My Xantia is still making a very irritating hissing/ticking sound every 5 to 6 seconds from the regulator.
When I first got it I had the accumilator sphere changed which made little difference. I have since had this pressure tested and its fine - I have also tried it with another sphere and that behaved in the same manner.
It was also sinking very rapidly, so I had the brake valve changed. Hell of a job - took me and mate over 4 hours to do. Cured the rapid sinking for the most part, although it still does on occasion sink very quickly. Had little affect on the ticking interval though.
Next, the ride was bad so I had the wheel spheres done at a specialist. I told the guy about the ticking and he said the rear height corrector was a bit gunked up, and gave it spray of WD40. I've since been under the car and given it a good clean and it seems fine - suspension self levels correctly when I sit on it and ride is much improved. He also banged something inside the regulator and as a result of something he did, I had 2 days without ticking, the gradually the rapid ticking returned. The LHM is nearly new and very clean.
So, I now think the regulator is at fault and is not buliding the suspension pressure up enough between ticks.
The ticking speed increases with the suspension on the high setting to about 3 seconds. Another symptom is when the steering is turned, the noise also disappears - this car has a flow distributor and I'm thinking when this is open, it takes a lot of pressure off the regualtor and thus stops it keep hissing. Does this sound feasible?
I will not be beaten by this car, despite all the time, money and effort I've put in to tracing this fault I'm still hell bent on curing it, if nothing else to satisfy my own curiosity! My girlfriend says I'm mad "messing about with that old banger" when I have another car, but I do enjoy messing with it. I have 2 options I reckon - find a regulator and see if that cures it, or take it to Pleides and get them to sort it out, which is cheating really but at least I'd know where the problem lies without loosing any more skin of my knuckes!
Xantia Pressure Regulator
Moderator: RichardW
Pressure regulator may be internally leaking just like brake valve. Maybe its non-return valve is just dirty, or its two slide valves are worn. Other possible reason is that the difference between minimum and maximum pressure (normally 145/170 bar) is too small. Before changing it, it would be the best to connect its output to a pressure-meter and see what happens.
Also, some other hydraulic element may be internally leaking (security valve, height correctors), which can be traced by disconnecting their rubber return pipes. About 3 ml/min allowed.
Also, some other hydraulic element may be internally leaking (security valve, height correctors), which can be traced by disconnecting their rubber return pipes. About 3 ml/min allowed.