XM - hard suspension

martybiff · Unread post by **martybiff** » 24 Sep 2003, 17:28

Recently purchased 2.0 Estate 1994 , genuine 58000 miler . The orga shows that the car has hydractive 11 suspension .
The suspension to the front of the car is on the bump stops unless the lever is in the high position (when of course the suspension is hard both front & rear ! ) . As soon as the height lever is moved to the "normal" position , the front immediately collapses down onto the stops - the rear comes down to normal positoning and is soft/operating correctly .
The car has almost brand new spheres to the front - the front height corrector (which was dignosed by Citroen agent as being the component in trouble) was replaced last weekend , but to no avail.
The car suspension "hops" at the back about 2 inches when the car is first started - but doesnt appear to affect the working of the suspension afterwards.
There is a sphere under the passenger seat , which "buzzes" for 3 minutes or so when the car front doors or tailgate are opened when the ignition is switched off .
Have a feeling the problem is computer , rather than hydraulic based , but any thoughts/ideas would be very welcome before I go any further ! Read somewhere that suspension fall-back mode is to hard setting .... can the computer be reset without the intervention of a Citroen agents equipment ?
Many thanks in advance !

rg · Unread post by rg » 25 Sep 2003, 19:41

Might be an idea to post on
[email protected]
rg

allmond · Unread post by **allmond** » 26 Sep 2003, 01:26

My Xantia buzzes like that - always assumed it was the relays on the valves which switch from hard to soft. If I stop my car and press the rear it goes up and down nice and soft. After about 30 seconds the buzzing stops and the car switches to hard mode - the default when ignition off etc. Is it a fault? I'm not sure, however, I occasionally get a hop like you describe. I thought it was a flat hydractive sphere so changed them and all was well for a few months, but now the hop has come back sometimes - not every day. Has my new sphere failed on me?
Jon - what's the warranty situation on the spheres?
Jamie

Kered · Unread post by **Kered** » 28 Sep 2003, 03:08

I have VSX Xantia and have been mystified for some time by the very faint buzz. Due to a recent hydraulic pump problem I spent a lot of time under the engine and can confirm that the buzz is set off by just opening a door or the tailgate. Around 30 secs later there is a "clonk" and the buzz stops. I'm sure that it comes from the front Hydractive unit. I guess that it's not a fault but it sure is odd. I get the "hop" as described above but put it down to worn struts - having done 110,000.
Derek

blueboy2001 · Unread post by **blueboy2001** » 28 Sep 2003, 03:12

My C5 buzzes when you get into it or put anything in the boot with the ignition off, it just seems to be levelling itself.

Tepi · Unread post by **Tepi** » 15 Oct 2003, 01:57

My VSX with Hydractive II suspension makes that buzzing sound when (even engine off) you open the door and have the engine bay open (to hear it of course). I think the sound comes from the alternator and that is becouse the suspension has become active and change the hydraulic valve settings.
It is a feature, not a problem as far I know. I had a PDF document about HydractiveII which was very informative and interesting.
One thing is funny: set your radio to AM ~150-160KHz (hope your antenna is plugged in) and the buzzing sound tells you when the suspension is in the soft or hard mode. Click the Sport-button to increase the sensitivity of hard mode, and then make evasive movements -> whirling sound from the radio. Very cool... [8D]
The C5 has electrical hydraulic pump so that could be making that sound.

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 15 Oct 2003, 13:08

Read from the following link and see if you understand it a bit better:
http://www.tramontana.co.hu/citroen/sus ... suspn.html
//NiSk