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Car Forum / Citroen Cars / December 2005

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Citroen Xantia Steering problem.

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kumi - 22 Dec 2005 10:05 GMT
I started my car, everything seems to be ok., except for a warning 'STOP'
light on the dashboard.  The steering becomes too hard to handle.   No
problems in running her, except that the steering is very very hard.  The
stop warning does not go off even after keeping the vehicle on for a long
time.  any suggestions ??
Adrian - 22 Dec 2005 10:23 GMT
> I started my car, everything seems to be ok., except for a warning 'STOP'
> light on the dashboard.  The steering becomes too hard to handle.   No
> problems in running her, except that the steering is very very hard.  The
> stop warning does not go off even after keeping the vehicle on for a long
> time.  any suggestions ??

Any other lights? Just STOP? It's almost certainly the hydraulic pressure
warning. DO **NOT** DRIVE THE CAR.

First thing to check - is there any fluid in the tank?

Start the car, put the suspension to full high, and see if the float is
between the two rings. You're looking on the top of the fluid tank under
the bonnet. Give it a light tap in case it's stuck.

If the float doesn't move, put the suspension to full flat - again with the
engine running if you've got anything but a very early (pre-93ish Xant with
the chevrons on the bonnet) - and see if it's still stuck down. If it is,
peer in the tank - the level should be very near the neck of the tank on
flat.

If it's too low, fill it with LHM - the bright green Citroen hydraulic
fluid - ONLY.

If it's right, then check that the belt for the pump hasn't broken.
kumi - 22 Dec 2005 10:39 GMT
There are a couple of other red warnings that are on too.  One that shows a
battery with a +/- sign in it and the one round one with a "!" mark with
in.  I am not good with cars, so, I cannot name them.  Its a 97 make TDi
SX.  All was well when I drew her back home and in the morning, it all
started off.
Adrian - 22 Dec 2005 10:52 GMT
> There are a couple of other red warnings that are on too.  One that
> shows a battery with a +/- sign in it

Battery not being charged.

> and the one round one with a "!" mark with in.

Brakes/Hydraulics.

It sounds very much like the belt's snapped, as the same belt drives both.

If you continue to drive the car, two things will happen :-
1. You'll run out of electrics, with a flat battery.
2. You'll run out of suspension and brakes, as there's no hydraulic
pressure being pumped.

As you can imagine, this second one is Not An Ideal Situation - especially
the "run out of brakes" side.

Do Not Drive The Car.

Time to ring the breakdown service...
2Rowdy - 22 Dec 2005 16:58 GMT
I was reading
<news:Xns97346E9A64475adrianachapmanfreeis@204.153.244.170>,
made by the entity known as Adrian, that requests spam to be sent to
<toomany2cvs@gmail.com>, and I became inspired.

> If you continue to drive the car, two things will happen :-
> 1. You'll run out of electrics, with a flat battery.
> 2. You'll run out of suspension and brakes, as there's no hydraulic
> pressure being pumped.

3. You'll loose the ability to steer the car.
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http://www.aacity.net Citroen Newsgroup

No, I am not demented,
                                             just gray haired

Adrian - 22 Dec 2005 17:05 GMT
>> If you continue to drive the car, two things will happen :-
>> 1. You'll run out of electrics, with a flat battery.
>> 2. You'll run out of suspension and brakes, as there's no hydraulic
>> pressure being pumped.

> 3. You'll loose the ability to steer the car.

He's already lost that - at least, as far as he's going to.
2Rowdy - 22 Dec 2005 18:28 GMT
I was reading
<news:Xns9734ADD1AD835adrianachapmanfreeis@204.153.244.170>,
made by the entity known as Adrian, that requests spam to be sent to
<toomany2cvs@gmail.com>, and I became inspired.

>>> If you continue to drive the car, two things will happen :-
>>> 1. You'll run out of electrics, with a flat battery.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> He's already lost that - at least, as far as he's going to.

