'00 Xantia drop

LaLinea · Post by **LaLinea** » 30 Sep 2010, 17:24

When I start my car overnight and after work the rear drops down and come up again. Accumulator or the damper(?)spheres? No outside leak whatsoever.

Thanks

Old-Guy · Post by **Old-Guy** » 30 Sep 2010, 17:44

If you have loaded/unloaded the car with the engine not running, it's quite normal for the rear to go up and down a bit when you restart.

Otherwise it's probably time for a new accumulator sphere - definitely if the tick rate (when the suspension has stopped moving) at idle is less than 20 seconds.

Try the rear bounce test - with the engine off, put some weight (a passenger) in the back; the rear will go down, but should come back up again within 30 seconds.

LaLinea · Post by **LaLinea** » 01 Oct 2010, 01:43

So... I have to save for three spheres at the rear end then because it feels very hard at the back, never been changed before.

Tought Xantia's dont rise with the engine turned off?

98750k

Post by **CitroJim** » 01 Oct 2010, 05:53

Sounds like the rear corner spheres are flat then. They do cause the problem you have when they are badly down on pressure or ruptured...

When changing them, follow the guide in the SuperSticky, they need special handling..

Post by **RichardW** » 01 Oct 2010, 08:01

Near flat anti sink sphere can cause this too....

Old-Guy · Post by **Old-Guy** » 01 Oct 2010, 16:59

LaLinea wrote:So... I have to save for three spheres at the rear end then because it feels very hard at the back, never been changed before.

In a word "Yes". Should be nice and soft at the back. Driving around with little movement in the rear suspension is going damage the rear suspension.

Tought Xantia's dont rise with the engine turned off?

Yes they should; a sign that the hydraulics are in good condition. When filling up with fuel, the car should slowly sink; 25-30L should be enough to 'trip' the height control valve so the car starts to rise even though more fuel (weight) is going in. It something to watch for every time you fill up.

The boot test is a bit more demanding: With the engine off, sit in/on the back end of the car. It should sink quite a long way. After about 20 seconds it should start to rise - all the way to normal height; then get out/off. It should immediately rise, then after about 20 seconds settle back to normal. You should be able to repeat the whole cycle at least once more (using accumulator pressure).

If it doesn't sink or rise much - corner spheres flat(ish).

If it wont rise at least twice - new accumulator and/or anti-sink need changing.

LaLinea · Post by **LaLinea** » 05 Oct 2010, 04:17

Thanks for reply.

Noticed the front adjusts when i get in/out of the car so...

Im maby make a thread when I get so far