Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

Unread post by **elma** » 10 Dec 2016, 08:12

I had a few surprises after picking up the Xantia yesterday. I took it straight to Asda for cheap bulbs, it actually has better lights than the Scenic does now and the Scenics just had night breakers. It stinks of coolant too, definite heater matrix judging by the aroma and condensation, need a tub of forte. It only just had coolant in the bottom of the bottle, I'm really annoyed as I told my friend it is likely to leak so check the coolant every day. I put a gallon in the boot and it's not been touched.

It didn't seem to be driving so well in the foul weather so I checked the tyre pressures, they had all dropped 5psi and the car was better after they were pumped up. The cheap h rated Chinese tyres on the front are lethal in the rain, dare to steer with any enthusiasm and you're straight into a slide. They have to go and soon, they are going to cause a crash. The tracking is partially to blame but these tyres are dry weather only.

While the bonnet was open I topped up the screen wash and checked the oil. There wasn't any oil on the dipstick at all, not good. I know it had a healthy amount last Sunday. It took 2 litres to put it back on the middle of the dipstick, I'm absolutely fuming about this and the coolant. I wil be having a word with friend today, he really needs the car at the moment so had better pull his socks up this week. The slightest hint of any more neglect and I'm taking the keys straight off of him. I'm all the more annoyed because he's a talented engineer with much automotive experience, he knows better.

Today I'm hoping to do the front pads but the fitting kit is yet to arrive so I'll be ambushing the postman. I've got a lathe on standby to turn the discs back to true and I'm really keen to get going. Hopefully if the fitting kit doesn't arrive today the rear wiper and instrument bulbs will so at least I'm busy and the cars improving. I can centre the steering wheel when I do the bulbs as its on one spline clockwise of centre. I'll have another go at my Lhm leaks too, from underneath this time so hopefully I can reach them. The jubilee clip on the accumulator return is facing into the engine and very awkward to get tools onto, I shall turn it around so it can be more easily accessed from above in the future.

The Lhm leaks are very important as they are probably connected to other issues. The car makes some odd noises when it pumps up the accumulator. It's ride isn't quite hydractive yet and the steering is heavy. I expect the steering is more likely a tracking issue but the pump leak can't be helping. While I'm underneath I'll be oiling up the steering shaft uj in case that's part of the heavy steering problem.

I'm a bit concerned that the oil leak is worse than I realised. I wish I had bought oil and loctite but it has to wait until Thursday now so probably 2 weeks until I can sort it. I can just afford some forte stop leak this side of payday so will endeavour to get some locally today, if I fail I'll order some online. It all feels like too much today, I'm eager to get some jobs done and make it all seem possible again. Welding is pencilled in for Friday which will be a massive jump and a boost for me psychologically. I must also fix the steering wheel cowling today, the left side split open last night when I pressed down on the cruise stalk. I was too tired to investigate in the dark but I expect it clips back together and needs a new bolt. Maybe not worth bothering until the instrument bulbs turn up.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 10 Dec 2016, 09:27

Forte Stop Leak has definitely postponed the need to replace the matrix on Gabriel James so hopefully a bottle will do the same for you too...

Those oil leaks must be bad if it drops that low on the dipstick so soon. That'll be the sump mostly I expect...

Hope all goes well with your planned work today....

Unread post by **elma** » 10 Dec 2016, 21:24

I ended up doing nothing to the car today except for driving it. The pad fitting kit has arrived but I couldn't do the brakes as I hadn't realised I needed to make an adaptor to hold the discs. The wiper arrived but isn't the Xantia one that I ordered, hopefully just a mistake as the advert was for the correct Valeo one. No sign of the bulbs so that's deferred to next week along with the cowling.

I couldn't find stop leak locally so have ordered some to my friends house and asked him to put it in on delivery. The Lhm leaks are the only thing I shall attempt tomorrow and possibly take the rear wheels off for a look at the brakes if it's not pouring down. I need to get rear pads in fast if the brakes need work for the mot as it is due in 10 days. Might as well aim to get all 4 discs trued at once if it is necessary.

white exec · Unread post by **white exec** » 10 Dec 2016, 22:00

Some days, all you can do Is plan for tomorrow!