There must be a straight line between work and home.
Now let's hope there are no hills, no slopes and no traffic in
between.
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d:Johan; Certifiable me

http://www.aacity.net Citroen Newsgroup
Sponsored Message at http://shorterlink.com/?R95GLQ

kumi - 23 Dec 2005 09:23 GMT
My problems does not seem to end with that.  I found out the bonnet
"opener" under the steering wheel section and pulled it.  The bonnet comes
off the lock., but, when I go to the front of the car and try to open the
bonnet fully, it does not come off.., it raises a little and gets stuck by
another lock or something ?? Is it the only way to release the bonnet from
the lock ??
neil - 23 Dec 2005 15:56 GMT
Hmm,
So you've never opened the bonnet then, never checked the oil, water,
suspension fluid I guess. When you said you are not good with cars you
weren't kidding.
That catch is the "safety catch" just to the right of centre under the lip
of the bonnet you can feel it after lifting the bonnet slightly. Push it
inward after letting the bonnet rest under its own weight then you should be
able to lift the bonnet fully.

Neil

> My problems does not seem to end with that.  I found out the bonnet
> "opener" under the steering wheel section and pulled it.  The bonnet comes
> off the lock., but, when I go to the front of the car and try to open the
> bonnet fully, it does not come off.., it raises a little and gets stuck by
> another lock or something ?? Is it the only way to release the bonnet from
> the lock ??
Adrian - 23 Dec 2005 18:12 GMT
> Hmm,
> So you've never opened the bonnet then, never checked the oil, water,
> suspension fluid I guess. When you said you are not good with cars you
> weren't kidding.

To be fair to Kumi - I've been having some off-list chat with him on this,
and he's only had the car a couple of weeks, literally. So I don't think we
can be too harsh on this one...

Yep, it's a safety catch, Kumi, to stop the bonnet re-decorating your
windscreen if the main catch lets go - open it as high as you can, and
slide your fingers under there - you'll feel the catch. Have a look in the
owner's book if you have one, otherwise write to Citroen UK at 211 Bath Rd,
Slough, and ask for one - they'll send one out.

You may find your local college does basic car maintenance evening classes
- well worth while. It's a part of the driving test now to be able to check
the oil level etc.
Frank Kemper - 23 Dec 2005 17:01 GMT
"kumi" <kdevaneson@yahoo.com> haute in die Tasten:

> My problems does not seem to end with that.  I found out the
> bonnet "opener" under the steering wheel section and pulled it.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> something ?? Is it the only way to release the bonnet from the
> lock ??

What you URGENTLY need is an users manual. A citroen is different to
other cars in many ways. If you cannot find the users manual of your
car, have a look under the dashboard. If your car is a left hand
drive model, you will find a compartment at the far left side. This
compartment contains the electric fuses and a space to store a
paperback book sized grey plastic wrapper. This wrapper
usually contains the owners manual, a separate manual for the car
stereo, the service history booklet and additional information
(dealers network etc.) It is highly recommended to read and
understand the manual, otherwise you will be doomed, for example when
you have a flat tire and you neither know where to look for the spare
wheel (it is below the trunk) nor know how to get it out there;-)

If you do not have an users manual you should buy one from your
citroen dealer or try to find one in a junkyard.

If you are not skilled enough to perform mainenance and service
schedules to your Xantia on your own (this is not uncommon, I do not
service my car myself either), you should have the car checked
thorougly by a certified Citroen dealer once a year. The Xantia is
known to be a tough car - according to Citroen standards, but it
needs frequent maintenance. There are things which will kill your car
if you do not take care for them. For example: The timing belt of the
engine needs replacement after a certain mileage. If you do not have
it replaced, it may break and kill the engine.

Frank

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Malc - 23 Dec 2005 20:56 GMT
> If you are not skilled enough to perform mainenance and service
> schedules to your Xantia on your own (this is not uncommon, I do not
> service my car myself either), you should have the car checked
> thorougly by a certified Citroen dealer once a year.

Or a Citroen/Peugeot specialist who may well be cheaper. Perhaps if Kumi
says where he is someone could recommend one?

