Bouncy C5 suspension even after new spheres!

[GiveMeABreak]

It sounds as though water might have got into the height sensors, so they are no longer returning reliable information.

As mentioned in the 1st, 4th, 9th and 13th reply!

[dnsey]

I was thinking more in terms of the actual potentiometers having been affected by water ingress. Lubing the linkages etc might help, but won't solve that problem.
I have in the past successfuly restored a sensor by drilling a small hole in the body (choose the site carefully), squirting in some switch cleaner, working the sensor vigourously over its range, then re-sealing the hole. Proved to be a long-term fix.

[GiveMeABreak]

Well I'm pleased that worked for you - but I personally wouldn't recommend drilling into any electrical component here as a) I don't know the technical abilities of the poster and b) I wouldn't want to feel responsible for somone possibly wrecking their kit. Unless of course you have a proven fix with a step by step guide...

[Peter.N.]

The XM's had a minimum of six spheres but the early 2.0. Hdi's only had four, back the the basic BX/CX system.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

I can't remember now Peter on my previous 3 XMs - I had an 'H' plate 2.0 Petrol and 2 x 93/94 plate 2.0 petrol turbo prestige models - I know I had the comfort spheres fitted to the earlier 'H' one, but never had any issues with the later 2 so I never bothered to check! But I doooo miss the electric centre arm rest

[Peter.N.]

Never had a posh one, all mine were VSX estates except one SX which I actually preferred as it had dual zone heating, ideal as I am always cold and my wife doesn't like the heat.

I had six or seven XMs over a 15 year period all 2.1 td and they all had hydractive suspension, 6 spheres plus the accumulator - maybe not the SX, cant remember.

Peter

[xantia_v6]

All UK market XMs had Hydractive suspension. Base model cars in the rest of Europe made-do without.

[GiveMeABreak]

That rings a bell actually, as I remember on the 'H' plate, when I had comforts fitted, I said to my tech, the sport setting now feels like it used to ride prior to the comforts! That was an SX

[detheridge]

Thanks for the idea dnsey, but I got a replacement front height sensor and my mechanic fitted it. The old one was still full of water when he removed it. Another symptom that occurred was on wet roads when going through a puddle, I'd get the warning beep and the 'X' through the suspension display for a couple of seconds. Obviously water splashing around the height sensor was upsetting it. Replacing that with a new one and adding some sealant stopped the beeping but the ride started to get more and more rough.
Despite that, it now feels like the front suspension is the main culprit for the hardness of ride, and going back to the original fun and frolics where going through a ford caused the system to go bonkers and set itself to wheel changing height (the ride was teeth loosening for about five minutes before it settled down), I'm still wondering if the BSI unit has freaked out. As stated before, the whole car pitches over uneven surfaces rather than each wheel absorbing the movement. Any further ideas, folks?

[xantia_v6]

Another idea: One or more of the new spheres is fasulty and has lost pressure.

If you lean on each corner of the car does the suspension compress easily?

[detheridge]

xantia v6 - are C5 spheres known for their failure rate? I've never had a new sphere fail on me before in years of owning DS's, CXs, XMs and Xantias. Are there dodgy makes that I should avoid?
As far as I can tell, the compression on each corner is okay. Mind you, what would be the result if my local garage has put the rear spheres on the front and vice versa?
I forgot to mention that my car is an estate, if that's relevant to the subject.

[GiveMeABreak]

AFAIK the front and fears are different pressures and will vary model to model, estate, saloon, petrol, diesel etc. Obviously your diesels are heavier cars at the front, but also estates are designed to carry more rear weight, so getting the pressures right is important. Hydractive 3 and 3+ may also be different pressures, so the spheres are all different according to type.

[Peter.N.]

If the spheres are good you should be able to bounce each rear corner about 5-6" and the front ones 3-4".

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

Can you PM your Vin and we'll be able to tell you the exact spheres and pressures you need (front & Rear) for your vehicle as they are all different for the engine sizes - not just the pressure, but the damper hole diameter too as mentioned. If you get the wrong ones with the wrong diameters / pressures you will obviously have issues witht the ride (and safety) of the vehicle.