STOP! Frenchshite

[The Moog]

What does the STOP light on the xantia mean? I thought it was due to LHM but checked that and it is ok. Is it to do with pressure?

 

On a different note it has been sitting outside for a week with veg oil in it. Went to start it today and starts first time. Loving this SVO lark

[Cavcraft]

Low LHM (as you said), it's possible it's just low enough to put the light on when you go round corners. That certainly happened on a couple of the BXs I owned. From memory you put your big finger into the reservoir and it has to be able to touch the LHM if that helps?

 

I don't think pressure comes into it mate, usually if there's a problem (leakage/low on LHM etc) the steering gives way first and it feels like the power assistance has gone.

[chaseracer]

What Cavette said.

 

The Xant and the XM were the last hydro Cits to use the interconnected all-LHM (or, as I like to call it, "PROPER"...) system, so top up if necessary and get the filters cleaned out. If it was losing LHM, you'd know about it...

[messerschmitt owner]

pop the suspension up to full height

 

the little disc on the top of the lhm reservoir should be between the two red circles! If not, top up!

[Shep Shepherd]

I always thought that the light meant high engine temperature or low oil pressure and only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

[barefoot]

... the light meant high engine temperature or low oil pressure and only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

 

"Warning - You have no suspension" seems a fair reason to stop to me!

[Shep Shepherd]

... the light meant high engine temperature or low oil pressure and only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

 

"Warning - You have no suspension" seems a fair reason to stop to me!

 

That too!

[Dead_E23]

only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

That's what it means when it's off.

[Shep Shepherd]

only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

That's what it means when it's off.

 

Indeed! Which is the main reason why I wouldn't run a French car as a daily. At least Volvos are fairly simple and fairly cheap to fix when they do break down.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

When that light comes on, it just means STOP whatever it is you happened to be doing when it lit up. I find activities such as getting a 110% mortgage on a new-build flat, burning car tyres in the municipal park or trying to take 'upskirt' mobile phone shots on department store escalators can easily make it come on.

[dollywobbler]

only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

That's what it means when it's off.

 

Indeed! Which is the main reason why I wouldn't run a French car as a daily. At least Volvos are fairly simple and fairly cheap to fix when they do break down.

 

Oi! Stop with the myth building! Citroens aren't that complex really, just different. STOP could mean a whole host of things depending on which other lights also come on.

[The Moog]

No other lights on.

 

Does have a leak but PTS dont think it is that bad. Will get it fixed after christmas. I will triple check but I am sure the LHM is properly up to level (get quite paranoid about it )

 

Ahh so it is like a Citroen 8 Ball .. ask it a question and a warning light comes on to answer your dilemma LOL

[Dead_E23]

In SWMBO's old BX, the light being temporarily off meant 'Proceed direct to motor factor and stock up on LHM'.

 

Instead of indulging life's simple pleasures like Mr Bol, I spent my spare time preoccupied with slippery little bits of rubber. (Rather like being a student again...).

[Andrew353w]

I own a Xantia-it's GREAT!! When you start the engine you MUST wait until the big red "STOP" light goes out. Next to it is a red brake warning light and I expect that this is also illuminated. This means that until the light goes out you have very limited braking, as the pressure's not built up. Once the light goes out the car will level out and you can drive normally. If the light comes on when you're cornering you need to see what other light is coming on with it. The good thing about a problem with the LHM fluid is that if there IS a leak, you'll be able to find it because the pressure is SO high you should be able to find it fairly easily. Another thing to do is to see how often the pump "clicks" when the car's stationary; start the car, let the suspension settle and listen for the "clicks" from the hydraulic pump. It should "click" once a minute or thereabouts. If it's more often, the auxilliary sphere might need changing, for which you DON'T have to de-pressurise the system, just the auxilliary part.

 

I've done 6,000 miles in 3 months in mine and I LOVE it. If you need some advice/help please pm me. I live in Barnet, if you need some practical help. These cars are worth looking after and are real gems!

[myglaren]

Pretty much what Andrew^ said.

Principally hydraulic pressure but also LHM level and low coolant/ level high temperature.

[Shep Shepherd]

I own a Xantia-it's GREAT!!...These cars are worth looking after and are real gems!

 

I adore Citroens (largely due to the CX and XM, not to mention the BX 16TZS that my mother used to own) and looked at buying a Xantia a couple of years ago as a daily driver, but I couldn't find one which hadn't been badly abused or improperly maintained at the price I wanted to pay (£1500 or less), which is why I bought TV2 (£1180 for a one owner 12 year old car isn't to be sniffed at, especially as it's only needed new rear discs and a battery since I've owned it). I almost replaced the car with a 2002 C5 HDi SX Break a month or so back, but tales of the HDi engine's high pressure pump costing more to replace than the value of the car (from people I know who own or have owned them) put me off at the 11th hour. Plus, the tyres were only just legal and heavy snow was forecast

[messerschmitt owner]

... the light meant high engine temperature or low oil pressure and only came on to tell you that you had major expense coming...

 

"Warning - You have no suspension" seems a fair reason to stop to me!

warning you have no steering, you will soon have no suspension and after that the brakes fail is an even more important reason for finding out what's up!

[The Moog]

Front Accumlator Sphere has already been replaced. Did it about 3 weeks ago. Made a huge difference as it rises really quickly. LHM looks to be up to scratch.There is a slight leak from the front hose that I had someone look at and they think it is seals in the pipe. Nothing major.

 

 

Been Googling and it looks like if the other sphere are kaput it can effect it. Brake light isnt on when the STOP is on. Thats why I wasnt sure what it was for. So it does measure the pressure?

[myglaren]

Been Googling and it looks like if the other sphere are kaput it can effect it. Brake light isnt on when the STOP is on. Thats why I wasnt sure what it was for. So it does measure the pressure?

 

It can do but check the cooling system too!

Someone in my family, not naming any names, killed my BX thinking the stop light didn't apply to them. Heater hose had split, cracked cylinder head

[The Moog]

same thought popped into my head last night so went out and checked - no coolant. Citroen are tops! Putting an idiot light on for me:)

 

The coolant in there was green hence thinking it was lhm. Topped it up and it is happy. I have got a thermostat to change here and will do that later when it warms up a little bit.

 

thanks for the help

[catsinthewelder]

Glad to hear you got it sorted

 

pop the suspension up to full height

 

the little disc on the top of the lhm reservoir should be between the two red circles! If not, top up!

 

Just to prevent a repeat of my LHM all over the drive scenario from a few weeks ago.

 

If Xantias are like BX's then you have to get as much LHM back into the reservoir as possible before topping up. So suspension on low with engine on , let her drop , knock the engine off then leave for 10 minutes or so before checking the level and topping up.