C5 Tourer front suspension dropping overnight

[MadMax7890]

Hi, I have had Citroens for many years, and still have my favourite Xantia. However, my question today concerns my C5 Tourer.
I bought this low mileage car recently, and have since changed the front struts, partly due to oil leakage, but also believing that this would stop the front of the car sinking to the ground overnight. I have had series 1 and 2 C5 estates in the past, and none have done this.
So, having replaced the front struts (with new Citoen replacements!) what's next?

The front of the car STILL drops to the ground overnight. NO oil leaks.

Are all the valves which might be a problem etc in the pump assembly, or are they hidden away somewhere else?
I would be grateful for advice. The car has only done 22k!!!! All my other (more reliable) Citroens had covered appreciably more miles, with no issues at all. Thanks! Jim

[GiveMeABreak]

It might be worth checking the electrical connector to the BHI on top of the electropump. If LDS fluid gets in it can cause problems. I'm thinking that the exhaust electrovalves may be playing up, therefore allowing the fluid to return more quickly than it normally would. This may also have the effect of the pump working more frequently than it needs to under normal operating conditions.

If you have Diagbox, it may well be worth checking for a fault code - or checking the live data from the suspension ECU - there are electrovalve tests that can be performed that may help.

[MadMax7890]

Hi! Thanks very much for your response. I have an OBD reader, but not a Daigbox. I assume that, other than cleaning the electrical connector with connector cleaner (which I have) the electrovalves are a "no go"?
Cheers, Jim

[GiveMeABreak]

It depends on the issue - and hence why some further diagnostics are needed. Electro valves can be tested with Diagbox but highly unlikely with a generic OBD reader. It may help determine if it's an ECU / electrical issue concerning the electrovalve commands - which is why I suggested cleaning up the BHI electrical connections first.

[MadMax7890]

Thanks again for your interest and support. I will try the easy option first! Cheers!

[aerodynamica]

I just found this thread looking for somethig else.. Hi Jim, nice to see another C5 and Xantia owner in Glasgow - there are so few of us!

Just a thought - there was chat years ago on the C6 forum about the suspension dropping down and the fault was traced to the actual Hydractive firmness regulator's valve leaking on occasion. There is a one way valve in the unit that sticks with corrosion (actually from the outside I believe)

Anyway here's the thread from the C6 forum:
http://c6owners.org/plugins/forum/forum ... hp?2638.30

it deals with the rear suspension but it can be either front or rear as the unit is the same front and rear just with different sphere fitted. Unfortunately on the C5 X7 the front unit is completely inaccessible/ removable without lowering the subframe as I recently learned It's at the back left lower engine bay area. There is a test you can do to see if it's leaking - the return pipe can be disconnected somewhere to view the flow (possibly next to the LDS tank somewhere). I think it's in the C6 thread and might just eliminate the possibility of the front Hydractive unit being the cause.

[myglaren]

Me being me wouldn't be too concerned about it and do what my dad's boss always advised him to do:
"Let it develop"!

My C5s (not X7s) would usually sink a bit overnight, around an inch and when unlocked the pump would run for a few seconds to correct the height. Never got any worse in all the time I had them.