Fellas, help me out!!

Unread post by **Jon** » 16 Mar 2004, 04:22

Yet another of my neighbours (its Frenchville round here with 2 x Berlingo's and a 306 D either side of me); with a Xan 1.9TD estate (opposite my house, I must attract them)came to see me.
The back end is stuck high in the air, apparently it jambed in the low position whilst he was on holiday and the local mechanic battered it back with the hammer. The back end is now in high.
I was hoping to renew the plastic link rod from the height corrector, and try and lubricate the linkages. I've never done this on a Xantia, is it possible that the height corrector metal bracket can bend? I'm not too sure why thre local mechanic would take the hammer to it, and really whether I should take this job on.![xx(]
Perhaps we are better off buying a complete h/c with bracket and refitting? I intend to spend the minimum time possible under the car if I can as I'm busy elsewhere right now.[B)]

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 16 Mar 2004, 04:40

Hammering on the HC or linkages [:0]
Blacksmiths [:(!][V]
You're spot on mate !
Don't fiddle with this !
Either the linkage clamp on rollbar has been offset - or the HC fitting bracket/bodywork is damaged.
It's a fiddler job - likely to get you in trouble !
The problem was for sure initially the standard dry/stuck linkage problem - or in bad case - a stuck HC valve.

Unread post by **Jon** » 16 Mar 2004, 04:51

Right then, new H/C with bracket, it is then for this man!
Cheers Anders!

DLM · Unread post by **DLM** » 16 Mar 2004, 04:56

Have seen the village blacksmith at work - but driving a recovery truck - when I came across an XM stranded round the corner from me one night. I strolled around out of curiosity, and discovered that the handbrake had stuck on + owner had chosen to call out the cavalry to help.
Said "recovery man" was belting away at the REAR of the car to "un-jam the handbrake"........
When I pointed out to the owner that hydropneumatic Citroens have front-wheel handbrakes, he decided he wouldn't need the assistance of these highly-skilled members of the motor trade any more.
This Xantia sounds like a referral job to me - the possibility of finding the assembly undamaged seems pretty slight.....

Doc · Unread post by **Doc** » 16 Mar 2004, 04:56

Also had this problem that Anders and other members of this site kindly advised me on: Get under the car and clean off any mud, rust and general crud from around the area of the rear height corrector.(HC) Look for obvious damage and broken plastic links and then liberally squirt a dose of WD40 around the HC and associated rods and links. While you are under there lube the selector rods from the height control lever and check to see if the square end to the rod is actually present. On my XM it was loose and instead of the rod moving the HC link, it was merely moving the square clamp along the control rod. The front HC is a similar setup.
Hope this helps.
Doc

Unread post by **Jon** » 16 Mar 2004, 05:01

I'll be taking a look at this poor Xantia estate over the w/end and see what can be done.
Thanks for the replies!

DLM · Unread post by **DLM** » 16 Mar 2004, 05:28

Hope it's not been too sore abused! That's why I thought Anders' sugggestion of caution was justified - though it all depends where and at what angle that hammer has been wielded.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 16 Mar 2004, 14:39

The height corrector linkages are fairly robustly made (apart from the clamp on the anti roll bar and the plastic eggcup linkage) so they shouldn't be damaged by hammering but it depends on the size of the hammer. Being on nylon bearings they wouldn't benefit from the hammering either...
If nothing is bent too much or broken, the standard advice is to take the plastic linkage off, get a hold of the bits that are supposed to move and waggle them backwards and forwards until free (use pliers / molegrips in required). This didn't do anything for my old Xantia so I had to remove the whole linkage and put it through the parts washer, regreasing afterwards, (the parafin in the parts washer makes disposable latex gloves disintegrate pretty instantly). Luckily on mine after reassembly it didn't need any adjustment, the ride height was correct and everything worked properly (after much swearing to get the new plastic linkage on).

Unread post by **Jon** » 16 Mar 2004, 14:49

Cheers
I have a new plastic linkage and ballcup, I'm going to try that first, plus a good lube up.

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 16 Mar 2004, 18:17

[:D][:D]I take you mean the car!!!

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 17 Mar 2004, 03:43

A WORD of WARNING for fellows following Doc's advice (and I'm sure he just forgot to mention it) - NEVER get under a hydropneumatic Citroën unless there is sufficient clearance for your body if the suspension collapses on you. You only have to poke the wrong lever and a ton of metal will decend at the speed of light . . .
//NiSk