Rear Drops When Parked, Estate 2005

[broken-citroen]

My 2005 1.6 HDI has started slowly dropping its rear when parked, it has only started doing this recently, maybe in the last week or 2. It goes all the way down.

 

It does manage to raise the rear and it seems to drive ok.  I've tried to spray what I think is the height sensor with WD40 and raised and lowered it a good few times, but it still persists. I've also tried to leave it in the highest position but it still happens but the car looks even more ridiculous with the front so high and the rear so low. 

 

 

Is it OK to drive until fixed?

 

What should I look at?

 

History:

 

It has recently (3 months) had the MDF and clutch replaced (ouch). It also had a paddy one day and threw up a load of warnings, De-pollution system faulty, Seat belt pretensioner fault and air bag fault, but that vanished as quick and I've yet to see it again. The electric windows also only work when they want and only usually move in small increments, so that is another job I have to look in to. Sometimes the front end pumps up and down when I park too, can't say I've noticed it doing that since the rear dropage.

 

Thanks

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Possibly one of the rear suspension struts needs replacing since the internal seals may be leaking - about £250 for a dealer to replace one including the parts.

 

Going up and down when parked may be if the front wheels are not parked straight ahead. The window only moving in increments may be fixed by pulling its fuse and then refitting it - see the Technical section Common Problems pinned post.

[broken-citroen]

Thanks for the reply. I can I tell if a suspensions strut needs replacing or which one? I'd be looking at a part from a breakers and DIY'ing it if possible. Do you mean the sphere or the dampening rod? The DMF/clutch cleaned out what little spare cash I had.

 

I'll give pulling the fuse a go for the windows, but I think it'll be more than that, sometimes the window doesn't move at all.

Edited October 26, 2014 by broken-citroen

[Parkesie]

Not sure where it is but im sure the c5 has a anti sink valve that is suposed to stop the suspension dropping when parked. If the struts arent leaking id have a hunt for that badboy.

[paul.h]

When I needed a new rear strut the gaiter on one was leaking lds fluid but the car did not sink down much, so it was obvious which needed changing, otherwise I am not sure how to tell but possibly the plastic pipes on the gaiter may give an indication if they are disconnected - one is an air vent into the axle and the other an oil return. Hopefully somebody will advise on this and also give more info on the anti sink valve (I could not find anything in the Haynes manual).

 

If you go to a breakers for a replacement strut, make sure you get the right one since the left and right sides are different and there are several different ones. Also if you get one with the sphere attached, again there are different sphere part numbers. If you re-use your old sphere on a replacement strut, you will need a new seal between the 2 and a sphere removal tool will be needed. You will also need about 2 litres of lds fluid. You can get the part numbers from the service.citroen site by registering as another professional and as a member of the Citroen Owners Club and then use your VIN (VIS) to find your car http://service.citroen.com/do/changerParametres