Dean's Activa/XM/V6 and now Talbot blog

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 23 Jan 2011, 17:41

and who is Anita rollbar?

Sadly no, the ECU won't send blink codes and only a Lexia will read it. Sounds like a problem with the MAP or Oxygen sensors to me. Else that, an inlet manifold leak.

Are there no Lexias on the Island Dean?

The o/s is brand new, well i say brand new, its covered 100 miles, the temp sensor is new but i have not checked to see if they changed the ecu sensor or the guage sensor (dont you just love the "i duno mate we will change some bits and see how we go " approach), If its the map im stuffed as thats in the ecu, but there are no splits in the map line, ive put a u guage on it and its holding 28mb all day long but it did have a split when i got it.

I dont think i have a choice i will have to get her on the road and visit someone with a lexia, im sure i know who has one and he did offer to bring it over but the offer was made a while ago and where a lexia is concerned i wouldnt want to take the pee by asking to borrow it, would be nice to look at all the ecu's at this stage where im ripping it apart rather than in the spring when its on the road and i need to use it.

By the way my warning light is going off after about 40 secs,the car rises and then the light comes back on and flickers, then goes off, then comes back on etc etc
The main acc is at 55bar, i tested it, all spheres were westreoned about 1year ago

D

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 23 Jan 2011, 18:16

The only thing that strikes me as odd is after turning the engine off the E/V by the radiator (which i presume is the arc one) hisses like mad and the car starts to do the activa shuffles, this is without the engine running, with it running she doesnt shuffle at all now really.

Ive answered my own question havnt i

, sounds like a massive leak from the arc electrovalve when energized, i will check the return pipe...........but not now because im sure the neighbours have heard enough of my twin exit exhaust and induction kit for today

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 Jan 2011, 18:29

That's it Dean!

The valve is leaking like a seive!!!

It's a ****** to get to. I hear tales of needing to lower the rear subframe a tad to get to it...

Luckily, it should respond to a dismantle, clean and rebuild. It only needs a bit of muck on the valve seat and it'll leak.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Jan 2011, 20:01

Ok, todays update, just been out and pulled this hydractive block off and i think ive found my leak.

hydractive valve3 by Deanxm, on Flickr

From what i can work out the broken seal is allowing fluid to run past, into thhe small hole in the body then straight out through the low pressure leakoff pipework, i also noticed the leakoff pipe is held on with a new jubelee clip, as if its blown off and had to be held on rather well, if im barking up the right tree it must have been one hell of a leak.

There was also this stuck inside the hydractive block, down inside the port the hydractive valve seats in, anyone know what it is?, also bits of torn o ring stuck in all sorts of places, really shredded it!

hydractive valve5 by Deanxm, on Flickr

Another bit of the shreded o ring

hydractive valve2 by Deanxm, on Flickr

Also im very pleased to finaly see one of the legendary tri nipple spheres

very different inside compared to its normal hydractive counterparts, there is a much bigger fluid port, ive compared it to one of my non multi layer hydractive spheres.

hydractive valve4 by Deanxm, on Flickr

Any opinions most welcome, like no you pillock that wont cause it etc etc

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Jan 2011, 20:08

That O ring will be a good cause Dean... It'll allow fluid to leak right across it and render it almost inoperative. Well found!

The unidentified bit is a filter basket (unless you mean the object that looks like a small green dead fly). The filter fits over the business end of the electrovalve (in the vicinity of where the broken O ring is) It's not doing anything with a big hole in it and as long as you're prepared to keep good, clean LHM in it then it won't hurt being left out.

One issue is that those small green O rings are a bit hard to source. The big green one up in the body of the valve is the same as on the pump pison caps but the small one is a bit trickier. A standard black O ring won't do as it might not be LHM proof. The nearest I've seen that'll do the job has been in a Lucas diesel Pump overhaul kit.

Citroen don't sell the O rings as a spare part...

If you have huge difficulty in sorting one out, I'll see what I have...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Jan 2011, 20:19

Thanks for confirming that Jim, i will throw the filter away then.

I knew this o ring was going to be an issue, what about Martin at Plaeides? might give him a ring, i could of guessed citroen would want to sell a new unit for the sake of an o ring

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Jan 2011, 20:24

He might well be worth a call Dean as he's sure to have a huge selection of good LHM-proof O rings...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Jan 2011, 20:40

Will call him tomorrow then, i could do with some shims for a pressure regulator too while im at it.

Kind of shot myself in the foot this evening, i didnt want to start the car and have it idleing away so late waiting for it to depressurise, i just cracked a union and cought the fluid in an old lhm bottle.
Then i took the whole hydractive block off inc sphere and put it in the vice to hold it steady while i undone the electrovalve, just noticed in time it was damn tight to undo..........so i tried the sphere, that was damn tight too, and where they are tight to turn pressure is sure to be present in abundance...and it was

the hydracive valve had been closed when i cracked the nut to depressurise so the sphere was fully charged, had to slowly undo it untill it started spraying lhm them go and have a cuppa while it calmed down

Not quite got my head around this hydractive 2 stuff, it can be a real pita to work on when your not used to it.

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Jan 2011, 21:08

Deanxm wrote:had to slowly undo it untill it started spraying lhm them go and have a cuppa while it calmed down

Not long ago I removed a hydractive sphere from a long scrapped subframe.

I thought there'd be no pressure in there.

WRONG!

I thought it was a tad tight but carried on unscrewing it regardless and suddenly..

BANG!!!

LHM sprayed everywhere. Mostly over me and the rear of my Activa. It was red with green spots....

They can hold pressure for a VERY long time

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Jan 2011, 21:12

D

Unread post by **Dommo** » 24 Jan 2011, 22:14

I may have a spare O ring lying around in my garage if you need one..

(However if Pleaides have them I'd like to keep mine as stock!)

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Jan 2011, 22:30

Thanks Dommo, i will make sure i trouble you last

I think Our new XM columnist may have some stashed away somewhere though so ive got my fingers crossed.

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Jan 2011, 22:47

Deanxm wrote: I think Our new XM columnist may have some stashed away somewhere though so ive got my fingers crossed.

Delighted to see Robert has picked up the baton. I reckon there'll be some excellent XM columns in the future..

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Jan 2011, 23:02

Yep no better man for the job,has tried and loves almost every xm flavour and isnt afraid of the autoboxes either, no better candidate really Jim. March i believe is his debute.

D

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 25 Jan 2011, 00:14

Yep, March is the beginning.

All contributions welcome, no matter how small!

I better get my thinking cap on, and put pen to paper before I miss the deadline.