paul.h

Welcome to the forum. In the Maintenance and Warranty Guides that came with our 2011 C4 and a 2010 C3 (which applies to all Citroens), for the 2.0 hdi it has cam belt change at 140k miles or 10 years whichever is first, but for arduous conditions which probably do not apply in your case, it is 112500 miles or 10 years. It has normal servicing intervals as 20k miles or 2 years. You could look in your own Maintenance and Warranty Guide to see if these intervals are different. Many people tend to have the cambelt changed at intervals sooner than advised due to the risks and it is not that long since intervals were 40k miles and 4 years. If your cambelt was still the original one, it may have lasted so many miles due to the type of driving - not many starts/stops, steady speed, few gear changes, not old enough for the rubber (or whatever it is made from) to start to degrade. I would think responsibility for having your car serviced remains with the owner, unless you have a maintenance contract or some other agreement that they just do anything needed without you having to agree to it and you will just pay up. However, at my Citroen dealer they do advise on what is needed since the service record is kept on computer - which I think is a Citroen system. Whether or not their advice is taken though is up to the customer who has to pay. If work is done outside of the Citroen dealership it would not appear on their records. A cam belt change (including pulleys, tensioner, water pump, anti freeze) at a dealer is around £400 so they would not do this work without prior authorisation from a customer. The same principle applies to things like brake pads/discs that cost £200 to £300 to replace, it would not be done without the customer agreeing. If your cambelt had been changed a year ago then I am sure you would have questioned the total service bill of around £700 if you had not agreed to the work. It will be interesting to see what others have to add. The ideas that somebody who has no knowledge of car maintenance, maybe does not read or understand the Maintenance and Warranty Guide and hence totally relies on the dealer to advise on servicing needs will apply to many people and could be a good discussion point.

The following are copied from the 12/2010 brochure for the C5. It appears the usb connection was an option for the exclusive model if owners without the exclusive are reading this. So much more than navigation, the optional NaviDrive system on Exclusive models is a powerful hub of information, communication and even entertainment. It gives you GPS navigation, live traffic updates and a Bluetooth® system with USB socket. NaviDrive also features a top of the range audio system with a 10GB hard disc with jukebox function so you can drive for days without having to push a button. It even has European mapping, which makes crossing borders as seamless as switching tracks. The MyWay colour satellite navigation system standard on VTR+ NAV models, has SD card integrated European mapping which brings you live traffic information, voice guidance and graphics in 2D or aerial perspective. It also features a Bluetooth® system. Cutting edge entertainment, navigation and communication are all in the mix. NAVIDRIVE PACK AND CONCERT PACK The NaviDrive Pack available on Exclusive models is the control hub of the Citroën C5 – and a masterpiece in sophisticated technology. The 30GB hard drive contains 20GB for European mapping, so even as you cross borders you can pinpoint your position exactly. The NaviDrive Pack also provides live traffic updates in the UK and a Bluetooth® system with USB socket. And with the ability to upload hundreds of hours of music onto the 10GB hard drive, you set the soundtrack at the touch of a button – no need to change CDs.

Thanks for getting back to us and at least in the end it did not turn out too bad and we have all learnt what happens if a low powered alternator is fitted.

You should be able to see the flywheel cog/teeth by looking in the hole where the starter fits. A spanner on the crankshaft or putting it in gear and pushing the car, will turn the flywheel so you can see all of it.

The lack of response from members could be you are the only one with your vehicle on the forum. Also many members join the forum with a specific problem and are then never seen again or until their next problem and only a relatively small number regularly contribute, although the moderators will usually try to help based on their experience. As such, I had a look in the handbook on the service.citroen site but the aux did not appear to be mentioned. Did you manage to find it ?

The battery may need charging - if you check its voltage it should be about 12.7 volts, if below about 12.3 volts it may not have enough of a charge to turn the engine fast enough to start. There will be a minimum rpm needed to start it, possibly around 300 rpm. In the Citroens we've had, it usually says in the handbook to leave the accelerator pedal alone when starting but if the clutch pedal is pushed down it reduces the effort to turn the engine (provided your clutch is not stuck to the flywheel). Also try with the key in the first position so the glowplugs have a chance to work for a few seconds before turning it to the starter position.

Welcome to the forum. what engine is it ? If stationary and in neutral, does it idle ok and can you gradually increase the engine revs on the accelerator pedal ? Is the servicing up to date ? If a petrol engine it may need the throttle body/plate cleaning. Have you recently filled up with fuel ? Does it do it with a cold and hot engine ?

