Suspension Woes

[Spoon]

Hi Guys,

 

Got a funny one now. Bought the car the other month 51 2.0 HDi just out of test. Done the brakes front and rear. Today got the CV gaitors and cambelt (to fit later) jacked the car up and did the NS CV boot, piece of cake. I let the jack down and now the suspension will not rise. I've tried all sorts. Jacking up the front starting stopping it. Left the battery off for 30 Mins. All still the same.

 

What i did notice is that when i jacked up the NS front after bout 5 mins i saw that the NSR wheel was off the floor as well??.

 

The LDS fluid with the suspension as it is now is just on the lower limit.

 

Car has been left for 2 weeks due to working abroad and never ending rain.

 

Is it somthing i have done or are they known for it. Is there any way to check the suspension pump.

[coastline taxis]

Hi Guys,

 

Got a funny one now. Bought the car the other month 51 2.0 HDi just out of test. Done the brakes front and rear. Today got the CV gaitors and cambelt (to fit later) jacked the car up and did the NS CV boot, piece of cake. I let the jack down and now the suspension will not rise. I've tried all sorts. Jacking up the front starting stopping it. Left the battery off for 30 Mins. All still the same.

 

What i did notice is that when i jacked up the NS front after bout 5 mins i saw that the NSR wheel was off the floor as well??.

 

The LDS fluid with the suspension as it is now is just on the lower limit.

 

Car has been left for 2 weeks due to working abroad and never ending rain.

 

Is it somthing i have done or are they known for it. Is there any way to check the suspension pump.

Hi there when you open car can you hear the hydraulic pump coming in or not also when engine is running and you try to raise vehicle via the switches inside the cab can you hear the pump going

[Spoon]

No I cant here the pump running when i open the door. I've tried everthing. I drove the car about a mile prior to fitting the CV boot, the suspenson was fine then. What i have noticed is that when you turn on the ignition the suspension light dont illuminate untill you start the engine.

 

If i could get my hands on a workshop manual then i could possibly troubleshoot but there is no info anywhere and a bit of help in the right direction would be great

 

I've tried all suspension settings but it wont go up just stays on the bump stops. prior to fitting CV gaitor i didn't touch the car for a fortnight.

 

Would a dodgy ride hight corrector stop the car from raising or could it be a knackerd pump??

 

in anticipation guys,

 

Sven

[techbod]

did you raise the suspension to full height when doing the job? did you start the engine and drop it to normal level? it could be stuck, strange things those C5s I watched one a while back out side nettos and the front suspension was doing press-ups all by its self when the owner was in the shop and I would put that down to electronics being faulty

[myglaren]

did you raise the suspension to full height when doing the job? did you start the engine and drop it to normal level? it could be stuck, strange things those C5s I watched one a while back out side nettos and the front suspension was doing press-ups all by its self when the owner was in the shop and I would put that down to electronics being faulty

They do that if the car is left unlocked and on a gradient or the wheels turned to full lock, apparently.

[techbod]

the car was locked wheels strait and on level ground crazy thing isn't it, must be a gremlin in the system because that would soon run the battery flat if it happened in the garage over night

[Spoon]

did you raise the suspension to full height when doing the job? did you start the engine and drop it to normal level? it could be stuck, strange things those C5s I watched one a while back out side nettos and the front suspension was doing press-ups all by its self when the owner was in the shop and I would put that down to electronics being faulty

 

 

No I jst jacked it up on normal ride hight, did have full RH lock on tho. I was also using a long bar to drop off the bottom arm NS, could i have knocked off the front ride hight corrector or whatever its called or wherever it is??

 

If i had knocked off or damaged this would it stop the car raising??

[techbod]

ride height corrector is more in the middle of the car so doubtful you hit that but worth checking all the return lines from the suspension in that area,

what I would do is bleed the system ( raise suspension to full height then back all the way down ) keep engine running and undo the bleed screw do that a couple of times and see how it goes

[paul.h]

Probably too late to help here but may help others - before jacking up the C5 you should raise the suspension to maximum (mentioned in the handbook). Stops the car trying to squash you , etc, as the car will try to level itself otherwise - this could be what made the NSR wheel lift off the floor. Still need to use axle stands though in case you are underneath and the suspension lowers.

[Spoon]

ride height corrector is more in the middle of the car so doubtful you hit that but worth checking all the return lines from the suspension in that area,

what I would do is bleed the system ( raise suspension to full height then back all the way down ) keep engine running and undo the bleed screw do that a couple of times and see how it goes

 

 

Cheers Techbod, only thing is it wont go up. I've tried working it through its range but doesn't want to move. I cant hear the pump running either. Will check power to it tonight.

Am i right in assuming that the ride hight corrector controls the pump. I've noticed on the back axle theres a small valve with wires going to it which is connected to the suspension with a small plastic bracket. Should there be one on the front (if so i wonder if i've damaged that) if so would the car raise with this damaged.

