Anyone Experienced Vibrating Of Steering Wheel On 2008 C5

[Guest markadm]

I have a 1.6HDI VTR+ 2008 (58 plate 22K miles) C5 and I have been experiencing vibration with the steering wheel either when stationary (even changes the pitch of the engine which I find strange) or when moving (any gear you still feel the vibration), Citroen Uk are saying it is a charateristic of the car so the must be many people with the same issue? Welcome any feedback! Thanks :rolleyes:

[Guest birksy]

I'm not sure if what you describe is common to most cars. Is the vibration excessive?

[Guest markadm]

I'm not sure if what you describe is common to most cars. Is the vibration excessive?

 

Hi, the vibration is excessive to the point it is noticable yes, I have never experienced anything like it in any other vehicle (owned a lot of new and old vehicles of different makes)? Citroen think it isn't right as well as so far they have replaced steering rack, power steering pump, power steering pipe work, bled the system several times, replaced power steering reservior..... And to date they are still going.. just wondered if anyone else has had any issue's as the new C5 has good feedback so far? Thanks for taking the time to read!

[paul.h]

I would try another one to compare it against but there are people on this site with a new C5 1.6hdi who may still reply. Recently I sat in a 1.6hdi tourer at a car supermarket and started the engine (all that was allowed unless you were considering buying it) and did not notice anything untoward, but then I was not looking for vibration of the steering wheel. I have also driven a 2.0 hdi exclusive tourer and never noticed any steering wheel vibration but there was a lot of road noise from the front tyres.

 

Does the engine vibrate or is it just the steering wheel ?

[Guest markadm]

I would try another one to compare it against but there are people on this site with a new C5 1.6hdi who may still reply. Recently I sat in a 1.6hdi tourer at a car supermarket and started the engine (all that was allowed unless you were considering buying it) and did not notice anything untoward, but then I was not looking for vibration of the steering wheel. I have also driven a 2.0 hdi exclusive tourer and never noticed any steering wheel vibration but there was a lot of road noise from the front tyres.

 

Does the engine vibrate or is it just the steering wheel ?

 

Hi Paul, It is strange, the dealer it is with for repair tried 2.0L models and no issue at all, so they said perhaps it is the 1.6L model that has the issue...? They then had a customers 1.6L (same model as mine apart from 6 months older and 30K miles not 20K like mine) and it did have a similar issue. But they went away tried 2 more models the same as mine and I also went to another dealer pretending to purchase and all 3 had no vibration? Hence Citroen telling me it is a Charicteristic of the car seems wierd as surely all 1.6L HDI would have the same issue? The engine doesn't vibrate any more than normal just as soon as you turn the steering wheel you get the vibration through the steering wheel?

[Guest birksy]

I'd have to agree with a side by side test with another model same spec. Then if you're not happy possibly an engineers report to take matters further.

 

Maybe the steering is a red herring as it seems the garage were treating the symptoms and not addressing the cause.

[paul.h]

Do you notice the vibration more at low engine speed, such as stationary or slow corners ?

 

The hydraulic pump is either driven by a belt or is electronic (2.0 hdi only electronic) and when you turn the steering there is more demand for power from the engine which may need to increase speed if stationary or could stall. Now if the revs are falling too low, then the engine may be vibrating/juddering a bit more than normal - something to check when parked with the bonnet up - get somebody to turn the wheel and see what happens. Also try the same but with a foot on the accelerator to increase the revs to see what happens. Depending on what you find, as a guess, there could be a problem with a sensor (if there is one - steering angle sensor located under steering wheel) that detects the steering is being used and the need to increase engine power (engine management problem).

[coastline taxis]

Howay admin block this joker with the wedding posts

[Guest markadm]

Do you notice the vibration more at low engine speed, such as stationary or slow corners ?

 

The hydraulic pump is either driven by a belt or is electronic (2.0 hdi only electronic) and when you turn the steering there is more demand for power from the engine which may need to increase speed if stationary or could stall. Now if the revs are falling too low, then the engine may be vibrating/juddering a bit more than normal - something to check when parked with the bonnet up - get somebody to turn the wheel and see what happens. Also try the same but with a foot on the accelerator to increase the revs to see what happens. Depending on what you find, as a guess, there could be a problem with a sensor (if there is one - steering angle sensor located under steering wheel) that detects the steering is being used and the need to increase engine power (engine management problem).

 

Hi Paul,

 

It is really strange and during the last set of tests the garage run they disconnected the drive belt and ran through tests on no electrical load, with full electrical load and also at different revs (and the same with the berlt connected) and the problem is still there? After 3 months of this and my car has been in the garage for over 48 days now, pretty fed up and awaiting them to confirm in writing (which of course they seem to be reluctant to do) that there is no issue (Even after all the work they have carried out etc....) That is why I put the post to see if others have experienced the issue and I have had no comments saying yes (appreciate not every C5 driver will be on here!) but if it is a characteristic of the model then surely I am not the only one? If I am the only one it is a fault with my car? The garage know it isn't right hence they have been trying to fix but are unable to resolve the issue :rolleyes:

[paul.h]

If the drive belt has been removed for a test it suggests your car has a belt driven hydraulic pump and not an electric one - seeing if they will swap the car for another may be an option. By disconnecting the belt that effectively rules out a problem with the pump and steering rack plus these have been replaced. The only way the car then knows the steering is in use and maybe has to make some adjustments, is the steering angle sensor detecting the steering wheel is being moved. Things that have not been mentioned but I would imagine have been checked are any mountings for the rack and column and any bushes in the column. The dealer would also know if there have been any software updates.

