| C6owners :: Forums :: C6 Support :: The Garage |
<< Previous thread | Next thread >>
|
Adjusting C6 suspension height |
    Please Register to enjoy additional Member Benefits |
| Author | Post | ||
e3steve
 
|
|
||
   Member No: #1163
Location: Warsash, Hants & Palma de Mallorca, Spain |
HiPOL wrote ... You have my attention! Both my cars appear to sit 'high' at the front end, and the rationale that you describe is perfectly logical to my mind.e3steve wrote ... Both of mine rock/jiggle a bit, side to side, on some less-than-even road surfaces, and the front end has a tendency to 'fall off' speed humps, with what sounds like the struts reaching full excursion -- again, both of them. In COMFORT mode, both exhibit the same undulating waft in a straight line; switching to SPORT setting does not affect the comfort of the ride, but merely suppresses the waftiness. This effect described by you as "strut reaching full excursion" was my nightmare for a long time. I solved it changing height settings. When i was adjusting height following DiagBox instructions my C6 was always standing little too high. Actually not only my, cause i did this procedure in other C6s, and in many cases wasn`t happy with result (too high position). Then i changed parameters "cheating" CSS ECU and finally my C6 was standing in correct position. Ride quality was way better, effect described above is gone now. I don`t remember any other Citroen beeing so sensitive for height setting - margine of error is very, very low. Must admit that i also drive my car in SPORT mode on bad quality roads. Sometimes i find it a little too soft in COMFORT mode. Checking parameters with DiagBox while driving i found that in SPORT mode AMVAR valves automaticaly switch to position 6 instead of 1 in COMFORT mode (same driving conditions). Just like e3steve mentioned , difference in comfort between is SPORT/COMFORT mode is hardly noticable. Can`t say that about other Citroens where difference is bigger. Even C5 X7 which has almost identical suspension is way harder on SPORT mode. No idea why...? I (we, I'm sure) would be interested in learning from you and your DiagBox settings' procedures!  |
||
|
|
|
||
HiPOL
|
|
||
  Member No: #2699
Location: Gorzów |
First of all i recommend trying to adjust height following Lexia/DiabBox instructions. If it fails (too high position) then try to fix it with my method or ask specilaist for help. You can encounter variuos problems (details later) doing it by yourself. If you don`t have any experience in mechanics better find somebody who has and do it with his support. Procedure is pretty easy if height correctors are not bent. I`ll describe procedure in DiagBox cause this is the tool i use mostly. In my opinion DiagBox is more user-friendly, but i`m sure these instructions can be used in Lexia as well. First try to adjust height in recommended way. At the end of procedure you`ll enter "check parameters" if these are OK for CSS ECU you`ll get message : Adjusting OK and finished. Note these parameters (body height and wheel radius) or you can just use my "universal parameters" . These are : wheel radius Front & Rear - R=325 mm body height front - H=160 body height rear - H=210 No matter how high or low is your car standing if you enter these numbers you get message : Adjusting OK and finished. Now get the liner or measurinmg tape and check the gap between tire and fender. Correct gap is ~7 cm for 18` wheels (tested various settings, these work best for me) If front of your car is standing too high even though DiagBox says it is OK, you need to "cheat" CSS ECU typing in false information. If Front H=160 is taken as OK then you need to enter 170 or 180 at the beginning of procedure. After entering data for all 4 wheels you should see sinking front of the vehicle. Then DiagBox will ask you to push the front for height correction and begin check where you are asked to enter parameters again. This time you enter H=160 to satisfy CSS ECU and finish adjusting. Same with rear. It will end up with message : Adjusting OK and finished. Check the gap if its not correct yet - do it again in same way. It is important to go down (or up)with height slowly (10-20mm). If you go down too much it can cause system error and adjusting fail. If you go with too small numbers - there will be no reaction at all. Important details. If height correctors are bent, reading can be out of scale. This can be the reason of wrong adjusting by CSS ECU and it can cause adjusting fail. Thats why using this method i recommend adjusting only one axle at the time (adjusting front you enter R=325, H=210 for rear). When you finish with front, then start procedure again and start changing rear parameters keeping front unchanged (R=325,H=160). This will help you to prevent adjusting fail and even if it appears you know what axle is creating problems and where to search source of failure. If your wheel radius is different than 325mm, or different in front & rear (weight deflection) - don`t worry. It is important if you strictly follow Lexia/DiagBox instructions, but it doesnt matter if you go for my, alternative procedure. Remember - if you encounter problems during adjusting - afaik these are always related to bent or broken height correctors. |
