Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

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kenbw2
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Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by kenbw2 »

There was an odd noise coming from near the left of the engine. It wasn't regular, but it did happen often.

Could be that this is just a servo or something, I'm not sure, but is this noise anything to worry about?

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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by xantia_v6 »

That is the sound of the hydraulic regulator cutting in and cutting out. It is a normal sound, but it should only happen about once every 30 seconds or more. The cause of it being more frequent is that the main accumulator sphere is flat and should be replaced, both for safety and to reduce wear on the other components.

I would advise changing the anti-sink sphere at the rear of the car at the same time, as it is also a safety component and there is no easy symptom of it being flat.
kenbw2
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Former:
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8: got a new owner
1994 Peugeot 106 1.5D: killed by a deer
1996 Peugeot 106 1.5D: cremated
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by kenbw2 »

Good to hear it's a normal sound, not so good to hear the frequency is an issue.

How critical is this? I only really need the car to last me a couple of months, and parts are going to be hard to come by as it's Down Under.
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The job of the accumulator sphere (and the anti-sink sphere) is to provide pressure for the hydraulics should the pump fail. This is pretty important, as the brakes are POWERED, and not power assisted (so if you lose pressure you also lose the foot brakes!).
James
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kenbw2
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Former:
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8: got a new owner
1994 Peugeot 106 1.5D: killed by a deer
1996 Peugeot 106 1.5D: cremated
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by kenbw2 »

Oh this is for the brakes, not just the suspension? Yikes.

Which sphere is this? I saw three green ones in the engine bay - one at each side, and one at the front of the engine. How hard is it to replace?

This is the first time the car had run for months, could that be relevant?
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

There are (at least) 5 spheres on the Xantia, probably 6. One per strut (front and rear) to provide the suspension for each wheel, with the accumulator sphere (down low on the front of the engine) and the anti-sink sphere (underneath the rear of the car, mounted on a bracket between the rear wheels) provide the pressure reserve should you lose the pump.

On the Xantia the hydro-pneumatics provide pressure for the suspension, brakes and steering.
James
ex BX 1.9
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kenbw2
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Former:
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8: got a new owner
1994 Peugeot 106 1.5D: killed by a deer
1996 Peugeot 106 1.5D: cremated
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by kenbw2 »

This isn't the news I was hoping for :(

If I could get one from the UK and bring it here, how hard is it to replace?

Edit: I found a video guide - looks like strap wrench, and it unscrews. So it's going to be all about getting the parts I guess. Motor factors maybe?
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The spheres are not difficult to replace, but the old ones may need brute force to remove them. It is recommended that when you replace the accumulator sphere you also replace the anti sink sphere. This is because they have a similar working life (but the anti-sink sphere does not 'advertise' how healthy it is). The clicking is 'produced' by the accumulator sphere, and should have an interval of a minute or so. When it is less than 30 seconds the sphere is on the way out. Something that the accumulator sphere helps with is that it dampens out the pressure surges from the pump, which could, over a prolonged period, cause damage to other components.

The accumulator sphere should come with a replacement square section seal, but the anti-sink sphere uses a pipe seal (I THINK it is 4.5mm, but I am NOT certain of this), and you may need to get one. A useful trick is to use an old square section seal as well on the anti-sink sphere, so that it does not seize onto its' bracket. As this bracket is flimsy care needs to be taken when replacing this sphere.
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by xantia_v6 »

There are one or two sources of Citroen spheres "down under" and some places that can re-gas them, can you give a more precise location?
kenbw2
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2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD: daily driver
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Former:
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8: got a new owner
1994 Peugeot 106 1.5D: killed by a deer
1996 Peugeot 106 1.5D: cremated
x 23

Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by kenbw2 »

Melbourne, but I'm coming back to the UK in a bit for a wedding, could pick one up in the UK, and bring is back Down Under. Maybe easier than sourcing one here,
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I have used a company called AEP Direct in the past for spheres when I had to replace them on a Xantia. The prices are good (and, for orders over £50, P&P was free). They will need to know the vehicle details to make sure you have ordered the correct spheres for the vehicle;

http://www.aepdirect.com/

A forum member has created a link to a DIY sphere removal tool. I have made one, and it does work well on spheres that are tight. However, if they are VERY tight you may well need to use a hammer and chisel (I am NOT joking; I have had to use them on biblically tight spheres!);

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... hp?t=21850
James
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by admiral51 »

Have a good read of This Thread
Be aware that the Anti Sink not only screws in like the others it also has a 9mm headed screw that holds the small 4.5 mm seal and its pipe in place.
If you do not undo this first you will break the pipe and cause yourself no end of problems.
Take careful note of the warnings about working underneath a Hydro Citroen
kenbw2
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My Cars: -
Current:
2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD: daily driver
1997 Peugeot 806 1.9TD: backup vehicle
1996 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD: donor car
1997 Citroen Xantia 2.0 16v: Aussie play thing

Former:
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8: got a new owner
1994 Peugeot 106 1.5D: killed by a deer
1996 Peugeot 106 1.5D: cremated
x 23

Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by kenbw2 »

Thanks guys. I know from seeing other threads I knew there'd be a wealth of Xantia knowledge on here. I feel reasonably confident to buy it with this being a thing to fix.
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by aerodynamica »

Hiya, just a little pointer: the car in the video looks to me to have Hydractive suspension (you can see the large pipe with the flex section to the outside of the strut top towards the end of the video) So the 3rd sphere you see in front of the engine might actually be the middle suspension sphere and not the accumulator that needs changed. The accumulator sphere might be harder to see - it'll be fixed to the valve assembly attached to the front of the engine or gearbox (depending on model).
As opposed to the middle suspension sphere that's located at the bottom of the radiator to the left side. And being Hydractive it will have 8 spheres.....
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Hell Razor5543
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Re: Looking to buy a '97 2.0 petrol Xantia. Strange clicking noise on the engine

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

When you come to remove the spheres you will need to drop the suspension to its' lowest possible setting (if you are changing the spheres on the rear you will have to use ramps with the car bottomed out), and then loosen off the pressure bolt on the regulator (which is mounted low down on the engine with one sphere (I CANNOT advise about the 8 or 10 sphere setups)). Just undo this bolt by ONE turn; if you undo it you will lose a small ball bearing that is in there! You should then hear a high pitched whistling tone. Give it a minute before doing any work. When I replaced the spheres on my Xantia I would then fire up the engine for a minute or so before tightening this bolt back up, to help allow any air in the system to make it back to the reservoir (and then escape to atmosphere). You WILL need to then raise/lower the suspension a few times, then turn the steering from lock to lock a few times (to help the air to circulate back to the reservoir), and then bleed the brakes (as these are dead-ended air cannot escape).

If you decide to replace all of the spheres it is a much more complicated procedure.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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