When the new engine was placed in my Xantia, it originally ran like a dream.
However, It ran low on petrol and I had trouble starting it.
I found some petrol in my garage, which I thought was unleaded and put this in. I also put another 5 lites in the following morning.
Since then it has been running like a pig. I am wondering whether I should have left this petrol in my garage well alone as I couldn't be absolutely sure of it origin.
I cleaned the plugs and put another 4 or 5 litres of unleaded in and it does run better, but still not as well as it did.
Two questions
Whould the 2 litres or so dodgy petrol have caused this and if so, will 'diluting' it with clean help?
What else can I do to improve the running of the car - perhaps injection cleaner etc?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
H
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Injector cleaner would be a good start.
I'm not sure what the symptoms would be if you'd killed the cat with leaded.
The other thing I would do is change the fuel filter. It is quite possible that the crud from the bottom of the petrol tank has been dredged up and is now sitting in the filter, preventing any actual petrol from getting through.
Other than that, I'm not sure but others will be along shortly.
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Old petrol goes off, if you can't remember the fuels origin it must be old! Agree with the fuel filter, well worth doing.
Then fill the tank up with Shell Optimax and give it an 'Italian tune-up"
(If the tanks full - no chance for condensation to form on the top and side-walls)
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Thanks guys.
I'll give the filter an inspection and go for the Shell Optimax
H
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Just an update.
Tried some injection cleaner today, no effect.
I was going to look at the filter, but just before I switched the engine off I noticed the exhaust was blowing a bit between the manifold and the front pipe.
My friend who fitted the engine did mention a problem with one of the springs on the bolts. Phone up Citroen specialist who advised that there is too much air getting into the system and hence would demand more fuel via the ECU - no wonder it's running like a pig! The sparks were black when I took them out the other day!
H
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There will be a \'kit\' available from Citroen to repair the front pipe seal.
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There will be a 'kit' available from Citroen to repair the front pipe seal.
Thanks DL
I obtained said kit from an independent exhaust manufacturer and have fitted it. It has improved matters, though there is some blowing when revved stationary. I assume that the seal still needs to bed in to the front pipe and this will die away in time.
In addition, it is still fairly lumpy when idling, though this becomes less noticable when warmed up. Driving at around 30 in 4th it did miss slightly, a problem that went away when I put my foot down.
Any ideas please?
H
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Well, any exhaust blow prior to the oxygen sensor will cause allsorts of problems.
I take it you have run a few tankfuls of fuel through the car by now?
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I've just changed the fuel filter and it is running significantly better.
It is still slightly lumpy but appreciably less than it was.
There was a bit of fuel that came out of the filter when I took it out. I assume that the fuel pump had just pumped this through and I didn't take this as a sight that the old filter was OK.
Don't worry, I pinched the tank side fuel line before removing it with a brake hose pincher. Hence only slight loss of fuel.
The other symptom which may be a tell tale sign for some of you out there is that when it is revved up to 4000 RPM it stays there for a second or so before coming back down to tick over.
I've got through about 10 litres of petrol since the problem started.
WRT the exaust seal at the manifold. I do get a bit of blowback when it starts cold. I have put this down to the seal not being bedded in. There seems to be no blowback when it's been running a little while.
The only thing I haven't maanged to do is have a look at the oxygen sensor (lambda sensor). I just wanted to see if it was dirty in some way and if it would be possible to clean it. I assume this is the thing sticking out of the front pipe about 6 inches behind the manifold.
From inspection it looks like a 21mm spanner would be needed to get it out, however, I am stuck as to whether it just pulls out and the hexagon nut is simply a plug in the exhaust for it to go into.
If anyone knows I would appreciate a response, since it seems that a little persuasion may be needed either way. I just want to persuade the right bit.
I have had a look at the little tickover servo beside the air intake - a little black cylindrical thing held on with two torx screws. This did seem stiff to push in and out and may be contributing to the probs no? Would this lubricate or am I looking at the wrong thing?
Well, there's a lot to chew over!
Thanks in advance.
Hugo
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I'm pretty sure you use the spanner on it, Hugo. I took the sensor out of my one once and as I recall it's much like a spark plug. There is a threaded 'boss' on the exhaust pipe.Give it a good squirt of release fluid. You'll need to take care, though, because they get a bit fragile with age. I fitted a new one (on the advice of a Cit dealer!) to try and extinguish an intermittent engine warning light - it made no difference!
I got my replacement from an independent supplier - think it was a Lucas and cost about £60. The problem was it didn't have the correct connectors for plugging into the loom so I had to make up connectors to suit. It's also a pig of a thing to get at from behind the engine.
I doubt if cleaning it will make much difference.
Have you tried cleaning the stepper motor? My one used to stick now and again, causing poor idle. Cleaning helped for a while but I replaced it eventually.
Graeme
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Hey guys can any one tell me where the filter is located and how to change it, cheers
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I tried to find the previous post on this matter, but I could not for some reason - apologies to start a new one.
You may remember I posted a question concerning the P reg Xantia that was running rough, wouldn't idle and behaved in a completely antisocial manner.
Well the other day I tried to link one of those cheap ECU testers to it and found what I thought was the right plug.
Re read the instructions and this confirmed that I did not have the correct plug. The one I had found was a 3 terminal grey plug and the one I was looking for was a 2 terminal green.
A further search using a torch, even though it was daylight, found the 2 terminal green plug, so the obvious question was, what was the 3 terminal grey plug for?
I had the advantage of having a spare inlet manifold and throttle air intake. I inspected both of these and located the MAP sensor underneath the manifold, so I knew where the one on the car should be.
On feeling around the underneath of the manifold, I duly located the MAP sensor but could not locate the leads coming from it.
So, I duly plugged in that 3 pin grey connector and.......
problem solved! It's like a different car!
Lessons learned.
Never assume anything. Have a damn good look around to see if anything has come adrift.
Use a torch even in bright daylight. The manifolds, hoses, leads etc can cast some really dark shadows in that engine bay, and it's easy to assume that if you can't see it, it's not there.
Try and consider when a fault first occurred. Was it at the time around some other work was being done? In this case we were crawling all around the car to find out where the speedo cable plugged in. As there was no retaining clip on this plug (there is now) I can only assume it was pulled out by accident.
Look for the obvious/most likely/free fixes first. A number of people I spoke to (not on this forum) suggested new cat, stepper motors, sensors etc. This would not have solved the problem. To be fair, even the local garage struggled with this fault, perhaps not fully knowing the engine - still they didn't charge me.
If possible, because you understand the system you're working on, rather than stabbing in the dark, use a logical thought pattern. If you are stabbing in the dark, then the point above applies more.
Last but not least, USE THIS FORUM!
I don't use this motto for the good of my health......
Hugo
"Forever indebted to experience of others"
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I tried to find the previous post on this matter, but I could not for some reason....
I did. Well at least I hope it is the earlier thread you're refering to?
DD.
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Yes it is thanks Dave
I think the BR search engine and I had a cummunication breakdown :)
Hugo
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