Xantia of Desires - Farewell xantia!

[angle]

People on the Xantia facebook page said that the tensioner has a habit of collapsing internally, pulling the belt off towards the engine, which is maybe whats happening here. It all runs true and nice now, but I'll keep a close eye on it as I get some miles on and see if that is what's happening. If so, new tensioner!

 

Does it have aircon? If it does keep an eye out for a big GSF sale, you're looking at £100+ for the tensioner otherwise (says the bitter voice of experience)

[beko1987]

Yes it has aircon. I'll hit gsf/amazon then!

[twosmoke300]

Wonder if a valve had just clipped a piston

[beko1987]

Maybe. Would the fact that it's still running mean I've gotten away with it? I'll see how tappy it is tomorrow.

 

I'm a bit paranoid about the timing now though, so I'll probably be making amys weekend by going back out there on Sunday...

[Kiltox]

Offer to loan you the Colt still stands if you decide you need to take it off road for a bit to properly sort it and ease the time pressure / angry Mrs factor - I'm not using it anyway

 

Does sound like you've been very fucking lucky mind

[beko1987]

I think I've worked it out! Just sat watching it on idle at mums, and I have too much slack on the belt between the camshaft and fuel pump, it's vibrating like mad. Hopefully this is where the new vibrations and bouncy engine is coming from.

 

Can't do anything about it until Sunday, and it should be OK as the teeth on the belt are ok, it's not slipped or anything, I'll just drive slow and steady for the rest of the week!

 

Silly boy, off it all comes again to go back on properly!

[beko1987]

So, with the engine running ok, bar a light click in time with the revs which I think is the cam cover catching on something, something else had to go wrong, which could actually scupper the mot...

 

Bloody handbrake tell tale on the dashboard stopped working...

 

So this morning, I have been out to have a look. The first thing which was hopeful is there was 20p stuck by the handbrake

 

 

Praying to the shite gods I removed the switch, broke it open and cleaned off the filth from the contacts and... Nothing.

 

I even bridged the connection to put the light permanently on, but still nothing (tested with the engine running)...

 

This upset me, as the haynes guide for stripping the dash to get at the bulbs looks scary, and it's too cold for that today. So I put it all back together and will hope it fixes itself in the week, I might hit the dash a bit too incase that sorts it.

 

I went to look at the squeaky climate control sensor but couldn't remove it from the dash as there's a massive multiplug plugged in, so will fire a squirt of contact cleaner in at some point and see what that does.

 

No mojo today, mot on the 22nd...

[Dave_Q]

99.9% sure handbrake telltale isn't on the MOT.

[beko1987]

Really? I asked in the stupid question thread and someone said it was.

 

If it's not, it can 100% do one, I can't say I ever pay it any attention whatsoever. Does the car move in gear? No - handbrake on. Yes - handbrake off, simple!

[Dave_Q]

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_310.htm

 

Not listed as a reason for rejection.

 

We do have actual testers on here (Scaryoldcortina, Micheal_numbers, twosmoke and probably others) so hopefully one of them will chime in

[doobietoo]

If its just* a handbrake warning light its not a fail....if it doubles as an abs warning or a low fluid warning it is...

[SiC]

Would it not be a fail if the light stays on though?

 

I.e. a fault has happened with the braking system.

[adw1977]

Would it not be a fail if the light stays on though?

 

I.e. a fault has happened with the braking system.

True, but if it doesn't come on briefly when the engine is started, isn't that also a fail? On the principle that if the bulb is blown then said braking system fault would never be apparent.

[SiC]

True, but if it doesn't come on briefly when the engine is started, isn't that also a fail? On the principle that if the bulb is blown then said braking system fault would never be apparent.

On most (older) brake systems if the handbrake is down and the fluid level is fine when your turn the ignition on, the light won't light. As it's literally two switches in parallel with the light. Worse case, as the switch works, could you not just wire an LED up to the switch, gaffer tape it to the dashboard surround with it poking thru a post it note with Handbrake indicator written on it?

[beko1987]

I don't recall it coming on with the ignition, but as said, I've never paid it any attention before!

 

It won't do any fluid levels through the telltale, there's a big scary stop light for fluid issues. I'm hoping some percussive maintenance will possibly bring it back to life, it works on the fuel guage bulb every now and again.

