Hydraulic tank

[GiveMeABreak]

One thing that may also cause an issue is that there is a cover over the two tanks (hydraulic and coolant), and to access the hydraulic cap you have to take this cover off (no need for the coolant, there is a hole for it). I wonder how many first time Citroen owners would know about it (if they did not read through the handbook)?

http://parkers.bauercdn.com/Images/Arch ... C05007.JPG

James The X7 does not have a cover unlike the previous models - probably as it was when the X7 was nearing production when C5 & C6 owners started noticing their tanks splitting, so 'designed out' the cover to make it more accessible. There was a new LDS cap replacement part with a hole in - probably to also help with pressure issues.

[GiveMeABreak]

I know it is not an X7, but both my MkI and the facelift have that cover over the hydraulic tank. I do not know if the X7 has, but if it does then that could cause this issue.

Nothing to do with the plastic cover James, it's the unvented LDS cap that can cause the worst damage as there is no venting on the old one.

[Hell Razor5543]

I understand about the cap (having read about the need to loosen it on this forum), but I wonder how many C5 owners are unaware of it, being that it is hidden from view under that cover. I should check to see if my C5 has a 'solid' cap or a 'vented' one.

[GiveMeABreak]

I understand about the cap (having read about the need to loosen it on this forum), but I wonder how many C5 owners are unaware of it, being that it is hidden from view under that cover. I should check to see if my C5 has a 'solid' cap or a 'vented' one.

There is a replacement for the Mark II (2004 -2007) and the X7 which are the same:
Old LDS Cap: 4009 L6
New Vented LDS Cap: 4009 V9

[Dommo]

Hello all

I've read a lot about having to remove the cap before jacking up a C5, I'm a C5 newbie but have done a fair few jobs already. However I have noticed that every time I've opened the cap it has hissed to equalise pressure (I can't decide whether the air is whooshing in our out?). Does this mean it is likely I have a solid cap, or does the vented cap only 'vent' at a certain pressure?

Also - I can't understand how the system allows you to use the suspension switch to raise to high and not damage the tank, but jacking the car up takes it over the edge. Doesn't seem to make sense??

[Dommo]

Also - how obvious is the vented cap from the non vented? Could I tell from the top?

[GiveMeABreak]

Hello all

I've read a lot about having to remove the cap before jacking up a C5, I'm a C5 newbie but have done a fair few jobs already. However I have noticed that every time I've opened the cap it has hissed to equalise pressure (I can't decide whether the air is whooshing in our out?). Does this mean it is likely I have a solid cap, or does the vented cap only 'vent' at a certain pressure?

Also - I can't understand how the system allows you to use the suspension switch to raise to high and not damage the tank, but jacking the car up takes it over the edge. Doesn't seem to make sense??

I suspect when on a post lift (with wheels hanging loose), the wheels are suspended by gravity and may be forced to the extremities of travel, and if the car has not been raised to the high position first, the weight of the wheels will be creating pressure in the system. When the car is on the ground the wheels always provide resistance against a controlled raising and lowering.

[Hell Razor5543]

I have found that the cap on my C5 is vented. The cap is marked "DIRECTION ASSISTEE - POWER STEERING" and has the symbol of a steering wheel. Within that wheel, in the 12 o'clock position, is a small (2mm) hole. This is the vent. You can, from the outside of the cap, blow through it (into the tank), but I tried the other way and it will not let air flow OUT of the tank). If my original cap had not been vented I was OK, as I got a vented cap from a scrappy (I intend to fit a wheel valve to it, so that I can then pressurise the system if I have had to work on it) for a couple of quid.

I did notice that, on the tank, there are warning labels that could imply the system should only be worked upon by a qualified Citroen technician. To somebody who is not mechanically minded that could put them off even loosening the LDS cap.

The cap looks like this, but the rubber washer is missing from the inside of the cap;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-C6-HY ... XQ3kNThI3Z

[Paul-R]

I had my Mk1 C5 for 10 years and during that time it NEVER had the cap removed for when it was jacked up.

And I never saw a spume of oil flying out like something from Moby Dick.

[Stickyfinger]

Just to confirm, the Mk1/2 do not have the same "cap/tank" problem..?

[GiveMeABreak]

Just to confirm, the Mk1/2 do not have the same "cap/tank" problem..?

According to the Mark 1 documentation there is no Mark 1 LDS cap replacement, but both the Mark II and X7 have the same replacement part number mentioned in my previous post.

The Mark 1 LDS cap part is: 4009 H6 (this was for my 2001 SX that I had from new)

[GiveMeABreak]

It may not be related - but there was a change in BHI design from RPO 10248 (Nov 2004), affecting the return of the LDS fluid. It didn't affect the reservoir, but the fluid was now returned via a duct internal to the BHI and not via an external pipe. Same for both the Hydractive 3 and Hydractive 3+, but the latter having a slightly different modification.

[Dommo]

Thanks guys, so this looks like the vented one in that case:





Is that the vented one? Thanks. Dom.

[Hell Razor5543]

If mine is anything to go by that is vented. Once you clean up the top you should be able to blow through the hole into the inside.

[wurlycorner]

I've not been releasing the lds reservoir cap on my C5 when I have put it on my ramp, either... TBH the thought never crossed my mind!
I have noticed the car being a pita to get the suspension to re-raise after though... After lowering back onto all 4 wheels I normally need to manually jack one end slightly to get it to react.