Did you have any running problems before it would not start - a failing crank sensor may cause the engine to cut out when hot but then once the engine had cooled it would then start, eventually though it may then prevent the car starting. When trying to start the car does the engine turn over on the starter, is the battery fully charged, have you tried the spare key ? The possible causes could be many as you have probably found and it may be a diagnostic check may be needed since this could prove cheaper than replacing parts hoping to find the one at fault. Fuel possibilities could include the fuel pump(s), low fuel pressure, fuel draining back (try the primer as noted by John), no fuel in the tank. You could try an easy start type of product to see if it runs. Others could include sensor faults, low cranking speed on the starter, an immobiliser fault, glow plug fault

Looks as if this is a new job for members on this site. Citroen parts diagrams show the washer jet part, its cover and the rear support part (looks like a tube with the jet at the end) are available as separate parts so you may just need the jet. Haynes only touches on it. The Citroen procedures include it in the headlight removal - but it says first to remove the bumper and then unclip the headlamp washer from a small bracket - a picture shows it at this point without the washer cover. After this the headlight is removed. So, I doubt you need to remove the headlight and maybe not the bumper but possibly only the washer cover and the front undershield. Haynes - Carefully pull the headlight washer jet covers from the bumper, then lift the black plastic clip at the top and remove the covers. Note that the covers are fragile and very easily damaged. There are 2 photos - 1 shows the cover pulled out so the washer clip can be released. The other seems to show from the back of the bumper the support with the caption - To aid refitment, pull out the washer jet and hold it in position using a 13 mm spanner. If you manage to do the job, please come back and write a few lines on how you did it.

Welcome to the forum. From the Haynes manual for the C5, if it is a SOHC engine, the crankshaft position sensor may be located at the top of the transmission bellhousing, directly above the flywheel. Do you have a problem that makes you think it needs replacing ?

Was the MOT by the same garage that sold you the car or was it a private sale ? If the MOT garage is local, maybe you could ask them if they noticed the problems with the steering and knocking and if so what they could be.

Welcome to the forum. A few questions to help clarify the problem and hopefully somebody will be able to help. Are the oil levels you mention the engine or the gearbox oil ? Exactly where is the broken seal located ? You say it takes a while to kick in to gear - do you mean it takes time to move the gear lever or do you mean once the gear lever has been moved in to the next gear, the engine takes time to pick up revs/speed/accelerate ? When you change in to 5th at 2500 rpm, what do the revs fall to once in 5th ? With the engine at tick over in neutral, what is the rpm and then if you slowly press the accelerator pedal do the revs gradually increase as the pedal is pressed ? For changing in to reverse, if you put it in neutral and blip the accelerator and then try to put it in reverse does it then go in ok ? Our 2003 C3 petrol (and other cars we have owned) was like this sometimes and is probably nothing to worry about.

Is the gauge not going to a normal position as soon as the engine is started or is it taking a few minutes to get there ? If the tests on the sensor do not show a problem with it then other possibilities will need to be considered.

Welcome to the forum. Steering wheel - could be play in the steering such as the track rod ends. Check though the steering wheel position lever (if it has one) is fully located and the wheel bolts are not loose. Heater blower - this could be the blower speed resistor pack needs replacing. Knocking noise - could be an anti roll bar drop link needs replacing - the ball joints at the ends of the links wear and this is quite common on most cars. The first and last problems would be picked up in an MOT - see if there are any warnings listed on the last certificate. You can also see them on-line on a direct gov site on MOT certificates. If there is a Haynes manual then it would be worthwhile getting if you intend to do your own repairs.

welcome to the forum. To get a remote key you may be best to go to a dealer with the key code card supplied with the car. It will then be supplied with the correct immobiliser chip and will be programmed by them to your car. The cost though will likely be £100 to £200. Many of the low cost fobs on ebay are just a case and you put the insides from your existing remote in to it. If you buy a used remote key, you will still need to get an immobiliser chip to match your car, get a key blank so it can be cut and then programme the remote. 4k rpm is about right at 70 mph. Our 1.4 petrol is around 3500 rpm at 70 mph. If you want less then a larger engine or diesel is needed.

