2001 Citroen Xsara LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have a Citroen Xsara 1600 year 2000. It now has reached nearly 100,000. It is my pride and joy. It still drives like new, there are no noises on engine or anywhere, I service it myself, just replacing brake pads shoes etc.

I have had VW and BMW, but this has been the most reliable. If it was still in production, I would buy a new one.

We've had our Xsara since 2003 - bought new and really (with the exception of a self imposed problem on the RH (passenger for us here in Spain) door, which despite being done by an official garage has NEVER been correct since. But can't blame Citroen for that.

BUT what a screw up by the idiot who designed the lights. Access to the headlights on the LH side is NEAR impossible due to what seems to be the ABS servo. I guess JUST ABOUT possible with small hands - but not at night in the rain. And when do they blow - Yup - you've guessed.

Also here fog lights are fitted to just about all Xsaras. They are fragile and shatter fairly easily. Replacement is a PITA. Although I've done so many I can now do it near enough by feel.

I'm lucky that my neighbour is a professional mechanic and gets me the bits cheap.

I bought a 1600 VTR and to be honest it's been alright...

OK, 2 things to watch out for... The brake switch under the brake pedal will stick, buy one for a couple of quid from a parts shop, and it takes about 3 minutes to fit.

The other thing is the smell would be the oil sump needs changing, wasn't cheap granted, but no more smell when giving it the revs.

Apart from that she's a dream. Do quite a few miles in her and have loaded it up with 3/4 of a tonne of wood a few times.

Xsara 1,8 VTR acquired 2 weeks ago after two reliable Xantias. However fuel gage problem is evident from already. (I had started to see this on my Xantia only recently and not found source of problem) So you guys who has solution? Other sites mentioned under floor box, this site mentioned junction box wires just being soldered but where is it located?

I am also hearing a squeak/knock from rear suspension. Any ideas of fix for it?

As I love my Citroens I want to fix these before they spoil my affair! Dave.

I have a 2001 Y reg 2.0Hdi.

Been OK up until about 6 months ago, when things started going funny.

Smoke coming from inside the engine and lots of pressure, it blows the oil level dipstick out!..The electrics are well dodgy, in theat if you open the drivers door, the locks will jump locked and unlocked lots.

The turbo has just packed in, but it must be electrical too, cos it works sometimes and not othertimes.. Not ideal when your trying to overtake and your power goes.

Getting rid of the car soon... I just wish diesels would burn as well as petrols, cos they are worth nothing to trade in...

Will never ever buy another $hitroen.

We have had a Citroen for around 5 months. It was great for a month or 2, then started to rev on its own, then cut out and wouldn't start for 5 or 10 minutes.

I changed the throttle sensor, thought I had fixed it, great for 2 days, then off again. Seems worse this time. I have been told to clean the idle control valve on the inlet manifold, as they clog up with oil and muck. Wish he'd told me this before I wasted 45 quid on a throttle sensor.

Then next, a window stopped working and the speaker in the door stopped. This was due to the stupid twist in the way the wire goes from body to the door; 3 bends when it could have been just straight. Well that's the french for ya. So just pulled back the rubber cover and reconnected the wires; this should sort ya windows and speakers.

I will let you know if cleaning the idle valve will help with stalling, as I have heard injectors on these are very poor and wear. Let's hope not. Looks good though, and drives great for 30 seconds.

Hi there, I am the owner of a Xsara 1.4 2003 model. The car has been very good for everything except for what seems to be a common fault - the awful smell coming from the heater. I believe now that there is a small leak that is only apparent when the engine is cold, and once it warms up it seals the leak, but evaporates when the engine gets warm. This means that the smell disappears after about 10 minutes and is fine until the next cold/hot cycle. To prove this theory to myself, I put some Bars Leak radiator sealant into the system and whilst it has not cured the problem, it has almost reduced the smell to zero. I suspect that I will have to get to the heater matrix sometime and this is going to be difficult - with this in mind, does anyone have any tips for getting the to the heater matrix? All assistance gratefully received!!!

Hi

I own a 2001 Xsara 1.4. It has 62,000 miles on the clock, and apart from the usual (exhaust etc), it has given me no trouble at all.

Last year I brought a 2004 (54) Xsara and so far I have only had one problem and one issue with the car. The wiring loom in the drivers door split and shorted out, which stopped the central locking working and the drivers side window wouldn't work. Apart from that, when you use the heater I get a terrible curry smell coming from the vents, which it cannot be used on longs journeys. Does anyone know how to solve this?

