Other Cars Technical Chat

[half-pint]

ok as most know i now have a citroen xsara vtr....

so the problems i am having are...

1.no heater working
2.car likes to rev all by itself....quite a bit..even when braking
3.Car has a tendency to not want to start when warm, and only way of getting it to start is for me to turn the ignition and someone to get under the bonnet and push the throttle there?

and then the car stinks of fuel

anyone got any knowledge of these delightful little french vehicles?

swanny??...lol

[Purple_Wagon]

When you say no heater do you mean no fan running ?


PW

[Gary (not GT Gary)]

1 as Jims question
2 Sticky throttle cable or fuel injection unit?
3 See 2
4 See you jimmy.

Fuel smell may be sender unit seal, fuel line worn, corroded or broken. Usually under the rear seats.

Could also be overfuelling due to sticky injection unit.

[Purple_Wagon]

If it is no fan running, or running 'when it feels like it' that is what is happening to my Xasa too.

The answer is a faulty resistor pack.

Read this - http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=82957

than after checking (as I am gonna do on next day off), order this http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=xsara+heater+resistor&_sacat=0&_dmpt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_odkw=picasso+heater+resistor&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

The rest - see Gazza above


PW

[Angel]

My old red subaru was doing exactly the same,it was revving that high that I could do the length of our drive in second gear without touching any pedals!! 

I didn't get it looked at,cos I sold it back to the bloke I got it from and it was still under warranty....but I did scour the net for hours looking for answers,and the one I came up with was 'air temp sensor'...Might be totally wrong,but worth a try if all else fails! 

[half-pint]

ok will look into all suggestions

someone also suggested MAP sensor?

[half-pint]

haynes manual will be bought on wednesday.....might as well take a wee look in it too

[Angel]

haynes manual will be bought on wednesday.....might as well take a wee look in it too

Thats a bugger....thats probably one of the only haynes manuals I don't own!! pmsl 

[half-pint]

haynes manual will be bought on wednesday.....might as well take a wee look in it too

Thats a bugger....thats probably one of the only haynes manuals I don't own!! pmsl 

lmao Maggie...you mean you havent gone down the french route yet?

[Angel]

lmao Maggie...you mean you havent gone down the french route yet?

Oh yes,got the T-shirt....xantia before I had the esti...didn't need a manual for it though,it was such a good car! I'd probably still have it if I hadn't bought that damn estima!! lol    

[half-pint]

lmao maggie...at least i went with cars much the same..2 estys and 2 mondeos..before going french..lol

[Angel]

lmao maggie...at least i went with cars much the same..2 estys and 2 mondeos..before going french..lol

lol,I had.....the Saab....killed it,lost about 2 grand on it!

Peugeot....went off to the scrapyard after the axle nearly snapped with rust!

Subaru pickup.....nuff said.

Hyundai accent.......nuff said.

Mondeo....killed it...smash.

Red Subaru.....still alive...just

Also had a Suzuki Swift while I had the scooby,just sold it as we decided to go back to just one car.

Landrover Freelander.....for 16 hours...long enough for me to have changed the insurance (which they charged me for) and put 50 quid of fuel in it!!

....and my current scooby.....hoping to hold onto it for at least a year till the warranty runs out! 

[half-pint]

fingers crossed for this scooby :-)

[Angel]

fingers crossed for this scooby :-)

...and for your xsara...can't wait to find out what the problem is,its been bugging me on the scooby for months,hope its a cheap fix for you whatever it is!   

[half-pint]

well hope its fixed for my trip to yorkshire in 2 weeks..lol

[Angel]

well hope its fixed for my trip to yorkshire in 2 weeks..lol

oooh! Will keep fingers crossed for ya!! 

[half-pint]

well hope its fixed for my trip to yorkshire in 2 weeks..lol

oooh! Will keep fingers crossed for ya!! 

Thank you ...lol

[Purple_Wagon]

Looking on the Picasso owners site, the resistor pack fault is VERY common. Seems it is in fact a thermal fuse in the pack that packs in.

Found instructions to remove it and even the MAPLIN PART NUMBER of the replacement fuse - lol


PW

[half-pint]

so we can do 2 in one day then..lol

[Purple_Wagon]

Your seems slightly different from mine - but principal is the same.

A heater meet in the making lol


http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/index.php?showtopic=2447&st=15&p=35845&hl=resistor&fromsearch=1entry35845


PW

[half-pint]

well my wee french number died on me today!!

drove car into town, and after stopping it and re-starting it, it decided to rev..and not stop revving.
It dropped a little and i drove off, but then revs went back up and stayed around the 3000 mark, until i put foot on the brake, then it went higher.
Decided to try driving it ( even though i was getting peculiar looks from everyone thinking i was revving at them..lol)
headed towards a garage, and as i turned into the street which was luckily down hill, the engine cut out and all lights came on, and i freewheeled it down the hill.
Unfortunately was 4.50pm by this point, and just had to leave it at garage with a description of fault and they will look tomorrow.

