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.
C5 doesn't reach highest setting
Moderator: RichardW
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
How much for a sphere?
- myglaren
- Forum Admin Team
- Posts: 25362
- Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
- Location: Washington
- My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX - x 4888
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
Indeed! approximately ten times the over the counter price
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.
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.
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
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.
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.
-
- Donor 2023
- Posts: 13726
- Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
- Location: Reading
- My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
- x 2993
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
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;
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
-
- Forum Treasurer
- Posts: 10812
- Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
- Location: United Kingdom
- My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl - x 983
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
£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.
Richard W
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
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?)
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?)
MJM
1999 Dante red Xantia Exclusive 2,0 petrol. No smelly diesel for me. Now re-homed
2007 Wicked Red C5 Exclusive. Now a smelly diesel automatic for me.
1999 Dante red Xantia Exclusive 2,0 petrol. No smelly diesel for me. Now re-homed
2007 Wicked Red C5 Exclusive. Now a smelly diesel automatic for me.
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
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.
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)
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)
Simon
1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
Thanks - have you used this place? Any experiences with them? What about Warner's Cheltenham, how are they?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?)
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.
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
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.
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.
MJM
1999 Dante red Xantia Exclusive 2,0 petrol. No smelly diesel for me. Now re-homed
2007 Wicked Red C5 Exclusive. Now a smelly diesel automatic for me.
1999 Dante red Xantia Exclusive 2,0 petrol. No smelly diesel for me. Now re-homed
2007 Wicked Red C5 Exclusive. Now a smelly diesel automatic for me.
- Stickyfinger
- (Donor 2016)
- Posts: 10411
- Joined: 28 Mar 2013, 21:05
- Location: Somset my lovleee
- My Cars: Xantia V6 ACTIVA 3ltr 24v Manual p1
Xm 2.1TD Ph2 Exclusive
AX, little Daffodil
SAXO White Mk1. Sally - x 1280
- Contact:
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
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
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
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
Re: C5 doesn't reach highest setting
Thanks.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
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.