C5 X7 Suspension Pipe Leak

[GiveMeABreak]

My turn for a suspension problem! Driving down to town this morning when I got the 'suspension fault max speed 55 mph' warning. I drove into the Citroen garage and they had a look at it, thinking that it was a sticking height sensor. An hour later and they came back and told me there was a suspension leak in the rear suspension pipe. When I arrived at the garage I did notice that the suspension had been a little bit hard at the front on the way down. I When I got outside the car the front did seem a lot lower than normal. They checked and found there was an error code coming from the front height sensor as well, but they couldn't tell whether this was as a result of the fluid leak causing the front sensor to report incorrect height or not.

Anyway the pipe itself seems to have suffered some corrosion from the elements. Next, cue Citroen warranty who after checking with another individual said it wasn't covered due to corrosion!

After Service Manager informed me, I said this doesn't sound right as it's not a service item and the pipe should be up to spec. My cue to call the warranty dept. I was dealt with very professionally, no nonsense at all. He thought it odd that me as the customer, was ringing them directly until I explained that they had apparently refused the claim. He then checked and was very apologetic, saying that the suspension pipe was covered!

So back I toddled into the dealership and explained they would cover it.

Got a call back later to confirm that it has all been agreed and they are not mucking about, so have added the front height sensor onto the repair order too. In total a £500 bill I'm glad I'm now not paying! Booked in this Thursday.

So they've topped up the LDS fluid for me and I've driven it home. I immediately felt the difference in the ride as a result of having the fluid topped up. When I got home I did notice a large area of oil where I park, but as this is all chippings, I just assumed this was old oil from the steering rack problem that was replaced not too long ago! But looking at it closer I can see it is fresher oil.

I said I won't be using the car until Thursday, and asked whether I should depressurise the system with the Lexia to reduce the pressure in the system, but they said I shouldn't as once it is depressurised, there could be a possibility that it won't rise back up, or that repressurising it could put undue strain on the pipe!

I can't remember now which pipe it was, but it will be either 1, 3 or 4 on the diagram. So this is a new one on me, never heard of the suspension fluid pipes going on a MK 2, yet alone an X7!
So there you have it chaps, time to clean your pipes out!



Note to Vab (Vaborovic): no sarcastic comments regarding hydraulic suspension again please!

[Stickyfinger]

I have had to "clean off" my pipes and rust protect them at the connections on the rear of mine. I can see they would suffer if they had been left and had been living in a more northerly/colder winters- part of the country (more salt ? )
I did this at the same time as the rear roll bar and mounts.

[GiveMeABreak]

What's safe to put on these pipes to protect them? You wouldn't want any of that rust converting Jenolite on these babies I assume? If you can recommend something suitable, I'll get them to apply it to the rest of the at risk areas while they have it on the ramp on Thursday.

[Stickyfinger]

I just wire brushed them, zinc primer with a brush, black metal paint and then sprayed with WAXoil

[vborovic]

I was so happy to have a say in this until the last sentence ...

[bobins]

The steel sprung ones do suffer as well I had a front coil spring go on mine last week...... but slightly cheaper to fix at only £25 for a spring and a couple of hours work

[GiveMeABreak]

I just wire brushed them, zinc primer with a brush, black metal paint and then sprayed with WAXoil

Right, time to invest in some axle stands then! Cheers for that tip.

[GiveMeABreak]

I was so happy to have a say in this until the last sentence ...

Well I just knew you wouldn't be able to resist!

[Paul-R]

The steel sprung ones do suffer as well ... I had a front coil spring go on mine last week...

How many miles has your car done?

[bobins]

How many miles has your car done?

75k, 40k of which in my ownership.

[Paul-R]

A little bit early but not unknown at that sort of mileage. But it would be very early for a wet suspended car to need looking at.

[GiveMeABreak]

A little bit early but not unknown at that sort of mileage. But it would be very early for a wet suspended car to need looking at.

I should of said, mine's only done 65k, that's why I was surprised!

[Paul-R]

Careful - you're giving VB some ammunition there!

[vborovic]

I'm just chillin' at the moment, while you guys go at it ...

[Stickyfinger]

To be honest, the poor rust protection seems limited to a small number of components under the rear, I do not know why but many C5x7 are now 7/8 years old so any weakness in protection will start showing.

However.

In the garage when my Xantia was being MoT'd was a 5 year old Ford Ka which was being welded in 6 places just to get it through this years test, the owner was going to scrap it as it had failed in so many structural places.