I have a nice Thema 1994 turbo LX. It has electronic suspension wich has not bee working while i had the car. I was told that the price for just one strut is around 800 euro. I was wondering ist it cheaper to import the stuts from italia or somewhere else and can anyone tell me the price of the suspension computer located in the trunk?
Thanks
PS If anyone is interested in the story i had a guy looking to fix the suspension. He told med that the testing equipment suggested a fault with both front struts. The mecanic suggested that there was a fault with the computere system since i was unlikely to have a fault at both front struts at the same time. The mechanic told me that he needed some special resistance units to find the fault. He told me that he had to get this resistance from abroad but i never herd from him again. I guess he gave up! Any suggestions to what might be wrong and general comments? And please dont tell me that it is not worth it, i want my car to be original and working sorry!
i have the same problems last year. the best it is suppossed the suspensio change to spot mode when fail is detected. i broke fornt right suspension and i changed to koni sport (manual regulation) the best option in price and dynamic performance
PROBABLY THE PROBLEM IS ON THE RELAY OR ITS YELLOW FUSE 20 A, ABOVE THE ELECTRONIC UNIT, ON THE TRUNK (RIGHT SIDE) OF YOUR LANCIA!!
MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A GREAT SUSPENSION, AND MINE IS ABOVE 170.000KMS.
I DID CHANGE THE SHOCKS AT AROUND 130.000KMS, BUT THEY WERE FINE FOR MORE 20 OR 30.000 KMS. I JUST DID THE CHANGE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THE AVAILABILITY WAS RUNNING SHORT AT THE FACTORY.
NOTE, THAT THIS BOGE/SACHS SHOCKS, ARE THE BEST YOU CAN FIND FOR YOUR CAR,
SURE YOU CAN FIT ANY OTHER BUT IF YOU DO, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THE SAME CAR.
SURE, THEY'RE NOT CHEAP. BUT IT IS WORTHY.
PLEASE, DON'T MESS WITH ELECTRONIC UNIT (MAGNETI MARELLI), NO PROBLEM THERE, I'M SURE, ALSO THE ELECTROVALVLES DON'T GIVE ANY PROBLEM.
THE ONLY FAULTY THINGS ARE THE BUTTONS ON THE DASH BOARD, SPORT AND AUTO MODES, THEY GET USED IF YOU CHANGE THE STIFFNESS OFTEN, LIKE I DO, BUT THEY'RE QUITE EASY TO FIX WITH A GOOD GOLD CONTACT PRODUCT.
AND FINALY THE RELAY, THAT SOME TIMES GETS STUCKED, MAKING THE RED LIGHT ON.
A EASY EXPERIENCE CAN BE DONE BY YOU. ALL THE 4 SHOCK ABSORBERS HAVE AN ELECTRIC CONNECTION.
IF YOU LOOK INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY, BOTH ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES YOU CAN SEE 2 PALE/WHITE CONNECTIONS, NEAR THE POINTS WHERE THE SHOCKS ARE MOUNTED.
IF YOU DECONNECT ONE BY ONE YOU CAN EASLY ELIMINATE THE FAULTY SHOCK, BECAUSE THE RED LIGHT IS OFF ONCE DISCOVERED THE BAD ONE.
FOR THE REAR SHOCKS, THE CONNECTORS ARE EQUAL BUT THEY ARE ON THE TRUNK, RIGHT AND LEF SIDE. JUST NEAR THE ELECTRONIC UNIT (RIGHT SIDE) AND INSIDE/BELOW THE CD CHANGER BOX (LEFT SIDE).
ALSO, MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIND A FAULTY SHOCK, IS WHEN DRIVING, TAKING IN MIND THAT BY DOING THE ABOVE OPERATION, EVERYTHING TURNED OUT TO BE RIGHT.
NORMALLY THEY LEAK OIL (THE REAR ONES), IF YOU HAVE THE MOST COMPLETE SUSPENSION ON YOUR CAR, WITH SELFLEVELING OIL PUMPS. THEY CAN BE VIEWED BELLOW THE CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
SO, DON'T GET SAD, AND FIRST OF ALL FIND A SERIOUS PERSON TO FIX /ADVICE YOU.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL BE FOULED, AND SOMEONE WILL GET EASY MONEY FROM YOU.
THE THEMA IS ONE OF THE BEST CARS THAT CAME FROM ITALY, AND GENERALLY PROBLEM FREE, IF WELL DRIVEN AD CARED. EVERYTHING IS "STRONG" ON THIS CAR LOOK TO ALL THE ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT IM MEAN.
AND THE 3 SERIES ARE GREAT CARS EVEN TODAY!!!
Thank you for a good and serious answer! I am happy that you are satisfied with the suspension as i am shure i will be. I like the idea of keeping the car in original condition. I will take a look at the things you suggest. I can not fix the problem myself i will take the car to a mechanic in april where it is due to a oil change anyway. I will let you know where the fault is/was. I can tell you that the car has driven only 110.000 km and i can not "feel" any problem with the suspension while driving exept that the red light is on and i think it is in "sport" mode all the time. The car has a self leveling system, i guess it is not working when the red light is on.
Sadly i find it very difficult to find a good mechanic i can trust. I allways have a feeling that they want to make easy money, as you put it. I will keep on looking for a good and honest one!
PS Is there a way to test the relay? Can i fix the relay or shuld i buy a new one if it is broken? Can you remember the price of one shock i Spain? (800-900 euro?)
Try this, put yourself inside the car in a very quite place, close the windows and doors, turn one of your ears to the trunk, then turn on the ignition key, if you look closely you will see that the red light blinks for a microsecond and at the same time you will hear a "click" coming from the relay inside the trunk. If so, the relay is not working, it gets the +12v but not making contact inside. A new one is needed.
Attention, this is a different relay from them all, you will need a new one, exactly the same.
The price I Paied here in Portugal was around 525€ with a nice discount, it was 3 years ago.
Now I don't really know.
Remember I told you that the availability was running short, so probablly the price increased.
Imediatly when i turn on the ignition the red light is on for abaut two sek (along with the check pannel and other dashboard lights), then it
turns off with a click from the relay in the trunk, after 3 sek the red light it is on again also with a click from the realy and then it stays on.
Do you think it is a relay defect?
(would be great if it was only the relay that is sick!)