||
|
|
|
||
|
HiPOL
|
|
||
|
Member No: #2699
Location: Gorzów |
speedfix wrote ... IMO. If all fails with correct setups get the car to a main dealer and get a software update. Suspension software update was bothering me so i did research and here`s what i found. There are 2 updates available for C6 suspension - ECOTECH and AMVAR. Both updates change suspension profile for little firmer . AMVAR update makes all the difference. It is hard to tell exact date but all informations i got show that since half 2007 all cars have new software version as default. So update is only available for cars older than 06.2007. Like i said it is hard to find exact date. I asked at Citroen headquaters but they replayed that they don`t have details about software updates, dealers also has no idea about it, usually they don`t even know that such update exists... So i started checking software versions (using Lexia / DiagBox) in all C6s around, and asked other C6 users on Polish forum to check their versions (and production date). Also tried to update my C6 at the dealer, they can check if software version is original or was updated in the past. Putting together all these data i calculated date mentioned above - half 2007. |
||
|
|
|
||
ul9601
|
|
||
|
Member No: #1975
Location: Auckland |
HiPOL wrote ... ... Now get the liner or measurinmg tape and check the gap between tire and fender. Correct gap is ~7 cm for 18` wheels (tested various settings, these work best for me)... Is this gap (~7cm) the same for both front and rear? I'm guessing the measuring points are where an imaginary vertical line from the wheel centre intersects the circumference of the tire and the fender? Cheers Sam |
||
|
|
|
||
|
ul9601
|
|
||
|
Member No: #1975
Location: Auckland |
HiPOL wrote ... speedfix wrote ... IMO. If all fails with correct setups get the car to a main dealer and get a software update. Suspension software update was bothering me so i did research and here`s what i found. There are 2 updates available for C6 suspension - ECOTECH and AMVAR. Both updates change suspension profile for little firmer . AMVAR update makes all the difference. It is hard to tell exact date but all informations i got show that since half 2007 all cars have new software version as default. So update is only available for cars older than 06.2007. Like i said it is hard to find exact date. I asked at Citroen headquaters but they replayed that they don`t have details about software updates, dealers also has no idea about it, usually they don`t even know that such update exists... So i started checking software versions (using Lexia / DiagBox) in all C6s around, and asked other C6 users on Polish forum to check their versions (and production date). Also tried to update my C6 at the dealer, they can check if software version is original or was updated in the past. Putting together all these data i calculated date mentioned above - half 2007. A dummy question: So how do you know if your car has the latest updates? If on Lexia/Diagbox, can you tell me how to get there? Cheers Sam |
||
|
|
|
||
vaho
|
|
||
  Member No: #2228
Location: Tallinn |
You go to AMVAR and Identification. Old software is: software reference 9662795280, version 6870 and new is: software reference 9665129280, version 710E. | ||
|
|
|
||
321dave
|
|
||
|
Member No: #614
Location: Dublin |
vaho wrote ... You go to AMVAR and Identification. Old software is: software reference 9662795280, version 6870 and new is: software reference 9665129280, version 710E. I guess if you have the Software update it would be a similar process to say programming a spare key using diagbox. |
||
|
|
|
||
|
vaho
|
|
||
|
Member No: #2228
Location: Tallinn |
I think it is different because you can not do it yourself. The dealership downloads the software from Citroen servers and into your car. How exactly the process goes I don´t know. | ||
|
|
|
||
|
HiPOL
|
|
||
|
Member No: #2699
Location: Gorzów |
ul9601 wrote ... Is this gap (~7cm) the same for both front and rear? I'm guessing the measuring points are where an imaginary vertical line from the wheel centre intersects the circumference of the tire and the fender? Cheers Sam Hi Sam. Yes , i use same gap for front & rear. And yes, measurements should be done just like you described. See attached photo. 
