Citroen C5 suspension fault rises but then not level on unever ground

[Andyh]

Hi,

I was coming out of my narrow bumby lane, also on a steep gradient and my Citroen C5 2010 2.0 HDI got stuck at the top like a beached whale.
I was able to clear eventually and drive to work. However the suspension does not seem to level in this situation, lower on one wheel than the others but not just a specidific wheel. Today I also got the error Suspension Fault limit speed to 55mph or something like this.
My apologise if this has been posted before but before I took to the garage I wondered if there was something I could check first?
All input happily received.
Thanks in advance,
Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

Need a code really Andy - it should of logged one - especially as you have had the warning message. I suspect a height corrector front or rear. If this is the case, your directional headlights won't operate in directional mode when this fault happens as the headlamp adjustment motors rely on the height sensors to determine and adjust the lights. They will revert to static mode in this scenario.

[Andyh]

Thanks Marc, I will test the directional lights out tonight and endevour toget the code read.

Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

The issue may be intermittent - this is what happened to me. On some occasions the warning came up, sometimes not, then the car would not raise or lower - other times it would, and when it was in this state the headlights reverted to static mode. I had the front and rear height correctors replaced and problem solved.

[Andyh]

Hi Marc,
Problem appears to be inermittent.
Did you get the correctors yourself or the garage?
In the past I would repair such things myself but not for some time. Haynes seems no longer to cover for models such as mine and not sure if there is such a comprehensive manual available.
Thanks,
Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

For me - no way - not this sort of thing. I had it done under warranty. You have to really have the car over a pit to do properly, as the height correctors have to be marked in the exact position before removing them a millimetre. If you don't get them back in the correct location, the height settings will be out of kilter.

Secondly, there is the danger that the car will collapse suddenly when touching these things - especially if they are suspect. Getting underneath without the car supported or over a pit presents a real crush hazard.

Lastly, the front corrector is a bit of a bugger to get to as officially the front subframe has to be lifted to get to it amongst other contortional body requirements! So no, dealer job for me.

If you are feeling like a Marvel superhero, then I will put together the procedure - it will take me about half an hour to type up, so let me know.

[Andyh]

I am not feeling like a Marvel superhero these days so I think it will be baack to my friendly neighbour garage!
Just would be good for other car repair tasks to have the old Haynes style manual.

Thanks for the offer though, very much appreciated.

Andy

[Andyh]

Hi Marc,
Not logged a code and now will not rise,, just have to bite the bullet and see if the garage can figure it out.

Regards,
Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

Is your local garage using Diagbox as the diagnostic software? I ask as if they aren’t then whatever they are using may not be able to read all the manufacturer - specific codes such as suspension related ones as in this issue.

So are are you hearing the electric pump kick in when raising the suspension using the height control, or is it just staying where it is? What height is it at currently?

[Stickyfinger]

"and see if the garage can figure it out."

I hate to see that (IF) when the garage is "uneducated" on HA Citroen's......£££££££££££ spent for no reason normally.

[Andyh]

To be fair to the garage they do have decent daignostic equipement, I can check again with them. They usually get to the heart of the problem quickly and via the route of least expense. They are also honest enough to say they do not know, and this has happened but rarely.
I will have a listen for the pump after work tonight and get back to you.
The position is normal but visually it looks lower than this and it will not raise when set to high.

Many Thanks,

Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

So in that case I would suspect either the height corrector or the pump fuse has blown. The car will maintain its height for quite some time as long as you don’t lower it using the electronic height control. On these, the pump is only used to maintain the height periodically. You can also check around the LDS tank, to make sure that no fluid has spilled down the side or the back of the tank and onto the motor. It is well known that fluid from overspill can sleep down and enter the pump motor part and this in turn can cause overheating as it mixes with the bush material in the motor and this will lead to a fuse blowing.

So probably easier and cheaper to check the fuse first.

[Xantippa]

I would check rear height sensor linkage first because it's the most common fault and easy to see under car. If linkage is not disconnected, I would try to spray some lubricant on it and then drive and hope suspension movement helps linkage to move again as it should. It's possible to do without going under car so there's no risk of crushing.

[Andyh]

Thanks Xantippa, I have been using my backup Fiat. Citroen will go into the garage this week. I will pass this information on to them to try first.

Ps any recipes for karelian piirakka, my ex is Finnish and one thing she introduced me to was karelian piirakka and loved them in all varieties!

Kind Regards,
Andy

[GiveMeABreak]

Definitely not Swedish - ^ sounds like something Neelix would rustle up: