Depressurising Xantia with no engine and anti sink 'engaged'

Unread post by **Dommo** » 21 Oct 2010, 18:23

Hi folks, cheers for reading.

I'm trying to depressurise the rear end of my Activa as it's still pressurised (up in the air) as the rear anti sink system works very well it would seem. I need to depressurise it to get the spheres off, but I can't turn the engine on. Is there a safe point to bleed the pressure off from?

Thanks!

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 21 Oct 2010, 18:46

My Activa is my first H2 citroen and the anti sink seems to be a real pita, from what i can see there is no clean way to depressurise the system without running the pump, if there is i would like to know too though as i want to get my front strut off while the reg is off and its been stood for 2 weeks untouched sometimes and it hasnt sunk one bit

................its not natural

D

Unread post by **Dommo** » 21 Oct 2010, 18:49

It's annoying, but with the (frankly useless) 6+2 pump setup, it would take FOREVER to fully pressurise if it weren't an anti sink system.

I'd much rather the 7 piston pump with a flow distribution valve. Although I'm not sure how the FDV works, does it have any form of steering input to know what to send hydraulic pressure to the power steering ram?

I 'depressurised' a Xantia in a scrap yard near me just last week by undoing the pipe at hte back of the front strut top, Christ that made a big noise and enormous mess when it popped out!

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 21 Oct 2010, 19:01

all the FDV does is split the flow and (i think lower the pressure) for the steering pinion valve, mind you after poking both a sinker and non sinker with a pressure guage im sure the pinion allows fuid to flow back to the tank constantly unless it is needed in which case it will then divert fluid to the ram rather than the fdv sending fluid when its needed, although ive not proved it yet, mind you the operating principle of the steering on sinkers may be comon knowledge and im totaly wrong

D

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 21 Oct 2010, 19:02

Dommo I can't help but remember doing something like you did there with a metro in a wreckers..
I cut or broke a pipe and a poor guy about 10 meters away got a green shower

I sort of said 'er, sorry mate' and he didn't know what to do so kept squelching past

It still brings a smile

I didn't really know back then about Pneumatics and there wasn't much I could do for the poor chap really

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 21 Oct 2010, 20:17

Theres a VERY SIMPLE way to do this with out a running engine!!!!

So simple youll laugh!

You CAN and it DOES work, run the HP pump with a good pwerfull electric drill...

I used a 13mm bolt in the centre of a drill, then with a short extension bar machined it to fit in the chuck of the drill, and fitted a 13mm socket to it end....

Run the pump and hey presto! You hear the drill "Feel" the power of the HP pump but it works...

You will have to pressure UP the system before the anti sink valves will open... HOWEVER, to remove rear spheres you'll need to put the car on FULL height first, crack the rear spheres off with a removal tool, about a quarter of a turn, then lower the car to the ground, then leave the pump running for a minute or two, before opening the regulator screw....

Hence the need for a good powerfull drill

You may need to unbolt the pump from its location, so you can get the drill inline with the pump pully.

Paul

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 21 Oct 2010, 20:28

i did think about it but ive got no pressure regulator on the car Paul

D

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 21 Oct 2010, 20:29

lol,

does help to have a regulator.....

Paul

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 21 Oct 2010, 22:10

What about the bleed nipple on the rear Activa block?

Dommo, if you are breaking the car I am keen for stuff almost nobody else would be interested in...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 21 Oct 2010, 22:16

...............And i really need a N/S strut, mine is leaking rather badly and i dont think a new seal will be possible.

D

Unread post by **Dommo** » 21 Oct 2010, 22:36

I'd like to know how an FDV setup works, if I get this Activa fixed up, I'd like to consider fitting something like an FDV to make it a sinker, an Activa sinker would be nice..!

I thought about the drill idea, even suggested it to my dad earlier! But I figured there must be an easier way to do it, maybe...

I wont suggest it again to my dad, because if I don't he might try and sort the wiring loom (so we can start the engine), which may give me enough incentive to try and fix the car up

Addo - That bleed valve on the Activa block would only depressurise the rams I believe? Not sure on that one mind you. What bits would you be after if I end up stripping the car (God forbid

)

That Metro story does sound like a picture, I can just imagine myself ducking behind the car pretending I'm not there, and therefore it can't have been me that sprayed the guy with fluid!

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 21 Oct 2010, 22:51

To depressurize the rear I'd carefully crack one of the small pipe unions on the anti sink valve. Then just let the LHM dribble away into a bucket.

You need to jack the car up and support it obviously.

There are five pipes on the anti sink valve. Two of the pipes go to the hydractive block. One of which is the feed to the electrovalve, the other is the feed to the suspension. It's the feed to the suspension which you need to crack (e) in 2.1.2 in the diagram below:-

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Oct 2010, 07:57

Hmmm theres a few things you NEED to fit Sinker!

Firstly the rare Pump, single outlet pump, then the regulator is different, it has an extra outlet down the bottom rear of the regulator, then the flow divider itself, then you ALSO need the two K joints to replace the anti sink joints, one under the LHM tank, the other on the side of the anti sink valve..

Im guessing you would get away with actually leaving the anti sink shere and pipe setup on the rear, but, however, you may need to replace them too!

A lot of rare stuff there to find, as the Sinker Xantias were only around for 1993 K reg and 1994 L reg, and thats NOT ALL "L 1994" models either!

Paul

Unread post by **myglaren** » 22 Oct 2010, 17:44

citroenxm wrote:A lot of rare stuff there to find, as the Sinker Xantias were only around for 1993 K reg and 1994 L reg, and thats NOT ALL "L 1994" models either!

Paul - I had an "N" reg sinker

Loved it. Xantias should sink!

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Oct 2010, 21:16

Could have been a faulty system steve, but she should defenatly should NOT have been a sinker..

I had a VSX anti sinker that would fall to the ground after the key was switched off...

She always came up once running again..

Paul