LHM level indicator

Gregg1100 · Unread post by **Gregg1100** » 20 Mar 2011, 00:15

Hi,
The LHM level indicator on my Xant S2 has never worked--that is, permanently stuck up into the roof of the glass bowl. Obviously tried tapping it, -no movement whether the car is raised or lowered. Are new ones very expensive ?.

Also had a power steering failure the other day, when going around a roundabout. The pump was twittering away for a bit, then it started working again. Which led me to wonder if enough lhm in the tank- which I can't check properly, cos indicator is u/s.

I did try a search on this, but even though I typed in the request, all I ever get is pages of stuff with no relation to what I need, whatsoever.
Thanks,
Greg

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 20 Mar 2011, 01:56

The LHM tank is probably overfull. Mine was like this for a while when I first bought my Activa, and I was convinced it was stuck. Well, I was until the rear ram started leaking in winter... Soon saw it move.

James

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 20 Mar 2011, 04:41

Gregg1100 wrote:Hi,
The LHM level indicator on my Xant S2 has never worked--that is, permanently stuck up into the roof of the glass bowl. Obviously tried tapping it, -no movement whether the car is raised or lowered. Are new ones very expensive ?.

They are a very simple float, they don't generally get stuck, most likely your reservoir is overfull.

Doesn't do any harm to have too much LHM in though apart from getting the odd spillage.

c.morewood · Unread post by **c.morewood** » 20 Mar 2011, 09:07

If the float is stuck up and the LHM is low, you should get the STOP light flickering and staying on especially when you're going up hill.
This happened to me a few years ago, even the Citroen garage couldn't find the reason.. I drove it for months like that and only discovered the reason when I did a Hydraflush... gave me a bit of a shock when I found out just how little LHM was in there!!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 20 Mar 2011, 10:44

Is it not accessible for a bit of a prod.

I have a vague recollection the the GS one was but that is rather much in the dim and distant past.

I think if it were mine I'd be drilling a little hole in the top of the viewing dome and poking it down to see if it dropped or floated back up.

Or syphoning/bleeding some LHM off to see what happened to it.

If the pump is scavenging due to low LHM, causing the lack of power steering response, then you will be getting air in the system that won't improve it in any way imaginable.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 20 Mar 2011, 12:37

the indicator and dome lift out by turnning the hole unit and the block the wires attatch to about a quarter of a turn,

there is no need to be drilling the dome as this can let dirt in,

you will find the float is fine and not stuck,

all the years i have worked on and around hydraulic citroens i have never found a sticking float,

also if the float is fully up it is unlikely the float sensor willput the warning lamp on,

this can only function with the float almostor fully down as the copper disc shorts out the two terminals i the bottom of the dome,

you might also find the steering isue is down to dirty tank filters or slipping pump belt,

regards malcolm

Pleiades · Unread post by **Pleiades** » 20 Mar 2011, 18:56

As per Malcolm, I have been working on these sysyems for more years than I care to remember and I have never yet come across a stuck float.

Try syphoning the system when on high and you will find that the float will come down, when the correct level is achieved, stop the syphon.

Of course when you put the car back to normal, the float will return back to the top as this is the rest position.

Regards
Martin.

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 20 Mar 2011, 20:17

One more thing, if you are worried it doesn't have enough fluid in then put it on the lowest suspension setting, open the cap and stick a finger in. You should find the LHM is quite close to the top.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 21 Mar 2011, 08:40

thats not always true the float can be at the top without the citro blood being that close to the top,

regards malcolm

Gregg1100 · Unread post by **Gregg1100** » 21 Mar 2011, 23:11

Turns out that the tank was overfilled. I put the car onto high setting, and pumped a load of LHM out till the float moved. Thanks for the info.

BTW, the lhm oil is in crap condition and a dirty brown colour, so have that time consuming job to add to all the other jobs;- on the house, shed, bikes, garden, etc

Seeing that it is a nigh on sealed system, why does the oil get so dirty ?
Greg

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 21 Mar 2011, 23:18

i belive the dirt is caused by all the moveing parts of the system,

also you will find your tank filters almost blocked this will almost certainly be your steering fault,

regards malcolm

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 22 Mar 2011, 14:12

New LHM filled after cleaning the filters and tank had turned a dull brown after three years and 26,000 miles.
It looks like it’s more discolouration than dirt.

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