Just Bought a 96 P Reg Xantia VSX TD - suspension question

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 28 Jul 2010, 15:18

This is amazing!! How do you know his name is paul?? Or did I miss that bit, and how do you know its North wales?? from Pj guitarWales.. thats good judgement

On a serious point, you can test the state of the regulator reletivly easyilly..

start the car up let it settle in its normal ride height, then stop the engine, but leave the ignition on, move the height leverto the TOP or fully UP position, if your regulator sphere is anygood there WILL be enough in resverve to move the car up!! The better the regulator the more it will move.. Obviously it wont go anywere near as much as when the engine is running, it it may move the front up a bit!!

If theres no movement, then the sphere is truely dead, and needs changing asap to avoid undue strain on the regulator unit, and wearing the end seal..

Were in North Wales if thats were you are?? You can guess my location from my web site address in my signiture!

Paul

PjGuitarWales · Unread post by **PjGuitarWales** » 28 Jul 2010, 18:16

Haha not a million miles away mate.. im in the holywell region

good tips on tests thankyou ive been mad since i got the car with family issues and lessons... and tonight ive got a gig in the wirral so shooting off shortly will try it all out tomorrow if i ever get any peace

cheers again we will have to have a yarn at somepoint

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 28 Jul 2010, 19:27

Just a tip that with a hydroactive car, the normal tests of an accumulator sphere (tick rate and suspension rising after switch off) are not always accurate, as a leaky hydroactive valve can drain the accumulator very quickly. Leaky here means an internal leak to the return pipe, not a puddle on the ground. After 100,000 miles or so, leaky hydroactive valves are quite common, but don't seem to harm the performance of the suspension.

PjGuitarWales · Unread post by **PjGuitarWales** » 02 Aug 2010, 20:40

Hi guys

Been held up somewhat... missus and mum bothe very ill with different things so have my hands full with the kids and work somewhat.

The car behaves favorably in the tests you have all suggested....

I decided to start my attempt at stopping the ticking by checking the fluid level of the lhm. The floater was well beneath the two rings. Hence I think... right... must get LHM..... but as you may or may not have already know this seems impossible!

Can anybody direct me to a supplier or recommend a good brand..... I have seem some total stuff branded citroen on ebay but it is in 1 litre bottles and is labelled LHM PLUS.

For anyone who may know my locality im in north wales near to the border so north west england is easily delved.

Old guy... money should be with you soon if not already mate cheers

PjGuitarWales · Unread post by **PjGuitarWales** » 02 Aug 2010, 20:42

Just reailsed im typing in pigeon english sorry.... typing too quick tryin to do too much at once again

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Aug 2010, 20:54

PjGuitarWales wrote:typing too quick tryin to do too much at once again

Tell me about it

No worries about the pigeon English. Looks OK to me!

The line is drawn at txt spk tho on ere...

Total LHM PLUS is very good stuff and is/was used by Citroen as the original fill. Basically any LHM PLUS is OK as there is a very stringent specification that must be adhered to.

Buy as much as you can!

Remember to check/top up only on high setting. Level is correct when the "coolie hat" is between the two rings.

It won't have any effect on your tick rate though.

PjGuitarWales · Unread post by **PjGuitarWales** » 02 Aug 2010, 21:04

Thanks mate i was just worried as there are some other brands of lhm knocking about it seems but thought that it was perhaps best looking for the branded stuff... just thinking down the lines that most people tend to prefer quality name lube oil as its proven to be better.... thought perhaps a similar thing applies with lhm.

Appreciate your comment on the ticking i realise it wont effect that by topping up but felt that it needed to be the right level for me to get it up to spec for me to start looking at slowing the tickin rate.

no joy on the hydractive button though it seems to have no effect and i have no dashboard indication of it when i press the button....

now have the haynes manual so maybe i should trace the wiring

thanks again for swift response

Unread post by **myglaren** » 02 Aug 2010, 21:05

EuroCarParts, GSF, AEP, OPIE Oils are all sources for LHM, Most motor factors and car spares shops around here have it. Halfords used to but not sure about them any more - there is always the dealer, they aren't always outrageously priced.