Suspension Height Adjustment

[ianfm]

My C5 2.0 HDI LX is higher than it should be when it is on normal ride setting. The hydractive pump is working fine, it goes up and down ok on all settings and adjusts as it should when I get in and out of the car. The problem is that compared to all the other C5 cars I have seen mine is definatley higher on the normal drive setting, probably about 15-20cm higher.

 

Is there any way to adjust the ride height or is it a garage job?

[Guest Brian J]

My C5 2.0 HDI LX is higher than it should be when it is on normal ride setting. The hydractive pump is working fine, it goes up and down ok on all settings and adjusts as it should when I get in and out of the car. The problem is that compared to all the other C5 cars I have seen mine is definatley higher on the normal drive setting, probably about 15-20cm higher.

 

Is there any way to adjust the ride height or is it a garage job?

 

 

As the Citroen blurb states that:

 

"The ride height automatically varies according to the car's speed and the condition of the road. On a good road surface, at motorway speeds, Citroën C5 lowers its ride height by up to 15mm at the front and 11mm at the rear to improve fuel consumption and further enhance stability. On a poor road surface, travelling more slowly, Citroën C5 raises its ride height by up to 13mm to improve road-holding and comfort, and to prevent damage to the underbody of the car."

 

I dont think it is just a matter of adjusting the stationary 'ride height'. It may be wise to get it checked out on your local Citroen garage's diagnostic computer to see what is happening as it may be a sensor failure or the overall system might not be working correctly. My Haynes manuel doesn't tell you how to do it, it says to take it to a Citroen garage.

[Randombloke]

The problem is that compared to all the other C5 cars I have seen mine is definatley higher on the normal drive setting, probably about 15-20cm higher.

 

Might be worth checking that the height sensors are not sticky. A squirt with some WD40 followed by an excursion through the various ride heights might help, but it could make it worse.

 

Otherwise, from memory the height adjustment is via diagnostic tool.

[Johndouglas]

 

 

My Haynes manuel doesn't tell you how to do it, it says to take it to a Citroen garage.

 

:) But Mr Haynes says that more and more these days. In 1990 when he wrote his beautifully presented manual for the BX, with its excellent photographs printed on good quality paper, he gave a blow by blow description of how to remove the arm and then how to replace the rear arm bearings. Ten years later, his Xantia manual is printed on newsprint. He tells us how to remove the arm.... only... then goes on to say it is best if left to a dealer. Fings ain't what they used to be. B)

[Guest Brian J]

:) But Mr Haynes says that more and more these days. In 1990 when he wrote his beautifully presented manual for the BX, with its excellent photographs printed on good quality paper, he gave a blow by blow description of how to remove the arm and then how to replace the rear arm bearings. Ten years later, his Xantia manual is printed on newsprint. He tells us how to remove the arm.... only... then goes on to say it is best if left to a dealer. Fings ain't what they used to be. B)

 

So do you know the answer to ianfm's question?

[Randombloke]

So do you know the answer to ianfm's question?

 

He needs to search the forum and look at some of the other 8 threads where we have been through this before.

 

IMV the answer is simple.

 

Read this thread:

 

C5 suspension problem

 

Locate both height sensors and see if there is the opportunity for MECHANICAL adjustment. If not, then it can only be done via the diagnostic plug in tool. If there is a chance to mechanically adjust, then mark up existing setting, tweak, then see what happens.

 

Before doing that, lubricate sensors to make sure it is not a simple problem that can be easily solved.

 

Then report back to enhance the knowledge on the forum. People only ever ask but don't often feed back. Feedback gives good indication of which solutions are good and which are not so good.

 

Then we need to moderate the threads in question so that all the different threads discussing the same faults are merged so that searching and using the forum becomes easier with no need to start new threads on old problems where the answers have already been given.

[ianfm]

Thanks for your comments. I will have to have a look at the height sensors, can anyone tell me where these are located?

 

Ian

[Johndouglas]

They are attached to the front and rear antiroll bars. Don't go under the car without having axle stands for support.