Just to be an Activa owner in a week

[cenk yuksel]

Hi everyone and greetings from Istanbul, Turkey!

I'll buy a 2000 Xantia Activa 2.0 HDI(109) in a few days(hopefully). It is said that only two Activa's are in Turkey, the other one is in Ankara. She's now in the mechanic shop, fixed problems with Activa system, changed pipes, hydrolics etc.

While it was lifted up for underwork, i was at shop too and noticed two cutted wires on the front wheels(Pictures added). The mechanic says that is a check sensor for brake pads; if the pads are near at they end, the sensor alarms the driver and because of routine checks, it isn't necessary and mostly cutted on Xantia's. I search the forum about any sensors on the front wheels, but only find some ABS sensor topics on the rear(About changing the sensors, there was an explaining about the front sensors too but no picture).

Can anyone tell me what for these cables are; are they really unnecessary to use etc? Because i doubt that is for ABS or maybe a wheel angle sensor or something, and with cutted sensors they will not function properly. (By the way, the mechanic uses a Delphi diagnostic software and there isn't any error about the brake sensors).

An other problem -i guess- is that the car dances(???) a little when idle. I found some comments about it -Activa shuffle is that term i presume-, but i think the cutted cables are more important at first.

Because this will be my first Activa and even my first car that i own, i'm not so familiar with this tech; i grew in Germany and all my dad's cars was Ford's(15M, 20M, 78 Taunus 1.6 Ghia) and all i knew is the old carb engines etc.

Thanks for your following interest.

[Gibbo2286]

I think those are, as your mechanic says, the brake pad wear wires, there isn't a sensor as such the wires plug into holes in the pad backplate and protrude towards the disc, when the pad wears too thin the end of the wire touches the disc and switches on the brake warning light.

It won't stop the car or the brakes working if they're cut but you wont be warned when the pads need replacing.

[GiveMeABreak]

Just for recognition purposes, these are the ABS sensor cables (1) & (2).

The smaller wires (in your photo) will be the brake pad sensor wiring.

You'll also have the handbrake cables there too (not shown)

[xantia_v6]

Your mechanic is correct, those brake pad wear indicator cables often break due to the flexing as the suspension moves up and down. The original wire is not flexible enough and the copper breaks through metal fatige, then the plastic covering breaks also.

[cenk yuksel]

Thanks to you all, I'm really relieved

Now there'll be one issue left, the slightly ups&downs when is parked and the engine is idling. It seems like the car tries to find his perfect position... like spreading on a sofa

[Stickyfinger]

Greetings friend: good choice

Your car needs the Activa rods adjusted and will (most likley) need new Activa Rod Bearings.

Setting the ACTIVA (SC CAR) system
http://www.activa-club.fr/documentation ... f-sc-car/
Shop ACTIVA Club.fr

http://www.activa-club.fr/ActivaShop/en/23-pieces


Part called ---Palier---

Also check there is zero thinning of the control rods

[cenk yuksel]

Thank you Xantia's was one of my favorite designs and when it comes to buy a car, Xantia was my first search -after i noticed tiny cars like Fiat Uno, Mazda 121 are nearly the same price with Xantia-. On it's produciton days it was much more expensive -because of the exchange rates and Citroën didn't sell any Xantia in Turkey-. But now it's naturally cheaper and accessible(Thanks to personal importers and expatriate turkish workers who bring and sell their Xantia's ).

Finding an Activa was a "crème de la crème" situation Meanwhile i'm a little afraid, because buying one of the just two Activa's on the whole country doesn't seem so logical )) But as said: "Where love begins, logic ends"

Thanks again! My first job after the sale transactions will be checking the rods and bearings-and finding new ones of course:)))-

[Stickyfinger]

From where did the car originally come from ?
You have purchased the car without looking at it first ?

[cenk yuksel]

The current owner said that he has borrow it from the port customs of Trabzon, it's located in Northeast Turkey on the Black Sea coast. (I think that's why they guess it comes from Ukraine or Russia...)

I've looked at for a few times, even take pictures and videos from underneath; but because of i'm a newbie to Hydropneumatic and Activa suspension, i had no idea what i have to check for. In that case i have to trust to the mechanic.

I'll have to check the vin to a possibility to find a history; but on the net are too much vin decoder sites and everyone wants different price for it, so i'm in doubt. Can i trust any of the web sites? Or which one? Some of them says on free check that they found a history. Carfax didn't find any record.

[cenk yuksel]

By the way, i watch the video that i take underneath, i think this one of the Activa rods that you mentioned. I didn't know that i should check it deeper

[Stickyfinger]

That is the system.

This may help you/your Mechanic

viewtopic.php?t=25117