£30 Ebay Hydractive 2 Suspension Repair Kit?, Ive got one!

Well i will keep that in mind then, mine havent delaminated but they are slightly dull and so was thinking of getting them done. Looking at your one it really does seem to make the car look very, very tidy, almost new having that shiny stripe all the way around!..............mind you it is several years my prestiges junior

Regards
D

Hi all.

Bought and fitted the kit as a precaution. Am I right in thinking that it will restore matters if the problem is pre existing at the valves, but not if the ECU has also been affected ?

Have to say the kit arrived very quickly and faultlessly presented; a gentleman to deal with.

Mike.

Hi Mike and All

I agree with all the positive things that have been said about the ecrofting kit. I think you are right about the pre-existing ECU fault situation which is complicated by the fact that the front and rear switches are separate electronic circuits. This means that there are a number of different possibilities in the damage state of a Mk2 suspension ECU. If all is ok the kit just provides future protection and there should be no change in the way the suspension behaves. If either front or rear or both diodes (note diodes only) are shot then fitting the unit will replace that/those diodes and return that/those functions of the ECU to normal. If one or both of the solid state switches in the ECU have got damaged or are malfunctioning then fitting the ecrofting unit will not repair the suspension. Please bear in mind that this situation is not a failing of the ecrofting unit. The unit will still be there ready to protect the switches in the ECU once you have it repaired and fitted with new switches. The above scenarios give a whole range of change/no change suspension behaviours that can result from fitting the ecrofting unit. If you do not initially get a correct working suspension then talk to Roy of ecrofting as his expertise will almost certainly find a cause and a solution. If needed he may be able to help with a repaired ECU. Please remember that in buying the kit you are NOT buying a repaired ECU just a means of protecting a working ECU. For reference most scrapyards want at least £30 for an XM suspension ECU and you are most likely to be buying a 12 year old used one with damaged or blown electro valve switches. Many people, particularly sellers, have a very rosy tinted view of second-hand components, unjustifiably comparing the value and condition with new items.

My final point on this is if you are not experienced in soldering highly static sensitive electronic components do not try to learn on your one and only suspension ECU. Most of us that do make electronic repairs learnt over a period of time with the easier (now unavailable due to EU reg xxxx, those of us who have inhaled a lot of lead fumes will keel over after we reach 150) to use lead solder. We botched a few jobs to learn and may well not have had to worry about killing static sensitive devices either.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on November 09, 2008 11:50 am

Fitted one on mine, terrific. Roy, who sells these is the most geniuine guy you will ever come accross. Incidentally, make sure your spheres are okay the kit doesn't repair these for you.

Hi, Techmanagain (Me!) does have these items for sale.
The suspension mod. for S2 cars is sold on Roy's behalf when he is not at the Rallies so I keep some stock.
The stainless steel trim strips for XM and Zantia are my thing also. - from stock.

Roy has been very helpful with my Xm, especially with the window kits, as i needed a few since i messed up with the first All my fault.

I always got everything the next day after ordering it.

Roy also said he can repair ECUs too, so if yours has gone - if this kit wont repair it - then its not the end of the world.

Luckily mine has been great since, i have just done 500 faultless miles in it today, I dont even feel like ive driven anywhere! Such a relaxing car, and this kit makes it all the more pleasurable to drive.

Excellent

Actually it's pretty easy to confirm if u need Roy's kit, if in doubt: just pinch pins No1 (front e-valve feed) and No2 (rear) of the black or green suspension ECU plug with a cheap voltmeter, engine running, u should read around 2.7volts in "soft". If u read anything like 1.7 or 1.8v then the respective diode (and possibly its controller also) is toasted and Roy's kit will restore your soft suspension (if that's the only glitch, obviously).

cheers
George

Bought my kit late last week out of pure interest, but there are no instructions. Forgot to forward the RP number to Roy, which of course you need for the correct wiring

If you email roy your number he will send you an email with the fitting instructions for your car in an attatchment.

You only need to know which number and colour wires on your car goes to whichwire on the box. So your box is ok, you just need the fitting instructions.

I hope it works and you feel some difference like i did

Here's a photo of how to do it:






on my Hydractive II 1994 car, on the black plug it is the 2 yellow cables that connect to pin 1 (front evalve) and pin 2 (Rear). On an Hydractive I you only need to mesure pin1.

Without unplugging anything, get the engine running, push a sewing needle in the yellow cable(s) till you get a reading on te voltmeter (u will have wired the ground somewhere around the engine bay).

As in photo, it should read between 2.7-2.8volts steady (diodes: OK). If reads 1.7 steady the diodes are burnt and u need Roy's kit (or solder ur own on the suspenion pcb).

I wired the voltmeter in the car for live testing while driving so Icould make sure the sensors respond correctly to the input.

cheers
George