C5 MOT

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mooseshaver
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C5 MOT

Post by mooseshaver »

My car is in for an MOT today. Just been told that the wheel cylinders are leaking. I have no idea what a wheel cylinder is. What is it?
They are both leaking at the rear, and at the moment I am awaiting a phone call about ocsts of repair.
Do they mean Spheres? Or brake thingys?
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C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
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mooseshaver
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Post by mooseshaver »

ok, C5s do not have wheel cylinders if they have disc brakes I am led to believe. More confused now.
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
paulbx
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leaking rear

Post by paulbx »

You need to ask do they mean

1) suspension spheres

and leaking what - Suspension fluid LHM or gas?

2) Disk Brake calipers the pistons that apply your rear disk brakes.

Visit GSF website to get parts

Sounds like the garage are not very aware of hydropneumatic Cits.


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mooseshaver
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Post by mooseshaver »

Suspension cylinders! thats whats gone.
What are they then?
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
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Post by MikeT »

Have you got the exact wording from the failure sheet? I would take "wheel cylinders" to refer to the braking components - caliper and piston for instance.

However, MOT testers have been known to make mistakes when it comes to Citroen's unique hydraulic systems. I would get a second opinion if I wasn't able to confirm or refute the diagnosis myself.
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Post by MikeT »

Perhaps he can't pronounce or spell spheres? :lol: It's anyone's guess now. Rams?
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Post by mooseshaver »

MikeT wrote:Have you got the exact wording from the failure sheet? I would take "wheel cylinders" to refer to the braking components - caliper and piston for instance.

However, MOT testers have been known to make mistakes when it comes to Citroen's unique hydraulic systems. I would get a second opinion if I wasn't able to confirm or refute the diagnosis myself.
have not got anything yet, have agreed to them doing the work as need the car.
They are about £50 for one and £75 for the other ex vat and 3 hours labour. They are not spheres apparently, and they are going to show me them when once its fixed so I can see.
The MOT is done by the dealer themselves so hopefully they can tell citroen problems.
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
MikeT
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Post by MikeT »

mooseshaver wrote:The MOT is done by the dealer themselves so hopefully they can tell citroen problems.
Yeah, hopefully they know what they mean :lol:
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Post by mooseshaver »

Perhaps this is related to the back end not lifting as quick as it used to. If its leaking hydro fluid and this problem is at the back it sort of makes some sense in my mind of limited capacity.
My wife reminded me that Binky (the car) made some squeaking/running noise a few weeks back after setting off. Stopped and checked height looked ok, it was. Raised and lowered suspension, no sign of noise after that so I forgot about.
Will try to take some pics of the bits once I see them and upload them.
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
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Post by jeremy »

On the failure sheet there will be a reference which is to the Testers handbook - which can be found here:

Sometimes when you work it out its nothing like as bad as you think.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/welcome.htm
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Post by mooseshaver »

ok, the lady on reception told me they were not spheres. But I found this "The suspension cylinders (spheres) are supplied with hydraulic fluid (LHM) from the main hydraulic system " on http://www.citroenz.com/BX/Suspen.html
so they must just be called different things in different places.
So it would seem C5 rear spheres last 5 years and 11 months before they need replacing.
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
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Post by nick »

I've just had a look on service.citroen.com and it looks as though they are actually talking about the suspension cylinders. Not the spheres themselves, but what the spheres screw into.
The prices would fit with what you've been quoted, for some reason one side is £53.91 and the other is £75.50
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Post by RichardW »

In this brave new world, you can look the MOT result up on the internet as soon as it been done. Go to http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/html/home.html and providing you've got the V5 ref no you can look the MOT history of any car up. Useful for pre-purchase checks, and finding out before the garage ring you what your car failed on 8)

I'm pretty surprised that a 5 year old C5 has failed on leaking suspension cylinders on both sides, but there you go. Might be worth asking for a contribution - isn't the suspension supposed to be on 5 years guarantee?
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Post by mooseshaver »

Thanks Nick. Its all coming together now. People worried me when I told them it was wheel cylinders and they told me I don't have any if I've got discs all round.


Although the C5 suspension requires not maintenance for 5 years, its only got a 2 year warrenty with Citroen!
Perhaps its the way I drive it. My wife has a mobility scooter thing that is VERY heavy that goes in when we are holidaying, can't rememebr its weight but I can lift one end of it, two people may be able to lift a little way.
I also ignore speed bumps, it is a Citroen after all. I sometimes try to replicate Clarkson`s drive of the C6 at the horse race track by driving at 40mph along a bumpy track. But I've only done that twice and that was a year ago. Maybe its jsut treated rough
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
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mooseshaver
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Post by mooseshaver »

Cylinders fitted, suspension rises much quicker and smoother now.
C5 III Tourer 2.0 HDi 163 Auto Exclusive
Gone cars.
C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Estate auto 57. Awesome car. Sadly Could not be fixed by Citroen.
C5 1.6 HDi VTR Estate 56. Traded in.
C5 2.2 HDi SX Estate 02. Drowned in the floods of 09.
C3 1.4 HDi 92 SX 52.
Saxo 1.1 East Coast.
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