Missing earth strap

[elma]

My Xantia is missing one of the bonnet Earth straps. Would this potentially cause the car to make little pinging noises for a few minutes after the engine is turned off? The strap will be replaced soon and I shall find out but I'd like to know if I need to be thinking about anything else at the same time.

[electronmirror]

I'd say it's unlikely to be anything to do with the earth strap. More likely to be a hot part of the exhaust system cooling down immediately after the engine is turned off.

Before conversion to the French way of driving I had a VW Mk2 Golf Gti. This did the same thing even after replacing various parts of the exhaust system as they rusted over the years.

[Stickyfinger]

my car only has one earth strap....

[Gibbo2286]

There's usually only one, it's normal purpose is to stop engine interference transmitting to the radio antenna and ruining your in car entertainment.

[HDI]

There is only one, on the nearside. Although there is a bracket on the bonnet hinge on the other side, I've never seen a strap fitted to that.
I would guess you have a petrol engined Xantia, the pinging will be the exhaust cooling down. Petrol engine exhausts run hotter than diesel.

[elma]

That's weird as I've had 6 Xantias before this one and they all came with 2 earth straps. Everyone so far has been a mk1 1.9td. I'm not convinced it's the exhaust making the noise, it rapidly moves around the whole front end like it's under microscopic machine gun fire.
I'll have to get the stethoscope out and investigate.

[HDI]

I have a Xantia 2, so they may be different. I still can't imagine a missing earth strap causing that problem.

[CitroJim]

In my experience I've only ever had V6s and Activas 'ping' after a good run...

I must admit I love the sound...

One missing earth strap will make no odds...

[elma]

I think mine does it a little too readily, not it's biggest problem by any means. I'll not be seeing it again for a couple of months now and I'm thinking about it quite a lot. Considering how long I've owned this car I'm spending far too much time 300 miles away from it.

[CitroJim]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder James and when you are eventually reunited it'll be very good indeed...

If you ever need a Xantia-shaped fix, give me a call and I'll come down to see you with bike in the back I'll go off for a ride whilst you and one of mine spend some quality time together

[lexi]

V6's ping and crack quite a bit. Massive heat of cat and pipes. Vel Satis did it as well..........double cats.
Everything takes a pounding with the heat under there. Rubber, leccy stuff the lot. When you are under them on a hot day with engine running, it is like a sauna when the fans come on. Hopefully that is what it is James.

[elma]

I do have one fan not working plus a chunk of the exhaust down pipe outer skin / heat shield missing, maybe this causes it to be more pronounced.

Jim, I'd love to see you and a Xantia, please do visit in the new year when you have time. I've noticed the National Motor Museum is nearby, I think we'd enjoy a good look around after you've done some 2 wheeled exploring. Romsey, my local Town, is beautiful I've only had a little exploratory walk but I think it has enough to entertain us both for more than one visit.

[chinkostu]

My Xant had 2 straps, both broke so replaced with battery earth cables. Made no difference, the alarm stopped working about the same time the straps broke but made no difference when i replaced them!!

It's worth noting the bonnet probably earths through the hinges anyway!

[elma]

It's worth noting the bonnet probably earths through the hinges anyway!

That's an excellent point. Just to satisfy my curiosity I'll be checking the resistance of the hinges, latch and straps when I'm reunited with my car.

[Stickyfinger]

Lol....the bonnet weighs the earth that's for sure ! ...best thing I did was fit gas rams