Citroen C5 - Front suspension stuck

[andyhugill]

Hi, I've today replaced the front lower wishbones due to perished bushes on my '58 Citroen C5 Estate. After finishing and putting the car back on the ground the front suspension is stuck in its lowest setting and will not budge. The rear suspension is working fine. Any ideas what may cause this before i resort to the dealer. I thought maybe faulty solenoid valve or non return valve but it's seems hard to find information about these.
Thanks....>Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi and welcome.

My first thought given that you have just undertaken the work mentioned is that you have dislodged / moved / removed and reattached the front height corrector. This is located on the passenger side arm.

Have a look at this post:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55922&hilit=front+h ... or#p500907

[andyhugill]

Thanks Mark, great link. Yes i think you are probaly right. I fitted the new wishbone and the bracket holding the sensor was a pig to get back in place with limited access from the wheel side. I think i must have dislodged the rod or not put on the connector properly. Hopefully that is it and i'll have another look later.
Thanks....Andrew

[GiveMeABreak]

These have a very fine tolerance Andrew and you may need to have the suspension height measurements recalibrated if they are out. This involves a series of measurements taken a certain way, a formula to calculate a value and these are then fed into the Lexia diagnostic to compare with the reference values. Once input, the system calculates and makes adjustments assuming the corrector is at or near the right angle. We normally suggest that if you have to take this off then mark the position clearly so you can reposition it exactly to avoid this happening. Also never get under a hydraulically suspended car without independent supports for the car, as the car may trigger a sudden change causing the car to lower very quickly. There have been fatalities as a result, but I'm sure you have it supported.

[Hell Razor5543]

Marc sent me the way to check and correct the height settings on a C5. It worked for my C5 Mk1 estate. I still have the document in PDF format, if required.

[GiveMeABreak]

Unfortunately they are not the same James - the procedures are completely different as the X7 is a totally different vehicle to the Mark I, and further will be different yet again if it is a 6 Cylinder X7.

@ Andrew - if you have Diagbox and need to attempt this yourself, let me know and PM your VIN so I know which procedure you require - but you will need Diagbox / Lexia to do this.

[Paul-R]

A couple of years ago the dogbone rusted off the rear sensor of my Mk1 C5. It was an interesting drive home from work with the rear of the car jacked up to its maximum and zero suspension movement...

Anyway, fortunately I had a donor car at home and was able to cannibalise the pot (potentiometer), clamp and dogbone off that. It wasn't possible to swap just the dogbone as the ball on the old pot had severe corrosion so I had to replace the complete unit. I marked up the old clamp on the A/R bar and fitted the new assembly in as best the same position as I could. Needless to say it was wrong and I tried very hard to set the height using my Lexia but changing the parameters just didn't seem to do anything. In the end I slackened the clamp and with careful rotation (and many checks) was able to get the car looking right.

I drove the car for three years and then sold it without complaint. My suggestion is to alter the sensor mounting at first to see if you can get it looking right - assuming the dogbone is on correctly. ISTR that (on earlier cars) it was possible to fit it upside down so the sensor looked correct but then gave the wrong reading. Is that possible on yours?

[GiveMeABreak]

It's a bit tight on the front one though Paul IIRC, but definitely worth trying to see if Andrew can align it back up to how it was first of all.

[andyhugill]

Many thanks for all the replies - very useful.

I did have a look at the height sensor last night and it appears to be connected as it should but it is very tight to get in there with big hands to have a good look.

I think my next step is to get a diagnostic box connected to it and see if it can tell me what is the issue. Should i go to the citroen garage for this or buy a lexia tool to plug into it the car. I've seen these on ebay but they seem cheap, will they do the job:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PP2000-Lexia- ... Sw1DtXKwwV

If not what do people recommend please.

Thanks....Andy

[Hell Razor5543]

The problem with some of the cheaper Lexia clones is that they do not always have the full chipset, and this can prevent them from reading some of the more modern cars (and that can include the Citroen C5). While it is not cheap (compared to the clones) the equipment sold by Easy Diagnostics does have the full chipset, and can read the C5 X7 ECUs. I have an earlier version of their Lexia (running firmware B), and I have used it on a C5 X7 to activate the DRLs. If you mention you are a member of this forum you may get a discount (I cannot guarantee this, as there have been communication issues).

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 00#p531500

[Paul-R]

That one is almost certainly not what is called a full chip version. Your car is an early X7 so it may work but basically a full chip version will be more versatile. You should also look for what's called Rev C firmware installed, which again increases its range.

Bear in mind that making fine adjustments with a Lexia/Diagbox is fine but the clamp needs to be approximately right on the A/R bar. If the clamp is positioned so that the pot is nearly at the end of its travel then you can get the car riding correctly at normal height but might run out of pot movement at maximum or minimum height. It's a remote chance but it exists.

[andyhugill]

thanks again, i've e-mailed easy diagnostics. i just need to try and find out why the front is not working without the espense of a main dealer.

[GiveMeABreak]

It may be initially cheaper to just ask them to adjust the height corrector as they will have to use the diagnostic equipment to do this anyway. If there is a further issue, they should advise you anyway.

Paul is right though, these really need to be put on correctly positioned. It won't be a case of entering measurements into the diagnostic or adjusting, it needs certain calculated values from the formulae entered, then it converts these into values. I'll send you the procedure anyway, so you can see what is involved. Then you can decide. It might be worth your while investing in a Lexia clone if you are thinking of staying with PSA cars as an investment, but don't buy a cheap one as it will only partially work on the X7 and other more recent vehicles.

[Xantippa]

I´ve got cheap Lexia clone from aliexpress, and I´ve managed to adjust ride height with it on X7.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes as it has been mentioned, though, it is very hit and miss as you just don't know what you are buying until you get it. In the U.K., we know the Easy kits are full chipped with all the resistors and optocouplers needed for full CAN cars and will read all the ECUs. I'm glad you had a good experience with your kit, many have found otherwise from the bay and elsewhere.