>The Xantia is
> known to be a tough car - according to Citroen standards, but it
> needs frequent maintenance. There are things which will kill your car
> if you do not take care for them. For example: The timing belt of the
> engine needs replacement after a certain mileage. If you do not have
> it replaced, it may break and kill the engine.

Although the example you chose is common to virtually all modern cars ;-).
Actually I don't think the Xantia is much more difficult than the BX and
certainly much better than the Daewoo Nexia I briefly owned. Compared with
the XM it's supposed to be child's play althoug I didn't find my XM
difficult either. Having read the uk.rec.cars.maintenance group for some
years I think Citroens are actually a lot more reliable and just as easy to
work on as most modern ish cars although they get a lot of stick on that
group.

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Malc

"Star Wars is adolescent nonsense; Close Encounters is obscurantist
drivel; Star Trek can turn your brains to puree of bat guano; and the
greatest science fiction series of all time is Doctor Who! And I'll
take you all on, one-by-one or all in a bunch to back it up!"
- Harlan Ellison

Adrian - 23 Dec 2005 21:01 GMT
>> If you are not skilled enough to perform mainenance and service
>> schedules to your Xantia on your own (this is not uncommon, I do not
>> service my car myself either), you should have the car checked
>> thorougly by a certified Citroen dealer once a year.

> Or a Citroen/Peugeot specialist who may well be cheaper.

Not to mention *FAR* better... Cit Dealers have a well-deserved reputation
for being crap.

> Perhaps if Kumi says where he is someone could recommend one?

He's in Bristol. I don't know anybody down that way.
Malc - 23 Dec 2005 21:21 GMT
>>> If you are not skilled enough to perform mainenance and service
>>> schedules to your Xantia on your own (this is not uncommon, I do not
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> He's in Bristol. I don't know anybody down that way.

I can recommend someone in Gloucester which is only 40 miles away. Actually
someone at work had a BX serviced by his local garage and they seemed to be
quite competent. I'll ask him next year.

Signature

Malc

"Star Wars is adolescent nonsense; Close Encounters is obscurantist
drivel; Star Trek can turn your brains to puree of bat guano; and the
greatest science fiction series of all time is Doctor Who! And I'll
take you all on, one-by-one or all in a bunch to back it up!"
- Harlan Ellison

Frank Kemper - 23 Dec 2005 22:31 GMT
"Malc" <malunspamwhhite@lightindigooverthere.co.uk> haute in die
Tasten:

> Although the example you chose is common to virtually all modern
> cars ;-).

Somebody who has problems to open the bonnet, may also have problems
to realize the danger of a worn out timing belt. And the initial post
of the OP dealed with a HP problem. I never gave my Citroen to a
Peugeot dealer, but I do not know if they are good at HP maintenance
and repair.

Frank

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kumi - 24 Dec 2005 13:11 GMT
Thanx one and all for the help.  Actually, I managed to open the bonnet and
there it is, the auxialary belt has snapped and hanging around there.  I
did something yesterday which might be a smart move (after all the
stupidity).... i signed up for RAC breakdown service... and I am gonna
give a call after the festive season to get it fixed.  I dont really need
the car as its vacation time.,   Now that I know the problem, i think I
can fix it soon.  This car was with a fitter with mercedes before me., and
he has kept it in a good condition.. there is one more thing I noticed.,
there was this other belt with grooves on it., that seem to be sliding out
of its grooved pulley.., gonna put it back into its place too.., Am just
getting a hold of the matter now...

Thanx again.... Just wanted to mention, my battery is flat now and it wont
even start ;-)...
Malc - 28 Dec 2005 20:13 GMT
> Thanx one and all for the help.  Actually, I managed to open the bonnet
> and
> there it is, the auxialary belt has snapped and hanging around there.  I
> did something yesterday which might be a smart move (after all the
> stupidity).... i signed up for RAC breakdown service...

Kumi

I asked my friend at work in Bristol who had a BX. this is his reply.

"I used an independent engineer in Cairns road Bishopston. He goes by the
name of Paul Kite. Garage phone number is 9420241. However he's closed
until the New Year."

Hope it is useful.

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Malc

"I want to be a utility fog when I grow up."

 
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