Hi, I've had my Citroen Xsara 2004 for about 10mths and it has a smell when you put the heater on, which now seems to be normal for the Citroen. It has over the last couple of weeks had a banging sound from what seems like the front passenger side, after having the drive shafts replaced on the left and the right side I have now been told that I need to totally replace the gearbox!! Nightmare. Parts not easy to get hold of and not cheap either. Won't be buying a foreign car again.

I got a problem with my Citroen Xsara 2001 1.4 indicators.

It is indicating to the left when it is switched off. It goes to the right when I indicate it to right but when it gets to neutral position it keeps on indicating to left..

Any ideas?

I own a Xsara 1.8 Exclusive 98.

Nearly 11 years old and only 65000 on it (my dad the previous owner never drove much!)

Obviously it wouldn't be a Citroen without problems, and this is no exception. The old man had the cutting out and general upset with the engine, went back to main dealer 3 times for diagnostics, never found a thing and he's friends with most of the employees there!! Seems if the computer says no, then they have no other ideas!

Of course I have now inherited this problem, I have pretty much convinced myself that it is the MAP sensor, but I'm going out in a minute to change the rear discs and pads so I'll have a good go with the air and throttle intakes and assembly. Any one with relevant competence should be able to change these sensors, have sourced a new one for £38.50 +VAT from Partco, dread to think what the main dealer want, but if it's anything like the O2 sensor in the exhaust that I recently purchased, it will be extortionate. O2 sensor from Partco, £53.50 +VAT - Main Dealer £163!!

Other than that I think I'm quite fortunate; fuel indicator doesn't seem to register a small fill sometimes, but after stopping and starting again seems fine, think I just start the car and leave the forecourt quicker than the needle can register!

The speedometer didn't work when I got the car, but the following day I was driving up the motorway when it sprang into life and has been fine ever since; was probably just sticking or the car thought what's the point of working when my dad barely drove it above 30!

As with any other "common" problems I've read on here, I count myself very lucky; remote central locking never worked, but a new battery in the key fob resolved this with one of the keys, the other I think has been dead for so long it needs reprogramming, although I need another battery now for the first, they don't seem to last too long.

I get a knocking from the front nearside suspension from time to time, but only over speed bumps which are everywhere and not all the time. I've just put this down to very soft suspension and using its full travel; anything more concerning I'll hope will be picked up on an MOT.

Naturally though I will never buy another Sh*troen, I never liked them anyway and would never intentionally buy one, this just happened to be available at short notice when I snapped the cam belt on my Vectra and pretty much broke everything along the way!

On a plus note, comfy seats!

Reply to threads experiencing lights and indicator problems, I had the same with my Vectra, bought a new stalk from ebay, less than a tenner and fitted it within 10 minutes, they're all on connecting blocks so straight off and straight in with the new, it is just a wear and tear problem, not specific to any particular model.

I have a 2002 2.0 HDI 110hp from new, now done 66,000 miles. The only problems I've had have been minor - blown bulbs, exhaust mid section etc and one major - broken front spring which took out the tyre too - that was really scary! My local independent garage tells me that they now have at least one broken spring per day on all makes of cars, caused by the terrible state of the local roads and multiple speed bumps, so not common only to Citroens!

The car has been regularly serviced and goes like a dream. You wouldn't think it's a diesel except for the meagre fuel consumption - it does around 45 mpg locally and 55 on long trips to see my daughter in Glasgow (750 miles round trip). I don't hang about either doing around 80 on the motorway and liking to use the good performance locally.

It has now just developed what, from the posts, seems like a common problem of knocking noises from the suspension area so am hoping it's the anti roll bar bushes or something.

Anyway, I'm not sorry I bought it. It's good to drive, fairly quiet, holds the road well and is economical. It's no worse and much better than some of the cars I've had over the years. Yes the bodywork dents easily, but it's a CHEAP car so you can't expect it to be the same quality as something costing much more.

Some owners have had bad experiences, but I've thought for years that diesels are the only way to get reliability. I think some owners also expect too much and try to do things themselves when they are not capable. The Xsara is not a DIY car in my opinion - you just need to find a good local garage, this will cost less in the long term. Mine goes in for MOT & full service only once per year as service interval is 10K.

I think the bad smell from the heater may be the fault of the air conditioner. This needs regular attention too but is usually forgotten. I leave mine on all year round as this prevents mould & other common air conditioner problems. As for the poster who says he will never buy another foreign car - I've got news for you - there aren't any British cars left! So I guess you'll have to get a bike.

2001 Xsara 2.0 HDI Estate with a measly 203,000 miles just passed its MOT with not even an advisory.

Full main dealer service history no rust and still pulls like a train with no smoke and 50+mpg

Everything still works and nothing is broken... touch wood :)