2007 C5 Rear Suspension In Low Position----It Wont Move Up At All

[tightscrew]

goodmorning all,

wonder if someone could shine some light to a problem with rear suspension on my c5 2007.

it was all ok, until last week when i went to the car to find rear end of the car was slammed on its bum? I have tried to lower the car down and then rise it but only front end rises up and rear stays down???

I have some mechanical knowledge, and have connected snap on diagnostic and it doesnt show any faults at all.

Model citroen c5 2.2 hdi with sport suspension button

Three spheres at the back and REAR SUSPENSION REGULATOR in between spheres.

Thank you all

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Possibilities include a leaking rear suspension strut and a fault with the rear height sensor and a low lds fluid level/leak. If you go under the car support it on axle stands since if a height sensor is knocked/moved it can cause the suspension to drop to a low level very quickly.

[tightscrew]

Hello Paul,

thanks for trying to help and your suggestion.

these are the things i have tried so far:

I have disconnected mechanical link from the rear height adjuster/sensor and tried to move sensor lever to diffrent position and no joy, rear suspension still down.

I have also disconected the plastic return pipe from the driver side rear strut, just in case the strut seals have gone and it will return lds fluid back but nothing is leaking back.

I tried to lift car level up via the switch, and you can hear fluid is going to the back of the centre sphere but car does not go up.

I have used snap on machine, and it gives me the option to lift level up of the car/ lift first only front end and then rear end via the special function,

front end of the car rises, but when i try to lift back end you can hear motor running but car not going up?

Thanks

[coastline taxis]

try this if youve got a tow bar put a jack under it and lift the car via the towbar with the engine running. if no tow bar then try jacking it up with one side.   had this a couple of times and have no explanation as to why it happens but it just does.

[tightscrew]

Hello coasline taxis,

i will give it a go tommorow. What i have tried lastnight is, i jacked car up from the jacking point off/s/r, i went under the car and as soon as my friend pressed button for suspension to go up to highest position you can see that strut is expanding. when he presses the down button strut shrinks. I have tried this with both sides, but it looks like movement of the strut on passanger rear is lot shorter or hardly moves. I have done this check with one side of the ground at the time as i didnt have two jacks.

My question is:

If passanger rear strut is not working, does that means seal inside the strut is busted/blown?

thank you all for your suggestions

[coastline taxis]

when the seals go the rubber bellows on the strut normaly swell out or burst so you would no straight away. like i say seen this a few times on ours and u get no fault codes on and everything does what its supposed to except it just wont lift the back end. front works perfect. im assuming youve checked the fluid.

 

My opinion is that for whatever reason a airlpck occours and by lifting with a jack it creates a vacum on the pipes and pulls the fluid through and then the pump takes over. i have nothing to prove this at all its just an opinion that has worked for us on a few cars to sort this problem out

[tightscrew]

hi coastline taxis,

thanks a lot for your advice and quick response.

i will give it a go tomorrow. thats what i thort, if strut has gone down you would see lot of fluid returning back through the plastic pipe that goes on the rubber gator.

Are rear struts all the same on saloon models/ apart from models with bigger pipes ie VTR and sport models???

thanks again

[madmadmax]

there is a jacking point in the middel at the back just in frount of the tow bar, i can put up a pic if you like.

[tightscrew]

Hello madmadmax,

that will be great if not too much to ask for?

thanks

[paul.h]

There are a few different part numbers for the rear struts and the sides are also different. The estate ones are different to some of the hatchback ones. But for the 2.2 hdi 173 bhp hatchback the left rear is 527272 and right 527271 when looking from behind the car (other hatchback models without the hydractive suspension are right 527269 and left 527270). If you do need a new one, the labour cost at a dealer to fit is at most one hour and including the parts and lds fluid give a total cost of about £240 (parts strut £143, seal £3, R pin £1.50, lds £13) - this is the cost when I had a rear passenger side one replaced in 2013 when it was leaking and dripped lds from the gaiter - but the strut did seem to work normally. If you do the job yourself you would need a sphere removal tool, about £20 from ebay - so having a dealer do the job is not that expensive compared to diy.

[tightscrew]

morning Paul,

thanks for for the info. there are signs of the lds fluid leak around them and but not fresh leak at the moment. I will try what coastline taxi suggested and if it doesnt work i will replace both rear struts.

I have replaced them before, on xsantias and c5 older models and also spheres so i hope it wouldnt be that hard /apart from tight spheres/

Do new c5 have to be re coded and do you have to bleed system at all after?

i know you have to depresurise system first?

Thanks

[paul.h]

It is easy enough to depressurise the back (no need to do the front). Raise to max height (if possible), put on axle stands at the back, disconnect the battery (see procedure in the Technical section pinned Common Problems topic) so the pump will not run, slacken the lds tank to release any air pressure, then at the back in about the middle is a bleed nipple - put a container under it and then slacken it which will release the pressure. Not much fluid will come out until the suspension arms are jacked up to compress the strut so it can be released from the arm knuckle (check the R pin is loose a few days before and if not put some oil or similar on it).

 

Coastline will advise when it is best to slacken the sphere since it may be easier with or without pressure in the system. The C5 spheres are a different size to other Citroens so possibly a different size to your existing tool may be needed for removal. I got one from here, they are made to order and take a few days for delivery. I have not yet used it but it looks up to the job. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-sphere-removal-tool-/111602994874?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19fc0e8eba

 

I do not think any coding is needed, and to bleed the system if the pump does not work, I have read on here you just need to blow in the tank to prime the pump and then take the suspension up and down a few times. You might need 2 or 3 litres of lds fluid. When the dealer replaced one strut on our C5, they charged for 1 litre but a bit later I had to add another to get the level right.

[tightscrew]

Good morning Paul and everyone here, my c5 is now fixed.

both rear struts have gone, i replaced those but i kept original spheres. Also the hight adjuster was was sending wrong level correction/signal and i bought second one from the scrapyard for £20.

Only problem was getting r clips out, as the corroded so badly.

Yes you were right about lds fluid, i had to top my tank with 2 litres after.

Very happy. Those legs are not cheap, i got a deal from citroen dealer for £188 with vat, plus level sensor and two litres of lds.

I keep you updated how it goes

Thank you all