Re:lhm Leak Help!

[Little&Large]

Hi all
I am in France at the moment,packed to the gunnels 5 year old son and Golden Retriever are in it somewhere too!
First signs of trouble were at the services when the power steering played up.A quick check revealed no apparent leaks.The steering worsened and the brakes suffered a delay sometimes.The stop light comes on and then goes out,The low LHM warning light does not come on.The LHM UFO is at the top of the sphere.I daren't put it on high in case it doesn't go back down!!There is now a bad leak apparent the main pump on the floor under the car.There is LHM on top of the alternator so I presume it is coming from underneath the pump but I can't see where from,there is no leak from any of the pump pipes.Could it leak from the pulley shaft.Does LHM get hot as mine is steaming when I take the cap off?If it is the pump it looks fairly straight forward to replace-any ideas on cost of new or does anyone have a good used for sale.Car has done 180K now so getting old.I had another auxilliary belt fitted in the week.
Any help much appreciated could u pm me any advice as I am on a handheld and it is easier to access mail is robert.chamberlayne at virgin.net
Many thanks
Regards Rob
PS At least I have got the van here now!!!

[Little&Large]

Hi
Further investigation reveals it is coming out of the shaft that attaches the pulley wheel to the pump.This looks as though it just unbolts from the side of the pump and would be easier than replacing the whole thing,or is this as I suspect just wishful thinking on my part?Are all the hydraulic pumps the same?Mine is a 96 2.5TD.......anyone got a good used one for sale and willing to post to France?
Many thanks
Regards Rob

[aengus-xmv6]

hi Rob,

sounds like the pump has a problem internally, and then it'll get hot and so will the LHM - same on my V6 when the pump gave up. The leak is possible because the pump end plate has cracked or the shaft seal failed, maybe because of a shaft bearing, though from what Plieades told me they are pretty heavy duty bearings.

Swapping the pump would be the option as the pulley doesn't come off (easily) from what I've seen posted elsewhere. Can't help with the pump though, yours will be the later 6+2 type and I only have single outlet ones that are both needing repair anyhow.

Change the belt again though when you do the pump... any LHM on it and it'll soon fail, probably at the most inconvenient time.

best of luck
Dave

[jorgy9]

Hi Rob

1. You better ask for the nearest scrapyard, you'd be unlucky to find a french scrapyard that doesn't have an XM available (from what I read in french fora).

2. Sadly I suspect the problem is not with the pump but the pressure regulator, or, less probable, the flow distributor valve. I say this because your LHM gets steamy. If it was a pump leak why should it get steamy? I've read cases where the pressure regulator has stuck and the result is the pump pressurises the LHM against it (the pr's return piston sticks and the pump cannot return the LHM to the tank after the regulator has cut out). This backpressure has in turn made a leak spring at your pump.

So if u go to a scrappy overthere ask for "un regulateur de pression" and "un répartiteur de débit" (FDV). I think it's the presure regulator 99%.

Ah, and when u get past this adventure, put hydraflush in your car, seems it urgently needs it -will be like new afterwards-. Good luck!

(Also sent this in your inbox)

cheers
George

[DOD]

If you are near Pas de Calais, there is a man who specialises in XMs, the landlord of the gite I took in spring used him, he is near Fruges between Montreuil and
st Omer. If you are near there, I will try and chase up his location. Lots of luck.
Dod.

[Little&Large]

Thanks to everyone
I think George is right-I forgot to mention I have no click now from the engine which is the pressure regulator valve?
I'll see if I can find a scrappie
Thanks again
Regards Rob

[xmexclusive]

Hi Rob

If you do go looking in scrap yards for a spare pump then only get one from a 2.5XM as there are a number of variants to the 6+2 pump with the difference being the diameter of the pulley wheel. Not sure about swapping pulley wheels but think it has to include the shaft and bearing so in your case would just move the leak to the replacement pump. The non aircon 2.5 uses the same hydraulic pump/pulley diameter but it is fitted to the engine in a different position below the altanator where the aircon compressor is fitted on your car. Thought I would mention this as if you have never seen a non aircon 2.5 you might lift the bonnet of one in a scrapyard see the pump appears to be missing from the higher position and not think to look below the altenator for it.

If you fail to source in the next few days I might be able to recover a servicable spare but not at all sure about a safe way to send to France.

