C5 doesn't reach highest setting

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pentoman
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C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by pentoman »

Hello all

Just bought a lovely 2009 C5 but noticed that the front end is quite floaty. I know these are soft cars but... I drive lots of different cars and this one is super super floaty!

Then I noticed that selecting max height the car does not appear to reach maximum height. The rear does reach the height okay, but the front does not move at all between full height and second position. The front is also quite slow to rise in comparisons to the rear which moves quickly, in any situation. It seems as if the front end is struggling.

History - The driver side front sphere was replaced (at £450 for the part alone!) before I bought the car but it was done by Halfords auto centre and I'm not sure if they have access to the correct procedures for this kind of work. Would they be able to perform this adequately? Could it result in a soft front end?

Sport modes works fine, no errors on the dashboard.
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by dnsey »

How much for a sphere? :-? :shock: :yikes:
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by myglaren »

Indeed! approximately ten times the over the counter price :shock:

Have you checked the LDS level?
I doubt that is the problem but it needs to be checked before proceeding any further.
Mu suspicions would fall on an incorrectly adjusted front height corrector.
pentoman
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by pentoman »

Thanks for the replies.

I assumed it was a sphere which was replaced (it looks new) but the paperwork actually said something like "hydraulic suspension unit" so perhaps there was more to it. I'll try and look closer, and post the part number up, once I am back with the car since I'm away right now.

It's nice to know that a sphere is not actually £450 though.

I will check LDS level but does anyone have any other suggestions to try? Where is the front height corrector?

Are there any good specialists in North Gloucestershire? There is a Warner's Citroen main dealer and I was tempted to ask them to flush the system and check it over, is there any point in that?

Apart from this the car is good. I would recommend it to anyone seeking something comfy. The 2.2 173bhp feels a bit laggy compared to other diesels but has good pull.
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I would check on this link for any recommended garages near you;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by RichardW »

£450 would cover the front strut on one of these - and they are a known weak point, developing leaks. It does sound like someting is amiss on the front suspension if it doesn't respond to the height button - Lexia session required to see what's what.
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by MJM »

If you don't want to use Warners in Gloucester then try these:-
The French Car Centre
E1 Kingsditch Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 9PB
01242 255 355

They're not far from the A40 junction of the M5 (J11?)
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by Mandrake »

Ride unusually hard or soft and sphere replaced by people who don't know any better (Halfords) and my first guess would be that the wrong sphere may be fitted. :roll:

See if you can find any part numbers on the front left and right spheres and make sure they are identical. There are a lot of different versions of spheres which have different gas pressures and damper valve calibrations but otherwise look the same and will happily screw into place - I don't know how many different versions of the spheres there are for the C5 X7 but the wrong spheres being fitted on earlier models of C5/Xantia etc by people who don't know any better is not uncommon.

For the front failing to rise right to the top - have you checked the LDS level ? Maybe it's running out of oil before it can fully lift the suspension... (in which case it's NOT good for the pump to run itself dry)
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pentoman
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by pentoman »

MJM wrote:If you don't want to use Warners in Gloucester then try these:-
The French Car Centre
E1 Kingsditch Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 9PB
01242 255 355

They're not far from the A40 junction of the M5 (J11?)
Thanks - have you used this place? Any experiences with them? What about Warner's Cheltenham, how are they?

I wanted to clarify to the other issue mentioned by 'Mandrake' that the front end does respond - just not as well as you would hope, and not as quickly as the rear.

I need to check the fluid level. Presumably there is no chance of fluid spraying out at high pressure?

Thanks for the great response so far. It's making me more excited about the car.
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by MJM »

I bought my C5 from them 6 months ago. They have factory trained technicians from local Pug Cit and Renault dealers working there. The owner is ex Warner's group director, I think.
The car was properly prepared and serviced before I bought it. I haven't used any main Citroen dealer for work, just local independents. I live in Wotton under Edge in the south of the county and there are local people that I use. Gloucester/Cheltenham are a bit far "north" for me to look for repairs. I've bought parts from Warner's but no experience of them otherwise. The other indi's I've used may be farther from you than you want to travel.
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by Stickyfinger »

Fancy a little trip to (Nr) Blandford : Dorset ??....about 1.1/2hrs to Phil Hunt ....... a nice day out.

He would lend you a car I am sure and you could nip down to the coast for the day or stay with him and watch his chicken collection.....you can even get some free eggs :)
He has been covered in Citroen fluid for centuries :)
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pentoman
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Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting

Post by pentoman »

Stickyfinger wrote:Fancy a little trip to (Nr) Blandford : Dorset ??....about 1.1/2hrs to Phil Hunt ....... a nice day out.

He would lend you a car I am sure and you could nip down to the coast for the day or stay with him and watch his chicken collection.....you can even get some free eggs :)
He has been covered in Citroen fluid for centuries :)
Thanks.

That actually sounds lovely, and very tempting.

Unfortunately sheer availability of time would prevent it. The reason for buying the car is that to have something nice and comfortable as I work so much. Much work means no free time for trips off such as this!

About to head off in the car now.
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