Lhm leak

Off topic chat about anything you like. Doesn't have to be about XMs (though they will inevitibly come up!). You can even discuss non-Citroens :o in here!
Post Reply
newxmman
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:53 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by newxmman » Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:20 pm

Hi all.

Thought I’d update. My Estate with the leak. We eventually got it up on a non drive on ramp then lowered onto four ramps. Started the car, the leak showed itself first when I turned the steering wheel. It was a heavy leak coming from a steering Union just in front of the central front sphere. The Union which is threaded, had worked itself loose over time. So that was tightened. That allowed us to address another leak coming from the ev area adjacent to the sphere. It was to the right of the ev a clear return hose which inserts at one end into a 3 mmm hose and the other end goes into a unit of some kind, height corrector? Well we renewed the hose elbow with new hose and pushed both ends on tight. We thought we d done it. But no lhm was still pushing past and spraying the unit end of the hose, it wasn’t tight enough even though it was hard to push on. So we fitted spring clips at either end. Well leak fix after much careful and frustrating search seems to be ultimately successful and through the mot it went. So satisfying finding and curing it. Goes great it does. Also fitted a new horn and changed coolant. Thanks so much boys fir all your help, what would we do without you. By the way my reg is K833fhx.

newxmman
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:53 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by newxmman » Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:34 pm

Btw in answer to earlier question, not sure it has abs, assume so. It didn’t have alloy wheels but it does now, I swapped them with my donor car.

xantia_v6
XM Guru
Posts: 1656
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 5:09 pm
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand or Beaune, France

Re: Lhm leak

Post by xantia_v6 » Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:21 am

If you are getting pressurisation of a return line, I would suspect a blocked or pinched tube downstream. This can cause the height corrector valve to malfunction.
1999 XM Exclusive V6 24V ES9 Manual (LHD) 105,000 km
1997 Xantia Exclusive V6 (RHD) 45,000 miles

User avatar
White Exec
Citroen God!
Posts: 6642
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:38 pm
Orga / RP numbers: RP7165
1996 2.5TD saloon, Exclusive, Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime, Sable Phenicien
Location: ex-Ealing, Cheshire, W.Sussex & Surrey. Now living in Sayalonga (Malaga, Spain)

Re: Lhm leak

Post by White Exec » Tue Feb 15, 2022 6:33 am

Agree with that. If/when the front electrovalve/suspension regulator is removed, when put back, it's quite possible to trap the clear nylon return pipe between the regulator mounting bracket and the subframe. This pinches the pipe, prevents proper return from the height corrector, and can cause height correction to seriously misbehave. (In our case, it forced the car to max height when driven.) Important to make sure the return pipe travels on top of the bracket, and not under it.
Chris
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable
1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003

Dieselman
Global Moderator
Posts: 13734
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:44 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by Dieselman » Tue Feb 15, 2022 7:04 am

Gravity is sufficient to cause a significant leak on a return pipe, as all the suspension returns join together.
There could be a kinked, or trapped pipe, but I doubt it, unless someone has been working on the system.

Newmanxm.
The item with the 90 degree rubber elbow is the height corrector.

A '92 Xm estate probably won't have ABS as standard...easy to see the valve block on the front left subframe, also the light should come on at Ign on.
Abs was standard on Se trim, but optional on lower trim specs.
The only estate available in Se trim was the 3.0 petrol.
92 2.1SED M.RP5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24.Rp 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1SD M.RP 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1SD M.RP 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1SD A.RP 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1SD A.RP 6218 ERT Triton Green
91 2.0SI M.RP 5187 EWT White

newxmman
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:53 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by newxmman » Tue Feb 15, 2022 8:24 am

Thanks diesel man! I feel better after reading the other posts! I can see what they re saying though but there is no reason for me to suspect there is any kink or pinch. The worse spray was from the steering Union thread which carries lhm. The leak from the clear return pipe was more of a drip but it was getting past the pushed on rubber hose to the height corrector and making a mess because of the places it was running to, following obvious trails as it were. I don’t have any problem with height correction as far as I can see. It seems to be running properly. I ll check on that though.

newxmman
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:53 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by newxmman » Tue Feb 15, 2022 10:51 am

Update, went out to give the car a clean. I don’t have leaks it seems and the height seems to be behaving itself. Very happy about that!

citroenxm
Global Moderator
Posts: 9981
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:11 am
Location: North Wales - FAR far far away!!! :-p

Re: Lhm leak

Post by citroenxm » Tue Feb 15, 2022 4:00 pm

Dieselman wrote:
Tue Feb 15, 2022 7:04 am

A '92 Xm estate probably won't have ABS as standard...easy to see the valve block on the front left subframe, also the light should come on at Ign on.
Abs was standard on Se trim, but optional on lower trim specs.
The only estate available in Se trim was the 3.0 petrol.
It was though a no cost option which is why so many xm had it fitted..

I had a base G reg 2.0i xm for a first one it had abs.
I've got an L reg 2.1td auto base spec it too has abs.
Alrhough the famous K ban 2.1 td Si manual didn't have abs nor did an, j reg 2.1td auto not have it and I know if another K reg 2.1td auto without it...

Anyway. My point was the G reg, base model had abs I and Remeber reading it was a no cost option.
Projects:(eventually if theres any bodywork left)
93 L Xm 2.1t D auto project
93 L xm V6 12v Sei Manual

Others
In use.. 1995 M reg S2 2.1td auto exclusive

Dieselman
Global Moderator
Posts: 13734
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:44 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by Dieselman » Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:57 am

Just for reference I've checked the VIN and build date of your car.

The Rp number is 5938, which means it was built on 10th February 1993, which means it is a Hydractive 2 car, as that is from 1st February 1993.

No real issue, or connected to your problems, just for interest and reference going forwards.

Being Hydractive 2, it's worth ensuring there are additional diodes fitted into both electrovalve power supply wires, as the ones in the electrovalves are known to fail and cause irregular suspension operation.
Also the rear electrovalve aluminium body is known to corrode, eventually causing a leak, so it's worth applying some rust proofing wax.

I don't recall ABS being a no cost option, an option, yes, no cost...
Automatic gearbox was a no cost option.

I think the early Xm were specced higher than slightly later ones, then late versions of Series 1 then had items added.
For S level, my 1990 had Abs, 1991 not, the 1992's not, 1994 yes.
92 2.1SED M.RP5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24.Rp 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1SD M.RP 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1SD M.RP 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1SD A.RP 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1SD A.RP 6218 ERT Triton Green
91 2.0SI M.RP 5187 EWT White

newxmman
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:53 pm

Re: Lhm leak

Post by newxmman » Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:18 pm

Mmm thanks. Sorry to appear ignorant but what are diodes and where do I put them!?

Post Reply