c16rkc's mad house

[Rp0thejester]

She'll enjoy this.... proper workout music

[MattBLancs]

Here's my suggestion, triumphantly daft (much like me!)

[Hell Razor5543]

Here's my suggestion, triumphantly daft (much like me!)

This film was my Great Aunt Sylvia's favourite.

[CitroJim]

Excellent work Chris! Enjoying reading this blog

[mickthemaverick]

I'm sure there should be a cover for those wiper arm nuts. If you ask in the Parts thread Marc will hopefully put up the exploded diagram and give you the part number. Well done on resolving the wiper issue!! Onward and Upward .

[MattBLancs]

Will have a look at mine tonight (can't picture a cap here in the C5, I know definitely is one on the Coupe but that's no help! )

[Paul-R]

I'm sure there should be a cover for those wiper arm nuts.

Just been out to look at my X7 and the nuts are uncovered (oo-err) as well.

[c16rkc]

I'm sure there should be a cover for those wiper arm nuts. If you ask in the Parts thread Marc will hopefully put up the exploded diagram and give you the part number. Well done on resolving the wiper issue!! Onward and Upward .

That's a very good idea! - I will try that!

[c16rkc]

I'm sure there should be a cover for those wiper arm nuts.

Just been out to look at my X7 and the nuts are uncovered (oo-err) as well.

Perhaps our cars were born in Scotland where it's more common to have your nuts uncovered?

[myglaren]

Just chuck a sporran over them then.

[c16rkc]

The trade don't seem to like my C5

The C5 was dropped off at the garage yesterday, a Citroen specialist so I was hoping it would get a warm family welcome and a good service. The car was booked in for:

- CAMbelt change.
- Service.
- Sort out the suspension so it stops sitting high at the front.

Now when I booked it in, the chap did say to me while discussing the suspension issue "if we can get the parts, that's what will write that car off eventually". I felt a little disheartened by that, but after I looked online I calmed down, as you seem to be able to buy most things as far as I can tell. The sensors, struts, spheres etc. all seem to be readily available.

I got a call this morning to say the car was ready.

- CAM belt done.
- Service done.
- Suspension no fault found. He said it is sitting high but nothing wrong with that as it drives fine...

I said could he not set the suspension up, and he said he'd need a 4-post lift and theirs has a big truck on it at the moment, which will be there for a couple of weeks

So it looks like I'll be trying to work out the suspension myself...

But then he also said two suspension bushes need replacing, and again... that might write the car off as you might not get the parts. He said they were the lower bushes, he said he thought they were called knuckle bushes or something like that.

Are these cars really that difficult to get parts for, or is this chap exaggerating? - I am getting the impression he does not want to work on the car; which is something I did not expect from a Citroen specialist.

Feeling very sad for my cheeky Citroen...

[MattBLancs]

From my own research and loads of good discussion on here, I think he's basically right and wrong in equal measure!
Other than the hydropneumatics, the front suspension is same or very closely related to our X7 C5 and Citroen C6, Peugeot 407 and Peugeot 508. So there is a wide base of vehicles needing parts and so I'd imagine good aftermarket support for a good while longer whilst so many related vehicles are in service. So on that basis I'd say he was generally wrong about "written off by a suspension bush"

The hydropneumatics and associated sensors do seem more likely be an Achilles heal as obviously they are only deployed in "Exclusive" X7 and C6 models so a smaller market to support.

The suspension struts are, as yet, defined as "unrepairable" so changed for new if leaking but not aware of a shortage of these as yet. Also I am not a believer in the term "unrepairable" (uneconomic: yes. Blooming difficult: yes) !

I've not messed with suspension calibration as yet, but understand there's measurements taken (between floor and specific flat points on the front and rear suspension subframes) that generate input data to do the calibration. These measurements would be easiest taken with the car on its wheels on a four post lift.

I'd not worry too much, whether you do or don't worry life goes on regardless! "It's only a car" and all that

[MattBLancs]

Name that bush: not aware of "knuckle bushes" but think could be the "FRIP" bearings.

There's another "lower outer wishbone bush" sort of sat below the FRIP. Above the FRIP is a ball joint (think these rare to go)

Subframe end of the lower wishbone has a rear "P bush" (or it's called that on a 306! Much more P shaped) not separately available from Citroen but loads on the aftermarket without buying a full wishbone.

[c16rkc]

Yes Matt I think you are right, most parts seem available now but some of the more unusual ones might start to fade in years to come. I think the car will see me through a few years though.

I made another call to the garage to try and identify the bush, but all he can say is its a knuckle Bush, at the lower end of the suspension. It seems pretty clear there is no such part on a C5 X7...

I have never replaced any suspension bushes myself, but I may end up learning... we'll see.

I did a bit more reading on the height adjust settings, and I think I have a plan now. I can look roughly how much movement I think I need, and make the adjustment in the Lexifontina diagnostic software.

[Hell Razor5543]

They are not wrong about the four post lift. Some time back Marc sent me the instructions on how to correct the height on a Mk1 C5, and the 'coarse' adjustments (for more than 10mm) are made by adjusting the position of the clamp on the anti-roll bar, and the 'fine' adjustments are done through the Lexia. The car MUST be bearing its full weight during the process, so the BHi system can 'see' how high/low the car is, so a two post lift is not suitable. However, if you know anybody with a work 'pit' that will also do.