C5 Rear Suspension Sinking

[Guest MattJEv]

Hi there, I have a small (I hope) problem in that my C5 estate (2003/52 plate) rear suspension loses height when left parked for a few hours. Once I activate the door unlock it quickly returns to normal and it drives normally too. No warnings have come up and I have had no previouys suspension issues. It was serviced at my regular garage last february.

Before I embark on the garage route, can anyone help?? Thanks

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

There is a recent identical posting on the technical page by SteveOMG. Possible solutions posted are new suspension spheres (£75) or a strut leaking and needing replacement.

[Johndouglas]

MY C5 went through a period of the rear end dropping slightly after being parked for a couple of days. Before I really had time to worry about it, it stopped doing it and it's been OK for the past year.

[Guest gaztank]

Hi there, I have a small (I hope) problem in that my C5 estate (2003/52 plate) rear suspension loses height when left parked for a few hours. Once I activate the door unlock it quickly returns to normal and it drives normally too. No warnings have come up and I have had no previouys suspension issues. It was serviced at my regular garage last february.

Before I embark on the garage route, can anyone help?? Thanks

[Guest gaztank]

hi I have the same model as you, yes the c5 estate does sink after a few hours and returns to normal running height when the doors are unlocked. this is normal, nothing to worry about. that's what my dealer told me. So I don't worry about it. regards gary

[Guest nicholas1935]

Hi there, I have a small (I hope) problem in that my C5 estate (2003/52 plate) rear suspension loses height when left parked for a few hours. Once I activate the door unlock it quickly returns to normal and it drives normally too. No warnings have come up and I have had no previouys suspension issues. It was serviced at my regular garage last february.

Before I embark on the garage route, can anyone help?? Thanks

 

Hi,

I have had the same problem; garage first replaced rear stiffnes control valve which made no difference; then proposed to replace almost every other hydraulic component in the back quoting £1600 which independent engineer advised against because having spoken to mechanic he did not think he knew where the problem actually was but assumed it must be 'the hydraulics'. In fact Citroen had replaced their original hydraulic anti-sinking valve system in the back with an electric/electronic version now located in the front with the electric pump and electronic 'computer' control board. The electronic control board is supposed to sense when the ignition is switched off, give a burst of pressure with the pump and then activate an electrovalve to close off the return flow pipe. The problem is in fact the old Citroen bug-bear of intermittent electric faults, like with seat belt warning lights or door mirrors etc. one which does not show up on the plug-in tester. The typical Citroen mechanic would rather run a mile than tackle the electrics/electronics. If you have loads of money, the control board etc. which are part of the pump, needs replacing. If not, try putting the car in the highest suspension position before parking. It works on mine, for some weeks even months, and then one morning it is down again. Repeating the trick once or a few times then gets it OK again - for a while.

 

Nicholas1935