is this activa broke?

Quackers · Unread post by **Quackers** » 13 Oct 2008, 20:19

or do i have the wrong end of the stick?

and nother one doing the same

Although thats what mine feels like sometimes

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 13 Oct 2008, 20:29

The second one looks healthier as well as being a particularly nice Activa
colour and a S1 too

Neither look like they're working within 0.5 degree of movement though
do they. I'd also say the second one is running quite high up too!

I don't mind the big wheels for the looks, but the ride must be awful;
wonder if they're running 'comfort spheres' all round including the ARB
one's!?

Andrew

Quackers · Unread post by **Quackers** » 13 Oct 2008, 20:32

Its more scary that they seem to be showing the Activa off too, when its broke.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 13 Oct 2008, 20:44

What would be up with those Activas?
Flat balancing sphere? dodgy rams?

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:13

red_dwarfers wrote:What would be up with those Activas?
Flat balancing sphere? dodgy rams?

Its more than likely down to worn roll corrector bushes, very expensive to replace @ about £2 per side

These bushes are located on the front suspension lower arms which wear quickly and allow excess slack on the mechanical linkage to the extent that the roll corrector can't work out what degree of roll the car has so therefore can't offer accurate correction, hence the roll shown in those video's. These bushes are also responsible for the well documented "Activa" shuffle when stationary.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:17

Mine seems to roll when the engine is cold... i think it doesnt 'activate' until up to running temperature but maybe Citrojim could shed some light on why it wouldnt be working and under what circumstances?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:19

red_dwarfers wrote:What would be up with those Activas?
Flat balancing sphere? dodgy rams?

It could be a myriad of things Kev, and, even worse, a number of things conspiring to give the problem.

Rams only leak. If the Activa Accumulator was flat, there might not be enough hyraulic pressure to operate the rams quickly. If the Activa Balancing Sphere was flat, iThe system would effectively be stuck in agressive roll control mode.

The mechanical roll corrector linkages might be seized/binding. These operate a sort of height corrector lying on its side that drives the rams.

It could also be a sensor problem (there are loads of them) giving the Activa/HA ECU duff gen and it then not switching the Hydractive and Activa electrovalves properly.

The Activa/HA ECU can store faults but unlike the engine ECU it does not have a light to tell you. Plugging a Lexia into an Activa can be a revelation (of the wrong sort)

So basically, without doing some diagnostics, it's anyones guess!!!

All I know, an Activa that has suspension faults is dangerous.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:25

XantiaMan583 wrote:Mine seems to roll when the engine is cold

I'll have to sleep on that one Gareth! Right now I have no idea whatsoever...

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:39

citrojim wrote:
XantiaMan583 wrote:Mine seems to roll when the engine is cold
I'll have to sleep on that one Gareth! Right now I have no idea whatsoever...

I read somewhere that under certain circumstances the anti-roll is disabled. It certainly seems to work well when pushed, but maybe there is a fault code stored somewhere, a Lexia check-up might be in order!

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:51

XantiaMan583 wrote:
citrojim wrote:
XantiaMan583 wrote:Mine seems to roll when the engine is cold
I'll have to sleep on that one Gareth! Right now I have no idea whatsoever...
I read somewhere that under certain circumstances the anti-roll is disabled. It certainly seems to work well when pushed, but maybe there is a fault code stored somewhere, a Lexia check-up might be in order!

A Lexia check is a good idea, have you had the steering wheel off at any point? The reason I ask is that every Xantia I've plugged my Lexia into that has had the steering wheel removed at any point has a fault code relating to the steering wheel angle sensor. Also bear in mind that ANY fault recorded in a Hydractive ECU can only be cleared with a Lexia or ELIT diagnostic tool.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Oct 2008, 22:09

That's a good point Richard. Every time that fault has occurred and I've cleared it, the suspension performance always seemed to be better.

It was clear of faults just before you had it Gareth but over time the old steering angle fault does crop up again. I must check mine actually.

I had another thought. Changing my spheres today I opened the bleed nipple on the Activa balancing sphere block to release pressure. I noticed a bit of air initially came out.

On yours, the nipple is seized and I've never been brave enough to try to release it. If it shears, you're in deep trouble as the block is high up in the subframe and not very accessible.

Now, if there was trapped air in the Activa circuit and this settled overnight, it might cause a bit of poor performance early on until the motion of the hydraulic fluid has shook it up, dispersed it and normality is restored. As I say, just a thought and it might well be cobblers.

I'll bleed mine from there when the new spheres go on and see if any air comes out again. Yours, being a MK2, also has bleed nipples on the Hydractive sphere blocks. I've never opened those either. The MK1s do not have them.

Remind me to have my Lexia with me next time we meet up!

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 14 Oct 2008, 08:02

I've not had any reason to remove the wheel yet, fortunatly.

Jim, you'll have to let me know when your free next, at some point i need to do a pre-mot check and just make sure everything is ok in that department.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Oct 2008, 08:09

XantiaMan583 wrote:I've not had any reason to remove the wheel yet, fortunatly.

The steering angle fault just comes up from time to time as if by random. No need to remove the wheel to prvoke it!

It happens in the same way as 2.1TDs (and 1.9TDs) like to record a random needle lift fault every now and again..

I guess the ECUs get bored and just do it for the sheer hell of it

XantiaMan583 wrote: Jim, you'll have to let me know when your free next, at some point i need to do a pre-mot check and just make sure everything is ok in that department.

Friday this week or any part of this weekend is good Gareth

Quackers · Unread post by **Quackers** » 14 Oct 2008, 08:27

Would a steering wheel angle sensor have an adverse effect? I've got my Activa in the garage tommorrow so i'll get him to read the Activa and Hydroactive ECU while its in.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Oct 2008, 10:15

Quackers wrote:Would a steering wheel angle sensor have an adverse effect? I've got my Activa in the garage tommorrow so i'll get him to read the Activa and Hydroactive ECU while its in.

I believe, and I'm not sure but if the HA ECU logs a fault for duff sensor information, it'll revert to default values, a bit like "Limp Home" mode the engine ECU will drop into with duff sensor information.

Always worth a read and fault clear though. I always feel it makes a difference, may just be placebo effect though

My cars always seem to go better after a was and polish or an oil change!