Lazy C5 Suspension

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 29 Aug 2006, 09:07

Twice, over a space of a few months, my C5 estate has "Forgotten" to raise the rear of the car. Once I had sent the car to the bottom, the other I had reversed up a slight slope. As I drove away, over a bumpy carpark or track, something was hitting the underneath of the car, and the mud flaps dragged along the floor. Pausing and driving again did not sort it. When I get out of the car the rear starts rising.
I can make the car go up and down fine. Its only happened twice, is it something common or to worry about?
How much fluid should be in the tank for the suspension?

406 V6 · Post by **406 V6** » 29 Aug 2006, 09:36

The fluid should reach the small opnening on the first filter you see when you take of the lid, with the suspension down.
I'm getting suspicious of the rear height sensor, but when they fail, you get warned and the symptoms are very different.
Are you able to ask for a BHI reprogramming?

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 29 Aug 2006, 09:59

Thanks 406 for responding.
Whats a BHI reprogramming?
The fluid does not reach the filter. I can't see the fluid through the filter at all, I can see the evel from the outside, and when its on full height, there is a little bit left in the tank. Think it was full height. One way or the other.
Is LHM a dealer only thing? Halfords don't have any.

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 29 Aug 2006, 10:59

If the suspension is a sealed unit, and my liquid level is too low. Where did the liquid go to?
Is it due to carrying heavy loads?

The nearest dealer has sold its Citroen business, and the people who bought it don't yet know how much it costs to service the suspension

But I bought some fluid to top it up in the mean time.

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 29 Aug 2006, 12:25

Is LHM a dealer only thing? Halfords don't have any

BEWARE

The C5 doesn't use LHM - it's a different (orange) fluid!
Whatever you do, don't put LHM in it.

406 V6 · Post by **406 V6** » 29 Aug 2006, 12:30

The BHI or Bloc Hidraulique Intégré contains in that small package beneath the LDS tank an accumulator, pump, filters, electrovalves and a small computer that takes care of every aspect involving the suspension control and behaviour.
The fluid level must be checked with the suspension fully down!

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 29 Aug 2006, 12:53

406 V6 wrote: The fluid level must be checked with the suspension fully down!

Thanks again. I bought some LDS. Not Citroen stuff, but compatible and despite being green was assured by the manufacutrer, and a Citroen dealer that its just a dye to change colour and its definatly compatible, It drank a whole litre and reached the holes in the bottom of the filler tube, not up to the little round hole near the top. Will take it for a spin later and see how it is.

406 V6 · Post by **406 V6** » 29 Aug 2006, 13:12

You must fill it up to that upper hole. If you check the outside of the tank, the is a small square where the plastic has a diferent texture. The level there should coincide with the small opnening in the filter

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 29 Aug 2006, 14:10

406 V6 wrote:You must fill it up to that upper hole. If you check the outside of the tank, the is a small square where the plastic has a diferent texture. The level there should coincide with the small opnening in the filter

Thanks 406, you have beenvery helpfull. Will buy some mroe gunk!.