Sorry to ask about a pretty french tin shed but its my dad's :)

 

I was driving my dad's Citroen Xantia turbo diesel ('93). When driving back home only the headlights worked. After 2 miles all the electrics stopped working and lots of white smoke came out of the bonnet. So i stopped the car. Until i did that the car rann fine. I tried to start the engine but it would not turn over. Me and dad used a charged spare battery but it would not turn over. Once we tried to start the engine in gear. The engine bucked back on its mounted that would seem to indicate the starter motor is ok.

 

Any ideas plz.

siezed engine? Put it in 1st gear and get you and your dad to push it. If you can, then it's not siezed.

 

Good luck

 

Jack

I did put it in reverse trying to do some silly jumpstart and it did roll back so its not seized. Our best guess is that the head gasket has gone.

 

This Xantia has been driven into the ground. Its done 150K miles. Maybe its finaly given up the ghost.

...Sounds like it's time for a change - buy this for your dad http://www.naZ4sale.co.uk How old is he? Time for a mid life crisis?

 

And when something's wrong with your Z, you can nick bits off him...

 

Good luck

 

Jack

The head gasket is a weak spot on these cars, do the usual checks for oil in the water, water level and mayonaise in the oil filler.

 

Citroen electrics are also dodgy with one of the worst items being the ignition switch - they tend to run all the current through it with virtually no relays - result burnt out contacts.

 

Was it smoke or steam that came out the bonnet ?

 

150K miles is nothing for one of these engines (head gasket permitting). People often talk about them having 75-100K more life in them at that stage. If the clutch and headgasket last then they go on forever, that's why so many get used as private taxis.

Ah we did check the dip stick and there was no white or yellow goo on it. I think steam came out of the bonnet as it was white, it had a rubbery smell so it probably came out of the water hoses.

Well the Xantia's black magic still lives. Pop joined the AA last night and got them to diagnose that the starter motor was duff. It's been replaced and the car is once driving.

 

Odd though as last night the starter motor was able to jerk the engine when we tried to start it in gear. Ah well it was a cheap repair.