Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

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Stormrage
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by Stormrage »

Had the same issue on my 2.0 HDI (90BHP) X Reg Xant, just wouldn't start, the lead was knackered!
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by RichardW »

Might have to do this.... not sure what you did Paul? The wires run to the starter , alt, and 3 (?) other locations. Did you just run one down to the starter, and connect the others together somewhere? New cable is £65 from Citroen....cheaper than torching the car though I suppose!
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by citroenxm »

Hi Richard..

There is Three cables AT the clamp... However, I made the single one from the battery terminal to the starter with a ring terminal, then had the smaller lead joined in the ring terminal at the starter to the altinator.. effectly one cable..

The others are just as easy, IIRC the other two feed the fuse box, each also having a ring terminal. But the Original Citroen ones have a 10mm nut that is capped ono the end of the cable so when you undo the nut the wire comes away too...

I desperatly need to do my own Xantia.. My battery cables and terminal gets HOT, and shes now starting to get sluggish turning over in the mornings..

I can make the cable up in work, as we have a Phnuematic press for the Ring terminal at the starter...
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by RichardW »

Cheers Paul - in the end I have got away with just replacing the clamp I think. Used one of thse from Halfords which seems to have done the job. Manged to cut the old terminal off and saved all the original cable, gave it a shine up on the outside with glass paper and crunched the terminal up tight.
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by admiral51 »

Now this is interesting as it points to all of my symptoms with my VSX.
I tend to start work at 4-5 am and return home 2-3 days later or same day but again its in the dark this time of year.Lights/heater/rear window demister on all the time plus the radio...

have noticed a very dim battery light glow with everything on and thinking about it i can see it when i have everything on and use the indicators.

Have fitted a new battery 4 months ago due to a good deal i was offered,but you know the feeling,its only on because its cold and big drain on the battery early in the morning etc...

She does start every time but it is taking a little longer each time,need to check the alternator charge,starting is akin to starting a diesel turn over wise not a petrol
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by myglaren »

You are asking a lot of the battery and expecting the car to recharge it with such a load is optimistic, possibly coupled with a less than ideal capacity battery.
It may pay you to invest in a battery charger and give the battery a full 48 hour charge every few weeks during the winter.
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by falling-out-with-my-car »

I think this corrosion of copper strands is called the black death.

regards Nigel.
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by Xaccers »

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:I think this corrosion of copper strands is called the black death.

regards Nigel.
Even if it isn't the official name for it Nigel, I think it fits the condition perfectly! :-)
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by ashy90 »

I wonder if this is what my old Xantia had. It was a 1998 S2 1.9 td. Occasionally I went to start it and it would be as if there was a totally flat battery - the lights would dim (as if the starter is operating?) but it would not turn over. Then after many many attempts it would suddenly start completely normal as if nothing was wrong. I put it down to a lazy/dodgey starter motor but perhaps it wasn't.
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by gpz900ra7 »

Well it looks like I'm adding my R plate 2.0 16v SX to the ever increasing list of cars that this is affecting.

Over the past few weeks the car has been taking longer and longer to start, and sometimes just as the battery is about to gasp its last breath it bursts into life, [-o<.

Both of the battery leads get rather hot so its time the leads were replaced.

What I want to know is this; do I have to change the leads for the same thickness or would it be beneficial to substitute them for heavier grade cabling?



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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by citroenxm »

Same or THICKER, NOT smaller... Theres a big current draw on the starter, but the small bursts we are meant to use doesn't draw too much to heat the cable except in extreame cases when trying to start a non or awkward starter.

So Yes, Thinker, and Better grade would be a Very good start!
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by gpz900ra7 »

Cheers for the quick reply.

I wouldn't dream of using thinner cabling as the original stuff gets hot enough, any thinner and she'd be ablaze.

Going to sort out some measurements tomorrow when there's some light and see about getting some new cables sorted.

Cheers.


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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by Bromptonaut »

Interesting thread.

I've just had my wiring harness burn out for second time. I'd noticed a bit of corrosion but re-wrapped it with insulation tape and forgotten about it. One or two oddities starting but nothing serious until it failed to start at station on arrival home last Wed. Left it there and called out rescue on Thursday morn. Examination in daylight disclosed damage to extent that battery connection had dripped molten metal!! Breakdown guy's diagnosis was a short direct to chassis; car recovered to local Cit specialist.

They didn't seem aware of the issue raised in this thread but replacement of harness with one of their own manufacture resolved problem. Lead now runs cool and my weekly checks are extended to include visually monitoring for any deterioration.
citroenxm
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Location: Somewhere in North Wales, Anglesey
My Cars: M reg Xm S2 2.1td Auto Exclusive. 269k and rising
L reg XM S1 V6 12v Manual SEi
L 94 XM 2.1 TD auto total resto

2008 Peugeot 207 Sw 1.6 16v hdi. 217k and rising
2010 Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 8v HDi 161k and rising
x 70

Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by citroenxm »

I discovered it by accident.. when the engine was running and i touched the terminal with my hand and thought WOW that's a bit warm.. then found melted wires!!

i REALLY must get my own car done.. ive done everyone else's around me but not mine..

its amazing what some garages don't know and when You tell them you seen it on the internet they Fob it off with something like Ahhhh you cant believe everything You read on there..

however true this issue really is and a rather serious one too!!
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
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Re: Check your POSITIVE batery lead!! PICS ADDED!!

Post by fridgedoc »

Hello Peers
I may have this problem on my Relay/Jumper van (the Xantia seems OK) I have just changed the starter, it was in a right state (2000) original stater I believe, and the battery seems OK, 13 volts, put charger on it, accepting very little charge, will start with a jump start, took it for a 20 minute run stopped on a hill but would not turn over, as if battery was dead, bump started down hill, tried jump lead from neg on battery to engine, made no difference, think I will start it again and see if any cables get hot, if anyone has any other thoughts on the matter please let me know, Many thanks
Bonne Chance

Stephen

LHD Xantia 1994 (deceased)
LHD Xantia 1995 Berline
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