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ThwartedEfforts |
Posted: November 24, 2008 08:08 pm
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Super Member Group: Members Posts: 376 Member No.: 1397 Joined: October 27, 2008 |
Drove home this freezing cold evening and halfway there was a strong smell of spent fuel, as though following someone up front who'd just started their journey. But there's only me on the road
On getting to the junction nearest my home, there's a sudden whiff of neat fuel. After getting home (somewhat gingerly, I might add) and lifting the bonnet, there's a strong sense of fuel - but it doesn't smell neat and I can't see anything obvious. It just smells exceedingly "enginey", if you know what I mean. Are there any known problems I should look for in this area? Not having a lot of luck at the moment, am I This post has been edited by ThwartedEfforts on November 24, 2008 08:10 pm -------------------- 97 'R' XM 2.0i SX Saloon Auto
92 'J' XM 2.1 D Saloon Manual 08 08 C5 II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Tourer Auto 07 57 C1 1.4 HDi Rhythm |
neilp |
Posted: November 24, 2008 08:16 pm
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 88 Member No.: 1160 Joined: January 08, 2008 |
I should have a look for a fuel hose gone porous - there'll be no drips or anything dramatic, but the hose will be wet to the touch. Quite common with injected cars due to the pressures.
-------------------- 2.5TD VSX Estate 1995 ORGA 6595
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Citroenmad |
Posted: November 24, 2008 08:16 pm
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Double Chevron Group: Members Posts: 844 Member No.: 1226 Joined: March 01, 2008 |
Ah, not more problems!
So it seems to be running fine? Id look for the obvious first, any leaks or drips of fuel appearing on the drive overnight. Check for any breather pipes which may have came off and check around the fuel filter, has that ever been changed? Ive heard a few people complain of a similar problem on other cars, it turned out to be spark plugs. Have they ever been changed? I had this on another car, i swore it was another car infront of me, as mine had just been serviced at the dealers. It was actually the breather pipe which had been knocked off (i hate dealers!). So it may just be something simple, or i hope it is! -------------------- 1995 'N' XM 2.1TD VSX Manual Estate, magenta red - 62K miles
1998 'S' S1 Xantia Activa - silver 2006 '56' C5 2.0HDi 138 16v Hatch |
ThwartedEfforts |
Posted: November 24, 2008 08:37 pm
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Super Member Group: Members Posts: 376 Member No.: 1397 Joined: October 27, 2008 |
Mine has also just come back from a service, but that was a good 100 miles back.
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check in the morning. Can't see my hand in front of my face outside just now, and you already know what's in the garage -------------------- 97 'R' XM 2.0i SX Saloon Auto
92 'J' XM 2.1 D Saloon Manual 08 08 C5 II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Tourer Auto 07 57 C1 1.4 HDi Rhythm |
Andmcit |
Posted: November 24, 2008 09:28 pm
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Andre's Mate Group: Members Posts: 2086 Member No.: 7 Joined: August 15, 2003 |
CHECK YOUR FUEL LINES ON THE BULKHEAD ONTO THE OFFSIDE CYLINDER HEAD AS A MATTER
OF SOME URGENCY!!!!!!! I really mean it; whilst I'm not saying the car is a deathtrap, bear in mind the rubber fuel line hoses are as old as the rest of the car, lowish mileage or not and may just start to fail before Mr MOTman picks up the problem. I'd say the car is trying to tell you something. I could show you new folks scary pictures of my burnt out pride and joy 2.0i that was one of the best friends I've ever had!! Hindsight is not only very cruel, but all too easy as well... By all means check the hose clips first but concentrate on the bends of the pipes by twisting them back on themselves - there shouldn't be any line visible in the rubber. Andrew This post has been edited by Andmcit on November 24, 2008 10:17 pm |
ThwartedEfforts |
Posted: November 24, 2008 10:09 pm
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Super Member Group: Members Posts: 376 Member No.: 1397 Joined: October 27, 2008 |
Out of curiosity I took a torch outside, started the engine and watched. I could actually see the fuel rushing out and hitting the manifold before draining down the engine.
