Xantia Turbo Activa Hydractive Suspension

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
ruffnroll
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Apr 2010, 08:33
Location:
My Cars:

Xantia Turbo Activa Hydractive Suspension

Post by ruffnroll »

Hi guys

Back on the road again. Driving beautiful, but....my rides been pimped !

After starting, activa kicks in balancing the suspension for about a minute, and she jerks and jumps quite fiercly at the rear offside, as though somethings sticking, before settling down. Also does it sometimes when stopped at lights/junction. Citroen garage checked fluid and cones, and all OK, so we're scratching our heads. Is it the hydaulic pump ?

Any clues much appreciated
Ruffnroll
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49526
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Re: Xantia Turbo Activa Hydractive Suspension

Post by CitroJim »

ruffnroll wrote:Is it the hydaulic pump ?
Nope. And unless the garage is question is very au-fait with the Activa they too will be scratching heads for a long time.

Truth is, even the most well-adjusted Activa can do this occasionally, especially rising up from low to full high. What you have though is a case of the "Activa Shuffles" and this is caused by a combination of things as follows in order of likely to be the cause:

Wear on the roll corrector linkage rods where they pass through the guide blocks on the front subframe. Both rods and guide blocks are cheap enough to replace. You'll likely see the rod has worn quite significantly at the point it passes into the guide block;

Lubricate these with spray grease regularly.

Stiffness in the roll corrector mechanism. Lubricate it lik a height corrector;

A badly worn rear ram bush;

Sticky height correctors and even incorrect ride height;

Sticky front struts requiring lubrication.

Note that if you replace the rods and blocks, you may have to re-level the car and that is a horrible job...
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
ruffnroll
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Apr 2010, 08:33
Location:
My Cars:

pimped xantia turbo activa

Post by ruffnroll »

Hi Jim

Sounds like you know a lot about it. I will get the garage to check all that you have suggested. Many thanks.
Ruffnroll
KevMayer
Posts: 1051
Joined: 12 Sep 2003, 22:01
Location: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by KevMayer »

Quote of the year award goes to...

"Hi Jim

Sounds like you know a lot about it."


Joking aside, you're in good hands at this forum. Welcome from us all.
Cheers, Kev

02 plate C5 2.2 Hdi Exclusive SE (now 170k miles 03/21).

Used to have:- Xantia 1.9 TurboD SX. 1996 Blue & 1998 Silver Activa. + 1992 BX TZD Turbo.
KevMayer
Posts: 1051
Joined: 12 Sep 2003, 22:01
Location: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by KevMayer »

How's it going?

Have you had any luck yet?
Cheers, Kev

02 plate C5 2.2 Hdi Exclusive SE (now 170k miles 03/21).

Used to have:- Xantia 1.9 TurboD SX. 1996 Blue & 1998 Silver Activa. + 1992 BX TZD Turbo.
ruffnroll
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Apr 2010, 08:33
Location:
My Cars:

Xantia Shuffle

Post by ruffnroll »

Hi Jim and Kev,

Still scratching our heads !

Gave Citroen garage your recommendations and they are working their way them. Everything lubed, rods and guide blocks replaced. Now driving like a bouncy castle ! Back in garage today to have them check the re-levelling, and the rear ram bush. They now think the front spheres need replacing, which sound expensive.

I think they are not very au-fait with the Xantia, and I need to find a garage that is.

Any recommendations in the East Sussex area ?
Ruffnroll
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Post by jgra1 »

I have a funny feeling there was someone in Crowborough,.,. handyman might know?

John
handyman
Posts: 1107
Joined: 20 May 2003, 18:38
Location: In the clouds in the Land of South Saxons
My Cars:
x 2

Post by handyman »

Yes, JGRA, me! :shock: :shock:

I have had a few of these pass through my hands now and still have my own stable of standard and moded Activas.

Ruffnroll, PM me your details and a phone number and I'll give you a call. Who have you been using in East Sussex to mess with your Activa? I personally would not trust any of the main agents and there is only one independent near me who is any good and he wont touch anything over ten years old.

Handyman, :roll:
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49526
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Post by CitroJim »

Bouncy suspension will be either the spheres flat or the hydractive system stuck in hard mode due to bad electrovalve diodes or an ECU fault.

The Activa Buyers Guide will tell you how to test the suspension fully.

I find spheres on an Activa to be very critical, pressure-wise, in pursuance of a good ride and good handling. An Activa should never be harsh or bouncy. Mnne is actually quite soft and comfy.

Spheres can only be properly checked using a sphere tester.

One thing you don't need is genuine Activa spheres. In practice, normal hydractive spheres are fine. Only the Activa Accumulator is excepttionally special and Pleiades can make you one.

I agree fully with Handyman. Activas need to be dealt with by specialists only and they are few and far between. Never let a non-specialist loose on one.
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
davetherave
Posts: 880
Joined: 01 Apr 2009, 21:06
Location: Norwich
My Cars:
x 4

Post by davetherave »

Perhaps we should make a sphere pressure tester location map Jim...
(95) XM Silver 2.1td Exclusive.
(87) Cx 2.5 DTR T1 undergoing major cosmetic surgery.
GPZ500s
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49526
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Post by CitroJim »

davetherave wrote:Perhaps we should make a sphere pressure tester location map Jim...
Good idea Dave,

Mine is currently in the boot of Rattiva ready to visit a fellow member later this evening to do a sphere test :lol:
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
KevMayer
Posts: 1051
Joined: 12 Sep 2003, 22:01
Location: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by KevMayer »

Ruffnroll,

When you say 'it's driving like a bouncy castle' do you mean that the suspension is very hard? Is it hard at the front and rear? or just the rear say?

Do you have any history of sphere changes?

The ride can be very bouncy if the electrovalves aren't switching, but, we can tell you how to get the electrovalves working properly.
Cheers, Kev

02 plate C5 2.2 Hdi Exclusive SE (now 170k miles 03/21).

Used to have:- Xantia 1.9 TurboD SX. 1996 Blue & 1998 Silver Activa. + 1992 BX TZD Turbo.
ruffnroll
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Apr 2010, 08:33
Location:
My Cars:

Xantia Activa Turbo

Post by ruffnroll »

Hi Guys,

Bouncy Castle ride was soft and all at the front, but garage have now cured that, as they admitted it had not been levelled properly. They then handed me a quote to pressure test the spheres, replace the front suspension cylinders and front spheres, if required. £1350 !

Needed stretcher bearers to get to the nearest pub.

I have now sent Handyman my contact details, and my Xantia's future rests in his hands.

Thanks for all your help
Ruffnroll
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Post by jgra1 »

Yes, JGRA, me!
sorry HM :lol: I remember someone (or I was in yellow pages..)suggesting I ring a citroen indy, so I could ask how to remove a tight sphere, it was about 10 years ago, they were in Crowborough :twisted:

so either this is the local garage to you, that wont touch over 10 years, or it was you ;)
handyman
Posts: 1107
Joined: 20 May 2003, 18:38
Location: In the clouds in the Land of South Saxons
My Cars:
x 2

Post by handyman »

Hullo John, there is an independent Citroen repairer in Crowborough, but from personal experience, I would give them an extremely wide berth. They are good at emptying wallets and fitting un-necessary pattern parts at Citroen prices. Sounds like most of the garages in Crowborough! :shock: :shock:

Handyman, :roll:
Post Reply