charentejohn

On the 1.6l stop start front no problem, it is a 1.4l like all the others. Just a misprint in the ad, don't you just love it. That said the garage gave excellent service so no complaints, I preferred a 1.4 anyway. On the stop start, I believe it is a help in town as regards fuel and wear and tear on the engine. Better to sit with the engine off for 5 mins if not moving ? For me personally little or no difference as most driving is on open roads, brought the car back today covering 60+ miles. I only had to stop 3 times at junctions/roundabouts. A clever system and quiet to start as it is belt driven, no metal cogs. Here is another thought to consider, clever restart apparently stops the engine just before firing stroke on cylinders 1 or 4. When it restarts it just needs a nudge from the starter and bang goes the spark plug and off it goes. I think this may be less stressful at starting the engine ? but not sure. All computer controlled. The starter/alternator is (in France) about £250 and starter and alternator combined about £140 so a fair difference, but then again should last a while. Batteries are slightly more as more powerful. It can be turned off easily, it will work as long as the battery is charged but if A/c etc is on and draining the battery it will start the engine again. Given a choice for here I would not be bothered really but would like it if I lived in london for example. I don't mind as my wife's car is the same so we can, hopefully never required though, exchange parts. For example if I need a new starter alternator I will then have a spare to have recondidtioned so cheap if the other car needs one. Same for sensodrive parts.

Thanks, now I know it exists I managed to find where it is. Apparently under the passenger seat, latest question is why ? Can't seem to find what it is used for, if nobody knows I will ask at my local garage when next there as they will know. Maybe for emergencies if main battery dies to allow gearbox to monouvre itself into neutral ? Or just to boost the restart if necessary ?

I can't figure out what the second battery is, keeps being mentioned as the one on the gearbox but not shown anywhere. They may just mean a computer type small round battery on the gearbox ECU ? The higher powered stop start should help the sensodrive box anyway as they don't like weak batteries, takes some power to turn the actuator motors so a volt drop can upset the computers. My wife's car is due a new battery soon I think, always starts instantly but hesitated a few times in very cold conditions. First sign of distress and best to change it I think.

I can't get the Vin until sometime next week when the new logbook should arrive but will take a look then. I will post the details once I know them. Somebody in Ireland had one http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/citroen/c3/2005/ so maybe they do exist :) Sometimes they mess up in the ads here too, been some great ones. Often says Auto but is manual, I think as A is before M it says Automatic on the ad setup page and stays there if you don't change it. Same with bhp rating etc. Doesen't help to sell the car though as you think, if they can't be bothered to do that properly why should I want to see it.

Thanks, I did notice the stop starts were sensodrive only, french list is here http://www.lacentrale.fr/cote-voitures-citroen-c3--2006-.html I assume you could order one but few to none did ? I am not bothered about stop start as such as pretty open roads here so not of much value, that said it is ok once you are used to it and confident it will start instantly. I found the starter alternator online here and it is 150A, I assume that is to ensure plenty of battery charge and to turn the engine. The drivebelt is normal but these have an extra spring on the tensioner roller which I guess is to add extra tension to the belt when starting. It must be real as garages here are legally obiged to inform a buyer of any modifications even down to just replacing gearboxes etc. I think this also applie to private sales but am not sure. So basically the garage said it is a 1.6 stop start and they didn't mention anything not working so all must be well as penalities for not informing can be severe. When I went to look at it the first thing I said was I assumed it was a misprint as it must be a 1.4 but he assured me it is 1.6. Once I get a vin number there is someone who says they can find full details, even to colours etc so hopefully that will show what it is. You know what it is like, you buy a car and find it is a bit of a one off and you need specialist bits, I assume the only difference here is the alternator has to turn over a 1.6 engine instead of a 1.4. Just worried I will need the 180A version which noby has :)

Like I say I am the opposite and prefer these, just a matter of getting used to them as tyhey are different to an auto. I have fought the corner of sensodrive generally but I know lots of people have problems with them, but I am not one of them. Personal choice. Sill like to hear from anyone who has seen a 1.6 stop start though rather than a senso debate.

Sorry to disagree but give me a sensodrive anytime, I know prople don't like them but anything is better than an AL4. In your time did you seen a 1.6 Stop start though ?

