C5 Mk3 suspension reservoir overflowed & car won't rise

[Paul-R]

If he misunderstood how much oil to put in I would question him closely about whether he used the correct oil as specified by PSA.

[GiveMeABreak]

No problem - sounds like the mechanic filled it without first lowering the suspension.

Only fill to between 'a' & 'b' as shown after suspension is at lowest setting on flat ground and left for a few minutes.

The LDS reservoir cap should have a small hole in it for pressure relief, but these are nowhere wide enough to compensate for a large fluid return under pressure (like when the car goes in a dip or over a hump and the suspension travel forced fluid back - or indeed when a garage drops the car back onto it's wheels from a post lift without first having raised the suspension up and loosening the cap).

This is where the fluid can be forced out the hole and get back into the pump again through the casing split - and back to square one. I hope you caught it in time and that no other damage was caused in the system.

[citroen since 1973]

Fingers crossed Marc. Thanks Paul, the fluid does look like the correct stuff, but that's a good point.

[Kees]

OOOHHHH, it's again wrong!!! much to much lds in the system!!!
to lower the car in the lowest possition with the switch inside youre car.
Then if you look in the LDS resevior you should NOT see the LDS!!!!
so what to do now.
Start the car in the normal position, remove the cap from the resevoir, let the engine running, then put the car in the lowest position and let the LDS witch is to much overflow.
Then you have to remove the rest of the LDS until you see no LDS any more.
if it is correct and you press the car down then you wil see a little LDS at the bottum off the reservoir.
succes, i hope you can mannage it.
Greeting,
Kees.

[Kees]

@Marc:
the small hole in the cap you speak about is an one way system,
it's not for over pressure, but to prevent vacuum.
today i removed the rubber inner seal, then you see the little hole, from outside you can blow and the air passed, but on the other end, if you try to suck on it, then you feel a vacuum.
greeting,
Kees.

[GiveMeABreak]

I think you will find it takes a little more pressure than blowing on it. These were modified at some point to help prevent pressure overload, so they should allow for some overpressure.

[Kees]

No problem - sounds like the mechanic filled it without first lowering the suspension.



Only fill to between 'a' & 'b' as shown after suspension is at lowest setting on flat ground and left for a few minutes.

The LDS reservoir cap should have a small hole in it for pressure relief, but these are nowhere wide enough to compensate for a large fluid return under pressure (like when the car goes in a dip or over a hump and the suspension travel forced fluid back - or indeed when a garage drops the car back onto it's wheels from a post lift without first having raised the suspension up and loosening the cap).

This is where the fluid can be forced out the hole and get back into the pump again through the casing split - and back to square one. I hope you caught it in time and that no other damage was caused in the system.

If you check this way, then you have to lower the car with Lexia or Diagbox.
greeting,
Kees.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes but it's good enough for the DIY person who does not have access to depressurise the system fully using Diagbox. There is sufficient space in the reservoir to check it on the lowest setting as show without damage.

[citroen since 1973]

1 year on update. Last week the C5 suspension stopped working and the car would not lift - again! My son drove it to the indy garage we use and after checking it over, they found that the 40 (or 50?) amp suspension fuse had blown. Further checks revealed that the reconditioned pump has failed. I think that this is probably due to the garage overfilling the system after the last work, just over a year ago. Further investigation revealled badly corroded rear suspension pipes. The garage are struggling to get spare parts for any of this and because the car has cost a lot of money to keep on the road over the past year, plus an MOT coming up, which it will fail, they've recommended scrapping the car. I must admit that, sad though this is, it's probably the best advice. Does anyone know what a 2008 2.2 Exclusive Tourer, with 153,000 miles is worth for spares/scrap please and where best to sell it? It's got an amazing engine, but in addition to the suspension, does suffer from lots of minor electricall gremlins, in the form of warning codes, like puncture warnings etc. Typical for he age of the car, I guess!

[citroen since 1973]

The mechanic has now probed deeper into the pump issue, stripped it down and cleaned it thoroughly. It has now started working, but did start smoking, which needs further investigation. He thinks that he can make up his own pipework to replace the corroded and seemingly, leaking rear pipe(s), so who knows, maybe there still is life in the old girl!.