Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[white exec]

Noise
If that's the AC comp pulley in the video at 0:44, the rotary scraping doesn't tally with the way it's revolving.
I might be mistaking the part, though.
If you suspect the AC clutch, squirt some water (not WD) accurately at the clutch gap, to confirm that it is that that is making the noise. If not, try other bits in turn.

New comp
Also look on Mister Auto UK. One for £155.90 there, reduced from £201.
You'll need to check part no against those Richard posted, and/or full vehicle details.
Nissens listed there too.

[Mandrake]

Noise
If that's the AC comp pulley in the video at 0:44, the rotary scraping doesn't tally with the way it's revolving.
I might be mistaking the part, though.

The pulley is not visible in the video. The pulley at the top is the hydraulic pump, below that is the alternator and at the very bottom is the A/C compressor.

If you suspect the AC clutch, squirt some water (not WD) accurately at the clutch gap, to confirm that it is that that is making the noise. If not, try other bits in turn.

Thanks, I'll give that a try. If it will stop raining for a bit this weekend (!!!) I'll see if I can identify the source of the noise a bit more accurately. However I've also got my hands full working on the Ion.

New comp
Also look on Mister Auto UK. One for £155.90 there, reduced from £201.
You'll need to check part no against those Richard posted, and/or full vehicle details.
Nissens listed there too.

Thanks - I'll check that one out too. I've bought quite a bit from Mr Auto. It may be that the labour cost for replacing it and re-gassing the system is more than the compressor itself.

I just hope something else like the evaporator hasn't sprung a leak because it doesn't seem to be cooling at all now, on the other hand if there was a leak that dropped the pressure enough that it no longer cools the pressure switch should no longer engage the compressor ?? And the compressor clutch does still engage, which suggests that there is pressure in the system, but that something may have finally given way inside the compressor due to years of running with low refrigerant.

[xantia_v6]

The noise is probably the bearing between the two halves of the clutch which is good news, as even when noisy there is little chance of a catastrophic failure.

I don't know if you can reroute a shorter belt to bypass the A/C compressor on this engine.

I found this snippet via a google cache

406 CoupeV6 ES9J4 engine with a shorter auxillary belt. Problem with theA/C compressor pulley / clutch / bearing rattling, so I fitted ashorter belt (Gates 6PK1478) to bypass the A/C .

I am not sure that the 406 uses the same length belt as the Xantia (different hydraulic pump), but it is a starting point.

[Mandrake]

Unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worse. I tried to leave the house tonight to pick up SWMBO with toddler in tow and the gearbox in the Xantia appears to have failed. RIP Xantia at only 88k miles.

There is no drive at all in reverse and forward is hit and miss with a long delay. So now I have no working cars with the Xantia almost certainly for the scrap heap with an unfixable gearbox problem and the chances of fixing the Ion hanging at 50/50, and made so much more difficult by not having another car to get anywhere to get parts etc.

I'm going to have to take some days off work at the start of this week to speed the Ion repair along, unfotunately the fuse I need to finish the repair is addressed to work and due Monday/Tuesday so I would need to catch the train into Glasgow just to pick up this fuse. It's a very special, non standard fuse which can't be obtained from anywhere else except OEM suppliers in Japan.

Complete disaster. Even trying to get Joshua to nursery is going to be a logistical nightmare with two cars out of action. Argh!!!

On the bright side, at least it died on the driveway instead of stranding me in Glasgow on a cold rainy night with a toddler.

Anyone want a Xantia V6 for a manual gearbox conversion project ? Just needs an A/C compressor and timing belt kit...

[Mandrake]

Does anyone know which fuse under the dashboard is for the gearbox ECU ?

[xantia_v6]

This should tell you...



F4 in the engine fusebox.

[white exec]

Fluid level and appearance, Simon?

[Mandrake]

Fluid level and appearance, Simon?

As it's currently hailstones outside I can't answer that question for sure...

However I did a gearbox oil change about 4-5 months ago and at the same time I replaced the leaky washers on the Banjo joint with dowty seals - the first thing I checked last night was the Banjo joint and it's dry and leak free (good advertisement for the dowty seals!) so I think the chances of the oil level being low are extremely remote as there are no signs of leaks anywhere and I was careful to get the oil level correct.

To check the oil level propely the coolant has to be at 80C which is an awful lot of idling when the car can't be driven, so I can't really check the level anyway.

[Skull]

Does anyone know which fuse under the dashboard is for the gearbox ECU ?

Handbook states F17 10A Automatic Gearbox

[Mandrake]

Does anyone know which fuse under the dashboard is for the gearbox ECU ?

Handbook states F17 10A Automatic Gearbox

For a Series 1 V6 ?

In case anyone is wondering, the idea behind removing the fuse as a test is to force the gearbox into hydraulic emergency mode which gives you 3rd and reverse without any ECU control. This might show whever the problem is fundametally mechanical like a burnt clutch, or an electrovalve activation issue. It also might help me move it out of the way as it is blocking the other car in on the driveway as it can't be reversed onto the road!

At this point I'm pretty sure it's a gonner and this is all mainly post mortem to confirm it and help me get it off the driveway.

[Skull]

Does anyone know which fuse under the dashboard is for the gearbox ECU ?

Handbook states F17 10A Automatic Gearbox

For a Series 1 V6 ?

Just the X2 Owners handbook I have ....so not sure about your specific car

[Mandrake]

Handbook states F17 10A Automatic Gearbox

For a Series 1 V6 ?

Just the X2 Owners handbook I have ....so not sure about your specific car

I think S1 fuse boxes are different.

[xantia_v6]

Did you check the diagram on the previous page?

[RichardW]

That's a double bugger, Simon.... really sorry to hear that.

It might be worth considering buying a temporary car to ease things over the next few weeks? Here's a couple of local private sales that look OK:

Punto

Hyundai

Corsa

If it was last week, you could have borrowed mine for a week as I have been off sick....

[Mandrake]

Did you check the diagram on the previous page?

Yes - however F4 is the permanent power for the ECU memory, I think its F12 which is the one to remove to disable the gearbox ECU as that is the switched power via the ignition key. With that removed the ECU will only have backup memory power and behave as if the key is off.

BF00 is the drivers footwell fuse box isn't it ?

Edit: And/or F2. However I have a definite memory of removing one fuse in the drivers fuse box to disable the gearbox as I've done this test once before...