I know there is at least one as I bought it a few days ago, I hope, here in france. They are doing the paperwork and expected in a week or so. Just checking this is possible as I can't find it in the equivalent of the Parkers guide here, perhaps so few sold not worth pricing up. From a main dealer a 2006 model which is just what I wanted but this is a stop start version. When I went to look at it I asked if the 1.6 bit was a mistake but apparently not. Just curious if there were many about, I assume from this that at one time you could order a stop start for 1.4 or 1.6 but 1.6 version not popular. I did see a review on Carsurvey for Ireland where someone reviewed one so there must be another. I guess for parts buying just a 1.6 senso but when it comes to starter/alternator it uses the same one as the 1.4?

Thanks for the reply and the warning on the spheres, I will check the reciept to see how many were changed. You are right it is a 1999 (pre 2000) model, I will check the suspension on monday when I go for a second, more critical, look at the car. 2000 Euro is about £1700 at the moment, I know UK cars would be about the £7-800 mark but import costs and depreceation here works against cars in this price range. New lhd lights would be £200, ferry and travel etc about £300 and a certificate of conformity about £100, so £600 in all. Problem is with the steering on the 'wrong' side the car would be worth about £5-600 here. Not a problem with expensive cars as the £600 is a small percentage and easily undone to return to the UK for resale if necessary. In fairness to French cars they don't change gear as often having more open roads here so less wear and tear, unless it comes from a town where I think they suffer more than the UK. Problem here tends to be dings and scrapes and prices based on year and miles and not actual condition, service history etc. I did consider that if I needed an engine and box it would be cheaper to buy a working car in the UK and break it for spares than buy a 2nd hand engine here.

Can anyone offer advice please. I am trying to buy a Xanti HDI and have found one locally (not easy in France, I am from the UK) which is generally ok. It looks well maintained if a little 'grubby' with only a few minor scratches. It has done 183k Km (about 115k Miles), timing belt done 32kKm (and 2 yrs) ago and spheres recently changed. The car had been sitting idle for a few days I think so this may explain the following observation ? Or not.... I drove it briefly and noted the following, it started ok, no smoke. After about 20 seconds the front rose up about 2cm, not much but it moved. Is this reasonable as I believe the no sink valve will allow some sinking over days rather than hours. My guess is the car could have been there a few days. How low should it have sunk in this time ? Looking at the car when I arrived the heights looked fine, just surprised to see it rise up, then again all others I have seen had just been running so I have nothing to compare against. Drove about 200m from cold down a twisty path in 2nd gear then open road from 1st to 2nd, when in 2nd got a puff of black smoke. Just happened once and otherwise running fine, no smoke when standing still. Could this also be the fact it had stood a while and had warmed up a little ? I believe they have a soot trap, could this have warmed up and the acceleration blew out some old soot ? Last small point is that the 'fasten seat belt' waring light was on but we had used them. I assume this is just a dodgy switch ? The light is the one next to the airbag one on the dash, looks like a large and small person wearing a belt so assume that is what it is. The seller seems a decent guy and the car is what we in the UK would call 'a good straight motor' in that is it reasonably priced for France (2000 Euros) and seems to work fine otherwise. I would appreciate any comments to help me decide if these could be warnings of future problems. Thanks in anticipation - John

New here myself but it may be possible to obtain parts from France, new or used. Search Google.fr for Pieces Xantia or similar. You could look up dealers / garages using Pagesjaunes.fr and e-mail them, using google translate to create or read the replies (they don't always respond). Many breakers yards here would have parts but I have not seen many Xantias in them, despite being loads of Xantias here. Not sure what part you mean but you could try the following. http://www.piecesvoitures.com/pieces-de-voitures/citroen-xantia-break-x1-2-0-turbo-147-cv/pieces-moteur/regulateur-de-pression-et-interrupteur/34.html http://www.mister-auto.com/regulateur-de-vitesse-citroen-xantia-break-x1_lf50_lo1457.html http://pieces-auto.oscaro.com They will be no cheaper here but they may have some in stock ?