Here's a photo What's likely to be the cause there? Incidentally the plugs were replaced as part of the service. -------------------- 97 'R' XM 2.0i SX Saloon Auto
92 'J' XM 2.1 D Saloon Manual 08 08 C5 II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Tourer Auto 07 57 C1 1.4 HDi Rhythm |
Citroenmad |
Posted: November 24, 2008 10:18 pm
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Double Chevron Group: Members Posts: 844 Member No.: 1226 Joined: March 01, 2008 |
Seems odd that its happened so near to your service, i wonder if they have disturbed something.
Its most likely its a small split in a pipe. Good job you have found it so you can avoid using it until its fixed, it could be nasty as Andrew explained - the pictures are not nice! Chris -------------------- 1995 'N' XM 2.1TD VSX Manual Estate, magenta red - 62K miles
1998 'S' S1 Xantia Activa - silver 2006 '56' C5 2.0HDi 138 16v Hatch |
Andmcit |
Posted: November 24, 2008 10:43 pm
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Andre's Mate Group: Members Posts: 2086 Member No.: 7 Joined: August 15, 2003 |
The pump creates extremely high pressure so even a pinhole in the fuel line will allow a jet
to escape so a close examination in good light (probably daylight) is the first step to make. There's a chance that accessing the plugs has caused some inadvertent pressure to be applied to the fuel hoses and put strain on them where there may very well have been an aging weakness. I'm honestly not trying to scaremonger - just want others to avoid the heartache that befell me: http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3146 Andrew |
DerekW |
Posted: November 25, 2008 12:23 am
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Andre's Mate Group: Members Posts: 1320 Member No.: 173 Joined: June 01, 2005 |
Two things I must do tomorrow. Check my fuel lines and take the fire extinguisher out of the caravan and put it in the car.
Derek -------------------- 1999 3.0V624v Exclusive Black! (RP8362)
2004 C3 Sensodrive Exclusive 1994 ZX Aura 1.8 auto Location: 5 miles North of Boston, Lincolnshire |
Andmcit |
Posted: November 25, 2008 12:27 am
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Andre's Mate Group: Members Posts: 2086 Member No.: 7 Joined: August 15, 2003 |
I carry some chunky extinguishers in my treasured petrols - I'm damned if I'm going to lose my
CX GTi Turbo2 or the 24v V6 Xm the same way as I lost the red Xm. For me it's about the ONLY irrefutable argument for running a diesel as far as I'm concerned. Andrew This post has been edited by Andmcit on November 25, 2008 12:28 am |
Citroenmad |
Posted: November 25, 2008 12:29 am
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Double Chevron Group: Members Posts: 844 Member No.: 1226 Joined: March 01, 2008 |
Thats quite a warning if ever there was one, one plus point for a diesel car i guess!
I did like those wheels you had on the red one, they seemed to suit the Xm well. -------------------- 1995 'N' XM 2.1TD VSX Manual Estate, magenta red - 62K miles
1998 'S' S1 Xantia Activa - silver 2006 '56' C5 2.0HDi 138 16v Hatch |
Andmcit |
Posted: November 25, 2008 02:07 am
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Andre's Mate Group: Members Posts: 2086 Member No.: 7 Joined: August 15, 2003 |
Phil,
I honestly believe these 'challenges' you're being beset with are certainly the growing pains that unfortunately find their way into any machinery which the usual pile the miles on and get rid in two years mob never even see. That said, there is a pure honesty and likable quality which generates a massive sense of pride which when combined with the camaraderie of like minded owners makes owning older distinctive cars so rewarding. There's probably a lot to answer for where jobs put off and corners cut are actually made by the second owners who are largely trading on the reliability retained in the car from the past full expenses dealer servicing. As an enthusiast, picking up the pieces can be very rewarding but initially very frustrating as hidden foibles manifest themselves. Just tell yourself that the rewards are possible and genuine! Andrew This post has been edited by Andmcit on November 25, 2008 07:10 pm |
Ciaran |
Posted: November 25, 2008 05:32 pm
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Andre's Mate Group: Members Posts: 1434 Member No.: 222 Joined: August 12, 2005 |
On the fuel pipe point, I too got very scared after seeing Andrew's thread last time, and checked my own fuel hoses, which weren't great.