[Guest markadm]

If the drive belt has been removed for a test it suggests your car has a belt driven hydraulic pump and not an electric one - seeing if they will swap the car for another may be an option. By disconnecting the belt that effectively rules out a problem with the pump and steering rack plus these have been replaced. The only way the car then knows the steering is in use and maybe has to make some adjustments, is the steering angle sensor detecting the steering wheel is being moved. Things that have not been mentioned but I would imagine have been checked are any mountings for the rack and column and any bushes in the column. The dealer would also know if there have been any software updates.

 

 

Thanks Paul, can you believe they will not replace the vehicle? Been in contact with Citroen UK since end of last year as well and they have been awful to deal with no sympathy and most importantly no action, they haven't responded to my written letters in writing. And because they are reluctant to put anything in writing yet that it is a vehicle characteristic the garage are still plodding along..... The latest thing they are trying is changing the tyres!?!? to see if this is affecting it (the Citroen garage put on new tyres recently)...... and maybe then I will get a technical visit from Citroen uk...? And maybe a nice letter to say the vibration is acceptable to Citroens specifications? (Not sure were it says after 2 years the steering will vibrate the dealer who sold the vehicle didn’t mention it). So gutted I had a C4 before but thought I would upgrade, this is without doubt the worst vehicle change I have ever made! Appreciate your time to respond and think of ideas may help if I ever get it back when taking it to an independent garage.

[Guest birksy]

You should think about legal action that you can pursue.

 

Sale of goods act still applies to second hand vehicles.

 

Given the age of the car and the work done so far you might argue that you have been more than reasonable about rectifying the problem. I'm sure that Citroen will say the same.

 

However, your problem is not resolved to either parties satisfaction by the sound of it.

 

I've taken legal action before and found the dealers more responsive leading to a mutually agreeable settlement. The law is on your side I think you'll find and its a matter of being assertive with the options open to you.

 

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/c_secondhand_cars.pdf

 

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/before_you_buy/thinking_about/cars/dealer

 

http://www.swarb.co.uk/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=afba6e52de15d7e8193df482e6659aa0

[Guest markadm]

You should think about legal action that you can pursue.

 

Sale of goods act still applies to second hand vehicles.

 

Given the age of the car and the work done so far you might argue that you have been more than reasonable about rectifying the problem. I'm sure that Citroen will say the same.

 

However, your problem is not resolved to either parties satisfaction by the sound of it.

 

I've taken legal action before and found the dealers more responsive leading to a mutually agreeable settlement. The law is on your side I think you'll find and its a matter of being assertive with the options open to you.

 

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/c_secondhand_cars.pdf

 

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/before_you_buy/thinking_about/cars/dealer

 

http://www.swarb.co.uk/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=afba6e52de15d7e8193df482e6659aa0

 

Thanks Birksy, Appreciate the links, I went to the AA as a member didn't realise you could get free legal advise (if you have been with them a year) and they advised to set up a face to face which Citroen UK would not agree to as they said they will not resolve or do anything other than keep trying to fix the car (coming up to 50 days in the garage) or provide a letter to say that it is "a vehicle charicteristic). And they said after that take them to court which I think I am going to have to do as they would not agree to discuss alternatives (I have been reasonable and said I would exchange / or accept partial refund (appreciate I have had some use of the vehicle).....

[paul.h]

We keep seeing on this forum that Citroen UK are not much use to their customers. If you ever see Watchdog on BBC the companies they complain about seem to provide rapid results - just a thought. Citroen would not want bad publicity for their flagship high priced new C5. We could do with something to lower the prices for when our mark 1 and 2s need replacing.

[Guest markadm]

We keep seeing on this forum that Citroen UK are not much use to their customers. If you ever see Watchdog on BBC the companies they complain about seem to provide rapid results - just a thought. Citroen would not want bad publicity for their flagship high priced new C5. We could do with something to lower the prices for when our mark 1 and 2s need replacing.

 

Thanks Paul, good idea! It is funny that as I used to work with a guy who's wife was the producer of watchdog! Will tap him up I think. I will see what the next week brings (to see if the car is faulty or has no issue at all) see what they provide to me and I will be happy to publish these and provide them to whatcar, watchdog and others. The other idea someone suggested to me was create a website showing all of the information and make sure it gets high up on the search engine list so when someone looking for a New C5 goes to my site to see how bad Citroen Uk are! Like I said before appreciate the notes, I will post the outcome when there is one! And any lessons learnt along the way.. Cheers

[paul.h]

Not too sure about the bad website idea, that way you are the bad guy in Citroen's eyes and unlikely to get anywhere, whereas with something like Watchdog, they do the work for you and Citroen (or whoever), come to you to help them put on a good show for their customers.

[iannez]

dual mass flywheel could have failed and is causing flywheel imbalance. does the whole car vibrate or just the steering.