Thanks for that, at least that gives a good starting point in that I can quickly check the rear linkage and if ok then it is probably the height corrector. I looked up prices here and the corrector is about 600 euros, linkage is 10 euros...... Always a risk buying a used car, in that I could buy this one with a known correctable problem, or buy a fault free one which could develop the same problem in a few months. Always a gamble but to some extent best the devil you know. Reading up on the suspension it seems it is very robust and generally reliable. A list of what various problems mean would be a help to all owners. I am sure someone has the information, or a group could compile such a list. Same as you get with a new machine, if this doesn't work check this etc. This would de-mystify the suspension system a bit. Here in France people do tend to either put cars into a garage for repair or scrap them. Some people repair their own cars so not always the case. It is possible that the seller considers the car not worth repairing so sells it, as he said, for the attention of a mechanic or diy'er. Ad. is here http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/199379192.htm?ca=20_s As long as the car is drivable in it's present condition (I can fix the problems over time) then seems a good deal. I will try a call to the seller to see what they say.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like the only way to know is to look at the car to see if any linkages are faulty. If nothing obvious then basically take it to a Citroen dealer, not ideal as not really possible when looking with a view to buying. Shame there is no list of case and effect with the suspension system. For example, if rear does not raise check x, if car sits on low all the time check y, if it sits high all the time check z. Basically that is what any mechanic would know / do when diagnosing a problem, i.e. frozen suspension but the rear does compensate for load so the problem is most likely to be............. Seems the answer is that if the suspension is stuck in one position then it could be anything really so only diagnosis is by a main dealer. I will give this some thought and may look elsewhere, shame really as I like these cars and hoped to become familiar enough with the suspension to do my own repairs of linkages height etc. Now not so sure.

Thanks for the information, very helpful. I have seen video of the pump itself and it looks to have 6? or so pistons. I assume that these are for different aspects of the hydraulic system, i.e. one for steering, one for brakes etc. In this case the height piston could have a problem, despite others being okay, which would require a new pump. Not the worst scenario I guess. At least a pump change should solve the problem and mean one less thing to do in future, I am looking for a long term project, something interesting and to keep for many years. Hence my not having a problem with doing general repairs. Also as long as the car drives correctly and is safe the fact of not raising or lowering is not critical, somthing I can sort out in time. Hopefully just a linkage problem. Not knowing the system can I just clarify, if the rear linkage is faulty then would that affect the whole car front and rear ? I will know by Sunday, hopefully, if the problem id front and rear or just rear. The seller's ad says it won't raise or lower which I assume means both front and rear, or he would have said rear won't raise or similar. The 2nd e-bay link is good and hopefully that is all it is, do you have a link to photos of where this is on the car ? It woild be a sinple thing to check. The Ad inplies that if one of these (front or rear) is broken then the entire suspension will not raise or lower - true or false assumption ? Again any advice appreciated.

Hope someone can help with this, was in the technical section but better here as it is a general question. I am in France (handy when buying a Citroen) and looking to buy a Xantia, mainly because I like the shape and concept. Here the autotrader equivalent is leboncoin.fr where I have found a car with 'frozen' suspension for 1,500 euros (price for a similar one with no faults is 2,700+. You can find it, and others, by searcing for 'Xantia hdi' in the 'Poitou charente area. So...... Any idea what this could be as I have tried garages with the usual 'bring it in and we will take a look' response. Not unreasonable as hard to say over the phone. However it is about 100 miles from me so I need to know if it is worth looking at. I have read other posts and it seems the pump should be ok as brakes etc work. Most likely based on these posts is that something is seized or a sensor has failed / jammed ?? What I need to know is what is the worst case scenario, and the best. This will help me decide whether to buy based on the cost of repairs. I haven't phoned the seller yet (language barrier) but a friend lives nearby and could do a preliminary viewing for me. Basically I often like to know the answer before asking the question, so it would be helpful to have an idea of what to test / look for when I come to view the car. Basically what would cause the car to lock in, what looks like, the standard ride height and not respond to the height control. Otherwise the car seems a good deal, less than 100K miles and a 110 HDI saloon reg in 1999. Not quite too good to be true but just worried they have had a quote for repairs and don't want to do them because of cost. Any tests I can do to eliminate possible problems, i.e. sit on the rear bumper and see if it raises ok, I assume that would be a pump ok test ? I can do most work myself so that dosen't worry me, just that it may be really technical and out of my league / price range to fix. Any help appreciated, John