Xantia estate front height problem

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fifies
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Xantia estate front height problem

Post by fifies »

Problem with my Xantia estate 2.01 turbo diesel.
The front suspension height 'regulator' fails to recognize the 'normal ride' setting. Low setting is fine, off road setting is fine. It will go from low to high, and high to low and that's it. It won't go from low to normal, or high to normal.Back works fine in all settings.. Any help greatly appreciated.Joe
red_dwarfers
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Post by red_dwarfers »

Hi Joe,

Stick the car up on axle stands and look for the centre of the front anti roll bar, this is the height corrector and linkage. Connected between the anti roll bar and height corrector linkage will be a metal bar with a ball on the end, connected to a white plastic 'dog bone' which in turn will be clipped on a ball on the height corrector linkage. Make sure the plastic white clip is still there and clipped on with no cracks. If it has snapped or fallen off you will need to replace it with another from either GSF or the main dealer for a matter of a quid or two.
The sign that the clip or metal bit has failed means that you height corrector linkage may have siezed up, before the height went completely, was there any problems setting to height or innacuracies?

Its not too bad a job to take the linkage off and clean, it is possible to clean in situ but its probably a better use of time to take it off. I've put up a guide in the Handy Hints section which may help :)
Kev

'19 C4 Cactus 130 Flair
fifies
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Post by fifies »

Hi Kev

Thanks for your speedy reply. I had a look at the handy hints alas I think it’s beyond my capability to remove the height correction unit. I’m great on the theory of how thing work but not very practical. Sounds to me as if you have diagnosed the problem.
I have only had this car a few months. When I bought it was advised best not to change the height settings. Never found a need to change the height setting car drive was fine comfortable not bouncy.
So until the exhaust broke under the car (It was scraping on the ground..) Phoned the local garage. They advised to set height to INTERMEDIATE and drive very slow the short distance to get exhaust fixed .When the exhaust was fixed height setting was returned to normal height and it was fine. Will get hold of ramps and check if all the links are attached local garage has supposedly already checked them and advised all are in place. They are not Citroen specialists and told me there were so many possible reasons for the height problems and it would be very expensive to fix basically fit new parts and hope. Now armed with your reply we can get them to check /clean the height corrector unit. I phoned the local Citroen garage they unseen diagnosed height corrector linkage & quoted from £250 to replace they will only replace whole unit not just the plastic bits .
Last edited by fifies on 16 Sep 2009, 22:26, edited 1 time in total.
citronut
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Post by citronut »

firstly you should not drive more than a few feet on the highest or lowest setting as these are both just service settings,

you can do damage if you drive much more on these settings,

i personaly even though i repaire citroens for a living would not let a non citroen specialist anywhere near a hydraulic citroen, or for that matter any citroen,

were abouts are you no not under the car TEA HE

as red_dwarfers says it is better to remove the H/C linkage to work and lubb it till the two turrets are so free they move with the slightest of finger presure,

regards malcolm
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Post by MikeT »

MAKE SURE THE CAR IS PROPERLY SUPPORTED BEFORE VENTURING UNDER AS THEY CAN DROP AND KILL YOU WITHOUT A MOMENTS' NOTICE

EDIT: Too slow in posting, me - looks like you've got the idea :oops:
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Post by fifies »

hello Malcolm.
Thanks for all the info.I'm in Fife Scotland & most definitely not under the car.Had read in other posts about the need to secure car on ramps..that part has registered & wont be forgotten.Would use the Citroen garage for repairs alas price they quote verbally was way more than I can afford at the moment.
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Post by fifies »

Hello Malcolm.
The car was on put on intermediate height when I drove to get exhaust fixed Not high as i stated earlier just meant to say high rather than normal height..Joe
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Post by citronut »

search for a good indy that preferably reconended by other citroeny enthusiasts

regards malcolm
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