Hydraulic Leak 2.0HDi Xantia - STUPID QUESTION

[Dommo]

In that case Rhothgar I would hazard a guess that your adapter is not happy with the pressure spikes caused by flat spheres. It sounds like an interesting idea though! I have a set of new non hydractive tops I want to fit to an Activa, to do this I need to drill the hole out to be bigger than the standard non-hydractive size, you can't make an adapter for this way unfortunately. I've not got round to it yet mind you!

Jim, I bet you're enjoying galactic fuel economy in an AX with fuel prices as they are then?? Always fancied an AX but never fancied being in an accident with one which has stopped me getting one. I've not updated my blog in a long time, the XM would have made a good series of posts with the amount of work done to her - Paul can attest to that! On the exercise front, I never was able to run without my ankles feeling like they were bursting, so I've stuck to riding my mountain bike, although with the majority of riding I do, a gravel bike would be more than enough.. However, as I ride mainly for exercise, riding a heavier bike on the road just means you don't have to go as far to get the same out of it, well that's my excuse anyway!

[CitroJim]

In that case Rhothgar I would hazard a guess that your adapter is not happy with the pressure spikes caused by flat spheres. It sounds like an interesting idea though! I have a set of new non hydractive tops I want to fit to an Activa, to do this I need to drill the hole out to be bigger than the standard non-hydractive size, you can't make an adapter for this way unfortunately. I've not got round to it yet mind you!

Drilling and tapping a non-hydractive strut top will be no problem at all... the bosses are the same and the existing 3.5mm hole will provide a useful guide... A good quality tapping size drill will also cut an adequate seat for the pipe flare...

Roger, I'd love to see a picture of the adaptors...

Jim, I bet you're enjoying galactic fuel economy in an AX with fuel prices as they are then?? Always fancied an AX but never fancied being in an accident with one which has stopped me getting one.

My erstwhile S2 1.0 AX with monopoint fuel injection was so frugal I rarely had to put any fuel in it. The AX is not my daily by any means - I have a Saxo for that. Another very frugal car...

My current AX has a carb... I'm yet to discover just how frugal it is compared to the later injection models... I've also had to learn how to use a manual choke all over again...

Agreed about the robustness of an AX and its resilience in an accident. It's no more than a biscuit tin on wheels Weighing only 650Kg it's very light car indeed.

For me it's not a problem as the AX spends most of her life tucked up in a warm garage and only comes out for shows and the occasional Sunday afternoon joyride... My Saxo is not heavily used either. It's used mainly for ferrying my bikes to races and transporting parkrun kit around... I don't even use it for shopping now as I'm custodian of my youngest daughters car and use that once a week for a shopping trip just to keep the battery charged! Anywhere else I need to go I either walk, run or cycle!

[Rhothgar]

i may well do Jim.

I was hoping I could have given someone a big deposit and borrowed a Technosir to re gas them.

[Rhothgar]

Failed pinion seals sounds like a job and a half.

Had a gander underneath today and the LH front cross member is indeed the area from which LHM is dripping.

There also seems to be an extremely slow drip from one of the plastic clips half way up the bill had in the engine bay. There are 4 pipes that run across the small ‘ledge’.

I’ll have a search for some posts about these pinion seals. Is the pinion where the steering column comes down and connects to at the rack?

[CitroJim]

Failed pinion seals sounds like a job and a half.

A job bet left to the specialists Roger... They're a minefield to change.

Had a gander underneath today and the LH front cross member is indeed the area from which LHM is dripping.

Good, we're narrowing it down now.. Give the area a thorough cleanup using brake cleaner or similar to make it easier to determine exactly where.

There also seems to be an extremely slow drip from one of the plastic clips half way up the bill had in the engine bay. There are 4 pipes that run across the small ‘ledge’.

A leak from one of the returns going into the LHM reservoir? Again, clean up and recheck. It may just be a leftover from the pipe you earlier found detached. Or a perished pipe where it joins the octopus.

Is the pinion where the steering column comes down and connects to at the rack?

Yes, easily identified by having two metal hydraulic pipes running to it. If it is then you may find the rack gaiters full of LHM - they should be dry'ish.

Note my comments above about replacing pinion seals. If it is that, best to get Pleiades to do it

Good luck in nailing this one My money is on the point where the metal power steering return pipe from the pinion valve joins to the rubber hose on the LH side of the rear subframe crossmember. The rubber loves to perish at the junction and crack under the clip.

[Rhothgar]

Good luck in nailing this one My money is on the point where the metal power steering return pipe from the pinion valve joins to the rubber hose on the LH side of the rear subframe crossmember. The rubber loves to perish at the junction and crack under the clip.

I am hoping it is something 'simple'.

I had read a couple of disconcerting threads where the flared nuts to the steering rack had loosened so I will check those also.

Just another damned job at the wrong time of year. Then again, is there EVER a right time?

Cheers Jim

[CitroJim]

Just another damned job at the wrong time of year. Then again, is there EVER a right time?

Rarely

[Rhothgar]

Going to be back on with this on Monday! MOT next Saturday so I hope I find it quickly, spend very little time and money doing it as it could of course fail on something else.

So Jim...

