woes of a C5 owner

[exasperated]

Hello all, I must have bought a real lemon when I bought my 2008 C5. As previously posted my car developed a problem of turning over but not firing. Finally got it repaired, the fault being a relay in the main fuse box not sending current to the fuel pump. Whilst that was being sorted out the starter motor failed, caused by the 'field coils' crumbling and thus jamming the works. None of these items are repairable so each unit had to be replaced. As if that was not bad enough, the suspension fluid is now leaking out. Not a drip but a flow. All of this from a car that has only done 47000km.
I starting motoring when I was 18 years old in a FIAT 500, since then , I have owned a fair number of cars, some of them good and some not so good. Including a number of Citroens, but none as bad as this horrible C5. I can't wait for the day to get rid of it. but obviously before that day arrives I must get this car repaired. Talk about throwing good money after bad!!!
Kind Regards.

[ekjdm14]

Not to make out the car's great and all, but it's at least possible the first two issues are related (relay fault stops fuel pump, car won't start, gets cranked over forever and a day trying to start it or during diagnosis and overheats starter motor)

The hydro leak I don't know as it depends from where it's flowing but could be as simple as a pulled off return pipe. Where's it coming from, any photos at all? Sorry to hear you're not enjoying your C5 but at least this has a chance of being a fairly simple fault to fix.

[jgra1]

bad luck there I suspect a few of us X7 owners live in some fear of (these) problems.. the fluid could well be strut, and caused by ramp / jacking up wheels without removing the hyd fluid cap!!

or..

a rusty steering shaft into rack, causing a small seal to give up.. the cause of the rust is (should have been) preventable..

in either situation, a bad deal and many sympathies if the case,

John

[GiveMeABreak]

I do hope it isn't the Steering Rack leak issue - a common problem it seems on the earlier X7s and ususally requires a replacement rack as the seals aren't sold separately.
Just about all relevant Citroen service operations on Hydractive C5s where the car needs to be lifted off the ground with the wheels suspended and unsupported state that the LDS fluid cap must be removed prior to lifting the vehicle, and replaced and tightened when the car is fully lowered. - I do wonder how many mechs actually know - or worse comply with this! Failure do this can cause excessive pressure / vacuum on the hydraulic system, from the weight / travel of the hanging wheels.

[Stickyfinger]

I do hope it isn't the Steering Rack leak issue - a common problem it seems on the earlier X7s and ususally requires a replacement rack as the seals aren't sold separately.
Just about all relevant Citroen service operations on Hydractive C5s where the car needs to be lifted off the ground with the wheels suspended and unsupported state that the LDS fluid cap must be removed prior to lifting the vehicle, and replaced and tightened when the car is fully lowered. - I do wonder how many mechs actually know - or worse comply with this! Failure do this can cause excessive pressure / vacuum on the hydraulic system, from the weight / travel of the hanging wheels.

The tank FILLs when the wheels hang, the narrow jet of LHM from the vent hole in the cap hits the open bonnet spraying LHM all over the garage....or the tank blows/splits from the excess pressure.

Ask me how my MoT guy knows this (and how many rags he used to clean up the mess )

[GiveMeABreak]

On some of the earlier hydropneumatic vehicles you at least had a vent hole in the cap, but on the X7 there isn't one, so imagine what extra pressure that will cause!

[white exec]

It is indeed a wonderful system. What prat...

[Stickyfinger]

On some of the earlier hydropneumatic vehicles you at least had a vent hole in the cap, but on the X7 there isn't one, so imagine what extra pressure that will cause!

The is a hole in mine.....hence the fine jet hitting the open bonnet and spraying everywhere.

[oldsmithy]

Hi

I had to replace the lds reservoir last month after the leak I thought I'd sorted returned.
I bought this x7 in 2013 and had to replace the suspension pump and motor 2014 when it blew the 40 amp fuse and wouldn't rise.
Now there was a hairline crack in the bottom of the tank and the fluid would only leak under pressure, particularly after the ignition was turned off and everything went to sleep. Then it would leak. interestingly I've read on the c6 forum of similar. Due probably to the cap either having no Vent or it being a one way inward where the latest cap from citroën has a two way Vent.
Anyway I think the hot weather earlier this year exacerbated the leak. I managed to locate the leak using cardboard inserted between the lds tank and the motor assm.
The new tank was £42- Odds from citroen Glasgow and arrived with all the pipe clips. Managed to swap it out in about an hour and used only three litres of lds.
Previously when opening the cap it would hiss. Not any more. Maybe the lack of pressure relief on original units has been causing issues.

Oldsmithy
C5x7 tourer 09 plate