Ihave just bought a low mileage manual Turbo D Xantia on an M plate with 69K on the clock. Full service but only used for 2,000 miles a year over the last 3 years by the old boy who had it. When I start up and drive off, I find that the power steering sometimes doesn't work and/or is intermittent for the first couple of miles. After that it is fine. Can also hear a hissing noise when I turn the wheel. I had a diesel citroen zx before that I did 149K without this noise or issue. Does anyone have any ideas?
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 22/11/2007 at 18:38
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Does it have an airbag (relevant as the introduction of the air bag conincided with a change to the set up of the PAS / suspension!)?
The hissing noise is normal for Xantia.
Your first port of call is to change the LHM fluid, cleaning the filters while you're at it. This may improve things, but most likely it needs a new pump - they were pretty weak on the early cars - and intermittent PAS after cold start is usually a sign that the pump is on its way out.
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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It does have an airbag. It is into the garage on Tues for a service, will talk to the mechanic about changing LHM fluid. Is the LHM shared between the suspension and steering. There is a gentle bounce when going over bumps, not sure if this is normal?
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Yes the LHM does the lot, steering, brakes and suspension. If you have the fluid changed it is worth having the filters cleaned at the same time.
I did wonder when I read the question whether the drive belt may be slipping and giving intermittant power assistance.
You gentle bounce sounds about right, but it should be well damped. If it feels as if you are in a pogo stick, then that isn't right.
From memory the hydraulic system holds about 6 litres of fluid but only about 3 are in the reservoir and easily changed.
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Thanks for this, will ask the garage to look at the pump, drive belt & cleaning filters/LHM fluid change. Other than that, lovely car to drive, should see me out for a few years
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How did you get on with the service?
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This is also symptoms of a possible fault with hte Flow Distributor valve which sits behind the "extra" reservoir sphere in front of the engine.
Just remember the hydraulics feed the brakes as well as the steering. This is a "splitter" valve which sends pressure to each system thateeds fluid, accoring to need.
I had similar problem with mine, intermittent loss of steering assisatnce problems, then one day the brakes failed when put on hard, and I narrowly avoided mowing down a pedestrian who suddenly ran out intot he road.
Brake pedal went to the floor, steering went heavy and I only just wrestled the wheel round to steer round them
I use Traffic garage in Walton-on-the-Hil, Tadworth SUrrey.
They said it was classic sysmptoms of this valve going - steering and braking probs.
SO GET IT LOOKED AT QUICKLY !!!!
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I had exactly the same problem with mine.The citroen specialist I took it to said it was the LHM needed changing,and the system needed a flush ,he cleaned the filter by the resevoir and filled it with some sort of cleaning fluid which I did about 5000 miles with, he then drained it off and filled with LHM problem solved.The cleaning stuff is made by total and comes in a red plastic container,Ive seen it for sale in citroen dealers.Incidentally the specialist said that in all the time he'd been working on xantia's he'd never had to replace a pump. It was explained to me that the symptoms were because at low temperatures the LHM when overdue for changing is a bit thick and it thins out when warmed up ie after a few miles driving.
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"This is also symptoms of a possible fault with hte Flow Distributor valve which sits behind the "extra" reservoir sphere in front of the engine."
Not on this car - I asked the question about the air bag, as the introduction of this coincided with moving to a dual output hydraulic pump (one for suspension and one for steering) and doing away with the (troublesome in later life) flow diverter.
"SO GET IT LOOKED AT QUICKLY !!!!"
Yes, I'd agree - the OP's comment about lots of clicking suggests that the accumulator is flat, and this could have an adverse affect on brake reserve pressure if the pump did go right down.....
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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