Most common places to see off that much LHM in such short journeys are the power steering supply pipe between the pump and its flexi on the LH front

Unlikely because I had a new pipe made you may recall

the front strut leakage return pipes

Again, unlikely. The rate is way too fast for the rubber returns but of course I will double check them

and then the power steering return from the rack pinion valve...Often this is due to a perish in the rubber pipe just before the octopus where it joins onto a metal pipe. This is on the rear part of the front subframe on the LH side and is not so easy to get to...

This is a likely culprit. I think I did find a leak on the bulkhead. I have just started re-reading this post so will likely come across mention of it if so.

SO...

When you same rear part of the subframe, do you mean the rear of the subframe when looking from the front or the rear. I think you mean the front of subframe on RH side when looking from front? Please reference from a front view, Jim.

I suppose you must mean the front of the subframe when looking from front and on LH side as that is where the steering column comes down on a RH drive. If it was on rear of subframe it would surely be easy to get to. I think you have to reach forward from the rear to the front (standing at the rear).

Check the steering rack gaiters (boots) are not filling with LHM due to failed pinion valve seals. Leaks into the rack can consume a lot of fluid and remain hidden for a while... A squeeze of the gaiters will give the game away...

What's the bottom line here? A new rack and a lot of time, pain and effort. If so, I will likely scrap the car as I have next week to get it sorted or perhaps a week longer as my mate will let me store it for a very short time.

Another possible is the rubber return from the pressure regulator... In fact any of the rubber returns - especially in the vicinity of the octopus by the side of the LHM reservoir... The rubber is getting old and brittle nowadays...

I suppose all the returns are low pressure so unless there is one big one leaking or a conglomeration of many then it is unlikely but something to be checked and reviewed going forward.

Thanks for your support and time Jim.

[CitroJim]

When you same rear part of the subframe, do you mean the rear of the subframe when looking from the front or the rear. I think you mean the front of subframe on RH side when looking from front? Please reference from a front view, Jim.

Yes, imagine looking under the car from the front and look over to the left at the rear of the front subframe... The part that carries the steering rack and height corrector.

You will see a steel pipe from the rack pinion valve that runs along the subframe and around where I said above, it connects into a rubber pipe that then goes up to the LHM reservoir. The rubber pipe often lets go where it connects to the metal pipe.

If the rack gaiters are full of LHM, you'll need to have the pinion valve rebuilt. It's not an easy DIY job and therefore best to get Pleiades to do it.

You could fit a second-hand one. It's not as hard a job as it looks...

Always happy to help Roger

[Rhothgar]

... ERROR in POSTING

[Rhothgar]

Had a gander underneath today and the LH front cross member is indeed the area from which LHM is dripping.

There also seems to be an extremely slow drip from one of the plastic clips half way up the bill had in the engine bay. There are 4 pipes that run across the small ‘ledge’.

A leak from one of the returns going into the LHM reservoir? Again, clean up and recheck. It may just be a leftover from the pipe you earlier found detached. Or a perished pipe where it joins the octopus.

Good luck in nailing this one My money is on the point where the metal power steering return pipe from the pinion valve joins to the rubber hose on the LH side of the rear subframe crossmember. The rubber loves to perish at the junction and crack under the clip.

Where is the Octopus on the Xantia HDi please? Side of the reservoir where all pipes join I guess?

So the point where the metal power steering return pipe from the pinion valve joints to the rubber hose? This is something entirely different to the supply pipe I imagine hence why it is called return pipe. Is this a Pleaides job or something I can do readily? What parts would be needed?

[CitroJim]

Where is the Octopus on the Xantia HDi please? Side of the reservoir where all pipes join I guess?

On the side and just below and to the back of the LHM Reservoir Roger...

So the point where the metal power steering return pipe from the pinion valve joints to the rubber hose? This is something entirely different to the supply pipe I imagine hence why it is called return pipe. Is this a Pleaides job or something I can do readily? What parts would be needed?

Yes, a return carrying a high volume of LHM at a low pressure... The rubber seems to perish where it's deformed to push tightly over the bulbous end of the metal pipe...

Easy to do, just splice in a bit of new rubber pipe - use pipe suitable for unleaded petrol. It's a bit of a fiddly job

[Rhothgar]

On the side and just below and to the back of the LHM Reservoir Roger...

Yes, a return carrying a high volume of LHM at a low pressure... The rubber seems to perish where it's deformed to push tightly over the bulbous end of the metal pipe...

Easy to do, just splice in a bit of new rubber pipe - use pipe suitable for unleaded petrol. It's a bit of a fiddly job

Jim, Sir. You are an Officer and a Gentleman!

I hope it’s something as ‘easy’ as this. Can you recall the ID of the pipe by any chance? Got to be 10mm. I’m guessing.

So I will have access to my mate’s diddly ramp on Monday. I might take some Kraft paper to lay beneath the car.

I suppose it would be an idea to have the car running and see if any drips or streams of fluid develop after giving it a cleanup.

However, as it is most likely to be the steering rack rubbers, my last question is does fluid likely only flow in greater quantities when the steering is actuated?

[CitroJim]

I'm not entirely sure of the ID Roger, I think maybe 8mm... It's been a while since I've done the job.

Stickyfinger of this parish last did the job to my knowledge. He may see this post and advise the ID...

Enjoy a great weekend You know what I'm up to!

[Rhothgar]

Jim. Thanks again. I have just added a bit to last post if you refresh…