Citroen XM Forum

Hi Vince,
You say you are getting a new FDV valve...what exactly are the tell tail signs of one on it's way out. I only ask as I think mine might be in a similar state. It would be great to get a kind of symptom comparison to sort of make sure whether it could be that or not.
I get quite a bit of hissing from mine and the front won't rise up on high setting, unless you rev the engine.

Enjoy your walk and another drive!

Try turning the steering a bit and see if that improves system pressure.

I'll give it a go. I know I think you suggested looking for an air leak, but the main pipe to the pump is tightly done up with the screw style hose clips. I was just curious to see what symptoms Vince is experiencing.

Sorry Vince. I don't mean to interrupt your thread...Will I tried your test and it tries to pump up when you turn the steering. But not by much...not full height anyway. Alot of gushing and hissing as you might expect too.
So I expect that it is faulty then?

Mine won't rise to high at the front without a bit of rev.

She rises fine and quickly from her slumbers and all is good so I'm not too worried about it really...

Interesting Jim...although mine did rise fine before it went in for it's oil seal work...it also had it's system bled. I have been reading some FDV posts and the first thing I might do is check the LHM filters and pipes for air leaks..although I have before and can't see how the system is drawing in air.
Otherwise I wonder if it is the FDV, as the steering is not the lightest. Another thing is it doesn't hold it's self up for very long on high setting.
Pops up a treat from rest mind you.

Hi Russ, mine needs replacing as it leaks LHM....plus a Citroen mech I use recommended its changed.....

The hissing is normal, and I've not come across an XM that doesn't need to be revved to reach full height on the front....though my experience is a lot less than many on here.

Neither of mine need revving at all to gain full height, if they do there is something wrong.

Exactly what I thought. They should rise without revving. Mine did before albeit slowly as it needed bleeding.

Many thanks Vince for your info...mine isn't leaking LHM visibly anyway... but it does hiss & gush a lot. On the way to get the tyre done today, it started fine... nice and quiet and then had to brake quite hard and it started hissing and gushing quite a bit. Doesn't effect the way the car drives & I know this hissing is normal, but it does get quite loud at times. I think I really need to take it to Tony Weston and see what they think.

I'm sure it isn't right...

Sounds like the FDV to me, thats why turning the wheel stops the hiss, im sure the shuttle valves dont fully open/close leading to the hiss, blipping the throttle increases the fluid flow rate and forces the valve over a little, same with moving the wheel but at idle with no load they dont quite sit right and so they hiss, when i rebuilt mine it didnt hiss at all for weeks, then gradualy it came back again.

D