C5 Suspension doesn't suspend

[Stickyfinger]

|Yep...as above, a power check to the feed side, also check the earth is good.

?? to forum for info ?? Can the pump be tested by giving it a direct feed ??

[Jabo]

Sounds like you haven't checked the potentiometers. Get underneath and make sure they aren't smashed, moved, etc.
Loosen them from their torsion bars and turn them. The suspension pump should operate as you move them.

[qprdude]

Can you hear the suspension pump run up when you unlock the car? If not you need to check if the power is getting to the pump, if there's 12v at the pump then your pump is likely to have gone tits up, water ingress through the breather hole in the bottom of the motor will do that.

Shouldn't the maxi-fuse blow before the Motor/pump?

[Gibbo2286]

Can you hear the suspension pump run up when you unlock the car? If not you need to check if the power is getting to the pump, if there's 12v at the pump then your pump is likely to have gone tits up, water ingress through the breather hole in the bottom of the motor will do that.

Shouldn't the maxi-fuse blow before the Motor/pump?

Didn't on the ones I've fixed, they've all had power to the motor but the motor's been stuffed, usually full of sludge but on occasion copper corrosion on the internals. One I fixed by just cutting out the corroded wire and soldering in a quarter inch length of cooker wire, it's still going three years on.

[qprdude]

Which would suggest the fuse rating is higher than the motor?? Strange.

[myglaren]

I have done a bit of a search for problems of a similar nature on the C5.
Among the threads should be some photo's of corrosion and burning parts of C5 pump motors but I have failed to spot any. One has been lost as the poster has either removed it or moved his image files around and broken the link.

The information in these threads will possibly be of help in tracking down and rectifying the problem.

Links to C5 Suspension Pump threads:

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=16901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 21&t=45727" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=30419" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=40263" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=40915" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=44537" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=43154" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=42552" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=36176" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=35720" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 16&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 62&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=40942" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=44500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 55&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=34689" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Doully]

Again thanks for the replies. Whilst trying to check the voltage going to the pump, I accidentally disconnected the cable from the pump when the ignition was turned on where I heard the pump wind down. So it looks like the pump is getting power and working. Next thing I'm going to check is the potentiometers.

[Stickyfinger]

Again thanks for the replies. Whilst trying to check the voltage going to the pump, I accidentally disconnected the cable from the pump when the ignition was turned on where I heard the pump wind down. So it looks like the pump is getting power and working. Next thing I'm going to check is the potentiometers.

REMEMBER...CITROEN'S can Come DOWN on You as well as up....Take the necessary precautions when under a Citroen to make SURE you are not crushed

[Doully]

Suspension is now working. Knowing that the pump was receiving power and I heard it wind down, I rechecked the fuses again. The 40amp maxi fuse had now blown, replaced it, went through the battery reconnection procedure and the suspension came to life.

Thanks again

Chris

[Stickyfinger]

BINGO....

[dnsey]

Just to correct a misconception, in most cases a fuse is rated to protect the wiring from overload (and potential fire), rather than the device supplied. A thought experiment will demonstrate that if, for example, you stall an electric drill for any length of time, the motor will burn out before the fuse blows in most cases.

[Gibbo2286]

Just to correct a misconception, in most cases a fuse is rated to protect the wiring from overload (and potential fire), rather than the device supplied. A thought experiment will demonstrate that if, for example, you stall an electric drill for any length of time, the motor will burn out before the fuse blows in most cases.

Also a short circuit in the motor will blow the fuse but an open circuit won't

[qprdude]

And water in the motor won't cause a short?

[Gibbo2286]

And water in the motor won't cause a short?

Not always but it will cause the copper to turn blue and fall into dust.