A Few Questions From A Xantia Newbie!

[bulletcom]

Hi everyone.

 

I've just taken delivery of my first Citroen. Completely on a whim I purchased a 1997 Xantia TD Dimension from a lady at work who is emigrating. One owner from new, 143k on the clock, new brakes, full service history to 130k - I paid £225 with 6 months tax and half a tank of diesel left!

 

Now, having driven it for a few days, I've had a couple of days tinkering. My questions:

 

1. Suspension. The lady told me she had the spheres changed at about 60k. A bit of research on the 'net leads me to believe these are now due for another change. How do I test this? The float indicator is right at the top (no sign of fluid in the glass but if I tap the top of the guage with a screwdriver handle the needle bounces down and straight back to the top again... Operating the lever in the centre console has the desired effect. Ride seems a little firm but not having experienced citroen suspension before I don't really know what to expect. The front spheres look easy enough to change and I understand how to depressurise etc... what about the rears? How many are there? Is it easy DIY for someone with no spanner knowledge?

 

2. Coolant. I hoovered the car today and under the mat in the passenger footwell the carpet is soaking. Presume it's antifreeze as it's kinda oily and 'sweet' smelling. A trip under the bonnet shows the coolant is at a normal level, so maybe it's been topped up? Took out the pollen filter (clogged and no air to the vents - what a change now!) but didn't see any signs of leaks under the dash... Any clues?

 

My plan is not to really spend lots on the car, but I realise there are some things that simply have to be done. So far I'm really pleased with my bargain, good for a few miles yet (after the plume of white smoke first thing in the morning!).

 

Any comments welcome.

 

Regards

 

 

David

[Guest Colin Hunter]

With the kind of milage the spheres have done they're probably past their best. Have a read of this thread including my reply to Willie. It will clear up a few things. http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citro...?showtopic=4507

 

The level in the LHM tank should be checked with the car at the high suspension setting, when the orange disc should be between the orange lines.

 

You can use a substantial strap or chain wrench to loosen the spheres. You could probably hire one from a tool hire place if you don't want to buy one. Alternatively, proper sphere wrenches are available on Ebay for about £15 as are spheres. GSF (German Swedish and French) are another good source of spares. See http://www.gsfcarparts.com/ and do a search in the online shop. Alternatively there may be a branch near you.

 

The coolant is probably coming from the heater matrix. Theres no easy way to tell you that the matrix is quite cheap but fitting is a swine as the dash has to come out! However if you scour these forums you will find that some people have had success with "Barrs Leaks" and like remedies.

 

Regarding the smoke in the morning. Try leaving the engine for an extra 10 seconds after the heater light has gone out ( the heaters stay on for some time even after the engine has started to help smooth out cold running) and DO NOT depress the accellerator when cranking the engine. This should help cold starts and minimise smoke thereafter.

 

Cheers. Hope this helps. :(

[bulletcom]

Hi Colin, thanks for the quick response!

 

The indicator float on the LHM tank acts as I said when the suspension is set at the highest level. I can't seem to get it to 'float' on any setting as it's permanently at the very top of the sight chamber. Does this mean it's overfull?

 

If I 'jump' on each corner of the car when the engine's running should I experience a similar 'give' to what I'm used to with traditional spring/damper suspension?

 

David

[DaveWalling]

Hi David,

Welcome to the forum, yes your assumption is correct. It does sound like your LHM tank is overfull!! Best way to get it down is to buy one of those Turkey basters and use that to drain the fluid a bit at a time. It is a bit messy, but it gets the job done. I had to to do mine about a month ago and ended up taking nearly 2.5 litres out!! You may find that once the fluid is at the correct level that the suspension could become softer. Get the fluid to the correct level before changing the spheres as you may get a few more miles out of them.

[bulletcom]

Hi Dave

 

Thanks for that info - I'll give it a try. Not sure how an overfull tank can cause a hard ride as it looks like this is simply an expansion tank and not pressurised?

 

If reducing the level does not work, would it be prudent to change the front ones without changing the back ones? Looks like the fronts are easy to do but the rears not so. I don't have access to a ramp or a pit - I guess I could use axle stands but it's a bit scary!

 

Thanks again for your comments

 

David

[shropshireman]

Hi everyone.

 

I've just taken delivery of my first Citroen. Completely on a whim I purchased a 1997 Xantia TD Dimension from a lady at work who is emigrating. One owner from new, 143k on the clock, new brakes, full service history to 130k - I paid £225 with 6 months tax and half a tank of diesel left!

 

 

mmmm, i wouldnt worry to much sounds like youve another xantia bargain, just mot it and run it on the cooking oil scenario, providing the bosch pump is fitted , im now upto a 70/30 mix , sure i could get it cheaper, and yes working on xantias can be a pain , but heh its allround cheap motoring, enjoy the ride and sell it for a profit in 12 mths ...

[DaveWalling]

Regarding the hard ride/overfull expansion tank scenario, I don`t know myself why! I found it on the forum, and as the ride was hard on my Xantia, even after I had the sphere changed,I decided to give it a go. Hey presto, soft ride again after I had removed the excess fluid. :(

[bulletcom]

One turkey baster coming up then! Thanks for the info Dave, I'll give it a go at the weekend.

 

On another topic, I think I may need to adjust the idle speed, as it's steady at 1,000rpm. What should it be?

