Hi,

Thanks for the very prompt response.

Since messing about with it the other day I have figured out that it is not worth trying to start the car if I don't hear the in tank pump make a whirring noise behind me. After removing fuses, unplugging battery, messing about with the plip key and banging on the tank (under the right hand side back seat) I heard the pump kick in. Then I would try the car and it started after a second or two of turning over the engine. From then on every time I started the car, I heard the pump whirr behind me and then I had confidence the car would start. It would then start first time without hardly having to start over.

Then after being stood for a day I went to the car and it wouldn't start and after a few tries the battery seemed weak. Prompting me to think that the battery wasn't holding charge.

Hopefully tonight when I get in from work and put the battery back on it will have had about 20 hours on charge and so should be enough to start the engine (fingers crossed).

From what I have heard speaking to other people that if the High Pressure pump is playing up then would know about it prior to it giving up. When I get the car going it drives beautifully, doesn't stutter and seems great. So I think the HP pump is OK.

Joe

P.S Sorry if I waffle but just trying to give as much info as I can.

The car has done 110K and the battery is about 4 years old.

So, I've taken the battery off another car that is only a couple years old and left that charging overnight for 20 hours. Will put that on later and if still having issues can hopefully rule out a low battery.

I image the fuel tank pump is original and so is getting old but at the moment I don't know whether the whack I gave it the other day to get it working was what allowed the car to start or whether the issue is that the immobiliser/deadlock has kicked in (once when at fuel station, and once when I disconnected battery) and it is this that has stopped the in-tank fuel pump from working.

Led to believe this is how the immobiliser works by switching power to this pump.

So that is why wondering how to reset immobiliser or disable it so can then rule it out and determine if it is the pump or the immobiliser.

After a bit of reading around with other people having issues with xantias (and other citroens and peugeots) some issues point to the fuel cut off/inertia switch being faulty/damaged and so cuts off fuel. Therefore engine turns over but doesn't start.

So, I'm going to see if I can swop out the fuel cut off/inertia switch if I can get one from a scrapyard and see if that changes things. Only doing as it is easy to get at under the bonnet and is a job a numpty like me can do.

One question though if any citroen owners out there. Will the switch off other citroens, peugeots fit. Seen one off a Peugeot on a scappers website that looks identical but not seen any citroen ones yet. If anyone knows Id be grateful.