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
HiPOL
|
|
||
|
Member No: #2699
Location: Gorzów |
ul9601 wrote ... A dummy question: So how do you know if your car has the latest updates? If on Lexia/Diagbox, can you tell me how to get there? Cheers Sam Just like vaho wrote, you check every system in the car in the same way - IDENTIFICATION. In CSS AMVAR important for you number is SOFTWARE REFERENCE - old version is 96.627.952.80, new version is 96.651.292.80 In ECOTECH important numbers are : EQUIPEMENT PART NUMBER - old version is 96.610.285.80 , new version is 96.612.918.80 and CALIBRATION FILE NUMBER - old version 96.616.187.80, new version is 96.630.287.80 See attached pictures.     |
||
|
|
|
||
|
HiPOL
|
|
||
|
Member No: #2699
Location: Gorzów |
vaho wrote ... I think it is different because you can not do it yourself. The dealership downloads the software from Citroen servers and into your car. How exactly the process goes I don´t know. You are absolutely right vaho - it can only be done at the dealership by internet. And only on request. It is not automatic update. I found note about update (see attachment) and started searching for it. To get this update you must go to the dealer, complain about your suspension and ask him to check available updates for your car. In my case it took few hours cause they couldn`t update it and sent email to Citroen Info Center asking for help (it turned out i already had latest version). In standard situation it shouldn`t take more than 1 hour.  |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Junksleeper
|
|
||
  Member No: #1605
Location: Staffordshire |
Afternoon all, the suspension on my 07 plate 2.7 exclusive has never been perfect and after replacing just about everything i'm keen to give this ride height reprogramming a go ( well my mechanic guy is!). Does anyone know where to get hold of the measuring gauges as illustrated on the download? ( radius and underframe height measurer) I'm pretty sure the job can be completed without them by improvising but i'm a great believer in right tools for the job and all that. Citroen dealers just scratch their heads and stare blankly when asked but I'm well used to that response by now! Any help would be much appreciated. | ||
|
|
|
||
|
ul9601
|
|
||
|
Member No: #1975
Location: Auckland |
you can make them yourself easily as you know what they look like. i made mine from 3d printing. like you i was never satisfied with my c6 ride so checked the ride height if it would make any difference but it turned out to be within specs. i had frips and front wishbone bushings replaced amongst other things. i've had a ride in 3 others and they were more or less the same. not sure how many c6s you have sampled but compared to other hydropneumatic citroens, i found c6 ride pretty disappointing. |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Kaloteck
|
|
||
|
Member No: #1271
Location: Warsaw |
ul9601 wrote ... compared to other hydropneumatic citroens, i found c6 ride pretty disappointing. uhm… come on... how can it be? |
||
|
|
|
||
|
ul9601
|
|
||
|
Member No: #1975
Location: Auckland |
Kaloteck wrote ... ul9601 wrote ... compared to other hydropneumatic citroens, i found c6 ride pretty disappointing. uhm… come on... how can it be? Probably best if I re-phrase it - the ride is very good on smooth surfaced motorway type environment at high speed. But mid-low speed pottering around town with undulations/potholes/speed bumps, (granted they are not what C6 was designed for but you have to get to motorway from your home somehow) I found the ride harsh and uncomfortable compared to my other Cits - GSA, CX, XM and even C5. |
||
|
|
|
||
 User Colour Key:Head Administrator, Administrator, C6 owner, Technical Expert, C6 Premier Discount Club |
|
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Site Disclaimer | Contact Details | Warranty | Sitemap | C6 Insurance | Quick Facts | Re Call Info | Downloads | Error Codes
| Site and Graphics created by: C6Dave Forum Icons by Axialis Emotes by Seb |  |
