that Kent corrosion is far more gentle.

So, whats actually been done so far?

Firstly a basic service of air filter, fuel filter, oil and filter.

The problem with the rear height corrector was the next I dealt with. I used 2 metal zip ties to hold the balljoint onto the height corrector and it's been fine ever since. It did get a good lube while I was down there too. The car decided to sit stupidly high at the back anyway, maybe 100mm between tyre and arch. I ignored that for a little while and swapped all 4 centre spheres from Red to Green. Still sat high so I adjusted the rear height back down to one finger afterwards.

With that out of the way my next concern was the poor starting and huge amount of white smoke emitted from the exhaust. I wasn't happy spending a penny on the car until I sorted this. I'd already swapped the glow plugs and controller from Red and tested them so they were eliminated from my thoughts. The sound on was definitely injector orientated so I swapped them between the 2 cars and fitted new leak off pipes. Reds turned out to have been reconditioned and labelled accordingly, Greens were black with soot and looking past their best. An immediate improvement was made however there was still smoke present and the car hunts on 1 cylinder rather than 2 or 3. I then went for the in tank fuel filter which was actually spotless. This is as far as I have got now but I worked out a few things doing the next few jobs and have a good idea whats going on (I think).

The next lot of problems were just simple mot fails. The washer motor, o/s foglight, mirrors and strut tops were all transferred from Red. Probably other bits as well that I've forgotten about. I bought 3 new wipers and used some fish tank bubble hose joiners I had to repair the hose to the front washers. I have 2 small oil leaks that I though might fail the mot so I blended them into the filter to look like I did a messy oil change, naughty I know but I love this car and will fix every issue as I can afford to. Needs must, I live up a dirt track up a mountain. I ordered a new tyre as well to replace the one I blew out on the track in the snow.

I changed the front brake pads next, they were half worn but not evenly. The discs weren't perfect, ideally I'd have replaced them but that'll be later. I had my first real headache with the front callipers as the pistons span but refused to retract. With a little pressure I got them back enough to fit the new pads but I wasn't happy because they weren't retracted enough for if I had new discs as well. Opening the bleed nipple and letting a little fluid into a bleed hose solved this. I was surprised as I've never had to do this to a Xantia in the past, but it worked so I shan't complain. With the pads done I was finished working on the brakes and suspension so I emptied the LHM, had a good clean, refilled with hydra flush and bled the system. That has gone well except the lhm reservoir is leaking out of the rubber gasket, this has been 2 cars in a row now that do that to me. Both with clean filters, not overfilled and a new gasket. A quirk I guess.

Cambelt and water pump were next. I took the tensioners from Red as they were virtually new and bought new Gates cam and aux belts plus a water pump. Fitting the lot only took me about a long half day this time, I think I'm getting used to it. Finding that the engine could be turned over without removing the glow plugs or injectors helped a bit. I'm quite concerned about that though, the engine starts to build up compression then just lets it go to early at to low pressure when turned by hand. It was rebuilt 45k ago by the previous owner and I need to check a few things now. The only other minor issue was the aux belt was impossible to get on even with the tensioner fully in. I had to undo the alternator and pivot it as well in order to get the belt on.

I don't think I did much else. My attitude was I know theres a few potential MOT fails now but I can't afford to fix them all so I'll take it in, see what fails and fix them for the retest. I took it in and it failed on a loose O/S drop link and a worn out O/S front wishbone bush. I had that sorted with the wishbone from Red by lunchtime the next day and retested the morning after.

It's been a nice feeling car to drive all week, needs work still to be right. Last night an intermittent fault with the Hydractive turned into a permanent one. The switch occasionally would go out (the illumination) and the car would stick in hard mode (no buzz or click at all). I thought this was a switch fault as tapping it would fix it. Now it's just off, I've only got as far as checking the fuses and they are fine. I shall replace the switch, check for power to the brain and possibly switch the ecus between the cars.

My other concern is with the engine. I want to compression check it asap and I'll be checking valve clearances first day theres no rain. I also need to replace the fuel hoses and clips as the fuel leaks back, I'll get the filter housing and a primer bulb at the same time. The turbo doesn't really do its stuff very well either so I'll be taking the cap off the pump and making sure the little plunger is freely moving. I'll also replace the pump vacuum hose and have a poke at the waste gate actuator. I suspect there are no problems except the hose here and it's a compression issue but best rule it all out.

Everything else left to do is sort of cosmetic.
I have a list:
Swap aerials, sunroof, steering wheels, rpm sensor, door seal, o/s driveshaft between cars. Also get the remote locking working on 2 keys, replace rocker gasket, front centre sphere, thermostat, sump gasket and clutch(full kit).

If I can get to there I think I'll have a really decent car for a sensible price. It stands me at £270 today not including tax, mot or insurance.

[CitroJim]

James, that's some good work you've done there. You've been busy so you deserved a holiday

The smoke and compression issues may be related to valve clearances and are worth a check as the XUD has the odd quirk of having he tightest clearances when the engine is stone cold. The colder the tighter!

[lexi]

Excellent James. 2 things I adhere to now on brakes. I always loosen the bleed nipple to push pads back. I think it is best practice. I also use the easy bleed, rather than over stretch the seals in an old Master Cylinder with excess pedal movement.
How is your health?

[CitroJim]

Excellent James. 2 things I adhere to now on brakes. I always loosen the bleed nipple to push pads back. I think it is best practice. I also use the easy bleed, rather than over stretch the seals in an old Master Cylinder with excess pedal movement.

Good practice on conventional systems but happily, neither is necessary on a proper hydraulic Citroen system

[BenC5HDi]

Yes. Simply have the pedal held down with a broom handle and open the bleed nipples. The pump will do the rest. It's so very easy.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[elma]

Strangely it was necessary on green, hopefully not next brake change. I expect they weren't bled last disc and pad change from the state of the lhm and air in the hoses.

Healths improving all the time Lexi, thanks for asking.

[elma]

Hydractive woken up, it was just a simple case of swapping the switch.
Next most pressing problem is OS driveshaft, it's real noisy. I'll be removing reds for cleaning and inspection today, fitting to green tomorrow.
I hope to measure valve clearances tomorrow as well, feeler gauges have been found now.
The police don't seem to like green much, I'm getting stopped constantly at the moment. I've done more alcohol and drug tests than an Olympic athlete.