 

The binnacle does indeed look like a right pain in the arse, and I really really really don't want to do it, and now won't be this weekend as Amy has gone out and left me with eva.

[Tickman]

.....now won't be this weekend as Amy has gone out and left me with eva.

But Eva has little hands that will get into all the difficult places that yours don't!

[scaryoldcortina]

Yeah, handbrake light on the dash not working is a fail if it's also the brake fluid level indicator, which it probably is on this.

 

If you are going to rig up a circuit, you need a warning lamp and a push button (can be an illuminated switch) connected to the brake fluid level circuit (master cyl cap) wired parallel so that either pressing the button or losing all your brake fluid puts the light on.

[DSdriver]

If it is just the bulb and its difficult to get at why not just fit a new warning light somewhere? 

Ah SOC got there first

[Richard]

It's a Xantia, it doesn't have brake fluid. I think there's another warning for the LHM being low.

[scaryoldcortina]

^ That's a good point. Does it have the usual cit/pug "STOP" warning on the dash, and does that light up with the ignition? If so, you can ignore the handbrake light problem.

[83C]

Handbrake warning lamp on its own not a reason for failure:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/518634/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles.pdf

 

As has been said, it is if it doubles for something else, but unlikely on a Xantia.

[beko1987]

^ That's a good point. Does it have the usual cit/pug "STOP" warning on the dash, and does that light up with the ignition? If so, you can ignore the handbrake light problem.

Yep, big stop light, beeping and another warning light, which actually may also be the handbrake light, I shall consult the manual in due course.

 

So no links to brake fluid, because there isn't any brake fluid! Just no light when I pull the handbrake up.

 

Ill confirm with a browse of the book over lunch, I'm now doubting if it's the same light that does the handbrake that comes up with the stop light now

[beko1987]

Here we go, on the rh side, I don't have the P light anymore

 

 

But I do have the hydraulic pressure/level and stop lights

 

 

Wonder what other warning lights don't work due to bulbs? I should really do the lot, but sod that in this weather, not really the attitude I know but still...

 

So it looks like I should be ok?

[beko1987]

I have never seen this warning light before, and I've driven with no screenwash as it started to stink so I drained it then forgot to fill it back up and drove

 

[SiC]

My experience of removing stuff in cars with bulbs in, the act+shock of removing the thing makes the other aged bulbs blow too. So if you are going to pull the clocks out, I'd replace them all. Literally everytime I remember removing something, it has popped a few. This is why the climate control display on my Saab is a bit dark at the moment...

 

Also not least if you replace only a few backlight bulbs, you get some of it really bright with fresh bulbs and other bits very dim.

[beko1987]

That's the plan I think, there's a how to guide on the French car forum which says what and how many bulbs I need. Half the red counter is dark too, luckily the half that I don't go into very often. And the fuel gague but that comes back depending on road surface...

[beko1987]

Ha make that 4 dead bulbs at least

 

 

I've never had the side lights causing a dashboard light to come on!

 

O yea, and whilst having the centre console out I found a massive pair of nail clippers, anyone on here?

 

 

They seem to have been used for spreading sealant somewhere!

[vulgalour]

I don't remember the handbrake light ever illuminating when I had it and it went through an MoT like that.  I'm sure Chompy had the dash out to do the bulbs once too and vowed never to do it again.  I vowed much the same when doing all the bulbs in the BX and the Xantia was a worse job than that.

[beko1987]

I've seen it on, but look at it so rarely I can't remember when it would have last done it. As long as it's not going to fail the mot, which it doesn't look like it will it will be left, far more important things to be done, like tyres, spheres, height correctors, rust etc!

 

The only dashboard light I ever care about is the stop one! And the last time I saw that the engine had already cut out so I had no choice but to stop!

[beko1987]

So, Mot on Saturday the 5th,so time for some essential mot prep!

 

One of the number plate lights didn't, so I took the bulbs out, which were fine and put them back in. Voila! Light

 

 

The lenses were a bit mucky, so I bought them in and soaked them in hot water and washing up liquid

 

 

On a roll, I tightened up the loose seat bolt

 

 

Then had a look at adjusting the headlights, but have no idea how! Is this bolt that sits under the rubber cover the one to turn?

 

 

I decided to not turn it until I know what it is, so did some vacuuming

 

 

Then cleaned the lenses with a brush and refitted them

 

 

Checked the oil, topped up the screenwash and she is 100% ready* for next weekend!