2002 C5 2.2 HDI SPHERES, how to depressurise the system?

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kraM
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2002 C5 2.2 HDI SPHERES, how to depressurise the system?

Post by kraM »

Morning

How do I fully depressurise the hydractive suspension so I can change my spheres please?

Cheers

Mark
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Post by Citroenmad »

For C5 reasons the system does not fully depressurise without a Lexia telling it do do so ... it goes quite a bit lower than the 'low' position.

However, I have removed the spheres on a C5 with it set to low without any problems.
Chris
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Post by wheeler »

Citroenmad wrote:For C5 reasons the system does not fully depressurise without a Lexia telling it do do so ... it goes quite a bit lower than the 'low' position.
You dont need a Lexia to fully de pressurise the suspension system. After all if there was an electronic failure of the BHI Lexia probably would'nt comunicate with it to be able to de pressurise it so you can replace it.
If you have H3+ there is a valve on each of the stiffness regulators that looks like a brake bleed nipple, open these valves for a few seconds with a plastic tube & container under it as a little bit of LDS will come out & you will see the suspension drop a little bit lower. on models without 3+ the pressure release nipples are on little T piece type unions, the front is located near the O/S/F strut turret under the bonnet & the rear is near the centre of the rear axle.
However as Citroenmad says for just cangine sheres setting it to low is fine.
kraM
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Post by kraM »

nearly poo'd myself :shock:
The depressurising nipple on the back was seized, so I carried on undoing the N/S/R sphere (felt really tight), when there was a loud pop / bang, and I, the drive and underside of the car were coated in a wash of LDS fluid. The O/S/R strangley did not do this, as the system was fully depressurised. I then changed my pants, and cleaned the car off.

I began doing the front, but couldn't find a nipple on the central sphere, so took the T piece off, and drained loads of fluid out, but the spheres still feel like they are going to come off with another really loud pop (they're 8bar higher than the rears).

I'm scared, how do I depressuirise the front, with out killing myself. Was I looking in the wrong place for the nipple, and undoing the only T piece I could find on the O/S/F cornor under the bonnet, apart from losing a load of fluid, has not depressurised it.

Any more advice please?

A now clamer (heart rate)

kraM
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Post by wheeler »

I assume you have H3+ being an exclusive ?
The nipple should be on the stiffness regulator where the 3rd central sphere is. If I remember right the nipple is on the top of the unit pointing up the way on the front regulator, keep the nipple open till fluid stops coming out.
kraM
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Post by kraM »

Hi

Thank you for this, I have no idea what H3+ means? I will have another go this evening.

Thank you for your help.

Mark
2002 Citroen C5 2.2 HDI Exclusive Estate,
1997 Honda Civic v-tec e, never missed a beat (it is a Honda)
1981 VW MK1 Golf GTi :)
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Post by wheeler »

kraM wrote:Hi

Thank you for this, I have no idea what H3+ means?
Hydractive 3+ (H3+) Means you have a sport button & 6 spheres.
Hydractive 3 (H3) Means you have only 4 spheres & no sport button.
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Post by cachaciero »

wheeler wrote:
kraM wrote:Hi

Thank you for this, I have no idea what H3+ means?
Hydractive 3+ (H3+) Means you have a sport button & 6 spheres.
Hydractive 3 (H3) Means you have only 4 spheres & no sport button.
O.K wheeler here's a curved ball for you why is it that the pump assemblies have H numbers that don't appear to correspond to the level of suspension, I have seen Pumps with H1 H2 and H2+ but never H3 would be nice to know what was for what :-)

Rgds cachaciero
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Post by wheeler »

cachaciero wrote:
wheeler wrote:
kraM wrote:Hi

Thank you for this, I have no idea what H3+ means?
Hydractive 3+ (H3+) Means you have a sport button & 6 spheres.
Hydractive 3 (H3) Means you have only 4 spheres & no sport button.
O.K wheeler here's a curved ball for you why is it that the pump assemblies have H numbers that don't appear to correspond to the level of suspension, I have seen Pumps with H1 H2 and H2+ but never H3 would be nice to know what was for what :-)

Rgds cachaciero
Don't know, never noticed that myself, mk1 C5's are only available with either H3 or H3+ though.
Maybe just a manufacturers number & its just coincidence that it starts with H ??
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