Regards

John

[techmanagain]

There will be no FDV on a 2.5TD engined car.
More imprtantly is the question of whether you have aircon or not on your car.

[Aerodynamica]

Hi Rob, if yours is a 6+2 piston pump then it will not use a flow distributor.


Also, I heard a story of a DS whose pressure regulator failed and the slide valve stuck so that the pressure kept building up in the accumlator but instead of the pump breaking the accumulator sphere exploded instead. No kidding and I wondered if it was designed as a fail safe built in for that very eventuality (tho it's hardly a common occurrence)

Best of luck repairing it.

[jorgy9]

Hi Rob

Just in case u don't already know this: there are 2 types of pressure regulator, one has 1 outlet hole and the other 2 outlet holes. I think u need the 2-outlet one -can others confirm?-, but have a close look at yours and u'll know.

cheers
G

[Little&Large]

Hi all
Many thanks again for all the advice.I made it back to my house-mainly on the motorway.
On the motorway it feels like normal,it is at the lower speeds that I notice it.
Is there a low LHM warning light or is this the brake shoes/stop sign?
If I replace the pressure regulator thereby relieving the pressure will this stop the leak or do I still need to do both plus the belt as well
There is a chap who specialises in CX's around here-I will try and find him as he may know where the scrappies are.
I don't have the skills to try myself,so I'll use the van and if I can't get it fixed I'll try and get it home
Thanks again
Regards Rob
PS.Yes my car has A/C

[Little&Large]

Hi all
I made it back....not sure how though.In normal driving its fine to brake and plan ahead but its when French drivers pull out and you press the brake and nothing happens that is the scarey bit.As a result I kept to under 60 on the whole journey 500miles at 56.4mpg....a record for me!!
The mechanic near my home tried to get a used pump but was unable in the time left.He thought it was the seal had gone on the pump,I had a new auxiliary belt fitted before going and the belt can be seen running out of true,I wonder if this has put more pressure on anotherwise worn seal.He didn't think it was the pressure regulator being blocked as he said the car would just go into high mode,he said the lack of clicking was because the system couldn't maintain sufficient pressure.The lhm leaks out steadily from around the pulley spindle even 5-6days after the car was used so it must be pressurised to my mind.
Anyway what to do with it,to look at it looks fine still,prior to this fault I would jump(and have done)in and drive anywhere around Europe in it.I have done 68K now in just over 2 years and it has been a great car-probably the best I have ever owned.
HOWEVER the problems have come in spades all at once,to most of you minor and fixable yourself but unfortunately beyond me!
Thermostat stuck open
A/Con not working
Heater panel not working
Glow plugs on way out
Electrical problem with tailgate wires
Auxiliary belt problems
It needs 4 new tyres-the Goodyears on it have only lasted 53K,I am quite disappointed!
The tax and MOT are up shortly(tax in October and MOT following month).
So I am going to break it...I know I know,but it just isn't economical for me to do and I can't do it myself
The engine runs as well as ever and has really benefitted from being used well every day and mega long runs frequently as well.
The radiators don't leak but I top it up slightly every week.The belts weren't changed at the 144K,it now has 181K on it.It came with a very good service history and had been well looked after by previous owners.To my shame I have just changed the oil and filters and kept the water topped up!
Let me know if you need anything or try and persuade me to repair it!Larger items have to be collected and removed yourself.
I am going to buy a little ZX td to run around in while I look for another but what to go for-a 2.5 or 2.1td.It has to be an estate and whilst I like the 2.1 for the economy(I'm not happy with 56.4!)I don't want an auto(don't worry Peter I am standing quietly in the queue behind you!)
Let me know your thoughts
In the meantime thank heaven for my 2cv van-I have done 2300km in it since June at an average of 40kmph!!!!
Regards Rob

[carlos774]

Hi, Glad you made it back ok.
Did you locate the CX mechanic and if so could you possibly post his whereabouts?.
Cheers , Carl G

[demag]

Surely someone on here could take it on Rob without having to resort to breaking it. That would be a great shame.

[Little&Large]

Hi Carl
Yes the garage is at St Marien near to the church,they have a website which you should be able to find if you search on garage St Marien,it is in the Creuse 23 but could just be over the border into the Allier 03.His main love is the CX and his wife drives an estate every day!
Thanks again for all the help/advice
Regards Rob