boroboy

KfK, Thanks again for your valuable info. Has the introduction of one belt made the PAS heavier? Or do you think it's the tyres? I preferred the old set up.

KfK, Point taken, didn't mean to offend. Your right about customers, the alternator belt has to come off anyway when the dealer changed the cambelt, does it not? Would the dealer then have only charged for the price of the belt? The customer probably didn't want to pay because it wasn't in the service schedule (crazy customer). What's the mileage for an alternator/pas belt renewal? I'm changing it anyway. Have noticed Citroen have done away with the two belts & replaced them with one. Comparing the mk1 & 2's. Think the wider tyres would be better suited to the larger engine Xsaras, look better I suppose. Is the heavier PAS due to the wider tyres? Suffering from some brake squeal, checked front pads & discs, seem OK. One pad wearing slightly more than it's opposite number (drivers side), still plenty left on them though. Think I'll have to check rear shoes & tighten up handbrake cable.

Hi all, I've recently bought a 02 Xsara 1.4 LX, after owning a mk1 Xsara 1.4. The PAS seems heavier on my new Xsara, noticed the mk 2's are fitted with wider tyres (195's). Could this be the reason for the slightly heavier steering? Belt not snapped, but hasn't been changed in over 80,000 miles. Could a warn PAS belt cause heavier steering? I have noticed that the outside of the PAS/alternator belt is cracking. Looking through the previous service history a main citroen dealer changed the timing belt at 75,000 miles, but didn't bother changing the PAS/alternator belt at the same time. Main Citroen dealer has serviced this car from new, every 12,500 miles. Had a slight intermittent miss fire prob when the car engine was cold. Checked plugs, 3 loose, one very loose & black in colour, due to petrol leaving cylinder & plug must have been tracking. I blame that on poor workmanship by the main dealer. Car only had one previous lady owner, whom never touched vehicle, left it to the main dealer, whom last serviced the car 5,000 miles ago (full service). Why were the plugs not fully tightened up?

I'm going to get the alternator belt changed, as belt perished. The lady whom last owned my car had a major service done at 75,900 miles & the main dealer changed the cam belt, but didn't change the alternator belt. Can't believe that, as alternator belt has to come off anyway. My car has now covered 80,000 miles. I've now owned Xsaras for around 1 year & am picking up most of the usual faults. At least my head gasket is not leaking oil (touch wood). Like the car, little under powered, doesn't need 195/55/15 tyres either, not a 1.4. Perhaps the 1.6 vtr would. Was going to get rid of car, but now going to stick with it. Try to live with 1.4 engine, insurance not a prob to me now, just wanted a low maintenance, low petrol consumption family vehicle (fingers crossed), with a good sized boot. Have done 90% on previous car maintenance myself, HG changes etc. Now wanting to take things easy a bit. Was a little embarrassed over the weekend, went one family hol & 2 vans passed me on motor way (up hill), first time ever. Dropped it into 4'rth no power. What are you driving at the mo? When do I get my advanced member ticket? More into tech stuff, rather than boy racer stuff.

The MK1 Xsaras, had separate alternator, PAS belts. Think the MK2's have just the one, bit like the Lag's (Laguna). Think it may be manual, but not 100% sure. Belt looks perished on the outer edge, also squeaks for a few seconds when car is cold. If the timing belt was fitted too tight, could that give the same noise? As it was replace 5,000 miles ago by the previous owner. Suppose the alternator, pas belt would be the cheapest option first.

iannez, Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try. I thought it may have been the belt. G.

Hi all, I own a 1.4 Xsara, 02, 81,000, FCSH. Had the car a week now & have noticed a transmission type noise, it's when you accelerate. Could it be the alternator belt? Timing belt changed at 75,000, but alternator belt squeaks slightly when cold, on closer inspection, outer edge starting to look perished. The only way I can describe the noise is it sounds like (showing my age now). When you used to have to fit a suppressor to your radio cassette, if you didn't you'd hear allot of background noise whilst accelerating. This noise sounds like that, not as amplified though & my cd player switched off. Still makes the same noise whether your accelerating or just revving the car from a standing position. Any ideas?

John, Thanks for the reply & info. Put my mind at rest, thought I was having an over heating prob. My coolant reservoir always seems to stay on the minimum level, even though I have topped it up on a few occasions recently, could it be the cars natural level? Don't think it's actually loosing any coolant, thank god (CHG). I had a Punto like that once, coolant level always stayed on the minimum level.

Hi all, I've just bout a 02 Xsara 1.4, to replace my Mk1. What's the normal running temp of my 1.4 Xsara? Temp seems to stay at 90 - 100 C, is that slightly high or OK? I've flushed rad & changed coolant & thermostat. No cold spots in rad & not loosing any water, no air locks. My last Xsara never ran above 90 C, do the mk2's have a more economical rad? Thanks.

Hi all have the same problem and it is driving my girlfriend mental.....fuse . resistor??? wha the hell is it...do I need to take it apart. Many thanks Deano :D Deano, Yep, heater blower resistor, easy DIY fix :D The resistor cost me £10 from main Citroen dealer. Have sent you an email.

Hi all, I've just bought myself an 02 Xsara 1.4 LX, to replace my 99 1.4 Xsara. How do I get the original radio cassette out? My coolant temp seems to be running at around 90/95, is that around the correct temp? Thanks.

kfk, With regards to the engine being different, do you mean tuned differently to meet emission regs? Not complete different engine. Thanks.

Hi all, Apart from the obvious facelift, what's the difference between the older Xsara 1.4 & the facelift model? Any engine mods? Interior? Thinking about renewing you see. Thanks.

KfK, Just striped down rear brake shoes & greased all springs etc. Drum wasn't the easiest to get on & off, couldn't get the shoes to close (using screwdriver through wheel nut hole), whilst trying to take drums off. Managed in the end, sheer persistence. Shoe's were not moving freely. Not that keen on the mechanical set up of the self adjuster & shoes, think poor quality set up. Seem to be moving freely now. I have noticed that the handbrake cables will need replacing soon, outer casing cracked & damaged. That would't cause my rear shoes to seize up though? Especially when I wasn't using the handbrake at the time.

kfk, Thanks again.