Jacking with AHC

[Tbay LX]

Okay, this is a pretty stupid question, but raising a vehicle this size makes me a bit nervous. I've always just worked under it with the suspension set to high, but I need to pull the wheels off today... Also, I realize that I've opened myself up to all sorts of jokes with the subject line. Anyway, when raising the LX onto jack stands, does it make any difference what height the AHC is set to? I assume the suspension needs to travel the same distance either way, but jacking from high would save some effort? I mean, if there was an actual difference in suspension travel, we'd just be able to stick the truck on high, put jack stands underneath, set the vehicle to low, and the tires would come off the ground (which would be pretty great actually). Also, I only have the jack that came with the truck, I assume I'll need to lift one corner at a time, or can the scissor jack be used from the front centre jacking position? I assume it'd be too much weight. Is it safe to lift one corner to a jack stand at a time, or is it going to shift the vehicle around too much and make it unstable?

 

[TXLX100]

Suspension should droop to same height regardless of height setting. For safety, I wouldn't jack up the truck while running, just in case AHC wants to adjust. I don't see a problem with putting in high, shutting vehicle off, then jacking up.

Be careful if you are jacking up with the OEM Jack (see owners manual placement) and only lift the part of the vehicle off the ground that you need to work on.

 

[OG100]

You can get by with the factory jack but a floor jack will be the safest way to get each corner high enough to place on jack stands. (You can get some pretty steep angles jacking one side at a time) Also I think there's a decal close to the drivers right knee that says turn ahc off before jacking.

 

[Wilsil]

Can't you lift the car by sitting the jack under the diff, raise it and have a axle stand under it?

 

[whitenoise]

there's a safety sticker somewhere near the drivers seat that expressly tells you to switch OFF the height control when jacking up the vehicle. Also, what you described

"we'd just be able to stick the truck on high, put jack stands underneath, set the vehicle to low, and the tires would come off the ground"


was the standard procedure for older citroens. I havent tried it with AHC but in theory it should be possible.

 

[parnoren]

I used to drive Citroens and the jacking system was great. Unfortunately the same trick didn't work with my 02' LX last week when changing over to summer tires. The truck won't lower itself and I think it might be some sensors that won't allow it. Or maybe I did it the wrong way.

 

[TexasCrane]

I used to drive Citroens and the jacking system was great. Unfortunately the same trick didn't work with my 02' LX last week when changing over to summer tires. The truck won't lower itself and I think it might be some sensors that won't allow it. Or maybe I did it the wrong way.

Once the truck is on the jack stands, there isn't any weight to compress the springs.

 

[whitenoise]

Now that I think about it, the AHC system relies on passive springs (t-bar front and coil rear) unlike the Citroen system. When you have the car up in the air, the AHC would have to work against the spring force to raise the wheels up, so I dont think that would work.

 

[PADDO]

Once the truck is on the jack stands, there isn't any weight to compress the springs.

Exactly, the vehicle lowers under the force of gravity, not pump suction.

 

[Tbay LX]

Hah! I'm not too sure about his jack stand placement on the Citroen there. Would make a nice teeter-totter though.