Bleeding activa...

KP · Unread post by KP » 05 Oct 2009, 14:08

Also done a check and i did replace the accumulator while i did the rear spheres so is it possible this has gone flat in that many month's?

This could explain why im not hearing the clicking as its not even getting upto pressure maybe?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Oct 2009, 15:20

It's not unknown for an accumulator to go pop in such a short time but unusual. It might be possible if it was a recharged one. I'd swap it as it's an easy first check.

As for other sourches of internal leakage, if you've discounted electrovalves then it's down to pulling off leakage returns and seeing if any are flowing excessively. Favourites would be the suspension cylinders and the brake dosuer amongst others.

On an Activa, a totally flat Activa Accumulator sphere might also cause it. These are oftem missed as it hides under the battery tray. An ordinary anti-sink sphere can act as a temporary replacement.

A clue might be if you'e experienced any handling funnies in the recent past. That might point to the area of the problem.

As for the alternator, I had mine off and gave it a wash with gentle solvent and a good blow out with an airline. It ran green for quite a while

Removing an alternator from an Activa is a fair task though, involving the removal of the ECU box, ignition amplifier and top engine mount so the engine can be jacked up high enough for the alternator to wriggle out into the space previously occupied by the ECU box.

KP · Unread post by KP » 05 Oct 2009, 20:21

Well had a looksee tonight and the two return lines into the LHM tank giving the most output, and one by a far shot though i think this is correct for this pipe due to its much larger diameter.

Pics are up on flickr. The one that shows the pipes that had the most return flow are here.

The big one as i said i think is about right as it must be the pump overflow or such like, but the small one quickly soaked part of my old thick towel

Jim the god of LHM

do you know what this return is for as i lost it as it vanish's into the myriad of other pipes there

I have a spare accumulator on hand but i only heard it tick once or twice and the leak isn't as bad now for some reason....

Also the shuffling is a red hearing as i have found that another bolt has gone for a walk!! its the one that holds the roll control bar onto the wishbone! so ordering that up i think for the £1 it will cost and some loctite for the bolts now as one on the cambelt cover near the front keeps creeping out as well!!

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 05 Oct 2009, 21:01

I've dug out his scan I did from ages back which hopefully should help:

Andrew

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Oct 2009, 21:38

The big return next to the suction pipe will return big Will as this is the pressure regulator and pinion valve return, both of which flow considerable quantities as a normal part of the working of the system.

I'll have to eyeball the other pipe on my Activa. I'm pretty certain that it is the ABS block but I'm not sure if that should flow a lot. The pipe may be a manifold and have other returns going into it. Let me check and I'll get back on that one.

KP · Unread post by KP » 06 Oct 2009, 07:46

Cheers Jim

I guess the only real way will be with an assistant pushing down the brake pedal while i watch the engine bay as maybe by the looks of it its the doseur valve thing.. im guessing lots of work for this one

KP · Unread post by KP » 07 Oct 2009, 07:46

Cheers Andrew, looking at the pictures and from my french i gues sit means number 5 is a hieght correct or both hieght correctors... Really i guess i need the car on ramps to find out which one it is then, but the picture doesn't seem to be like mine as that pipe seems to be a split feed where as mine disappears off down as one piece unless its not to scale....

KP · Unread post by KP » 07 Oct 2009, 13:08

well i just tried to order the two bolts i need, one for the pump and the other for the correction control bar and both are on back order till at least 15th

KP · Unread post by KP » 10 Oct 2009, 11:27

changed the accumulator and although the tick rate has decreased a lot the pipe is still weeping. think i may have to order one from martin to eliminate it as i reckon the flare seal may not be upto the job and need to get those bolts sorted as well as think they won't be helping as the ARCS is working a lot as always changing...

Is it common for this failure to happen if a hieght corrector fails and is leaking LHM back to the resv at a slow but steady rate??

KP · Unread post by KP » 12 Oct 2009, 20:07

After ringing Martin at Plaides i have tried to find a 7mm copper washer, anywhere and they are all but impossible to find

going to take the bike on lunch tomorrow and ride across town and try 2 places fingers crossed.

Failing this will need to remove the pipe and get a new one made up i think as im sure the falre is now off flat and thus not sealing as it should, so im of the opinion that it has shifted due to not being put back in the exact route of the original by maybe a few mm off seems to be enough for this to happen

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 12 Oct 2009, 21:27

KP wrote:After ringing Martin at Plaides i have tried to find a 7mm copper washer

What was the idea behind the copper washer then Will? Did Martin suggest it as a way of making a sort of olive seal for the flattened flare?

I've seen plastic boxes of many assorted copper washers available in factors. I fancy even our local Halfrauds have them.

KP · Unread post by KP » 13 Oct 2009, 07:36

I think they will be next on my hitlist if this other place doesn't have them in today, even thought of maplins as a possible electrical connector kind of washer...

Yeah jim, the idea is to give it something better to seal on. Failing this the old pipe is coming off and i'll head to pirtek or somewhere similar for a new one to be made up for me.

Maybe this week she will be back on the road and i can stop biking it to work

I have a feeling though that the heater matrix will be my next big job that needs doing as i get the odd whiff when its turned on after sitting over night

Give me a chance to replace the sidelight bulb in the dash thats blown and the one in the clock as well maybe

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 13 Oct 2009, 20:12

My car has the antifreeze smell, and it typically loses less than a dessertspoon per month overall - and that's over a usual 2500 km. You may be a long while from needing to do anything about it.

The golden rule of topping up antifreeze, is to use correct stuff - not water. Using plain water puts you squarely into "round tuit" territory and I can guarantee unhappy outcomes.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Oct 2009, 20:37

If you do get a pipe made up Will, ensure that the new one is shaped exactly like the old one so all the existing clamps can be used to secure it. So important for their longlivity.

KP wrote: I have a feeling though that the heater matrix will be my next big job that needs doing as i get the odd whiff when its turned on after sitting over night Give me a chance to replace the sidelight bulb in the dash thats blown and the one in the clock as well maybe

Before you go and do that Will, put a bottle of Forte Stop Leak in the system. I'm firmly of the opinion that it's not the matrix itself that leaks but the two O rings failing on the matrix joint. Forte will seal this as it did on my 2.1TD for a long time. When we did finally change it, the Forte had done it's job well and it was beautifully dry. Sadly, the smell will continue though due to the accumulation of antifreeze crystals in the bottom of the heater box. If it only whiffs when it first comes on and there's no misting of the screen or steam out of the vents then it's not gone too far.

Don't under-estimate what a job it is on an Activa. Due to the turbo pipes it is the hardest Xantia to do...

KP · Unread post by KP » 14 Oct 2009, 07:52

The pipes on the engine side aren't the worry for me, i've got adept at getting my hands into that area in recent weeks... Just the dash side worries me. two young kids mean it would take many days to do as can never commit more and a couple of hours at a time to such tasks these days.

Didn't get a chance to try one of the washers i had to buy from halfrauds yesterday as family were over from NI and by time all was sorted rachel was feeling quite unwell and it was pitch black

Think i'll ask for a mini floodlight for my birthday lol!!