Xantia Hydractive 'bypass'???

[DickieG]

For instance when you start accelerating it switches to hard mode to stop the back end sag, but if you start accelerating just before a speed bump for example, you hit the bump in hard mode and it is more noticable than it would be in soft mode.

Even in soft mode as soon as the front suspension compresses or lifts as it does on speed humps the body movement sensor switches the suspension into firm mode, if you want to avoid the suspension switching to firm when applying or releasing the accelerator the movement of the pedal has to be very smooth/slow, tune the radio to 171LW and you can hear it switching, yes I've been getting bored just sitting around

[Dommo]

When I use my iPhone charger you can hear the valves switch, took me a few minutes of hearing the buzzing to work out what was going on. (I have my phone playing music through the cassette player with a tape adaptor)

Strangely enough my car doesn't always switch to hard over speed bumps, depends on the severity of the speed bump

[CitroJim]

Sorry Malcolm for calling you Jim - another one of my blonde moments

Jim who'z Jim

regards malcolm

Me, I expect!!!

I've just replaced the front Hydractive centre sphere on Rattiva II; 'twas a heck of a job to shift and I needed to resort to a hammer and cold chisel!

The point is that the sphere was flat and ruptured but it did not cause the usual symptoms of a hard ride, actually just the opposite But what it did cause was for the front to sink and for there to be no difference in 'softness' between hard and soft mode. A replacement, along with replacement front corners and she's now lovely and switches properly. So, lesson is, on hydractive systems a duff sphere *may* cause some odd and opposite symptoms to what you might expect. And as I've said before, corner sphere specification is critical as well as condition.

Phil, getting back to your car. did we check your rear corners and anti-sink? I can't recall but if one or either is duff then that could account for your problems. The anti-sink sphere particularly has a role in keeping the rear electrovalve correctly operated in soft mode. A bad rear corner or two will cause a sink on startup and slow overnight sinking too.

[citroenesque]

Jim, the rear corners and center sphere - and anti-sink sphere, were all regassed shortly after you tested the centre sphere and found it lacking. To say the least! (it was the wrong sphere)...

All spheres will be rechecked on Friday. I shall report back.

[citroenesque]

Rear H2 spheres were replaced with brand new non-Hydractive spheres. And it appears to have fixed the issue. It rides nicely - not too soft (which was my worry) and although I won't be completely convinced it's fixed until I've done more miles, the signs are good

[CitroJim]

Hi Phil,

That's good Can you feel a difference between hard and soft with the Non-hydractive spheres fitted when you do the bounce tests?

[DickieG]

Excellent news out of interest dare I ask who re-gassed the sphere's?

[citroenesque]

My trusted specialist, Dennis. Thing is, although they were only a couple of bar under pressure, which might point to some age-related issue, it's difficult to determine why/how they would have created the problem... Anyway, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping the fix works.

[Chris570]

Just to add to what Jim has said there the reason his car wasnt switching between hard and soft is because the hydraulic valve relies on the pressure in the sphere to push it closed. Ruptured sphere means no pressure so the valve stayed open allowing lhm in and out of the ruptured sphere.

[citroenesque]

Dennis will check the spheres on Monday - and probably confirm that one or both were knackered. When he checked them and regassed them before they were low but not flat, that's what I meant by being a couple (actually I don't know how much - sorry!) of bar under pressure. I need to find out for certain what the problem was.

[citroenesque]

All is working perfectly. Just returned from a 520 mile round trip. Averaged 61 mph and 33 mpg. And the ride's great. The Hydractive works nicely, with a noticeable change when switched to Sport mode and back. Well happy.

Thing is, with another project looming, I might have to sell. Do'oh! PM me if you might be interested in a fully sorted Xantia with lovely beige leather interior and everything but the cruise control working well. Long MOT and a few months tax. POA.