accumulator sphere ?, Noisy after m.o.t

[Dieselman]

QUOTE (blue94auto @ June 04, 2011 10:01 pm) 

Thanks for that Dieselman, how did you fix the problem, by replacing the weak spring?
Or did you change the FDV.
                                    Gary

I changed the FDV as I didn't have a spring, but am pretty confident that a new spring would have resolved the problem, or even just stripping the FDV as well.
I stripped the FDV and put it back on and had great suspension pressure but no steering assistance at all, hence looking at it again.

[steelcityuk]

Hi DM,

After hearing the description I was thinking along the lines of a faulty electrovalve on the hydractive unit. My XM is still hissing like steam engine and behaving badly.

Steve.

[blue94auto]

Thanks for that Steve,
does the electro valve come apart ? and is it the valve that is combined with the comfort sphere situated on the rear of the front subframe.
Thanks Gary

[steelcityuk]

Hi Gary,

Yes it's the valve that's screwed into the comfort sphere block. They come apart BUT the alloy is very soft, easily damaged and it's thread locked into place. Usually a bit of heat helps applied to the large casting.

This is how mine looked on the Xantia I had, I removed it because after switching off the engine there was a noise of lots of fluid leaking under pressure, it turned out to be the broken O ring.



Hope that helps.

Steve.

[blue94auto]

Thanks Steve,
I am pretty sure that it was the electro valve that was making the clicking metallic noise when I was probing with the stethoscope , also it was found to be the flexible pipe that comes from the electro valve where I could hear the fluid rushing.
When at tick over the hissing is constant,sounds like air escaping then when I move off and the revs get up the hissing has a quick psst psst psst psst to it.
I don't know if it is connected but yesterday I had the car ticking over on the drive while I routed a wire for the tow bar,I had the car on it' highest suspension as I needed the height to route the wire,I realised the exhaust fumes would be straight in my face so I turned the engine off. pretty much as soon as I turned the engine off,the front sank right down! the rear of the car stayed up high for quite a long while.
I have a few days off work soon so I will get the electro valve off and have a look at it.
Thanks Gary

[steelcityuk]

Removing the leak back hose off the electrovalve could show if that is the problem.
I hope you had another mean of supporting the car whilst routing wires under it, plenty of experienced mechanics have come unstuck when the car suddenly drops for no apparent reason - sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs but it's a real issue with hydraulic Citroens, you only have to catch the height corrector or have a hose burst.

Keep us up to date with progress.

Steve.