suspension not working properly

[chrisbell440]

Hi had my 2009 c5 2.7hdi exclusive tourer for over a year now with no problems until a steering rack boot was replaced by my local garage (independent trader) now the suspension seems to have a mind of its own sometimes it in normal position but when I lock or unlock the doors it goes into the lower position and I have to use the buttons to get it back to normal, is this all connected to the steering rack and do I have to top up a reservoir somewhere, never had this type of vehicle before so looking for guidance many thanks

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi and welcome.

The LDS fluid on your Hydractive 2.7 supplies both the suspension system and the power steering. Depending on what has been done (have any of the pipes been removed for example), it may mean that fluid has been lost and also that the system needs bleeding.

You need to obtain some Total Fluid LDS currently about £6.72 per litre (see the link on the members section for a discount code from Nielsen), then you will need to top up and bleed the system.
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 46#p543549
To do this ideally - you need a diagnostic tool to depressurise the system, but as an interim measure you can, once you have some LDS do the following:

• Start Engine (car on flat ground)
• Wait for the vehicle height to stabilise.
• Put the vehicle in the high position then in the low position.
• Top up the level (if necessary). The fluid should be between the 'a' and 'b' marks in the diagram below.

  

• Move the steering slowly, from stop to stop, in both directions, 10 or so times, with the wheels on the ground.
• Check there are no bubbles in the tank.
• If some bubbles are present in the tank, allow it to degas completely ( 3 to 5 minutes), engine running without moving the steering wheel.
• Carry out 5 new movements of the steering slowly, from stop to stop, in both directions, with the wheels on the ground.
• Repeat this phase until the bubbles completely disappear from the surface of the fluid in the tank.
• Put the vehicle in the high position then in the low position.

Check the level and that there are no bubbles in the tank.
Carry out a road test and check the level of power steering fluid (With the engine stopped, and the cap screwed on, oil temperature 30°C).
N.B. : There must be no bubbles in the tank, otherwise repeat the bleeding procedure.

This behaviour can be caused when there is insufficient fluid in the tank or there is / has been a leak.
Please be aware that any work on the C5 supension / steering system really needs to be done by someone with basic knowledge of Citroen hydractive systems - which the local Joe may not have.

[chrisbell440]

Thanks for that I will get some fluid on the way home from work tomorrow and give it a go, if it doesn't work i'll take it back to the dealer I bought it from as they seem to know what their doing, its a 90mile round trip but needs must. thanks once again will keep you posted
chris

[GiveMeABreak]

No worries Chris - be aware that some places charge an extortionate amount for LDS. It is currently priced at £14.78 a litre from the Citroen dealerships and even more than the dealer at places like GSF (£17.50), so shop around.

[chrisbell440]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice i got some for a tenner a litre and ended up putting 3 litres in to take it to the level , went through the procedure you advised and no difference, apart from it shows on the dash that its in normal position but is infact in the lower position, spoke to a auto mechanic at work so advised that it was too complicated a subject for him to sort so its booked in to the dealer I bought it from on wednesday , will get there in the end I hope

[GiveMeABreak]

That's a lot of fluid to loose, so check for other leaks - likely suspects are the steering rack, a suspension pipe, the LDS tank or a suspension strut. I've just had my front driver's side strut replaced after a very small leak I couldn't even see - until it went up on the ramp for the MOT and then we saw the oil at the bottom of the strut.

[chrisbell440]

Thanks for that, car was MOT'd 5 weeks ago and was clean underneath, just had steering boot replaced, LDS tank looks and feels dry with no leaks, have a feeling now it maybe a suspension pipe as there is abit of fluid on a small plate which would be under or near the drivers footwell, so hopefully that will be all !!!
chris

[GiveMeABreak]

Or the steering rack! I hate to say it but the oil can leak from the pinion that you can’t see. The pinion is on the driver side, but is hidden from normal view. Water accumulates in the pinion seal and corrodes the pinion, the rust then damages the seal and gets inside and then the water and rust basically breaks down the inside seals.

It’s a common problem on the X7 - have a look at the poll to see the number of failures.

I hope for your sake it isn’t, but the area you have indicated is highly suspect.

[chrisbell440]

Oh I take it that its an expensive job then ?
chris

[chrisbell440]

sorry meant to say would that be why the back end is reluctant to rise whilst the front end works fine ?
chris

[GiveMeABreak]

That could be several things Chris - regarding the back end:

1) it could be the rear height corrector. Although they are electronic internally, the linkage from the corrector to the anti roll bar can seize - so give this a good spray BUT do not go under the car without additional independent support as if the suspension drops suddenly it can crush you.

2) The system has a leak in one of the rear supply pipes (if not the rack, then it could be a pipe leaving the BHI (Hydraulic Pump and interface) under the LDS tank, as this contains the hydraulic block and the pipes, so may tie in with what you mentioned earlier.

3) An air lock, but unlikely as you have followed the bleeding procedure.

Hope that helps, but if it is going to the dealer then they should be able to trace it for you.

[GiveMeABreak]

Oh I take it that its an expensive job then ?
chris

The rack - yes, in a nutshell, Citroen only supply a new rack ( upgraded from the original). There has been limited success with refurbished ones. The new genuine ones are circa £1500 without fitting!

[chrisbell440]

ok thanks you for all the info, fingers crossed its just a pipe but will update forum when I find out
chris

[chrisbell440]

Well the saga continues, suspension is now sorted, seemingly when the local garage put the steering boot on they crushed a sensor on the rear, so now replaced and a new LDS reservior tank too, The garage also informed me that the "leak" from the steering rack was infact the pipe from the pump to the rack and was probably just the seal and the coroded pipe, contacted local citroen garage and these pipes are on back order not expected in to the UK for another 6 weeks !!!!!! as i use the c5 to pull a large caravan i have been advised to drive it and check lds fluid regular but not under any circumstances to tow ! I have made the decision now to take it to a gentleman outside morpeth northumberland who is known to be a wizz with citroen and pugs, if he cant fix the leaky pipe the he will have one fabricated to the exact spec required so the car goes in thursday, while i go on holiday with caravan being pulled by a borrowed far eastern 4x4 hopefully when i get back will have better news

[bobins]

If your steering rack "leak" is from where the pipes enter the rack then this is a common problem and should be curable with new seals which should only cost pence each.... but it's a bit of a fiddle to get to the pipe seals to replace them. These pipe seals are known to leak if the rack is moved and the pipes have been unbolted from the rack.
However.... if your rack hasn't recently been moved from the car then the pipe "leak" can be a misdiagnosis and it's actually the steering rack pinion seal that's gone and the LDS fluid is just dribbling down past the pipes. If your car has never had its steering rack replaced then it will need replacing at some point soon. It's not a case of 'being lucky' and it not happening to you, a 2009 C5 X7 is due a new rack about now if it hasn't already been replaced. It's not a case of if, but when.