 

you will have to excuse the terminoligy as im a Citroen Newbie

[techbod]

im basing it on my own cars suspension because I haven't had the pleasure of playing with the newer toys lol,

however the plastic part on the rear is the height leveler ( should it fail the suspension goes all the way up and down only ) and there isn't one on the front so either the pump isn't working or the serpentine belt is off that's what makes the pump work, also I believe there are more electrical things on the C5 than the xantia and the suspension can be electronically set where the xantia cant im aware the XM is similar because you can put it into sport mode

[coastline taxis]

Think i would maybe start by cheching the anti sink valve as if faulty it would stop the car cumming up. Ive never had any dealings with these so check with others first as i may be pointing you in the wrong direction or phone the dealers and ask one of the lads in te workshop. although i do know that there are 2 cit/techniks on hear so your probally in the best place anyway

[Spoon]

Think i would maybe start by cheching the anti sink valve as if faulty it would stop the car cumming up. Ive never had any dealings with these so check with others first as i may be pointing you in the wrong direction or phone the dealers and ask one of the lads in te workshop. although i do know that there are 2 cit/techniks on hear so your probally in the best place anyway

 

 

Went back and checked back everything i had done last night. Checked the 2 valves on the Anti Roll bars last night, No joy. Got power to the pump but nothing else. really need a Wiring Diagram or some kind of manual. Im at a bit of a loss here. Pump seems dead. I took the battery off last night and left it off i'm hoping somethings locked out and a good 24hrs will cure it.

 

Been on other forums found the same problem but no one has ever posted a fix.

[coastline taxis]

Went back and checked back everything i had done last night. Checked the 2 valves on the Anti Roll bars last night, No joy. Got power to the pump but nothing else. really need a Wiring Diagram or some kind of manual. Im at a bit of a loss here. Pump seems dead. I took the battery off last night and left it off i'm hoping somethings locked out and a good 24hrs will cure it.

 

Been on other forums found the same problem but no one has ever posted a fix.

check wiring to switches on console and to laod valves also id be checkig every fuse in the fusebox also all fuses in the engine bay. earlier you said that the susp/fluid was just above the minimum you then jack the car up and put it on a angle causing what fluid is in it to run to one side whilst at that angle the suspension activates itself could the system have pulled air in via the reservoir. Think it might pay you to top fluid up and try bleeding the system. Is there any signs of a leak under the vehicle

[coastline taxis]

Went back and checked back everything i had done last night. Checked the 2 valves on the Anti Roll bars last night, No joy. Got power to the pump but nothing else. really need a Wiring Diagram or some kind of manual. Im at a bit of a loss here. Pump seems dead. I took the battery off last night and left it off i'm hoping somethings locked out and a good 24hrs will cure it.

 

Been on other forums found the same problem but no one has ever posted a fix.

check wiring to switches on console and to laod valves also id be checkig every fuse in the fusebox also all fuses in the engine bay. earlier you said that the susp/fluid was just above the minimum you then jack the car up and put it on a angle causing what fluid is in it to run to one side whilst at that angle the suspension activates itself could the system have pulled air in via the reservoir. Think it might pay you to top fluid up and try bleeding the system. Is there any signs of a leak under the vehicle

[techbod]

didn't see the minimum fluid level bit and that could be the reason top it up ( im sure its the same procedure as the xantia ) suspension to max height then pour the LHM fluid in and see if it starts to pump the suspension up

 

 

if the pump didn't work you would hear a very nasty noise :o

[Spoon]

Still messing, cant get to the bottom of it all. Has got one of these plug in scanners and if so does it read suspension problems.

[techbod]

your only going to get generic engine codes with a basic scanner so its either lexia 3 which does it all or someone with a similar tool like Sykes pickavant/snap on

[coastline taxis]

your only going to get generic engine codes with a basic scanner so its either lexia 3 which does it all or someone with a similar tool like Sykes pickavant/snap on

Are you anywhere near the tyne and wear area

[coastline taxis]

Are you anywhere near the tyne and wear area

Have you topped fluid up and checked wiring and fuses?.

[Spoon]

Have you topped fluid up and checked wiring and fuses?.

 

 

Hi Steve,

 

No I live near worksop. I have checked all the fuses., they all seem ok, fluid still at base setting. Im just going back again thru everything i've done. Looking at the wiring diagram and gong back thru what i've done the only thin in the area is the ABS sensor which is connected to the BHI also. Im wondering if i've knocked the sensor or pulled the cable. Surely the ABS sensor cant knock out the suspension pump can it, or can it??

[techbod]

ABS sensor wont effect it and the hydraulic pump is the place to start, start the engine and see if the power steering is working ( that tells you the pump is working ) if not then that's the problem

[Spoon]

ABS sensor wont effect it and the hydraulic pump is the place to start, start the engine and see if the power steering is working ( that tells you the pump is working ) if not then that's the problem

 

 

Hi Tech,

 

Suspension pump is mechanical, Hydraulics run off a seperate pump on OSF inner wing just under the LDS tank. Not the same as the Xantia. Im baffled?!$$

[Spoon]

I think the motor is knackerd, did some fault finding tonight in between the rain and the cheese toasties. I've got power to the pump, ECU tries power the pump via the trigger wire but it wont start. all connections and fuses are ok. :D

 

Need to find a pump now.

[techbod]

ahhh so that's where the difference is I wondered how the suspension on that car works when I saw that blokes car doing press ups when he wasn't in the car :D for parts try eurocarparts and compare prices or put a wanted advert on the site because someone might be breaking a car up for spares