Leaky ram and electrovalve!

Unread post by **Dommo** » 11 Jan 2010, 17:55

Ah good, I'll check the reservoir in a bit then. I'd have thought it would have circulated everywhere in the 5 mile test drive and 70 mile journey home??

Cheers.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 11 Jan 2010, 23:03

Doh I forgot to check the LHM tonight. I will tomorrow when it's light. Something I meant to ask though, when changing the electrovalve do I tap into the lhm system? And do I need to depressurise the system? Cheers.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 12 Jan 2010, 06:04

Yes, best to depressurise Dom. Not strictly necessary but I would. Set on low and open the bleed screw just half a turn with the engine still running. Don't take the bleed screw right out, just undo it a bit until you hear the hissss.. whoosh sound. If you take the screw right out you risk loosing a small ball.
The bleed screw is the only one on the pressure regulator with a 12mm head.

Then you can undo and remove the hydractive centre sphere. It may be very tight as it is likely to have residual pressure behind it. Be ready for a spray of LHM (a douche vert) when pressure does release.

Don't forget to re-tighten the bleed screw when you've finished work or you'll never get pressure up!

Unread post by **Dommo** » 12 Jan 2010, 11:03

Just had a look at the LHM and it's a good light colour. Is the depressurisation screw the one on the not sphere end of the regulator?

Cheers

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 12 Jan 2010, 11:40

No; it's at right angles to the thread axis of your regulator sphere and faces the adirator. There are two 10mm headed blots nearby, then a 12mm one. It's this last blot you toosen a lurn or so - with the motor running, you'll hear a sort of shriek as fluid rushes through the bypass created by loosening it.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 12 Jan 2010, 13:38

Cheers addo. I'll have a look in a bit, I'm in a pointless uni lecture at the moment... *snooze*

Dom

Unread post by **myglaren** » 12 Jan 2010, 17:53

addo wrote:No; it's at right angles to the thread axis of your regulator sphere and faces the adirator. There are two 10mm headed blots nearby, then a 12mm one. It's this last blot you toosen a lurn or so - with the motor running, you'll hear a sort of shriek as fluid rushes through the bypass created by loosening it.

Have you been associating with Reverend Spooner lately addo?

Unread post by **Dommo** » 12 Jan 2010, 18:07

Just been under the car, the hydractive electrovalve looks ok. It's the block the activa sphere attaches to that's wet.

Is the activa electrovalve the same as the hydractive one? On servicebox it seems not but I'm not certain.

Bollocks!

Edit - off servicebox:

rear activa electrovalve 5277 06

hydractive electrovalve 96 119 952

I Wonder if I could use the alloy part off my hydractive valve..?

Unread post by **Dommo** » 13 Jan 2010, 12:50

And if it's not the alloy part of the electrovalve that's leaking, what else could leak on the Activa sphere body?

There's an open ended bleed nipple there that should have a cap on judging by the servicebox, however I'm not sure if the hydraulic fluid is coming from there, doesn't seem to be...

Unread post by **Dommo** » 13 Jan 2010, 14:54

Just taken some photos and looked on service box:

Apologies about the poor quality photos..

Here you can see the open bleed nipple, nothing comes out of it though from what I can see. You can also see how wet the whole sphere block is..

It's very difficult to get a decent photo of the activa electrovalve, but I can definately see the leak off pipe in the end of the electrovalve, the alloy part looks very wet, but to be fair the whole electrovalve does..

Different angle of the above shot, at the bottom of the photo you can see a circle with a torx (possibly) hole in it, you can see where LHM has formed a little droplet on its lowest point. You can also see it in the above photo on the left.

Yet another angle, doesn't show much though to be honest:

Here is the hydractive electrovalve, doesn't look in great condition but no leaks..

And heres the bottom of my rear ram

Any thoughts on whether the alloy part of electrovalve's are interchangable?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Jan 2010, 15:17

Dommo wrote: And heres the bottom of my rear ram

Clean and dry it before spilling too many tears Dom. If it is not dripping it is not technically leaking; that's a maxim that applies to all hydraulics!!!

Dommo wrote: Any thoughts on whether the alloy part of electrovalve's are interchangable?

No, I believe not as the Activa electrovalve works in the reverse sense to a hydractive one. That may be lies as I've not had an Activa electrovalve in bits...

Again, don't fear the worst until you've been under there and got everything spotless so the source can be precisely pin-pointed...

Unread post by **Dommo** » 14 Jan 2010, 15:22

I did wipe it off, but it soon re-appeared with the engine on. Wasn't a proper drip but it certainly weeps. I was thinking of silicone sealing the ram gaiter/boot in place for the MOT and consider replacing it next year!

The issue I'm having is being able to see where exactly the wettest point of the activa electrovalve is. The whole sphere block looks wet and getting your hands up there is almost impossible!

Does anyone on here have an activa they strip for spares as there's bound to be one electrovalve somewhere that doesn't leak.

My only worry is removing the activa electrovalve and mashing up the alloy part and being unable to refit it again. What do you reckon Jim, just go for it and see what happens?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Jan 2010, 15:38

Dommo wrote: My only worry is removing the activa electrovalve and mashing up the alloy part and being unable to refit it again. What do you reckon Jim, just go for it and see what happens?

That's totally understandable Dom. But worry not. If you try removing an electrovalve using the 16mm top hex first and the valve comes in half rather than screwing out then that's fine. Just then go for a 24mm deep socket on the big hex. As long as the socket is a good, snug fit, you will not mash anything up.

Have a practice on your spare block and electrovalve

Unread post by **Dommo** » 14 Jan 2010, 15:44

I was considering trying the spare electrovalve to see what happens.

If the alloy part stays in the sphere body when the electrovalve unscrews, what will happen with the internals of the electrovalve? I've got visions of undoing it and then the innerds falling apart and dropping on the floor and me having no idea how to put it all back together again...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Jan 2010, 15:54

Dommo wrote: I've got visions of undoing it and then the innerds falling apart and dropping on the floor and me having no idea how to put it all back together again...

Again, no worries

There are two springs, a shuttle and a slug. It only goes back one way and I can show you the order quite easily.

The springs are not that strong so there's no risk of the whole thing flying apart like a jack-in-the-box if the valve separates

I've done it in-situ. Not that I'd recommend it though!!!