Hydraulic pump info

[arkweld]

Hi , the hyraulic pump has slight weep on an Activa CT , can anyone give me any info on what to expect in repair situation . ie Is it a costly part , difficult to find or repairable . It seem's not to cause any noticable sympton (so far) but would like to know what to expect . Thank's

[Xaccers]

Where abouts is it weeping from?
If it's around the large nut on top which one of the main metal pipes comes out of, then the fix is a 79p o-ring.

[arkweld]

Yes Xac , the front nut directly forward facing has the lhm from it . Although the pump itself seems mucky probably due to spreading across the pump . I've not had the bonnet up too much recently, but with the MoT due did some top-ups ! Might need a specialist sooner as my mech/skills a bit limited . On the last MoT the car would'nt settle still whilst being tested so the tester had to take it for a run , and all was okay . thank's for now..

[arkweld]

Update: the mechanic say's a repair kit can solve this , must be the 'O ring' then . Maybe a clockwise tweak i could resolve myself . Does this seem feasible , thank,s for the insight .

[andycarter]

My experience is limited to basic non-hydractive xantia, I'm not sure how different the activa pump is.

In general:
- The o-rings harden with age and start to seep.

- Attempting to tighten the plug won't help matters because the o-ring compression is determined by the diameters of the groove and housing.

- Depressurise the system and clamp the fluid line between reservoir and pump before removing the plug otherwise it pours LHM all over the place.

- Watch out for springs behind the plug.

[CitroJim]

My experience is limited to basic non-hydractive xantia, I'm not sure how different the activa pump is.

In this respect, they're all the same, even the V6 pump

When you remove the plug to replace the O ring be ready for a massive spillage of LHM... And as Andy says, watch that spring and be a tad careful how you replace the plug as it has a fine thread which is easy to cross-thread.

[CitroJim]

Enough to give the alternator a good bath Mike and make quite a puddle on the drive below

The problem is that once the plug is undone and the spring tension relieved, the LHM can syphon from the reservoir and it can just keep coming!

Just put plenty of rag down and work fast and try to avoid getting too much on the alternator. Alternatively, slip off the feed pipe from the LHM reservoir although you'd be amazed at how much LHM is in that pipe too but at least the flow will eventually come to a stop.

I was staggered at how much ran out of the V6 pump over time when we lifted the engine out. It came out with feed pipe attached and made a fair mess on the garage floor.

You need something absorbent over the alternator really to just catch most of it and perhaps a drip tray under the car. I use an old cat litter tray for such jobs and thinking laterally here, a nappy might do the trick if you place one over the alternator directly below the pump.

[MikeT]

Depressurise the system and clamp the fluid line between reservoir and pump before removing the nut otherwise it pours LHM all over the place.

Surely this is the preferred method Mike/Jim?

[CitroJim]

Surely this is the preferred method Mike/Jim?

Absolutely Mike but in my experience you still get enough LHM spilt to make a mess. I'm perhaps being a bit critical here but I do like clean engines and the old adge that a little LHM goes a long way is very true in this case My definition of a mess is perhaps a little more stringent than most

Only last weekend a friend came to see me whilst tending the Activa..

"Jim, are you really polishing the engine?" she asked, sounding shocked.

"Yes"

"Now I know you're bonkers"