Activa hydraulic clutch disassembly

[andmcit]

I'm just running alternative scenarios through my mind to decide whether
to scrap an Activa I've had lying about for the past year which I still haven't
determined has a snapped timing belt - I know, it should only take half an
hour etc etc but the car is currently stored a way from me so not something
I can just pop to see and mess around with on a whim!

I've been offered various engines with/without cars but I don't fancy
removing the engine/box blind without some idea of what I need to do to
split the feed to what looks like a solenoid on top of the box or whatever
hydraulics live in the viper's nest of pipes etc.

I've have to admit I've not had a moment to properly research this yet but
I know some of you guys have been here with an Activa before and could
offer real world hard earned experiences/dodges/fixes that won't be in a
manual anyhow.

Any comments will be favorably received!!

BTW, If you're reading this Richard, do you have a red Activa issue bonnet
available for sale/swap etc!? Pal of mine's gone and taken the plunge with
that recently ebayed strut failure car this evening.

All the best,
Andrew

[andmcit]

Do I just bite the bullet and plan to remove the head. I'm not totally certain
it IS the belt and in fact it may even be a totally mullared engine!

Andrew

[CitroJim]

Hi Andrew,

The solenoid you speak of is the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder. The whole hydraulic clutch system is sealed and cannot be dismantled. It comes as a master and slave cylinder complete, full of fluid and bled.

What you have to do is pop out the slave cylinder from the gearbox and then immediately put a ty-rap (cable-tie) around the slave cylinder operating arm to keep the piston in position. You can then happily split the engine and 'box.

A special tool is needed to deal with the release bearing on reassembly (another variation on the pull-type clutch). The BoL has some superficial information on it.

Hope that helps, I've not yet been that deep myself just yet although perhaps it's only a matter of time as both my Activa and 2.1TD has the same hydraulic clutch.

[DickieG]

BTW, If you're reading this Richard, do you have a red Activa issue bonnet
available for sale/swap etc!? Pal of mine's gone and taken the plunge with
that recently ebayed strut failure car this evening.

I do still have that car, the bonnet is definately in better condition than the Ebay one although IIRC the paintwork isn't all that. I'll take a look at it and let you know what its like.

If you do scrap that Activa remove the clutch hydraulics as new ones cost a fortune.

[AndersDK]

These units are sealed - but can be opened and serviced by the practical home-mechanic

[DHallworth]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........

I was the 2nd highest bid on that Activa.

In saying that I was going to break it for spares for my Activa and sort the spoiler for my mums V6 xantia.

Regards

David.

P.s. anyone got a xantia spoiler lieing around?

[andmcit]

The auction car, pending thorough inspection is planned to be a
going concern. It'd be sad to just see it scrapped for a spoiler!

I even helped a fella undo one off an Activa in my local scrappy the
other day as he fancied it for the roof of his Transit to make it look
like one of 'em sporty lookin new VW vans...

I do not jest!!

I was worried he was going to damage the tail lights I was inside the
car removing at that precise moment as the hatch was stuck locked!!

Mind, it was dark green, if you're after an Activa red one there's a
pair of late s2 red LX/SX cars in my local yard that'd have spoilers
- I can check their paint codes next time I'm there but they're not
the cheapest place around.

Andrew

[DHallworth]

I was going to use the spoiler for my mums car, and i could use at least one Activa ram as i have a leaky one at 42k miles.

Theres a few other bits n pieces that i could of done with.

Colour isn't important but silver would be preferable as its to go on a V6 Xantia with 27k miles on the clock.

David.

[DickieG]

BTW, If you're reading this Richard, do you have a red Activa issue bonnet
available for sale/swap etc!? Pal of mine's gone and taken the plunge with
that recently ebayed strut failure car this evening.

I do still have that car, the bonnet is definately in better condition than the Ebay one although IIRC the paintwork isn't all that. I'll take a look at it and let you know what its like.

Andrew, I've taken a look at the bonnet and as I suspected the lacquer has started lifting in a number of places, you're welcome to it for free otherwise it'll be going for scrap.