Anyone any ideas?

[mr mince]

Sorry to hear of more car trouble Jo.

Can't help diagnose that one though

[ADarbon]

could be a sensor or ecu going up the spout. idle control valve could be getting stuck

[half-pint]

well got the car back from the garage this afternoon...

...they had it on the computer...removed a coupling that may have been the problem...checked the idle control valve...and......not a single fault could be found.

They kept the car running for hours..and nothing showed up....so i jumps in the car drives to Dundee...and wham...it all starts again revving...like there was no stopping it, thankfully it didn't die on me this time, so what do i do with a car that play up, but shows no faults?

[ADarbon]

Get an estima  . I think its the ECU playing up where is it situated in your car could it be getting water in too it. Cold air could be the problem wouldn't show up in the garage but once on the road. Is it injection or carburettor. But I think its the rain getting in too something.

[half-pint]

since i got it, I have had problems with it revving a bit on its own accord.
It also used to not like starting when warm, all of this when there wasn't any rain around, its just that now its got worse.

[mr mince]

Get an estima

Yep I've got one of those, murder to start (sometimes) stalls for fun (only when cold and even then only when it feels like it) splutters under load but sometimes pulls like a train and all the time reads no faults

Seriously though Jo I'd have to vote with Tony electrical of some sort

Suppose it could also be a dodgy connection of some sort, intermittent faults are the worst as they only ever show up when you can't show them to anyone else

[half-pint]

well did a 20 mile round trip today in pouring rain.....and...not a hiccup....grrrrrrrrrrr....well at least i got home without worrying ...this time..lol

[ADarbon]

I really do think its the ecu. trip too the scrappies and rip one out. Cars are becomming too relient on micro chips these days. if my computers anything too go buy its not a good idea.
what was wrong with opperating a car with cables and leavers, at least when somthing did go wrong you could botch it till you got home.

[half-pint]

the french machine has gone wrong ..AGAIN

after last month getting it through its MOT and having it serviced at the garage......

yesterday the clutch decided to go...big time

was driving through town..changed gear..and clutch pedal wouldn't rise on its on..managed to change gear a couple of times by pulling the pedal up with my foot...but then it started to squeal, and smell like burning..and the pedal wouldn't budge any more neither would the gears engage.

So the garage picked it up today, and although they haven't stripped it down yet, its not sounding good, seems the clutch has totally seized (as if melted to something (squealing and burning smell?), and not just a cable snapping as we had hoped.
Not sounding like a cheap fix, especially if the gearbox has been damaged in the process.....phone back Tuesday to find out whether its a repair or scrap issue :-(

[mr mince]

Ouch, you've not had the most luck with cars in the last few years

Hope it's an easy one

[ADarbon]

not good at all. gear boxes on cars just dont like you. that is a very odd way for the cluch to go like its fused together

[half-pint]

cars really dont like me..lol

well garage did say that even if it just needs a new clutch kit we are talking between £250 and £350 + VAT
I hate cars...just a shame i cant really do without one here .

[Kernowman]

Strange about the pedal sticking... are you sure it's cable controlled or hydraulic ?
Either way it could be the control arm has jammed... which would stop the clutch from operating.
The clutch plate may have burnt out if jammed not fully engaged... that'd be the burning smell.

Hopefully it's a simple strip down of clutch and clean up /new plate. But if not a new flywheel and kit... fingers crossed for a good result.

[Angel]

lmao Maggie...you mean you havent gone down the french route yet?

Just as I finally succumb to joining the 'french' gang, you've gone and broken it!!  Its gotta live, cos I have a citroen too now.....and its red! 

Loving it at the mo, till I kill it, will keep everything crossed that yours can live on....

[Swanny]

That's exactly what happened to the clutch in my diesel Xsara Jo. Started squeeling a week or so before it went, then the whole clutch assembly just collapsed, with the same reult you got...............pedal welded to floor, and burning smell. I scrapped it!.

[half-pint]

That's exactly what happened to the clutch in my diesel Xsara Jo. Started squeeling a week or so before it went, then the whole clutch assembly just collapsed, with the same reult you got...............pedal welded to floor, and burning smell. I scrapped it!.

