Suspension pump

[StvC]

If left for a few hours my C5 suspension sags right down in lowest position, is this supposed to happen. I ask cos the pump/motor thingy goes crazy for a couple of minutes when I first unlock the car. It came with a woefully inadequate battery was drained upon unlocking so I've upgraded it but I wondered if it was entirely normal for it to drop so low when standing. My Sisters C5 saloon doesn't.

[Stickyfinger]

Hi

What age C5 is it ?
Does it sink both ends or.... just one or the other ?

Does it lift up as soon as you start the car ?

[StvC]

Yeah it's a 2001/2. Just the back end from what I can see, comes straight back up when I start and raises further if I put weight in the boot.

[lexi]

Are the rear bump stops still attached?

[Stickyfinger]

Leaking rear suspension cylinder, check by pulling the leak back pipes, the one leaking will be the one that drips.

?? How much work have you done on these, are you planning to do the work yourself ?

REMEMBER......BE SAFE under a Citroen...They will try to kill you.
Always use axle stands and never a jack when you go under them.....ALWAYS

[StvC]

Hmm not planning on crawling under the citroen in an ideal world, what do you mean by bump stops? It doesn't get lower after a run, or when it's parked up immediately. It just seems to go down when left.

[Stickyfinger]

Do you need detailed instructions for fixing it or just a guide to check work needed guide a garage ?

[falling-out-with-my-car]

on the rear sub frame inside the wheel arches at the top of the arch are convoluted rubber stops so that when the suspension drops the rubber stops contact with the flat plate on the suspension arms.

[Stickyfinger]

on the rear sub frame inside the wheel arches at the top of the arch are convoluted rubber stops so that when the suspension drops the rubber stops contact with the flat plate on the suspension arms.

?? o.of.i.....why would that make a difference to it sinking at the back when parked up ?

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Hmm not planning on crawling under the citroen in an ideal world, what do you mean by bump stops? It doesn't get lower after a run, or when it's parked up immediately. It just seems to go down when left.

He asked a question I tried to answer it.

[Stickyfinger]

Are the rear bump stops still attached?

oops

[lexi]

I was just wondering if the bump stops were still on to stop it going lower than need be with the suspension fault.
Not sure how low the C5 looks when on the bump stops. I need to try that on the ramp next time it is at MOT.

[Hell Razor5543]

Simply put, the bump stops are there to help prevent metal to metal contact (trailing arm to chassis), and to soften the contact between the two. Imagine the buffers on railway carriages.

[StvC]

OK that's what I thought you meant about Bump Stops and given how low the car is I would suggest they are not as it's literally 10cm from the ground at the back. But does not sag when driving and suspension appears normal when operating the up down function and engine running at standstill? THought it might be some weird easy loading feature but I guess not. I knew it wasn't a Range Rover esque perforated air bag type situation so hence the question? Why would it sag on stand still about 20mins after parking up but operate normally when running?

[Hell Razor5543]

A guess (but this is a GUESS, mind) is that an internal valve may have failed, and this becomes noticeable when the pump isn't running (as when it is running it compensates for said valve). However, I would wait until somebody with a lot more experience of a C5 offers advise.

This, by the way, is a bump stop;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-CITRO ... 3ab0ee0266