Hydraulic Fluid Leak

[kiwi]

Took the 19TZS for a drive yesterday and a weird thing happened on a steep hill and sharp bend.

The Hydraulic Warning light briefly illuminated, same thing in exact same place on the return downhill leg occured, Yet nothing in between a distance of 260km.
Few Kms further it did light up again still going down hill but I had noticed the steering was feeling heavy, brakes less responsive and genrally harder suspension.

I dare not put it into high to check the level thru fear of blasting a weak octopus pipe in to leaking. So chucked in third litre of LHM. LHM is as rare as hens teeth around were I live.

There is a drip of fluid on both the acumilator and Sphere housings. Yet I cant see a leak from above and the Air con pipes obstrusct good view from below.

No other visible leaks any where. Starnge thing is no drips on garage flow either

Anyone got a idea of a cure or possible caus of the unknown leakage?

[Philip Chidlow]

I don't know, of course, but could it be an FDV related problem?

[kiwi]

Whats a FDV?

[jeremy]

Flow divider valve - provides LHM for power steering when needed. First component after the pump.

I had a problem with one - turned out to be incorrect assembly!. Steering worked well all the time but the light would come on - reducing revs and turning the steering both put it out. Suspension would drop a bit perhaps but brakes unaffected but I took care to get it out before I drove any further.

[kiwi]

Think I can rule that out then.

The suspension and steering got heavier near the end of my trip and the Hydralic Reserviour was low. I have topped up the reserviour, just puzzling why there is a leak.

Like I said a drip is located on the accumalator and its Sphere, yet nothing is dropping on the Garage floor. With the engine running and statinary still no signs of a increase to the leak.

Obviously I cant tell what the leak is doing whilst moving

[Philip Chidlow]

My GTi has drips on it's accumulator/sphere and it will drop a bit when left standing, after a run, and I am convinced its a weeping FDV. A gradual loss of LHM is what happens although it doesn't lose it appreciably when running and if you put some in recently, if the loss is insignificant do what my Citroen specialist told me to do - invest in a drip tray...

[Oscar]

Try gently tightening the nuts on the FDV - this has cured similar leaks for several people on this forum.

O

[jeremy]

The FDV has numerous holes in it which can leak - but they fall into 2 types - those that can be serviced in the car and those that require removal and dismantling.

There are 5 ports on the thing that are covered by metal caps which in turn have sealing 'O' rings. If its leaking from these - you'll have to dismantle it and change the seals - possible but not easy. Most of these ports are subject to high pressure - and so I'd expect them to leak when the engine is running and they are under pressure.

There is a 5th plug which has a hexagonal socket and is surrounded by a locker (threaded disc with 2 slots for gripping). This too has 'O' rings to seal and this 'O' ring is a normal fat one rather than the thin ones used for the plugs I've mentioned above. This plug is partially covered on some by a pipe clip - but it can be removed (on a TD anyway) in situ and the seal can be replaced. Care should be taken to put it back at the same tightness - as in fact it controls the ultimate system pressure.

The others are normal Citroen pipe joints with seals which may respond to tightening or new seals. Pipe alignment is important - as if a pipe is twisted to one side it may distort the rubber seal and result in leakage.

The steel pipe from the pump to the FDV can split or become otherwise damaged. You would have thought that damage to a high pressure pipe would result in a spray but this does not necessarily happen as I found out.

Briefly I'd noticed a slight drip under my TD for some time abut could never find it - and thought it must be a return pipe - especially as this was a drip not a mist. I took the thing on holiday - and didn't think much about it till the warning light came on going round a roundabout. Investigated - lowish LHM - topped up and carried on as it didn't seem to be loosing much.

Got home and investigated - there'd always been drips on one of the curly pipes under the engine going to the chassis - which I thought was LHM draining from above - but I couldn't find it - so I cleaned the curly pipe and covered it with rag to collect any LHM coming from above - and sure enough it was coming from the pipe - so I replaced it and on looking at the old one a plastic bracket clipped to it had chafed through and a scratch was visible which was where it was leaking.

[Philip Chidlow]

That's very helpful, Jeremy. Cheers.

[kiwi]

Yep very helpful Jeremy and Oscar. I will be investigating further only if it becomes a problem though. At the moment its a nuisnace which by Jeremys answer chances are I could make worse.

Knowing how Murphy and sods law works chances are its going to fail during the winter months when I dont have time, warmth and light to fix it Bad weather days I am at home good weather days will be working or playing

[kiwi]

Anyone know what is the minimum amount in the Hydraulic system that will trigger the Warning Light?

I found the bit that say 0.45 litre between rings on the reserviour bulb, just wondering what it is when Car Running and that light comes on?

[jeremy]

Depends how fast you go round corners or brake - as the stuff sloshes round. Remember a burst sphere will take 1/2 litre or so and as they get older they take more LHM before the car lifts.

[kiwi]

The guy I spoke to at citroen in hamilton reckoned on 0.75 litres.

I was able to get a couple of litres couried to me at a cost of nz$27 thats 10 quid a litre? From them our local Dealer ( 2 hours drive )

Whilst on the phone I asked them about the Octopus pipe and how much one woud be to replace. Did I get a shock or what nz$250 thats 100 quid

Pretty sure from memory those things are about 30 quid in the uk?