Lhm Level Check Problem, The orange disc is stuck at the top!

Hello again.

Well, I went away for 2 weeks and came back and the XM started first time So now it's time to do a bit more troubleshooting while I locate a good place to get it serviced in Ireland (anyone know anyone?)...

I now have an owner's manual (thanks to very helpful forum member) and have read how to check the LHM level. However: the little orange disc is stuck at the top - even with the engine off - as shown in the photo:



If I look in the LHM tank I with he engine off I can see some fluid near the bottom - but it's by no means full. Any ideas on what I should do?

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On a seperate note, around the dip stick there is lots of oil:



Is this a problem? It doesn't seem to go anywhere else and isn't getting any worse.

Many thanks if you can help,

Tom.

Hi Tom

If I'm teaching you to suck eggs I apologise, but to check LHM level, engine must be running and car pumped-up to maximum height.

Little orange thing should then be between red marks on bubble. If it's below fill-up (obviously until orange thing is between red marks), if it's above you need to drain a little out. Someone on here will know which pipe to pull to best facilitate this(?)

If it's actually stuck, I don't know what to suggest I'm afraid...

Hope this helps

Hi Tom,

By putting the suspension on full height most of the fluid will be drained from the tank to fill the system. At this point, if the disk is stuck, the float will be dangling in mid air. Just hit the top of the tank with something hard and the vibration should set it loose and it should fall until the float hits the surface of the LHM. If it doesn't budge you need to take the top off the tank and withdraw the filter and dip tube assembly. Clean it all up and put it back in the tank.

Chadders description of the correct filling procedure is spot on.

Cheers

noz

ps
nice clean crisp photos - what kind of camera did you use?

This post has been edited by noz on June 21, 2006 07:02 pm

Thanks Chadders and Noz,

Chadders: No worries about keeping it simple - I'm new to this game - but I was checking the level with the suspension at highest and engine running. The disk stayed at the top as shown in the photo.

Noz: 'Hit with something hard' Knew I should have got the persuader out! Anyhow - the disk stayed at the same height, despite some confident tapping around the top of the tank - so I started taking the filter and dip tube assembly out. At this point the disc went down as I lifted out the assembly. As I drop it back in the disk goes back up. So I suspect that the LHM level is too high? Is this a problem and what should I do if I need to drain some out?

(PS - I just bought the car so I'm hoping that 'overfilling the LHM' isn't some trick to disguise other issues... I've done about a 1,000 miles in it though and no major leaks as far as I can tell!)

Many thanks if you can help, Tom.

(PPS - Noz - well spotted that the photo's are sharp - it's my new Nikon D50 - a wonderful camera, not the photographer!)

This post has been edited by knitatoms on June 21, 2006 07:54 pm

Not sure if its the case with an XM but certainly with Xantias it is. Its no problem having to much LHM in the reservoir, it will merely leak out but not cause any damage (just a slight mess).

Again this for a Xantia