Unread post by **elma** » 10 Dec 2016, 23:24

I usually do Saturdays plans on Sunday anyway. I'm always more worn out than I expect on Saturdays.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 11 Dec 2016, 10:06

Sorry to hear it was a bit of a disaster James... There's always today

Weather looks better too. It was bloody atrocious yesterday

Unread post by **elma** » 11 Dec 2016, 10:35

These things happen, I still really enjoyed driving it and I might even get the leaks sorted today.

Unread post by **elma** » 12 Dec 2016, 21:58

The leaks haven't been sorted and I have enlisted help for next weekend. We're going to try an under and over approach. The dash bulbs have arrived and are being fitted on Saturday, I'm actually looking forward to doing that. It should solve four problems relatively easily (2 dash lights, 1 gearstick light, uncentered steering wheel and cowling that falls off).

I did manage a really good wash, it looks funny because I covered it in wax. I don't care how it looks for now I'm just happy the body has some protection on for winter. The Scenic got a wash too and so did my friends Cactus, Scenics already grey again from one days use. Gold is a bad Winter colour.

The MOT is booked for 20th December so the pressures on to get the welding done this week. I don't think anything else on the car will actually fail. I'm inclined to not buy anything now except for engine oil until after the MOT in case it fails on something unexpected. I'd probably like to do the cambelt asap after the mot. I was saving it to be one of the last jobs but I'm feeling paranoid about it.

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 12 Dec 2016, 23:00

I wouldn't be too paranoid about the cam belt on the V6 if you can't get to it right away. It is a massive wide, thick belt and tough as old boots and seemingly rated with a lot of safety margin. You never hear about V6 cam belts going early or in fact failing at all. (Has anyone ever reported one failing on the forum ?) This is in contrast to other particular models of engine that routinely snap their belt before the recommended interval.

Mine is one year over the recommended 10 years but the mileage since the last belt change is only 1/4 of the recommended 80k miles so I think I'm probably ok for another year. Changing priorities around the house (renovating, a baby...) have forced me to push it back another year but I think I'll be OK and I'm not going to sweat too much about it.

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 12 Dec 2016, 23:02

I would also hold off on the cam belt change until you have had the manifold off to identify any top-end oil leaks, as to do the joint between the cam bearing blocks and the head, you need to take the belt off anyway.

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 12 Dec 2016, 23:06

You are taking a bit much on James. Take a step back and think slow and long term. Just one thing at a time.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Dec 2016, 07:07

Yes, agreed on the cam belt... I've not personally heard of one failing and as you say Simon, it's a massive old beast and for what it does it's relatively lightly loaded...

The jockeys and tensioner, especially the old dynamic tensioner - are well engineered and unlikely to fail early either...

For peace of mind I'd still like to get it done but no hurry...

James, listen to Uncle Lexi - he speaks good sense... There is no rush...

Unread post by **elma** » 13 Dec 2016, 07:10

Well thats a relief, everyone telling me to calm down is quite right. I'm like an excited kid at the moment and I've little time/energy for cars anyway. I thought the cambelt interval was 5 years which is about where mines at. I can't remember the mileage it was done at but I'm sure it hasn't covered 80k as the cars on 118k.

I definitely leak oil from the front bank on the air filter side but MOT and welding are the things to focus on.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Dec 2016, 13:18

elma wrote: MOT and welding are the things to focus on.

Yes, those are the important ones right now. Everything else can come in good time James... It'll be far more enjoyable if you take your time rather than rushing it and a cambelt change is definitely not a job to rush

Unread post by **elma** » 14 Dec 2016, 19:22

There is now a welder and regulator in the Xantias boot. I've got gas in the lock up, just need a suitable patch now. Must remember to put a bit of sheet in my toolbox tomorrow.

I'm now moving on Monday so must weld on Saturday, the cars going to catch me up next year. No sign of the stop leak yet and the car is being topped up daily.

It's run out of fuel this week but the gauge said it wasn't even on reserve. Apparently the needle floats around a bit suspiciously, I've not seen for myself yet.

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