xant problems

Xant-Activa · Post by **Xant-Activa** » 03 Sep 2003, 16:58

Hi guys and girls
swaped all my BX's for a couple of xantia's the activa has a few problems:
1 it clunks over any bump in the road and this is geting worse fast
2 the rear spheres are shot (ware can i get a compleate set cheep)
3 there is no alarm plip so the alarem goes off every time you open a door (anoying)
4 the front struts seem to stick this makes the stop light go out after about 2 minutes, and it dose so with a violent movement at the front,
5 when parking the car the suspension at the frint does all sorts of weird things from jacking 1 side up to ajusting the whole car when its on a slight slope...
The car only has 85K on the clock should struts really be playing up yet?
Andy

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 03 Sep 2003, 17:33

For a comprehensive description of the workings of the Activa (and all other systems) have a look at
http://citroen2.triger.com.pl/kc/pdf/citguide.pdf
Be patient - its well worth the wait!
You will see that there are extra rams to counteract roll and that these are controlled by a processor with numerous sensors including one on the steering.
My guess is an electrical problem and the starting point is to locate them all, make sure they are still connected and clean.
jeremy

surfer · Post by **surfer** » 03 Sep 2003, 17:48

My Activa has always done the nth degree levelling thing when stationary, eg at traffic lights. I believe this is normal and nothing to worry about.
If you have no plip then you will have to disconnect the alarm or pull out the central locking fuse ~ no C/l but the alarm will stop working too.
Clonking: I had/have this ~ front end noise was a worn anti-roll bar drop link and replacing that has shut the front of the car up but the back end is also noisy over bumps:
Probably a worn bush/bearing but nothing that I have been able to find. It should be remembered though that the Activa has much harder suspension than regular Xantias so any slight noise will be amplified.
Simon.

Post by **RichardW** » 03 Sep 2003, 17:54

Andy
1 Drop links on the front roll bar probably
2 Think you can get them fron GSF, if not it's Cit dealer time...! Don't forget the Activa has FIVE under tha back AND five under the front.... GULP!
3 You're probably going to have to visit the Cit dealer here as well, unless GSF do them - or you think you can go after the seller and get the originals back! I think you can re-code the plips to the car.
4 Seems a bit odd - might be the security valve sitcking rather than the struts, as if they were sticking I would expect the pressure light to go out then some time later the car to bounce up in the air. Try hydraflush.
5 The Activa ram on the front has come up here a few times before - it wears and then leaks internally, causing the sort of problems you are seeing - sorting this may also sort your fast rising!
>The car only has 85K on the clock
You sure....? Of course poor / negelected maintenance and hard driving can shorten the life of any component.
Richard

JamesQB · Post by **JamesQB** » 03 Sep 2003, 22:22

I don't know about the Xantia Activa, but the Xantia '96 here has a button on the facia to the right of the steering wheel with a drawing on it resembling a speaker with an 'X' through it. This is the alarm deactivation button.
As the alarm remote is missing from the fold-out key, I had the same problem with the alarm and discovered that I had to open the car, jump in while alarm was going (well, headlights flashing, horn was disconnected), press in that button while turning the ignition on and then continue holding the button until the alarm went off (around 2 seconds), this deactivates the alarm completely so it doesn't happen again unless the battery's disconnected.
Might be completely different on an Activa, but hope this helps.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 04 Sep 2003, 01:15

RE: missing plip.
The alarm doesn't set without the plip does it?
If it does then I'm wasting my time using the key whenever it's raining. Although I get no false alarms when I lock it with the key.

xactiva · Post by **xactiva** » 12 Sep 2003, 01:42

everyone seems to be pointing you in the right direction. as of the other day when i phoned up gsf do have some activa spheres in.
my front ram is leaking and needs to be replaced. bad news £222 and a 5 week wait to arrive from france!!! car off road.
clunky bushes at the back tend to be on the bottom of the rear activa ram as it takes one hell of a pounding.
despite all this, it still is the most amazing drive(if a little harsh sometimes). and the look of shock on most peoples faces when yu just dump them still has to be seen to be believed. the ultimate wolf in sheeps clothing.
anybody got a cheap specialist in france?

Post by **Jon** » 12 Sep 2003, 02:31

Yeah, GSF do all the Activa spheres now, but no the rams or struts I'm afraid.
See http://www.andyspares.com/discussionfor ... iva,sphere for the Sphere application rable and part numbers for Activa spheres.