Hello all, got a problem with hydractive II suspension on a Xantia VSX.
System is stuck in hard mode and the ecu is behaving very oddly.
Listening to 172LW I can hear the signal from the ECU and it appears to behave as it should, but every two minutes it switches in and out every second or so even if the car is stationary. There is also a thumping from somewhere (front hydractive valve I think) that coincides with the ecu signal coming and going.
It does this for about a minute before appearing to be ok for another two minutes.
The Hydractive spheres and LHM have been changed.
Anyone got any ideas?
matt
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Matt,
Despite being a "Xantia man" I always tell folks not to buy a VSX so these potential extra problems are avoided. So far everyone has listened hence I have no experience with the system other than knowing the basic principles.
I'm not even going to guess.
Good luck.
David W
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Yeah I'm beginning to realise this.
As you probably know, the system isn't really very complicated, but trying to find someone who understands how to fix it is a complete nightmare.
My local dealer is staffed by muppets and they're just not interested if the car is over a year old..
Anyone know someone in the York area who might be able to sort this?
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Mr Fish,
I have details of a couple in Sheffield. If you find any in North Yorkshire, please let me know, as I am just over the border in Eaglescliffe (off A19 nr Yarm.)
David, so these are worse than an XM, then?
rg
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As far as I'm aware these are no worse than an XM, but afaik later models of the XM were not available without hydractive suspension.
The xantia was and is therefore more like the BX... nice and simple.
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Mr Fish,
You could always try Paul Johnson at XM Centre in Oxford www.xm-centre.com who now deals more with Xantia than The Gallic Mystery Barge. He has a reputation of being knowledgeable and helpful, a rare combination.
rg
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Cheers, will give him a try.
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Still no joy...
Is there anyone in the York area who has a Hydractive Xantia, who would be willing to test my suspension ECU in their car, or vice versa...
It's been suggested that it might be knackered but they're not cheap and I really need to rule it out before I get another.
matt
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Rob/Matt,
No I would agree that the Activa/Hydractive suspension isn't that complicated when looked at in isolation with the benefit of some experience.
I try and make the most efficient use of my experience/tech data/information/tools/contacts. Hence because I haven't been asked to look at one of these systems in 8 years I'm not involving time and expenditure gearing up for something that doesn't produce an income. Having said that if an existing customer bought one of these models I would take the trouble to get sorted so I could look after it properly.
I suppose it is like the Citroen suspension thing in general. All the three garages in town will send folks away with problems on BX/Xantia/etc models...."sorry we don't have the experience or tools to work on them". But they would only need to learn how to do an LHM change, where the bleed nut was and buy a sphere removal tool to be able to do 75% of the jobs.....yet to me these tasks are real bread and butter stuff because I've taken the trouble to gain the experience.
What about removing the ECU Matt and taking it to the Citroen dealer so they could at least test that...might be £25 well spent??
I needed a Xantia ABS ECU the other week and thought it worth a look at the breakers. A few months ago one chap in a particular yard said he wanted £80 for the ABS ECU on one Xantia they had in, the other week a different chap in the same yard with the same car rubbed his chin and said £30. At that price, about 10% of the exchange price, it would be worth taking the chance it was already U/S.
In the car-by-car guide here HJ advises getting an LX model Xantia to avoid the potential bills of ABS on the SX/VSX, never mind the Activa suspension. As the Xantias age this proves wise advice....well actually it is also true of many heavily spec'd cars as they get older and cheaper to buy.
David W
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Matt,
You could try M&M Citroen specialists in Holmbridge, near Holmfirth, near Huddersfield. They really seem to know their onions, are listed in HJ's good garage guide, have a waiting room full of Citroenian magazines and looked after my Xantia very well - admittedly not a VSX.
I've chatted to folk who've come from as far as Chester and Hull in their waiting room, those people found them either very cheap, very good or both.
Good luck!
Lee.
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we have experience with some suspension ecu's. email the part number to chris@bba-reman.com. what price are they at dealer?
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Should anyone be interested, the problem is now solved.
The fault was traced to the electrovalve that controls the hydractive valve thingy.
Not too expensive to fix.
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Thats good news which always makes a change. Even better "not to expensive to fix" (music to my ears)
Was it someone local?
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In the end I took it to a dealer as my local independent just didn't understand the hydractive system and weren't interested in learing.
I wouldn't trust the dealer in York (Reg Vardy) to change a wheel, so I took it to Broach Hill near driffield.
They also diagnosed a seized rear height corrector, which my local bods hadn't spotted, despite my complaining about the rear suspension not behaving.
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