Xantia Suspension Problem(s)

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bobferg
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Xantia Suspension Problem(s)

Post by bobferg »

Hi,
I have a 1994 Xantia 2.0 SXI. When it runs it's a joy to drive.
Approximately 2 years ago it developed a "squeak" from the rear offside suspension and my local dealer diagnosed the fault as a worn bearing and it required replacement of the complete suspension arm. While this work was being carried out they also discovered that an ABS sensor needing replacing and that the rear height corrector had seized.
When I collected the car I noticed that the rear was much higher than it had been, I mentioned it on a later visit and the same dealer told me that the new corrector was faulty and they replaced it under warranty. On collecting the car again, the rear end seemed to be not much lower than before but now the front was raised as well and the car looked "level".
Since then I have discovered that if the height control is set to max then it won't lower itself unless you switch off and restart with the control at minimum. The suspension seems to be taking ages to pressurise (about 2-3 minutes) from cold and when the engine is switched off the car maintains its height for about 5 minutes whereas before the corrector was replace it used to sink after less than a minute.
I have recently visited the dealer about a problem with my wife's car (a Saxo) and mentioned these problems (or features) on the Xantia and they have checked the system out. Their new diagnosis is that the 2 year old rear height corrector AND the "C/Braker regulator" need replacement.
PLEASE can someone tell me whether faults in these parts are a likely cause of the problem and if replacement is a feasible job for the DIY mechanic (I would rate myself as 3 to 4 spanners on the Haynes manual scale).
Robin
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Post by Robin »

Hi, I am not the expert you need here but I do strongly suggest you seek a second opinion. Try and have a look at similar age cars and compare ride height when parked. The ride height setting is a touch fiddly to get right but as there is a height corrector fore and aft I cannot see why they should both need adjustment which is what has been implied. Also I suggest it is rare for them fail more likley the mechanism controlling them seizes. It just needs freeing off.
You may have a couple of conflicting issues that are confusing the picture. I don't suppose you are near Cambridgeshire by any chance? If you are I can heartily recommend Pleaides at Sawtry. They are sound, give free assessments and very definitely not expensive.
Have the supspension spheres been changed at all? I think there would be six on your Xantia, one on each wheel, one in the middle at the rear forward of the spare and one on the engine block behind the radiator.
For a 94 model I think it had an anti sink valve fitted, if I am wrong I am sure someone will tell us, so it should not sink once switched of other than to settle to a normal ride height.
With help the majority of suspension issues can be DIY with patience and little understanding. Take heart. This forum will really give you the answers in time.[^]
Robin
paranoid
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Post by paranoid »

Please read my topic "still not happy."
This is just like the problem I had when I picked my xant up after having rear height corrector done, They hadn't set up the height corr properly and the suspension was not working as it should, took it to cit specalist and they sorted it in next to no time all free of charge, Basically people who don't know what to do adjust the height with the centre lever which is not the way to do it.
ANY cit specalist does that h/corr / suspension jobs can set it up blinfolded, Well mine did anyway [:)]They took off h/c clamps etc and set up from scratch in about 30 minutes and its was like a different car.
bobferg
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Post by bobferg »

Hi - thanks for the reply Robin.
I have compared the ride height with other cars - mine is definitely 2-3 inches higher - there is a large gap between the wheel arch edges and the tops of the tyres.
Unfortunately I live in Croydon so I can't really justify a trip to Cambridgeshire. The local dealers virtually have a monopoly in this area and charge £70 per hour labour.
When I first got the car (about 5 years ago) I had four spheres replaced - at 53K - the current mileage is 73K.
The car does not have an anti-sink valve according to the dealer.
When they did a test of the pressure system they told me that the "pressure regulator" is not allowing enough pressure to build up in the system, but they sort of back-pedalled when I asked why that would cause the ride to be too HIGH rather than too LOW.
My Haynes manual only has a section on checking the ride height but bows out of setting the ride height by advising a visit to a Citroen dealer - do you know of any information available on the internet for making this sort of adjustment ?
Bob.
bobferg
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Post by bobferg »

Have just read the topic as advised by "paranoid" - sounds familiar - thanks.
NOW - can anyone recommend a reliable Citroen specialist in SE London ? (not the Croydon dealer, please).
Bob.
paranoid
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Post by paranoid »

The people I use are MODERN CITROEN SERVICES these are in the Rednal/Longbridge area of Birmingham so I suppose thats no good either.
Sorry I can't remember the name but I am sure theres an independant specalist in your part of the world, I used the search to look for my post STILL NOT HAPPY and it was about half way down the list.
My car was also 2-3" to high at the back and took at least a minute to rise if I sat on the boot lip it now takes about 10-15 seconds and the rides fantastic[:)]
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Post by paranoid »

Try searching for "citroen specialists" on ask jeeves a few seem to have come up depending on your location of course[:)]
Jon

Post by Jon »

I'm sure that "Surrey Breakdown" and "K & M Citroen" are not too far away from Croydon, both are Citroen specialists who have been going for years, I don't have their details right now but can post details of the nearest Citroen specialists tomorrow if required.
philhoward

Post by philhoward »

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by paranoid</i>

The people I use are MODERN CITROEN SERVICES these are in the Rednal/Longbridge area of Birmingham so I suppose thats no good either.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Is that the one on the A38 opposite the supermarket? Passed there a few times and wondered if they were any good...
paranoid
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Post by paranoid »

Yes behind the old kwik fit, they have got quite a big set up, but they don't advertise much its all word of mouth, they have been absolutely brilliant with me and several workmates, only one person has had a disagreement with them over a cambelt change but in all honesty that wasn't there fault (workmate was being a knob, he had got belt cheap from a carboot with a make I had never heard of and they would not fit it,fair play to them really) They are excellent at giving advice and help, ans as mentioned in earlier topic(still not happy) I asked advice about ride height, told me to pop over and they would have a look, it was on the ramp for over an hour, and they didn't charge me a penny......
Also did workmates rad and heater matrix in 8 hrs although the bill was £500 when it was broke down the bill was justified really.
Have just quoted me £120+vat for cambelt change[:)]
paranoid
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Post by paranoid »

<font face="Century Gothic">and if thats not praising them enough..............
A little dickybird has told me they think they know how to quieten c5 rear knocking, But as it involves ripping off all the other mods the dealer has done and throwing them away they are reluctant to do it.
I suppose they will wait till there is more out off warranty?[font=Century othic]</font id="Century Gothic">[/font=Century Gothic]
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AndersDK
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Post by AndersDK »

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by paranoid</i>

<font face="Century Gothic">and if thats not praising them enough..............
A little dickybird has told me they think they know how to quieten c5 rear knocking, But as it involves ripping off all the other mods the dealer has done and throwing them away they are reluctant to do it.
I suppose they will wait till there is more out off warranty?[font=Century othic]</font id="Century Gothic">[/font=Century Gothic]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
They can't fiddle with it if these cars are still under warranty. That would void the warranty on any other issues on the car ...
But defo it's interesting to see if they find the C5 rear susp problem ...
paranoid
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Post by paranoid »

I am led to belive that they can't get rid of the thump altogether, but can massively reduce it, and one of the staff has a C5 so i'd imagine they have had a play...
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