Xantia HDI 2.0 90CV 2000-Mystery hydraulic leak!

[FRJoey46]

Hello all, for the last 4 days i've been adding LHM fluid to my Xantia. I only just had the steering column leak fixed with tubing replaced etc....the garage has checked under the car today and no visible leak can be found on the undercarriage or around the seals. No leakage around the spheres and the overflow tube from the resevoir is dry! With half a litre a day being lost it seems only to leak while in motion i guess?? I've read about ruptured spheres and will look into it/or garage will but my usual mechanic told me to go to a main Citroen specialist as he is stumped?! I top up every time the STOP light comes up and steering/breaking is normal. Any ideas or self detecting practice suggestions would be so appreciated. Thanks

[xantia_v6]

Welcome to the forum!

You have an unusual problem there, usually people want to know about the source of the green puddle on the floor. There are really not a lot of places that LHM can disappear with out leaving a trace.

Just to avoid confusion, can you confirm that your car has standard (not hydractive) suspension?

[CitroJim]

How much are you having to top-up?

If not a lot, one or more spheres may be ruptured but the consumption will come to an end in after about half a litre if that's the case..

One possibility, which I've had, is a leaky brake dosuer valve leaking into the driver's footwell behind the carpet. Check under the carpet... It can accumulate an amazing amount of LHM and will even melt the sound-deadening pad... Makes a right old mess...

You can slip your hand under the carpet from the door shut to check... Lift up the rubber door seal first..

Luckily, the dosuer leak is easy to fix - it'll be a split in the rubber cap over the end of it - the bit the brake pedal plunger is in contact with...

[FRJoey46]

Thanks to everyone for their advice...a citroen specialist looked today and it was a massive build up under the foot well compartment indeed.
I've been told i must replace the entire brake control valve or as the french say doseur de frein OR Maitre cylindre.
They also said they are not made anymore so i've found what i THINK is a reconditioned one online (ring them tomorrow to check)
So if CitroJim says just a rubber seal needs replacing am i being tricked? Car is not hydractive and i did all the checks else where and found no fauilts on neither anti sink valve or suspension spheres. If the part i found is not compatible , please does anyone know where i could find one preferably new if not reconditioned ? many thanks!!

[RichardW]

They're talking rubbish:



You need item 6 and 70 and maybe 5. Citronut used to reckon that they were doable with just undoing the two bolts that hold it to the bulkhead, then easing it into the engine bay, levering off the old cap and fitting the new one. The complete valve is, in fact, no longer available.

in the UK parts can be had for <£20:

Part Number Description Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
0000697801 STOP-RING 0.91 GBP 1.09 GBP 1.09 GBP

5424455 CNTRL-UNIT RING 5.88 GBP 7.06 GBP 7.06 GBP

95640067 BRAKE PROTECTOR 7.53 GBP 9.04 GBP 9.04 GBP

[CitroJim]

Thanks to everyone for their advice...a citroen specialist looked today and it was a massive build up under the foot well compartment indeed.

Delighted the problem has been found

Yes, as Richard says, garage is talking rubbish!!!

[FRJoey46]

Well too late. I already bought a reconditioned one ,you try getting a French garage to do anything that'll save you money and it's more hassle. (Language barrier!!!!) and my French ain't bad! I did come across kits I Amazon to recondition the master break cylinder SO will demand the old piece and get a kit hence be free to tinker when I have time. Then I'll be Mr confident should I have this issue again,also I can resell the piece as recon and recover my money!! Wahey, cheers guys. Loving this site btw.