Another C5 X7 suspension repair

[pelopelirrojo]

Hi All,

On Saturday my C5 started playing up. I limped it home and gave the up/down buttons a push.It went down but not up and I could not hear the pump running.

I checked the maxi 40 amp fuse all good then rang the AA. They recovered it to the local Citroen dealer. They rang with a quote this afternoon.

Two pipes have rubbed and chafed through. This caused a leak, the pump has run dry. Price to fit two new pipes, new pump and refill etc. £2500. Yes, you did read correctly, two thousand five hundred pounds!

On an 08 plate and at 194k the car is only worth that when running.

Thankfully I have found someone else who can repair the pump using parts from the earlier C5 and can also repair the pipes. He also said just refilling and resetting after the pipes are repaired and the pump may be OK (after all if it was seized why didn't the maxi fuse blow?).

I need to go and pick the car up from the dealer and I'll have to drive it back on full low setting. Any advice as for preventing any further damage to pump and/or car?

Thanks in advance.

Paul.

[Paul-R]

Take the 40A fuse out and drive slowly and carefully.

How far away from the dealer is the other place? What sort of road surface?

Could you or the other place arrange for your car to be picked up?

[Stickyfinger]

You cannot drive it like that, it will be extremely dangerous and more than likely destroy the struts. No fluid will drop the car below the "low" setting as it will be fully depressurised, Flat bed recovery I am sure.

Two pipes have rubbed and chafed through....../ ??

[GiveMeABreak]

Yep. I would recommend getting it lifted off the road and towed - it won't help the car's electronics with all the hard bouncing, that's for sure.

[Paul-R]

In retrospect driving any distance at all is not going to be feasible as you won't have any power steering.

Low loader or trailer is the answer. A rigid tow might be possible if it's a very short distance on good surfaces.

[pelopelirrojo]

Thanks very much for the prompt advice.

I will get it transported by a low loader.

Yes, 2 pipes chafed together allegedly. Haven't looked myself yet. Sounds odd. I'll look into it before it goes anywhere else. It's just a bit cold and damp at the moment!

[Stickyfinger]

I wonder where this happened, cannot think of a position where that would happen or how you managed to get past the warnings that would/should of happened before the pump got damaged......did you drive with any warnings showing ?

Intriguing............. but sad for you.

[pelopelirrojo]

No warnings at all. Again strange. Around 2 years ago when the offside front strut leaked I had hydraulic fluid all down the side of the car and the warning lights came on. I had already noticed odd sounds with large steering inputs at that time. With this failure I first noticed a juddering with large steering inputs and the ride height not adjusting correctly during driving. No other signs at all until I attempted to raise the car.

[jgra1]

grr.I am getting a judder through steering .. noticed in last 2 weeks..
sorry to hear and interested too..

john

[GiveMeABreak]

Don't want to state the obvious John, but tracking and balancing. If one of the stick on balancing weights has come off that can make a huge difference - and a bad pothole or 2 is enough to upset it.

[Stickyfinger]

Can I ask another, what pipes were damaged ? There is so little pipe work on the C5x7 it is very strange, not much of it crosses itself so close. There must of been some damage or miss placed pipe work at some stage.

[jgra1]

thanks marc..I only notice it at no speed though

just taxiing really. a slight judder..

[GiveMeABreak]

CV joint? Does it clunk if hitting the brake or pulling away or on a lfull turn? A drop link possibly too.

[Stickyfinger]

Drop links give a slight knock or rattle at low speed....my right one is going so I know atm ......a "click" or "crack" also felt at the wheel on lock at slow speed will be the lower joint.....done both.

Not had any judder or vibration

[jgra1]

there has always been a clunk under harsh low speed braking. but this is a no speed feeling through wheel..a feint judder that's recent..

will check it out when it breaks