Active Engine Removal (And refitting)

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Oct 2009, 19:53

Sl4yer wrote: I'll have to get the clutch in mine attended to some time.

Well, the good news James, is the clutch job is possibly not a complete nightmare, based on our activities yesterday

It could actually be quite straightforward..

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 20 Oct 2009, 20:47

Sl4yer wrote:Good work Gareth. Well done!

I'll have to get the clutch in mine attended to some time. It isn't particularly light, and the girlfriend complains that the biting point is too high. How many miles had yours done on the original clutch?

James

The original had done 117k. It still looked very good. But after that mileage, worth doing even though its replacement was 15k old

It was like new though, and better than using a new EBC or cheap pattern type.

Had a little panic tonight. The noise i had been hearing from the pressure regulator area was really concerning me.

A quick call to Eastment towers and we went through a number of checks to eliminate the worst.

The noise was best described as a woosh tick every few seconds. I was convinced it was in the area mentioned. The noise did not change with the clutch depressed, in gear or engine revved.

After about 10 minutes it started to get less regular, and then it pretty much stopped! Left for 5 mins and restarted, it made the noise again for a few seconds and then was silent till i turned it off. My theory is a bit of residual air in the pressure regulator area, its not been driven anywhere yet, so may take a while to settle down. There have been a lot of pipes removed and it will need a through session of citrobics to remove all the air.

Its remarkably quiet now, its not been like this since i've it. I am obviously looking forward to driving it but not until i am happy all things have been checked over.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Oct 2009, 20:58

KP wrote:Missed one jim!!!

Never knew that one existed Will

That noise had me worried too Gareth

had me fairly scratching my head did that. Pleased it's all but gone now. I was all set to fire up my Activa and listen for something similar

As I say, to prove it is hydraulically related, just slip off the aux belt.

That stray earth wire goes from the earth terminal on the gearbox over to an earthing point on the chassis leg in the gap between the mounting points of the activa balancing sphere bracket.

All's well that ends well and eager to know how that new turbo performs

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Oct 2009, 08:56

The noise is back this morning. Taking the aux belt off and again, its still there, but it doesnt change if you rev it. I am still thinking electrical, solonoid style at the moment as the engines not been touched, only the gearbox, its strange it went after a while yesteday.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Oct 2009, 09:27

I might not be a million miles away.

Is the idle speed control valve meant to click? I'm assuming it does. Once the engine is warm, and idle is off fast, the noise stops.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Oct 2009, 09:53

Ahh yes, it'll make some noise Gareth but normally it's fairly slient in operation. Explains it though...

It has a piston in it and if you do a Lexia test on it it will make a click and whoosh noise much as you describe as the piston falls.

The only remaining question though is why is it apparantly working so hard on cold idle. Sounds like the idle is all over the place and the valve is working like billy-o to keep it in order

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 21 Oct 2009, 09:54

I don't know about a click; my old one was sticking in the bore as it's shaft was worn, so it cocked easily.

Lexia and other diagnostics will tell you how many increments the IAC is open; the smallest I've seen is two while the most is 28 (electrical load plus wiggling the steering).

FWIW it seems I am still having TPS issues; perhaps they or the associated connections are fragile. Again, a diagnostic scan will tell you if the TPS is open or closed, or not giving a signal... Mentioning this as you probably disturbed the throttle body in your works.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Oct 2009, 10:30

Been to GSF and got some more LHM.

Restarted after approx 1 hour, revs fast idle for a few seconds (with the tick noise ) and as soon as the idle sits to 850 rpm hot, no click at all.

It may be finding it hard since the ECU would of been reset, so its trying to find it parameters for optimum idle. The Activa is also known for a lumpy idle, and also for its ultra clean emissions, so it may be trying to keep it as lean as it can.

Also, my driveway magnifies all noises as there is wall both sides, if there is a noise, i will hear it! My ears are very sensitive, and with the racket the manifold was making before, may of been difficult to hear this 'new' noise when in actual fact it was already there! With bonnet shut, you can barely hear it.

I'm fairly confident now its nothing serious and should get quieter once used and ECU has adapted. I can rule out anything to do with the suspension/alternator/Air con and if it was mechanical, would not really change once the engine was hot. I've established its pattern now!

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Oct 2009, 13:35

We can rule out the idle control valve as well now

Waited until it had cooled down, and it was still making this noise. Its so hard to pinpoint.

Fed up, i did a few more hoses up and took it for a spin. Once to operating temperature its very quiet, so maybe a stick injector or tappet? Who knows, i still reckon it was there beforehand as i do recall a ticking i put down to the HP pump being a little noisy.

In any case, i'm not going to worry about it, as the test drive revealed everything is working as it should. The gearbox is quiet, clutch is smooth, gearchange is nice. I've only driven it round the block a couple of times but...

Your all wanting to know if the turbo has made any difference

At the moment, hard to tell until out on the open road. Its noisier thats for sure, sounds the same as the green S1 i had for a couple of weeks. This could be down to the compressor blades being bigger and slightly different design.

I've seen 4 psi as low down as 1500rpm, and it doesnt seem any different in feel i.e laggier. It did seem to take off once 4000rpm was passed

It has a lot of promise, and i dont regret having it done.

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 21 Oct 2009, 15:04

Just a thought on the noise Gareth (probably daft, but it's all I can think of!). It's not the aircon trying to engage is it?

James

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Oct 2009, 18:08

I was thinking along those lines, but air con on or off, its still there. If it was a rod about to go through the block it would of done it by now! More of an annoyance, should of left the manifold blowing!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Oct 2009, 18:18

Gosh

I'm even more confused now Gareth. One thing you can do with the Lexia is an actuator test. That might pin it. I'll carry on thinking.

I need to hear this noise.

As you say, I don't reckon it's anything serious at all. I'll fire mine up later when I go do some dad's taxi work and see if I can hear anything like it on mine.

Sorry I missed your text today Gareth. Work turned very hectic from about 10 this morning and I was running around a bit. I wasn't ignoring you!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Oct 2009, 18:39

Got it

maybe

Just ran up my Activa and it came to me in a flash.

The noise might be originating from the carbon canister purge valve. The valve on yours is just underneath the slam panel on the RH side as you look. It was always a bit noisy. Sounds like you have an air leak there.

S1 Activas have the valve buried in the inner wing. It moved to just under the slam panel with the MK2 and in this position the noise is well amplified.

Check the pipes to it are fully connected and well connected to the RH small spigot on the front of the throttle body. You can eliminate the purge valve by disconnecting it. One of the pipes might be split.

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 21 Oct 2009, 20:37

Nope, its not that because it also makes a noise

The more i think the less i worry about it, its nothing serious, just hard to pinpoint. It could be a noisy injector or sticky tappet. All i know, is that its fine when fully warmed up, and didnt do it after a 30 minute cool down.

At some point a Lexia session may rule out a few things. It could be the air con refrigerant low and the pump lightly cutting in and out until its warm.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Oct 2009, 21:14

Well, I don't know Gareth. Next time I see you I'll have a Lexia with me and we'll go into it. I'm really curious.

Funny how you notice things. I went out in mine this evening and I must admit I've never noticed just how quiet an Activa is. Now the exhaust is tight, it's not surprising "new" noises are coming to light. I do notice on mine how (relatively) noisy the hydraulic pump is and how clattery the injectors are, especially when cold...

Still, it'll be nothing serious.