Noisy Pump?!?!

Hi all

A while ago now i replaced my hydraulic pump with a newun from palaides, i replaced it because it was noisy as hell and clearly audible in the cabin, the new one was a lot quieter than the other but still a bit rattly. Now, some 4 months on it is very knocky/rattly when it is first started and i almost always get a flickering stop light on the dash for about 15-20 secs after starting the car, especialy if it has been stood for a couple of days, i would like to point out at this point that my initial thought was "its sucking air", but no, it doesnt seem that simple .
Ive only really started to think the noisy pump isnt right last night whilst working on my brothers Bx (bx electrics by the way are few in numbers and simple in operation if only the xm's dash was as empty as his!) anyway, his pump is totaly silent, not once have i heard it rattle, so what i want to know is do i have a problem or do the xm pumps rattle??

Thanks
D

Sorry Dean, can't hear my pump over the noise of my diesel pump seriously though, all my cits have had quiet pumps.

Good luck, Colin.P

You define it as the pump. Are you sure it is not either the pressure releif valve or the Flow Distribution Valve which is causing the noise?
Apologies if you have already dealt with these!

....also check the belt and pump mountings for tightness.

I know what you mean Dean. My S1 pump used to be silentish (could hear the odd light vibration as it cut in and out sometimes) until I started using Hydraflush.
Since then, it makes an audible.... well, its hard to describe the sound, I may record it, but it makes an audible sound for a second everytime it cuts in, as if its sucking air. It may just be the thinner fluid.

That said, it sounds like you may have a further issue if you're noticing pressure problems. I'd go with Peters suggestion of initially checking the belt tension etc, then move on to the more annoying suspects as John has mentioned.... (could your brake valve have got a bit leaky like so many do?).
What kind of returns are you getting to the reservoir at idle?

Ciarán

This post has been edited by Ciaran on October 02, 2008 09:05 am

Frequent clicking of the pressure regulator? Then you do have a pressure issue.

Hi gents

I get about 35-40sec cycling times which is pretty good the belt is tight, the pump is well mounted, the pressure regulator is a couple of years old now.......the fdv has had new filters etc but not tested though............... when The pump cuts in it does make the engine labour more than the air con compressor. You can put your ear by it and it is clearly a mechanical rattle when the car has just been started for a while, looks like i may have to have a fiddle this weekend as from what you are all saying it should be quiet.

Many thanks
D

Was the pressure regulator you replaced new? I am suspicious of remanufactured components (experience taught me).

It came from a donor car i bought for spares, the reciept was with the history to prove it was 3 months old and it looked new at the time i bought it, genuine citroen one mind, near £500 it said on the reciept i think.

D

This post has been edited by dean on October 02, 2008 05:01 pm

the fdv has had new filters etc but not tested though...............quote

That, plus the noticeable increase in resistance felt, could suggest that some FDV pipes have been transposed somewhere when the FDV was replaced after changing the filters. Not unknown to happen!

im sure it wont be that as initialy i just swapped the fdv for another but it was duff so i rebuilt mine (seal and filters) and put it back on but obstructed one of the pipes with the rubber sleeve and when i fired it up the fdv made a strange squeeking noise like a slipping belt so i took it off again and put it back together carfully again and there was no problems after that......... for a while

ouch, bad memories, thanks!

if the pipes are transposed on the FDV, you can end up with some real nightmares - see posts from me around christmas past. Basically, kills the PR, maybe FDV and accum sphere, and also the pump You end up with excessive pressure in the pump-PR part of the circuit and the pump runs nice an HOT and eventually will die.

Dean, how hot is the pump running - esp after a trip? If it's very hot to touch, then you'll maybe be on the road to it seizing and snapping belts and leaving you nicely stranded in the end. I actually carry 2 spare belts for the HP pump in the boot these days!

Does the pump run quiet if you release the bleed screw on the PR?

The 'new' pump on my V6 is also noisy under load, but works so I live with.
The dead pump was also a little rattly when under load but was fine until the specialist did some work on the system and then I ended up having to redo all that and more to get a reliable car again.

I guess at some point I may get the failed pump and the other spare sent up to Plieades to get a single recon one back should I need it. The other pump has a dent in the back of the body preventing the thing from turning freely so is little use right now, unless I can just swap the outer body shell over between them, which I've not tried yet...

regards
Dave

Hi Dave

The pump runs quite cool, just warm really, and goes pretty much silent when there is no load on it, ie with the bleed screw open, which leads me to think there could be an issue with the pump itself.
It only ran for a matter of seconds until i twiged what i had done so i dont think it has done any damage to the system and it was a while ago now, but i guess it shouldnt be ruled out.

Thanks
D

Hi all

Had a quick play last night and i have found when demand is placed on the pump by turning the steering or lifting the suspension the pump goes silent, when there is no load on the pump it rattles.

D