I didnt get squealing until seconds before it went....doesn't sound too good really.
was it just the clutch though swanny or did the gear box have damage too?
Im in a lose lose situation as i cant afford another car..so if this is going to cost 250-350 to fix im gonna have to pay it, as i cant get another car for that money!

[half-pint]

lmao Maggie...you mean you havent gone down the french route yet?

Just as I finally succumb to joining the 'french' gang, you've gone and broken it!!  Its gotta live, cos I have a citroen too now.....and its red! 

Loving it at the mo, till I kill it, will keep everything crossed that yours can live on....

what did you get Maggie?

[Angel]

lmao Maggie...you mean you havent gone down the french route yet?

Just as I finally succumb to joining the 'french' gang, you've gone and broken it!!  Its gotta live, cos I have a citroen too now.....and its red! 

Loving it at the mo, till I kill it, will keep everything crossed that yours can live on....

what did you get Maggie?

I've got a xsara picasso, diesel. Only had it a week,and was loving it....till I came on here!!   

[half-pint]

lmao Maggie...you mean you havent gone down the french route yet?

Just as I finally succumb to joining the 'french' gang, you've gone and broken it!!  Its gotta live, cos I have a citroen too now.....and its red! 

Loving it at the mo, till I kill it, will keep everything crossed that yours can live on....

what did you get Maggie?

I've got a xsara picasso, diesel. Only had it a week,and was loving it....till I came on here!!   

Think thats what the PW's have got ...still like my car...lol...just want it to not be broken!!

[Swanny]

That's exactly what happened to the clutch in my diesel Xsara Jo. Started squeeling a week or so before it went, then the whole clutch assembly just collapsed, with the same reult you got...............pedal welded to floor, and burning smell. I scrapped it!.

I didnt get squealing until seconds before it went....doesn't sound too good really.
was it just the clutch though swanny or did the gear box have damage too?
Im in a lose lose situation as i cant afford another car..so if this is going to cost 250-350 to fix im gonna have to pay it, as i cant get another car for that money!

Just the clutch on mine Jo.

[half-pint]

That's exactly what happened to the clutch in my diesel Xsara Jo. Started squeeling a week or so before it went, then the whole clutch assembly just collapsed, with the same reult you got...............pedal welded to floor, and burning smell. I scrapped it!.

I didnt get squealing until seconds before it went....doesn't sound too good really.
was it just the clutch though swanny or did the gear box have damage too?
Im in a lose lose situation as i cant afford another car..so if this is going to cost 250-350 to fix im gonna have to pay it, as i cant get another car for that money!

Just the clutch on mine Jo.

Fingers crossed thats all thats wrong with mine...still not happy...cars..the bain of my life :-)

[half-pint]

Well get car back tomorrow..all fixed ( I Hope)
seems the clutch had made a bit of a mess melting..!!
But new clutch fitted and hopefully all is well :-)

[mr mince]

Good luck Jo

[Angel]

Well get car back tomorrow..all fixed ( I Hope)
seems the clutch had made a bit of a mess melting..!!
But new clutch fitted and hopefully all is well :-)

Great news Jo! 

But now you've jinxed mine!!  I've got a fuel leak!!!  Aaaaaarrggggggh!    :

[half-pint]

Ohh no Maggie, sorry....i didnt mean it :-)

hope its an easy fix

[Angel]

Ohh no Maggie, sorry....i didnt mean it :-)

hope its an easy fix

Think its the seal around the fuel filter housing, so hopefully a cheap one...Should find out tomorrow 

Still got the Subaru if all else fails, as it appears nobody wants to buy it 

[half-pint]

fingers crossed for you :-)

[mr mince]

Yikes, I've never had much good luck with French cars either. Still like the old XUD 1.9 diesel engine from 90s though. For a diesel estate the 405 had some go, the ZX wasn't bad either.
Shame the rest of the car wasn't up to much, strangely the clutch went on my Citroen too

Fingers crossed it's a cheap one

[Angel]

hows it going Jo, got it back yet? 

Got mine fixed today, went to a Citroen garage, ouch! 8 quid for the actual seal, final bill was £94!! 

oh well, back on the road anyway...

[half-pint]

got the car back, clutch all fixed.
They did say however that it had fused to a bearing and he has cleaned that all up, and hopefully all should be fine

cost £250...and a crate of guinness..lol

[ADarbon]

thats hurt on the pocket but its always nice to have the motor back

[Angel]

got the car back, clutch all fixed.
They did say however that it had fused to a bearing and he has cleaned that all up, and hopefully all should be fine

cost £250...and a crate of guinness..lol

Yay!      Now how long do ya think we can keep em on the road before we kill em again?  > 

[half-pint]

hopefully a long time...I have no money left to spend on it