Citroen unfortunately took quite a while to get the new hoses (big shock there), so I had to bandage them up and chance it for a while. I checked the pipes daily for the few weeks I was waiting on the pipes, the wrap on them seemed to be holding, (there was no leak in the first place, just cracked looking). The new pipes arrived, and sat in the back of the car for a day or two. One rainy Saturday morning / afternoon I was driving round Belfast city centre, trying to find a customer's resteraunt, to drop a computer back to them. I was behind a BMW X5 in traffic, and kept getting this really strong smell of petrol. I was thinking 'damn that thing smells like its running rich, I wouldn't like the fuel bill'. Then, as I parked along a quiet sidestreet, with no other cars around, it dawned on me that there were no other cars around, yet the smell of petrol remained, and in fact was getting stronger Hmmm I thought, popped the bonnet, and jumped out, engine still running. My attention was immediately drawn to the nice mist of fuel spraying out from under the bandage on the fuel hose, and (very luckily), condensing and running down the bulkhead, rather than the engine. Had it been the other way, it could have been a complete disaster, and it would have been my own fault for leaving it when I knew it needed attention. Moral of the story, investigate and rectify ANY suspicion of a fuel system anomoly IMMEDIATELY, don't leave it to chance. Ciarán This post has been edited by Ciaran on November 25, 2008 05:40 pm -------------------- '95 XM 2.1TD VSX Hatch: RP 6429. Rare green ;-)
'90 XM 2.0 SEI Hatch: RP 4832 - 'Gandalf the grey' '95 Xantia 1.9TD SX Hatch: RP ????. Black - 'Darth Vader'. Will be MOT'd '95 Xantia 1.9TD SX Hatch: RP ????. Blue - Utterly fooked Location: Outskirts of Belfast in the sunny north of Ireland... |
ThwartedEfforts |
Posted: November 25, 2008 05:50 pm
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Super Member Group: Members Posts: 376 Member No.: 1397 Joined: October 27, 2008 |
This describes what happened to me. The car has been trailered away to the local Citroen dealer who carried out the service. I would attempt it myself, but 1. I don't want to get involved with fuel delivery for obvious reasons, and having seen Andrew's BBQ 2. They are a good enough bunch of people to put a hand in the air and admit their work exacerbated the problem - if that is indeed the case. Thanks for all the support, and particular Andrew's words of encouragement. I don't think I'll be selling it just yet -------------------- 97 'R' XM 2.0i SX Saloon Auto
92 'J' XM 2.1 D Saloon Manual 08 08 C5 II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Tourer Auto 07 57 C1 1.4 HDi Rhythm |
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Citroenmad |
Posted: November 25, 2008 06:16 pm
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Double Chevron Group: Members Posts: 844 Member No.: 1226 Joined: March 01, 2008 |
Ive never checked my fuel hoses, i think i better had!
Phil good to hear your not selling yet, once you have a good Xm its best to stick with it! Hence why mine wont be going anywhere, even though its probably not the spec Xm i really want (a manual diesel!) its good to know i have a good one and i know everything about it. Its ultra reliable too and for that reason alone its staying. Ill have to investigate the hoses next time i have the Xm out, sounds like its more common than i thought. -------------------- 1995 'N' XM 2.1TD VSX Manual Estate, magenta red - 62K miles
1998 'S' S1 Xantia Activa - silver 2006 '56' C5 2.0HDi 138 16v Hatch |
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