Transmission whine - Citroen Xsara 110 HDi, is this serious?

Transmission whine - Citroen Xsara 110 HDi, is this serious?

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Chris71

Original Poster:

21,536 posts

242 months

Tuesday 15th July 2008
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Apologies for starting a new thread, but it's a fairly specific question. I went to see a Citroen Xsara 110 HDi this evening. Nice car (even in allegedly wallowy non-VTR spec) - left me scratching my head as to what the very negative Parkers review was going on about. Anyway...

It had a noticeable transmission whine on overrun. Noticed it most when cold and in the lower gears, but that may just be down to the test route, difficult to say.

I got a "they all do that sir" from the dealer - is that true? It's on around 66k and looks to have led a fairly easy life.

Brakes weren't super sharp either, but it had been standing for a while and they felt addeqaute enough, but otherwise very good - more refined than a mk1 Focus and nearly as good to drive.

megamaniac

1,057 posts

216 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
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No,they don't all do it,however diff's do fail so best steer clear and find a quieter one.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,536 posts

242 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
quotequote all
Cheers. I suspected there was a bit of wishful thinking involved in the guy's reassurance. I also found a few more examples on Autotrader and discovered it wasn't one of the cheaper ones either.

Quite impressed with the model though - the VTR Coupe must be quite entertaining and still a hushed 60mpg.

Matthew_Eames

1,052 posts

204 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
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glad you liked it, they are really underrated i think, ok not amazing but when everyone seems to go straight for a Focus or Mk4 golf these offer something a little more interesting

my 306 HDI does whine a little, not hugely pronounced (the turbo whistles over it) and I tested 10 before I bought mine, they all sounded the same, if the diff goes, it goes but I cannot see it being a problem....or at least I hope not

Mr Whippy

29,042 posts

241 months

Friday 18th July 2008
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Mine whines on the overrun, most noticeable in 1st/2nd/3rd under 2500rpm. It's almost the most significant noise going in the cabin on downhill sections at say 30mph in 3rd, and has done this since I got it at 73,000 miles, and has stayed the same until 106,000 miles (now)

My older brother bought a car at 55,000 miles (306 HDi too) and that also does it.

I've given mine plenty of beans too, loads of 1/4 miles, shifts with the throttle pinned, 0-60's, tons of different remaps and relative abuse (compared to your average driver) and it's been perfectly fine smile


I think it's a characteristic. The earlier 1.9 Td 306's gearbox however doesn't do this, but it is a different type of gearbox/clutch. Mine has also had three gearbox oil changes (long story) so it's definately not old oil smile

Not sure if the HDi110 model (what you say) uses the same clutch/gearbox. Iirc, the HDi110 has a different clutch setup, but the gearbox is the same.


As always, best to try as many as you can if you are not familiar with them, to get an idea of what is normal and what isn't.

Dave

Edited by Mr Whippy on Friday 18th July 11:45

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,536 posts

242 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Off to look at another one of these tomorrow. It's a high mileage example being sold by a colleague for a lot less than the others I've seen. Sounds solid enough (a few car park scars, but nothing mechanical) and despite having 120,000 miles on the clock it's still an '03 plate (facelifted) model.

Is there anything to be wary of at that sort of mileage?

The guy selling it seems pretty honest and I'd hope he was mechanically competent (we're an R&D facility specialising in diesel engines, including our version of that very engine!)

Mr Whippy

29,042 posts

241 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Cambelt, radiator, catalytic converter.

First two are important, the two main killers of PSA diesels smile

Last one will fail if it hasn't already, best to just weld in a straight bit of pipe if it snaps.

Erm, check for the lower engine aux pulley too, on some models these fail quite often and result in a lot of clicking/knocking.

Erm, check clutch is good, check for leccy gremlins as PSA stuff tends to be fine, until it's tampered with, then it's very bad. So make sure everything works, if it doesn't expect a possible nightmare to right it, or make sure it's something you don't care about smile

Dave

Matthew_Eames

1,052 posts

204 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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well timing belt is due at 100k so that should have been done
A clutch would be nearly gone by that time i would guess aswell

other than that i dont see any problems, just check for the turbo using oil and whether it's boosting properly, they can whistle on part throttle (mine does) but as long as it goes ok and doesnt smoke then your OK

the injectors can tap a bit (again mine do and have done since 47k....some do some dont) and apart from being a bit annoying they dont cause problems

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,536 posts

242 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
quotequote all
Cheers.

I know it's had a new cambelt and clutch fairly recently. Everything else is reported to work.

Going to see it in an hour or two, so I shall report back. smile

Edit: Feck! Just setting off to see the car and I get a phone call to say someone else has bought it. Sounded tremendously good value and it was only on the work noticeboard - I think I'm jinxed in some way with cars at the moment! frown

Might ring up the insurance company and abuse them a bit, just to make me feel better.

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 23 July 11:24