Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

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HunterSteel
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Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by HunterSteel »

I wanted to buy a Xantia VSX Break from a guy in a different province from me, but he says there's an issue with the Automatic Gearbox.
The car apparently shifts nicely while cold, but when the car gets warm he told me there's no gears. As in, the car doesn't shift at all, no reverse or drive gears when put into reverse or drive.

This is the first time I've encountered a problem like this, my dad's Xantia V6 Exclusive is also an Auto and we've owned multiple automatic cars, but we've never encountered an issue like this. I wanted to ask here since mechanics in my country like to rip you off with service fees for even a simple diagnostic.

~Hunter
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by RichardW »

Welcome!

What engine does the car have? If it's a 2.0 then it's an AL4 box, and the problem is probably the valve block which can be changed with the box in situ, and is not that expensive. If it's a 3.0 V6 then it has a 4HP20 box, and it is likely knackered and needs a full rebuild (which involves removing the engine and box together).
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by HunterSteel »

RichardW wrote: 28 Aug 2019, 09:44 Welcome!

What engine does the car have? If it's a 2.0 then it's an AL4 box, and the problem is probably the valve block which can be changed with the box in situ, and is not that expensive. If it's a 3.0 V6 then it has a 4HP20 box, and it is likely knackered and needs a full rebuild (which involves removing the engine and box together).
It's the 2.0 version. Would we be able to get spares from a PSA garage? Or would I have to import them from France? The owner said he gave the box in for that exact problem, and the technicians didn't fix it from what his told me, so I'm also wondering if it can also be a fault with incorrect transmission fluid?

~Hunter
Citroens I owned or did own:
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD
Citroen Xantia V6 Exclusive Phase II
Citroen BX 16v
Citroen CX 25 Turbo II
Citroen CX 2400 Prestige
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by xantia_v6 »

Which 2.0 engine? If it is the Mk1 (8V engine) it will be a 4hp14 transmission, if it is a Mk2 it will probably have the 16V engine and AL 4 transmission which is completely different.
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by HunterSteel »

Its the 16v variant. I couldn't find any information on the gearbox while searching which is why I asked here haha

~Hunter
Citroens I owned or did own:
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD
Citroen Xantia V6 Exclusive Phase II
Citroen BX 16v
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Citroen CX 2400 Prestige
Citroen GS Club Break
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by xantia_v6 »

If it is an AL4, then we have some light reading for you... googlesearch?cx=000757428655895309399%3 ... itesearch=
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by HunterSteel »

Thanks for the reading, I couldn't really find a solution to my problem, and the problem just became more expensive as I don't own a Lexia to run diagnostics on. I'll have to see if anyone in my Province might have one and would be willing to run a diagnostic for me.

~Hunter
Citroens I owned or did own:
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD
Citroen Xantia V6 Exclusive Phase II
Citroen BX 16v
Citroen CX 25 Turbo II
Citroen CX 2400 Prestige
Citroen GS Club Break
Citroen GS Club
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HunterSteel
Posts: 26
Joined: 28 Aug 2019, 09:02
Location: Brits, Northwest Province, South Africa
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Citroen CX 25 Turbo II
Citroen Xantia V6 24v Exclusive
Citroen CX Prestige 1981
Citroen BX 16V
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD Break
x 3

Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by HunterSteel »

So update: The Xantia I am looking at is the Xantia VSX Mk.1 Break, this one does use the 2.0l 16v engine. But apparently not the AL4 and instead the ZFHP14 Box.

~Hunter
Citroens I owned or did own:
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD
Citroen Xantia V6 Exclusive Phase II
Citroen BX 16v
Citroen CX 25 Turbo II
Citroen CX 2400 Prestige
Citroen GS Club Break
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1975 Jaguar XJ-S pre-HE (NZ)
x 825

Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by xantia_v6 »

OK, if it is a 4hp18, then a different set of potential problems. There is not much published about these boxes, but they are very similar in operation to the larger 4HP18 of the same era.

One common issue is failure of the governor seals, which on the 4HP18 are fairly easy to replace, but I have read that on a 4HP14, the transmission needs to be removed to replace them.
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Citroen BX 16V
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD Break
x 3

Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by HunterSteel »

What oil must I use for the ZFHP14?

~Hunter
Citroens I owned or did own:
Citroen Xantia 1.9TD
Citroen Xantia V6 Exclusive Phase II
Citroen BX 16v
Citroen CX 25 Turbo II
Citroen CX 2400 Prestige
Citroen GS Club Break
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by GiveMeABreak »

It's all here on the Wiki - scroll down to the Gearbox Oil Section and you'll see it listed...

https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/wiki/Citro ... arbox_Oils
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by xantia_v6 »

I am pretty sure that the 4HP14 uses Dextron II compatible fluid. Check the specs to be sure.
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Total (AT42) Fluid from Citroen's chart.
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by xantia_v6 »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 29 Aug 2019, 19:28 Total (AT42) Fluid from Citroen's chart.
From the Total web site: https://catalogue-lubrifiants-elf-total ... UIDE-AT-42
TOTAL FLUIDE AT 42 est un lubrifiant destiné aux boiteS de vitesses automatiques. Cette huile répond à la spécification GM DEXRON®- III.
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Re: Citroen Xantia VSX Break Automatic Problems

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Same spec or equivalent then.
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Marc
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