Hi from Hannover Germany XM enthusiast
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- XM newbie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2025 6:29 am
- Orga / RP numbers: Citroën XM V6, 4608, ZPJ, 1989
Hi from Hannover Germany XM enthusiast
Hello everyone, I m Piet from Hannover Germany. My Citroëns are 2CV orga 4690, XM 2,0 Orga 5135 (only for spare parts!) and XM V6 Orga 4608, 1989. I would love to get to know about more freaking details of the cars electronic. Best greetings Piet
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- Global Moderator
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Re: Hi from Hannover Germany XM enthusiast
2cv don't have a lot of electronics.
At Rp 4608 (21 june 1989), yours is a very early series production (not pre-production) Xm: Hydractive v1 Ecu, with green and white connectors.
Does your car illuminate the Hydractive lamp for 3s at door open? It should as these Ecu have only one power feed, so are fully energised at door open, rather than only at Ign on: h2 onwards Ecu had two power feeds (Batt+ and Ign) and the 30s timer was integral, as opposed to being external in yours.
Can you confirm your car doesn't have the 10 minute timer for the interior lights/hydractive switch off at door left open/interior lights left on?
I intend to create a work around for this, as it creates a constant 4a draw that could lead to a flat battery given a door open/light left on situation.
The 10 minute timer was introduced at Rp 4860.
We have all the information for these Xm, what do you want to know. This is mainly in the Self Help files section, but we can point you in the right direction when you let us know what you want and what help you need.
We don't get to see many very early Xm on here as Rhd wasn't launched until November 1989, so not produced before approx Rp 4710.

At Rp 4608 (21 june 1989), yours is a very early series production (not pre-production) Xm: Hydractive v1 Ecu, with green and white connectors.
Does your car illuminate the Hydractive lamp for 3s at door open? It should as these Ecu have only one power feed, so are fully energised at door open, rather than only at Ign on: h2 onwards Ecu had two power feeds (Batt+ and Ign) and the 30s timer was integral, as opposed to being external in yours.
Can you confirm your car doesn't have the 10 minute timer for the interior lights/hydractive switch off at door left open/interior lights left on?
I intend to create a work around for this, as it creates a constant 4a draw that could lead to a flat battery given a door open/light left on situation.
The 10 minute timer was introduced at Rp 4860.
We have all the information for these Xm, what do you want to know. This is mainly in the Self Help files section, but we can point you in the right direction when you let us know what you want and what help you need.
We don't get to see many very early Xm on here as Rhd wasn't launched until November 1989, so not produced before approx Rp 4710.
91 3.0 sei M. 4852 EXY Black
92 2.1 sed M. 5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24. 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1 sd M. 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1sd M. 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1sd A. 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1sd A. 6218 ERT Triton
91 2.0si M. 5187 EWT White
92 2.1 sed M. 5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24. 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1 sd M. 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1sd M. 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1sd A. 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1sd A. 6218 ERT Triton
91 2.0si M. 5187 EWT White
-
- XM newbie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2025 6:29 am
- Orga / RP numbers: Citroën XM V6, 4608, ZPJ, 1989
Re: Hi from Hannover Germany XM enthusiast
Hi Dieselman,
I have a lot of problems with hydractive because I don't know much about it. I checked some issues but I didn't finish that, yet.
The lamp doesn't show up at all I any situation. I checked the lamp itself if it's broken, but it's not. I installed a H2 from 1990 today an it seems to work a little better. No light is showing up anyway.
Where is the timer located? In the blue Relais under the glove compartment (?)? I installed the blue one from my 5135 XM, because I like the fade away of the interior lights. I didn't count if shuts off the lights but will check that.
I want to know if there are leaks inside the hydraulic system and how soft the Hydractive should be.
I will show more of that early XM if anyone is interested.
Please let me know where to find the self help section. Thanks!
I have a lot of problems with hydractive because I don't know much about it. I checked some issues but I didn't finish that, yet.
The lamp doesn't show up at all I any situation. I checked the lamp itself if it's broken, but it's not. I installed a H2 from 1990 today an it seems to work a little better. No light is showing up anyway.
Where is the timer located? In the blue Relais under the glove compartment (?)? I installed the blue one from my 5135 XM, because I like the fade away of the interior lights. I didn't count if shuts off the lights but will check that.
I want to know if there are leaks inside the hydraulic system and how soft the Hydractive should be.
I will show more of that early XM if anyone is interested.
Please let me know where to find the self help section. Thanks!
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 14451
- Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:44 pm
Re: Hi from Hannover Germany XM enthusiast
You willPietSchwarz wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 9:39 pmI have a lot of problems with hydractive because I don't know much about it.

Self help files is one of the sub forums, accessible from the Board Index page. viewforum.php?f=13
You can't fit an "h2" Ecu to an "h" system, they are very different. Don't swap any parts over, the wiring looms and Ecu are not directly compatible.
See electrical thread for Series 1 (Y3) Xm. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10268
The hydractive lamp not coming on at Ign on (and Door open on "h" Ecu system), indicates the Ecu has a stored code. See thread and attachments viewtopic.php?t=7368
The lamp should always illuminate when the Sport switch is set.
The 10 minute timer is a separate oblong one mounted under the glovebox, not in the main electricals area. You will need the relay, socket and wiring, then cut the existing loom, add a new power feed and wire it all in.
For now, concentrate on making the Hydractive system function as it should, before making any changes.
The simple way to test the Hydractive system is to perform a bounce test. Run the engine and bounce the front and rear of the car vigorously, which should be soft.
Switch off the engine and close the doors, wait 30s, until you hear a clunk from under the car, at the bulkhead. Bounce the car again and it should feel very firm.
If the centre spheres are flat, the car will be firm in both modes, because the Hydractive system can't switch in additional gas volume.
Bounce tests, after 25 year layup, before refilling the spheres.
Would we like to hear more about your car...Err, what do you think.

91 3.0 sei M. 4852 EXY Black
92 2.1 sed M. 5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24. 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1 sd M. 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1sd M. 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1sd A. 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1sd A. 6218 ERT Triton
91 2.0si M. 5187 EWT White
92 2.1 sed M. 5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24. 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1 sd M. 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1sd M. 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1sd A. 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1sd A. 6218 ERT Triton
91 2.0si M. 5187 EWT White