Xantia pipe repair question

[superloopy]

Another xantia question if i may. ..... I know these cars are getting on in years now but my xantia (activa, not THAT many left i'd think) sprung a leak some time ago, was parked up and now needs to move in order to make a decision on keeping her or letting go. I have limited space to access as i stupidly parked her up near a house wall so nearside access is out of bounds, but am prepared to get underneath and take a look. I 'think' i have pipework and connectors in a stash somewhere but would appreciate a bit of online 'handholding' going forward. I'll check the car out as best i can but when it comes to turning her over there'll no doubt be no lhm in the tank. Does it matter at this point? I assume i need to have to put some lhm in to identify where the leak actually is, which i cant remember, think it was underneath front nearside. Obviously this will just let go once the system loses pressure and at that point i'll try and get underneath. It'll be a messy process, yes, but will running the car on no system pressure in this situation give me any problems going forward? Come to think of it, i will need a new battery first

[Stickyfinger]

It "should" only have leaked LHM from the leaky line so should not of drained the LHM tank down.......accept you will waste some LHM and start it to move it.

My advice, start it depressurized (select low and loosen the pressure screw before you start), move it to gain access....... REMEMBER ... NO BRAKES/No power steering/no lift !.....that way you will not be pressurizing the system and wasting LHM/covering areas with LHM making identifying the source of the leak much more difficult.

Fnt Near Side has a LOT of pipes......the LHM tank, ABS block, return octopus and main brake unions, safety pressure valve etc as well as suspensions pipes....access to that side of the car will be required and you will most likely need to remove the LHM tank to gain access to those pipes/area/unions. Also possible to be hard or soft (return) line or a return line joint.......

A lot depends of the model/year,engine of the car you have chosen to get going.....so which Activa would it be ??..............

We can go from there once we know if it is the Mk1 or 2 ....

[superloopy]

Thanks Alasdair, lots of useful info, appreciated. It's the mk1 i'm looking at and was hoping it could be 'just a pipe' that could be 'joinered' up so to speak in the interim. I just want her to run and not leak massively if thatmakes sense. Then, armed with a degree of confidence i could go through the rest and take a better look. I remembered that JIm had supplied a copy of Citroen parts and layout database which i used to identify parts needed. Think it needed a windows 7 vm setting up which i did. But, like the activa, that machine also bit the dust with no backup so i just lost interest as without a parts database (did we used to have service.citroen or some other named free website which was useful) its a massive struggle to see whats what. I'll get there this time though, i'm sure. Car is under cover having sadly lost her rear screen in a recent storm but heyho, i've found one which once i've got this running i'll take another look at. Sun is shining so whats not like up here! Thanks.

[Stickyfinger]

"Just a...."......well that will depend

The only way to know is to find the leak..........then you can decide to join (the main problem with that is gaining access in some areas) or replace the pipe, which can be MUCH easier..or harder depending on which system/where.

As said, move it depressurized..(No BRAKE/Do NOT use the brake)...then
Get it up on axle stands, really well supported/rears very well chocked on the rears on BOTH sides (frnt/back) of the tyres, frnt wheels off, empty two cans of brake cleaner into all areas, allow to dry then start and then pressurise until you see the first little bit of movement, turn off, then have a look.
If it is suspension you should see the leaks
If no leaks apply pressure to the brake peddle