C5 2 110 HDi Here we go again!

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 07:18

03 C5 2 110 HDi Here we go again!

Well booked my holiday to France. Just drove up to work on dual carriageway. Got three beeps and then noticed the suspension lights were ALL on. The car gave three beeps a couple of times after that as I was driving.

Got to work 30 mins after this first occurred.

Turned the car ignition off, ALL the lights stayed on.

Then the car front suspension pumped up, while there was a noise of the pump (I presume) continuing full on, for a couple of minutes after I had turned car off.

It eventually stopped after two minutes or so and car returned to correct height.

Please don't tell me this is suspension pump.

Please don't tell me this is expensive.

I am seriously having to think about giving up on Citroen.

Can't get to work without car. (No trains/busses)

Can't get to France without car.

So any thoughts would be helpful.

Problems seem to happen at the worst possible time.

This is never ending.

Post by **myglaren** » 24 May 2010, 07:23

First thing to do, check the LDS level and check for leaks.
Could be the power steering leaking if there should be a leak as they share the LDS.
Did you notice any difference in the suspension on the way to work?
Have you still got the old C5? Useful source of parts if you have.

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 07:27

Wow speedy reply Myglaren.

The buzzing of a pump was on the left somewhere. Although didn't seem like it was coming from under reserviour. I am assuming thats the reservoir front left?

There was no difference in the way the car felt at all including to the steering.

In work now, can't go out to get car until 4pm. Eh? IF the LDS needs topped up is this a garage thing?

Also I have never seen any drips on road under car outside house.

Where should I look for leak to steering or anywhere else?

Also I read that the liquid will be orange-ish.

Am I jinxed?

(If so will be pump knowing my luck)

Post by **myglaren** » 24 May 2010, 08:04

The LDS reservoir is on the left under the cover. the pump is directly below the reservoir.

It is pressurised and you are not supposed to remove the cap without a proper sequence but I topped mine up last week at the CCC Northern without the sequence, meant to look into what it was but forgot, no apparent harm done though.

Have a photo somewhere, will bung it up when I find it.

LDS is orange and is practically impossible to see in the reservoir, hence the need to remove the cap.

It could be difficult to spot a minor weep. I see I have one on my power steering hoses, only saw it as the undertray and wheel arch liner are missing at the moment. If the level is down then there will be a leak somewhere though.

You do appear to be jinxed with your C5s.

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 08:07

I checked a previous post you did for aguy up my way. So found where reservoir is.

Will check later. You are right, not easy to see as it the tank is frosted kindof.

Go my fingers crossed this aint serious. Serves me right saying yesterday I was looking forward to getting to France with a healthy car.

Unlike Christmas where it sat in the drive for two weeks or last summer when we nearly never got at all.

Post by **myglaren** » 24 May 2010, 08:13

Motor factors and Halfords will likely have LDS.

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 08:24

Found procedure here http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/ ... 73094150/8

i take it,the handbook is missing!
thank god someone with a C5 is putting in LDS fluid into it.
ive only had morons with lhm in there!!!!!!!
engine running,suspension in lowest setting,look carefully at the resivour,theres a min and max mark it,if in doubt top it up until it fills up to the filler car.
when car is put into normal ride height,itll dissapear from cap level.
hth.

Seesm a lot of people wrongly put in LHM Fluid rather than LDS?

I am hoping it is a simple problem and nothing major. Will be worrying 'till tonight.

Seems fairly straight forward to top up????

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 24 May 2010, 08:37

myglaren wrote:Motor factors and Halfords will likely have LDS.

Never seen LDS anywhere but Citroen, certainly Halfrauds don't carry it as of two months ago, I would imagine the turnover would be to low.

cachaciero

Post by **myglaren** » 24 May 2010, 08:38

Yep, easy as LHM except for the pressurusing thingy that I will look in to in a bit - just set it on low before removing the cap and topping up, IIRC.

Did you see that Chris (citroenmad) had bought a C5 that someone had poisoned with LHM?

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 09:40

I'm saying nothing. Dont want to tempt fate.

Post by **myglaren** » 24 May 2010, 09:59

cachaciero wrote:
myglaren wrote:Motor factors and Halfords will likely have LDS.
Never seen LDS anywhere but Citroen, certainly Halfrauds don't carry it as of two months ago, I would imagine the turnover would be to low.

cachaciero

It is odd but LHM seems to be getting more difficult to get hold of.
My (corner shop stylee(it actually is a corner shop)) has LDS in stock, as does the more upmarket one a couple of miles away. Never been to Halfords for years though.
Total garages should stock it but likely won't - I had to buy Total Quartz 9000 off the wibbly wobbly web after trying my local Total stations and coming up blank, same with BV 75w80 gear oil.
Bought LDS for <£7 at the CCC rally - the guy had Total oils and LHM at very sensible prices too.

Xantidote · Post by **Xantidote** » 24 May 2010, 10:05

Hope it's not serious Boris. Your C5 certainly seems to give you more than your fair share of problems. I presume all the (coolant/cylinder head?) problems last winter have been well sorted? I did send you a PM at the time to see how you were getting on, but maybe you didn't receive it.

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 10:16

Hi

Yeah sorry. My head gasket seems to be holding out. Some oil intank but no more has appeared. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed.

I don't like talking about things fixed as I get superstitious from all the goings wrong. The latest being a case in point after my comments yesterday.

Got a guy coming to see other C5 soon. BAttery is dead so will have to jump start to let him hear nasty noise. I will record it for you guys.

HEre was me thinking things would be okay for me this summer.

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 24 May 2010, 14:29

So I will be okay replacing LDS (If it is this, Here's hoping) myself using method descrbed above?

Post by **myglaren** » 24 May 2010, 15:23

Suspension on low, LDS should be between the bottom of the insert and the top of the shortest slits.
System should be depressurised really but it has been done without going through that rigmarole, for which you need a lexia.
Correct procedure is here (.pdf)

I just opened the reservoir and dumped it all in.