Xantia 1.8i 1994

[Guest Darko]

Hello! This is my first post at this forum. Well that is not unusual since i bought my first citroen yesterday (also first car ever). The car looks great and the interior of the car is even better than the interior of some newer cars. On the first day i drove it for some 50 Kms, an it worked very well. Yesterday, late at night i had to travel some 120 Kms on the highway. I drove the car for 100 KMs with speed ranging from 100-150 Kmph (mostly around 125-130). It all worked well untill we reached this bridge, that is under reconstruction, an the trafic there was very slow. We traveled some 2 kms with an averege speed of 10 Kmph. Than i noticed steam coming out of the hood. I imidetly puled over and open the hood so i can see what is happening. Lots of water where (coolant) going out of the car (pessanger side, some 20cm in front of the fron wheel). First i thought that the radiator has a hole, but after a carefull inspection i noticed that there is a small pipe at the top of the place where i fill the coolant in to the radiator, and that this pipe was open ended and that the water was going out because it was too hot. So i figured this out: the car started moving slowly and not enogh air was cooling the radiator. Somehow the thermostat (thermo-swich) didnt do its job, and the fan was not blowing and out of this reason the water started to boil, and to go away (all of this i thought this morning, so i didnt test it last night).. So i went to test my teory. I started the car and started driving fast, untill the temperature rised. On some 100 degrees © I stoped the car and poped the hood. The fan was working but only for 1 minute (perhaps even less). so nothing cooled down properly. I started to run the engine in place, so that the temperature could rise again. after few minutes the fan started blowing again. The problem is that i do not know what is the normal operating temperature of the engine? I think (I am really not sure) that the car was at 80 degrees while functioning normaly on the high way. Should I be able to rise the temperature to 100 degrees after 5 minutes of driving? Is it posible to make the fan work (or start working) at lower temperatures? So that I could avoid this problem? I would be thankful for any help.

[Guest Darko]

Hello again! I have read the Haynes manual for Xantia. I warmed the car again an than touched the hose that goes out of the engine through the thermostat. An I determined that this hose is hot, and that therefore the thermostat must be working (I am still not sure if it is working properly). In the book i found that the pressure control sistem (the cap that I unlock to fill the coolant) can couse overheating problems. Is this posible? As I dont have the cars manual, I am not sure how to control it correctly. On the cap there are several signs: 1,2, a wierd sign of thermometar (o) and than again 1, 2. Yesterday when the problems occured I open this cap after 15 minutes, and litle steam went out, but I didnt got burned. I dont remember anything about presure. This morning I did the same? Could this be the source of my problems. If yes, tell me how to configure the cap correctly? what is with the small hose next to the coolant filler? It goes somewere under, and the water goes out of this hose after overheating. If you need any aditional details, just say so. I will try to take pictures today and post them.

Once again, thanks to anyone reading this topic.

[Ronin]

It sounds like you have air trapped in your coolant system.

You will notice a few pipes that come from the radiator and cylinder head, look for a smaller coolant pipe that has what looks like it has a dust cap from a tyre valve on it (usually around the highest point on the engine). This is the bleed valve for the cooling system. It's in the Haynes manual if your not sure.

Remove that dust cap and remove the coolant filler cap refill the coolant and run the engine until you see the coolant come from the bleed valve with no air bubbles, just constant fluid. Keep an eye on the coolant header tank (keep it topped up so no air gets back into the system). Stop the engine and close the bleed valve.... .Job done. This sounds like your main problem. :rolleyes:

 

What you could do if you think the coolant hasn't been renewed for a while is:-

Remove the radiator bottom hose and drain the system into a large bucket.You could also use a cooling flush treatment to get rid of any deposits (just follow the instuctions)...... refit the hose and refill the sytem with fresh coolant mix (winter is coming so a 50/50 mix is better (25coolant/75water) for summer use. Then just follow the steps above to bleed the system.

I do this twice a year to all the cars I've owned and I have never had a problem with cooling issues (since it's your first car) get into a habit of "prevention is better than the cure" And you will find motoring is an easier and less expensive process.

 

 

 

"what is with the small hose next to the coolant filler? It goes somewere under, and the water goes out of this hose after overheating"

That is a pressure release over flow hose to prevent you getting burnt from the header tank or exploding lol.... Nothing to worry about , its doing the job it's supposed to do. :blink:

[streaky]

wise words from Ronin

 

also the radiator cap can have a worn rubber there fore not sealing properly or a weakened spring, which can cause the system to run hot and cold also as it looses to much fluid.

 

just another option for you which i came across before on xantia's

[Guest Darko]

sorry for such a late reply. I had problems with my internet conection. Both of you were right. There was air in the cooling system. I managed to get everything runing properly. Thanks to you both. Now I am having problems with the blower. I saw some topics on that subject and i will try to find a solution.