 

Regards

 

 

David

[DaveWalling]

Hi David,

According to Mr Haynes the idle speed (at least for older models is 850rpm =/- 50, however it is controlled by the ECU. I am sure there is a thread somewhere though on the forum about setting the rpm. I will have a search through and report back if I find anything.

[bulletcom]

Hi David,

Welcome to the forum, yes your assumption is correct. It does sound like your LHM tank is overfull!! Best way to get it down is to buy one of those Turkey basters and use that to drain the fluid a bit at a time. It is a bit messy, but it gets the job done. I had to to do mine about a month ago and ended up taking nearly 2.5 litres out!! You may find that once the fluid is at the correct level that the suspension could become softer. Get the fluid to the correct level before changing the spheres as you may get a few more miles out of them.

 

Well I've taken a couple of pints out, and the needle hasn't moved downwards at all! Tapping the top of the guage still bounces it back to the top - but I'm scared to take too much more out!

 

Can anyone tell me how much should be visible if you shine a torch into the filler? I can put my forefinger completely inside the reservoir and it doesn't touch the LHM!

 

Should I keep sucking? (Excuse the expression!)

 

D

 

--- edited after forum search... ---

 

I've just removed the float and I need to pull it up about an inch before the level drops. Thats going to make the level really low in the reservoir!

 

Keep going?

[DaveWalling]

In short yes! I removed almost 2.5 Litres of excess fluid!! You feel like you are getting nowhere, then all of a sudden the float will start to drop. When it does, you don`t have to remove much more. Once you have reached the correct level it is a good idea to perform the "Citrobics" ie lower and raise the suspension a few times, then check the level again. If all is OK then replace the cap and enjoy the proper suspension!! If not adust the level accordingly, I would also check it again after a couple of weeks of normal use.

Dave

[Guest Colin Hunter]

I was also suspicious of the float/disc level indicator for the same reason. I even thought that the float may have moved on the spindle, but if you take it right out you'll see that it's moulded in one piece so can't be moved. Way I see it is that if citroen see fit to run the tank at that level then so be it! I looked in the filler plug with the oil at the corect level and it does seem low, but the car runs OK and all systems are fine so I guess it must be right!

 

Cheers. Hope this helps. :D

[Johndouglas]

Having too much LHM in the reservoir won't make any difference to the performance of the suspension. All it will do is perhaps make a mess if it overflows. The level is about right if you can just touch the surface of the LHM with your longest finger.

[DaveWalling]

Hi John,

I would like to say that I know it shouldn`t make any difference whether the expansion tank is overfull, but from experience it does. Mine was overfilled after having some work done and the suspension was hard until I removed almost 2.5 litres of excess fluid. After that it is absolutely fine, it just doesn`t make sense.

[bulletcom]

I've decided to replace the front spheres. Once up to level yesterday morning I sat on each corner of the car, and the nearside front doesn't move. All the other corners bounce quite nicely.

 

As the fronts seem such a diy job (with the obvious procedure to follow...) I'll replace both fronts (seems the logical thing to do) and then top up/down as appropriate.

 

I'll let you know how it goes. Didn't really spot any ride difference yesterday (minus the 2 pints of LHM taken out on Sunday) - but I guess a duff sphere on the front won't help that!

 

Thanks for all your responses - Happy Easter

 

D

[crapday]

I've decided to replace the front spheres. Once up to level yesterday morning I sat on each corner of the car, and the nearside front doesn't move. All the other corners bounce quite nicely.

 

As the fronts seem such a diy job (with the obvious procedure to follow...) I'll replace both fronts (seems the logical thing to do) and then top up/down as appropriate.

 

I'll let you know how it goes. Didn't really spot any ride difference yesterday (minus the 2 pints of LHM taken out on Sunday) - but I guess a duff sphere on the front won't help that!

 

Thanks for all your responses - Happy Easter

 

D

 

 

I took out the LHM tank and gave it a good clean (it was all gunky), it was a really easy job to do Then refilled the reservoir and had a nice smooth ride. I also had the sodden carpets. I took them out to dry them (back and front) as every time I put the heating on the windows steamed up. I now have a C5, the Xantia was a pleasure to work on compared to the C5.

 

 

Happy citroen motoring, you'll love the Xantia, especially since you got a got bargain.

[bulletcom]

Well I have to say it's a transformation!

 

Two new front spheres (£32 the pair with a 2yr guarantee!). a £2.99 rubber strap wrench to get them off, a £1.50 turkey baster (thanks Dave W!), a big roll of kitchen paper to soak up the LHM...

 

It drives like a brand new car!

 

:D

[Guest Nigel2008]

I've decided to replace the front spheres. Once up to level yesterday morning I sat on each corner of the car, and the nearside front doesn't move. All the other corners bounce quite nicely.

 

As the fronts seem such a diy job (with the obvious procedure to follow...) I'll replace both fronts (seems the logical thing to do) and then top up/down as appropriate.

 

I'll let you know how it goes. Didn't really spot any ride difference yesterday (minus the 2 pints of LHM taken out on Sunday) - but I guess a duff sphere on the front won't help that!

 

Thanks for all your responses - Happy Easter

 

D

Also try not to spill any LHM Hydraulic fluid mineral oil on your paintwork if you do wipe it off it likes to soak into paintwork and get it flaking esspecial;ly around the tops of a suspension strut.