Off To France Tomorrow With Suspension Query, Should I stay-or should I go now.

[mcmoonter]

The mothership is playing up on the eve of a 3000 mile trip to France and back.

The suspension in the last couple of weeks has taken a huge amount of time from cold start up, to get to its ride height, when the Stop dash light goes out. Sometimes 5 minutes or more!

Once up and running its fine. Sometimes the steering can feel heavy and notchy when parking.

What should I test to isolate any fault? When I last saw Noz he said something about a diode kit. Would that help? Could it be a dodgy sphere?

If I can get get a positive fix, I'll try and get the parts and fit them before Saturday night and the sprint to Dover.

Thanks MC

[Andmcit]

To rule out the obvious things first it would probably be worth trying a
new accumulator sphere so you're right to suspect a sphere and try
some hydraflush. Not a hideous cost and a good starting point of
diagnosis/reference anyhow.

You may have a hydraulic pump issue; certainly sounds like a pressure
creating/losing problem so I'm not sure it could be the ECU diode.

Andrew

[John Malkovich]

How often does the pump trigger?

[mcmoonter]

I replaced the accumulater sphere about a year ago. Noz checked the pressure in the front two spheres, they were ok.

That leaves the centre and rear two unknown.

I'm unsure of what you mean by 'pump trigger. '

There is no obvious on of click or change of note relating to the pump or accumulator valve.

[wirdy]

Presume you've checked the simple stuff - filters aren't blocked and that the fluid level is ok?

It must be flow related if the warning light goes out normally. Even with a completely shot acc sphere the car should still rise normally (just with lots of complaints and clicking from the pressure regulator!). Been there, heard that

The only other possibility is that the fluid is returning as quickly as the pump sends it. One symptom, two possible reasons - either the pump is not pumping efficiently(worn pump or air leak) OR there is a big leak on one of your struts and all the pressure is being sent to that area before returning to the reservoir through the return pipe.

[mcmoonter]

Filters you say?

Where are they located, in the tank/reservoir? How do I get to them?

MC

[DerekW]

It sounds as if either the pump is not doing its job, or there is an internal leak somewhere in the system.

Following on from Wirdy's note, once the suspension is up and with the engine off does it stay up? If it does then that means the suspension cylinders aren't leaking.

First move would be to check the return pipes at the top of the reservoir, with the engine running, for continuous flow. If there is flow you should then be able to isolate the faulty component. If no steady return flow then it 's probably the pump.

Either way, fixing it by tomorrow looks unlikely.

The filters are in the reservoir.

Derek

[mcmoonter]

I had a look at the flow return pipe at the reservoir. The pipe I removed was the central larger push on pipe. Fluid was flowing back through it. Not at a huge pressure, but a steady flow. I had a peek at the maual and had a squint at the filters.

I think I'll pop down to the fctr tomorrow, get about 3 litres of lhm and clean out the reservoir and filters and try it again. Stangely when I raised and lowered the sspension to max and min the flow from the same pipe had more of a continuous drip than a flow.

When the ignition is turned off it takes perhaps 5 or 6 hours for te sspension to lower itself. Usually from the back first.

Are pumps available from the likes of Euro Car Parts? Cost?

I had hoped to check out a coupe of French scrap yards so might try and get a pump when I'm there.

Any other thoughts?

[aengus-xmv6]

pumps aren't cheap, Pleiades can refurb them though, you'll be looking at over £100, probably in the £160 region.

does changing the steering wheel orientation change the rise rate at all - is there a lot of hissing while you are waiting for it to rise? Could be the pinion valve leaking back too much - but then you've likely got a 6+2 pump rather than the single output + FDV that my S1 has, so maybe not linked.

I take it the belt isn't slipping....?

regards
Dave

[mcmoonter]

I never checked the belt tension, however I did adjust it a while ago as it was shreiking at bit when cold.

Sometimes the steering is heavy at slow speeds. The MOT tester did notice a small weep from the rack, but it never leaves a puddle where I park the car, so I cnt assum its losing that much. I keep an eye on the revervoir level and top up when it drops, usually takes a while.

[aengus-xmv6]

Sorry to bear bad news, but if the rack is weeping at the gaiters, then try easing the gaitor off gently at the drivers side and see how much - likely the pinion seals on the way and you'll need to get it sorted. The LHM will flush away the grease in the rack too, increasing wear and risk of corrosion.

Pinion refurb'd from Plieades is around £80-100, and likely a sod to replace in situ, as is taking the rack out... replace the gaiters if you do the latter, but only use genuine Citroen ones as they are the only ones that work - copies tend to keep dropping off the ends....

regards
Dave

[mcmoonter]

It was the pump after all. I called Pleiades, they diagnosed a dead pump. Sent it off, and it was back in a couple of days. I refitted it, bled the system after a wee bit of faffing the Mothership rises and falls as it did when new. It must have been on the way out since I bought the car. I thought it was normal to wait a minute or so for the car to get up to its ride height. Now its almost instantaneous. Additionally the car doesnt sink towards the rear after its been parked for a few hours. Even after 36 hours its only dropped a couple of inches evenly front and rear.

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