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.

kfk, What a man! Your on the ball. I'll sort my rear brakes out first & may change the HG, did a HG on a Punto a while ago, HG set cost me £20, fortunately didn't need to skim the head or get it crack tested. Took me 1/2 a day, car was A OK after that. I'm a big believer of changing coolant antifreeze every 2 years, it's the corrosion inhibitors within the antifreeze that diminish within time, not the coolant properties. I've owned the Xsara now for 3 months & quite impressed, excellent mpg (43 mpg) or 120 miles for £12 at 95p per litre, cheap tax & insurance & quite nippy for a 1.4 8v + good 0-60 for a medium sized vehicle. If the AX GT or GTI had the same engine they must have been quick rattle boxes.

Hi all, I own a 99 Xsara 1.4 LX. Does anyone know the torque settings for taking the rear wheel hubs off? Suffering from seizing shoes. Thanks.

if its dripping down the front of the engine from the corner above the alternator its not that unussual. Replacement of the headgasket is the only way to resolve the problem as it a main oil gallery.....you wouldnt want to sieze it up. Yes the 1.4 is derived from the ax, bx, zx, also used in saxo, c2,c3 with slight variation on the operation of the valves. An AX manual should provide you with the info to do the job though kfk, Thanks for the reply, the oil leak is the timing belt side, not sure whether head gasket or cam shaft oil seal? Uses very little oil, haven't toped car oil up in over 3,000 miles. Just annoying.

I own a 99 Xsara 1.4 8v, had a small oil leak from what looks like the head gasket, is this a common fault with the 1.4's? Not causing any major prob, just a bit annoying. Had plenty of head gaskets loosing water in the past, but never oil alone. Is there any other way of fixing prob, apart from renewing the head gasket? Anyone had any experience using some of the stop oil leak treatments? Or are these mainly used to rejuvenate oil seals rather than gaskets? Is the 1.4 engine derived from the AX?

AD1, If it's got some service history, check to see it it's had a recent timing belt fitted, that would save you some cash. When test driving it, make sure there's not too much smoke appearing from your exhaust whilst accelerating. Make sure your engine oil looks normal, not with white sludge, that may point to head probs (check at dip stick). Check rad water level, whilst engine is not running, make sure it's not too low. Check gear box & that the clutch is not slipping. Tyre tread & exhaust for obvious blowing. Check brakes, make sure car drives OK & doesn't obviously pull to the left or right whist breaking. Listen out for any loud knocking noises etc. Make sure you feel happy with it, if not don't buy. There's always plenty of cars about, have to find the right one for yourself. If your spending allot of cash on it get it HPI'd first or if buying from a garage ask if it's HPI clear.

dodjw, Have you tried spraying the key hole with WD40 & leaving over night? Use plenty. If you get the door open, spray the internal latches.

I thought the same thing too, just bought a 99 Xsara & my accelerator peddle has no rubber either.

John, Thanks for the reply, I will get it changed very soon.

I suffered from a rusty sump on an old punto, common fault, I cleaned it & covered it with rust neutraliser, then painted it with hammer right, never had any bother with it after that. Don't rub too hard when cleaning, for obvious reasons. I just gave mine a light sand & then clean off with some soapy water, make sure it's fully dry before painting. Rusty sumps are quite common on allot of cars, I also had the same prob with a 95 Rover 214 SEI & a Fiat Uno. The reason why these sumps tend to rust is because they're very exposed to the elements, wind, rain, salt, being underneath the car. Don't think they're pre-treated, like the rest of the bodywork, underneath the car. Providing it's not leaking oil & wouldn't worry about it. With some older cars the outside of the sumps are protected by engine oil, with age oil tends to run down the outside of older engines & finally makes it's way to the sump (bottom of engine), this helps to protect the sump, as oil displaces water & stops it from rusting.

Hi all, I've just bought a 99 Citroen Xsara, 1.4 :D It has 84,000 miles on the clock, haven't got any history with it. What mileage intervals should the timing belt be changed at? Thanks :)