Urgent suspension problem HELP!! FIXED!

patneenan · Unread post by **patneenan** » 09 Sep 2005, 13:36

Yesterday my activa suspension decided it didn't want to rise.
It just stayed down and would not pump up. the STOP light stays on all the time.
I've moved the height lever about but on the flat the suspension will not budge and the STOP stays on.
BUT HERE IS THE STRANGE BIT
If I park it 2 wheels up a high kerb 10 inches or so, the suspension rises in all positions, the stop light goes off but as soon as it is on level ground it maintains the height but the STOP light comes on.
I have had it checked recently by a Cit specialist and he checked everything.H/c clips etc which looking yesterday seem to be o.k.
Why will the STOP light not go off and why on the flat will it not rise?
Please help as I need the car every day

Rostami · Unread post by **Rostami** » 09 Sep 2005, 13:48

I am no specialist but I would start by priming up the hydraulic circuit.
Did you change LHM oil recently? or did you clean filters? Did you detect any kind of leak? how is the LHM level? How fast does the pressure regulator tick?

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 09 Sep 2005, 13:49

you have probably lost most of you cit blood,when you put it on kerb fluid moves across to the pick up in the tank,so you must have a leak,might just be a slow one,park car on level ground,put on highest position then look at fluid level indicator on top of tank,the yellow disc should be between the two red bands when the car is fully up to its highest
regards malcolm

patneenan · Unread post by **patneenan** » 09 Sep 2005, 13:54

Tank is full ,no leaks anywhere, all is dry, system primed last night as I did when changed lhm a couple of months back.
Strange thing is no warning at all last night just refused to go up!!!

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 09 Sep 2005, 14:03

Check the tension on the hydraulic pump belt, they can look OK but be slipping.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 09 Sep 2005, 14:08

what mileage has the car done,and has it been slow rising for a while,if so your pump might be lazy
regards malcolm

patneenan · Unread post by **patneenan** » 09 Sep 2005, 14:49

Stuart at Andrew Brodie said it was ok a month back.
I'm going to look at front h/c now as it may be that.
Sure am baffled though

tj · Unread post by tj » 09 Sep 2005, 16:01

Check your height corrector's linkeage, they may have broke.

patneenan · Unread post by **patneenan** » 09 Sep 2005, 21:05

No h.c. linkage intact all moving well, was cleaned up about a month ago.
Another question does a broken h/c make the Stop light come on.?
I thought it was only to show lack of hydraulic pressure.
As I said it appears everything was o.k. untill yesterday.
I'm beginning to suspect the actual h/c unit itself.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 09 Sep 2005, 23:08

A broken link will not make the stop light come on.
What is the condition of the hose from the reservoir to the pump. This is the only part of the system under suction from the pump and it can become porous or its ends damaged by removal. If this is the case it will let air in and no let oil out.
Air in the system can cause all sorts of wonderful faults. You may be able to see milky LHM in the reservoir (looks like an alcopop!). Anders suggests you substitute a section of clean garden hose for diagnostic purposes.
Jeremy

patneenan · Unread post by **patneenan** » 09 Sep 2005, 23:10

I 've done some more investigation and turned the car on , susp had settled and light was on.
As I sat reading the B.O.L. after 5 mins I noticed the stop light had started flickering, so I revved it up a bit and the light slowly went out , only to come on again as the revs settled back down. AHA I thought, could it be pump drive belt ( as perviously mentioned ) or the pump on its way out.
If I rev it up to about 2000 rpm the light will eventually go out and car will start to go up, but back on idle the STOP comes back on.
How do you adjust the belt to the H.P. pump and what is the travel on the belt.? Is it straightforward to do ,by a dunce like me?
The B.O.L. says something about an electronic tool to adjust the belt tension!!
If it is the pump that's on its way out can the pressure be tested and how?
How much would a new pump be ? Any offers?

patneenan · Unread post by **patneenan** » 09 Sep 2005, 23:14

Jeremy lhm clean, no milky appearance , hose is in good condition no sign at all of wear or deterioration, going in way of pump drive belt , which appears to be tight but as i just said I don' t know how much play is involved

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 10 Sep 2005, 00:17

The hose may be clean but what about its ends. I note the LHM has been changed and presumably the hose has been removed from the reservoir while doing this. Its common for hoses to get a bit chewed up at the ends when removed and re-fitted especially as the reservoir fitting probably had a raised cone which has no-doubt formed itself into the inside of the hose.
Jeremy

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 10 Sep 2005, 00:48

has your bleed valve on front of regulater unscrewed its self a bit as this would stop system pumping up,dont get to complicated until you have checked the simple stuff
regards malcolm

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 10 Sep 2005, 01:41

Or has someone removed the bolt completly and lost the ball bearing behind it?
Jeremy