Xantia Speedo failure/Hydractive problems

Unread post by **philhoward** » 05 Aug 2006, 14:51

Hi all!

After being away from the land of green-blooded Citroens, i've took the plunge and bought a 95 (M) TD VSX with a couple of little problems..

The spheres are all shot (pressure reg clicks in and out about every 3 seconds, and the ride is terrible), so a new set and a hydraflush for that. No replies needed for that one! Just incase it has any bearing on anything else..

The steering wheel controls for the stereo don't work at all - I remember that there is some kind of slip ring connection. Is this repairable/replaceable?

My last VSX used to give a double "tick" from the rear underside of the car when you opened the door. This one does a single "tick", then a buzzing, followed by a regular "tick" (about every 10 seconds?) from the front. This is a solenoid "tick/click" - something to do with the hydractive, I guess? It's a different set of noises - does that mean there's something wrong? When driving it, the "sport mode" can be selected, and i've got no flashing light on the button (this IS the fault indication, isn't it?).

Also (maybe a clue here..?) on its first long run today, after about 60 miles the speedo needle started dancing wildly between 30 and 130mph (I was doing 70..), gave up completely, then kicked back in for a little while when I slowed to about 40mph. Worked again until I hit about 40 again, and now hasn't worked since! As the odometer is now stuck, I'm guessing the speed sensor on the gearbox - but where the hell is it?!?

Sorry for the long post...anyone got any ideas?

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 05 Aug 2006, 15:15

I'd hold my horses going into those underbody ticks. Could well change when spheres are replaced.

The speedo sender unit is fitted eaxctly where the old timer cable used to be attached :
On the RH side differential axle housing.
Common to get bad/dirty/corroded connections here.

Phil :
Your avatar is offending to members here - please replace it !
Thanks.

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 05 Aug 2006, 19:13

When you open a door you should get a single click followed by a continuous whine...from both ends of the car. The whine is pretty obvious if the car is in a garage.

A double click (of your previous car) or a regular ticking are both wrong, unless its coming from something other than the Hydractive electrovalves.

I've never heard of the light on the Hydractive switch flashing - although the Hydractive computer supposedly has a diagnostic/fault light which should be on the dashboard, I don't think the Xantia actually ever had one fitted - only the XM.

The power for the light in the switch comes from the computer, but it also passes via one of the switch contacts making it completely impossible for the computer to activate the light when the switch is in the normal mode - thus not making a very useful diagnostic light...

I'm with Anders on this - if you know the spheres are shot you should fix them first and THEN check the hard/soft mode switching, or you could be chasing ghosts....

Regards,
Simon

Unread post by **philhoward** » 06 Aug 2006, 12:43

AndersDK wrote: Phil :
Your avatar is offending to members here - please replace it !
Thanks.

Sorry...

Now removed until I find another one. My strange sense of humour - apologies to anyone it offended

Unread post by **philhoward** » 06 Aug 2006, 12:47

OK - some progress...

Speedo was definately the sensor - found one close in the scrappies, but not exactly the same ratio (speedo now reads 10% over). Anyone got one left over from a transplant? Need the one with a black drive gear and 13F4 stamped in it (only sensor I found without the cable takeoff was a 13F5 I think).

Cheers

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:08

Speedo is supposed to read approx +10% overspeed. Its not more accurate because the sender is electronic. The accuracy is governed by legislation. As the speedo must never read too low - under any circumstances - the speedo is set to always read a bit high.

These days with GPS navigation units onboard - more and more owners suddenly becomes aware of this 8)

There is only one type sender unit that fits the Xantia BE3 gearbox.

Are you driving on tyres smaller diameter than factory fitted ?
(note that worn tyres have significant lower rolling diameter than new tyres !)

Unread post by **philhoward** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:18

Anders,

This is a "before and after" comparison; in 5th gear, every 1000rpm equated to about 25mph, i.e. 2000rpm = just under 50mph. Now reads just over 55mph for 2000rpm in 5th.

I've got no guarantee that the sender was from a Xantia gearbox - may well have been a 306/ZX/Saxo box. This is also the 3rd different one i've seen (found one from a Saxo box which had a pink drive gear and 20xx stamped on it), but at least it works, even if it wrong.
Not sure what the donor was; couldn't find a Xantia without the cable takeoff, so started searching round the pile of gearboxes sat in a corner till I found a BE3 box with a non-cable sensor.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:45

did you try cleaning the plug contacts on the old unit,as most of the time this is the fault
regards malcolm

Unread post by **philhoward** » 06 Aug 2006, 16:50

Malcolm,

That was the first thing I tried, but to no avail...