Welcome to the forum. If you look in a sales brochure it will give you the sizes of wheel supplied as standard but it looks as though the options are steel 225/60/R16, 225/55/R17 alloy, 245/45/R18 alloy, 245/40/R19 alloy. Sales brochures can be seen on Citroen's website, these are from a 11/2010 brochure. The 1.6 hdi uses 215/60/R16 steel or 225/55/R16 alloy and probably has smaller brakes.

Welcome to the forum. What car is it and how many miles has it done ? How was the car being driven at the time -speed, type of road, miles since starting ? Have you recently filled up with fuel - could be dodgy fuel ? Is servicing up to date including fuel filter replacement ? Have you had the fault code read and if so what is it ? Even though the engine light does not stay on, the code will be stored until it has been deleted and there should also be freeze frame data that may help with the diagnosis. It would only take a few minutes to read the code, not 1½ days. If not this would be the best thing to do - otherwise it is all guesswork and you could end up replacing lots of parts before you found the fault. If your mechanic does not have a code reader he/she (or you) should consider buying one, only £30 to £60 for a reasonable one such as from Gendan and if you get one that gives some live data its uses increase.

If you are ok with French or using a dictionary, the French RTA manual for the C3 Picasso may be useful from such as Amazon. It is like a Haynes manual but in French and includes wiring diagrams. http://www.amazon.co.uk/B745-Picasso-1-4vti-1-6hdi-Depuis/dp/272687455X/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385844100&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=RTA+c3+picasso+manual .You can also get Citroen manuals on dvd from such as ebay at low cost.

A quick look at the parts diagrams shows the fog light is at the right side of the rear bumper and the wiring runs inside the bumper to the left side.

Without seeing your car it is a bit difficult to suggest the best options, especially since you are trying not to remove and possibly damage the trim, which is understandable. It could be if you pull off the hatchdoor seal at the top of the opening, you will be able to push/run the wires just under the lining (as done by Lapin) without lowering the lining. To connect to the wiring at the back of the light and not inside the car body may work but it could be affected by damp unless you can seal it well. Before you connect the wire, try feeding it through to see where it comes out. When I did the C5 estate I removed both side trims, removed the boot rear trim, removed the rear seat belts, removed the left sill trim, the rear lights, the rear top side trims to get at the wiring. I only broke a few of the plastic clips that hold it together and these were not expensive from the dealer. If not already done, if you register on the service.citroen site as another professional, member of the Citroen Owners Club. As a free service you can see the parts diagrams which show the wiring looms. You can also pay for extras on a timed basis and this may include wiring diagrams, but I am not sure since I have not used this.

Something to check, is a cd stuck in the radio ?

Have you seen the pinned Common Problems post in the Technical section ? In it there is a procedure that worked to sort the windows not closing problem.

What year C5 is it since I cannot find any key symbols on the dash in the books I have for the 2001 to 2008 C5 ? Where exactly on the dash is the key symbol and is there also a warning meassage ? The nearest I can find that looks like a key is a high temperature symbol. You could also try the spare key and failing that try a battery disconnection/reconnection and then a bsi reset. There is a pinned post in this technical section on a bsi reset and also a pinned post on common problems which has a procedure for disconnecting and reconnecting the battery.

This must be a fault or there is some odd wiring. Does it have the original radio or is it an aftermarket one ? It appears to become switched on when the bsi starts up as the locks or something else is used. On our 2007 2.2 hdi C5 with the in built sat nav, the hard drive starts up when the doors are opened but the radio does not come on, but then as the bsi shuts down the drive stops.

The sensor is resistance based and it reduces as it gets warmer. It has 2 wires to it so you could measure the sensor resistance and try putting a resistor across the connector to see if the fan stops. Do not just unplug the connector to see if the fan stops since you will likely get a fault/warning due to a resistance outside of the expected range. It may be worthwhile checking if the connector is clean/dry. According to the French RTA manual for the mark 3 C5, the sensor resistances are as follows - 20°C 6370 ohms 60°C 1244 to 1288 ohms 80°C 632 to 652 ohms 100°C 339 to 352 ohms 120°C 194 to 202 ohms. If the air con is not cooling that well it may be low on refrigerant and just need regassing, about £50 at a dealer. If you are ok with French or a dictionary, the RTA manual is worth having. It is like a Haynes manual and available from such as Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rta-B737-Citro%C3%ABn-Depuis-2008/dp/2726873758/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1385772864&sr=8-3-fkmr2&keywords=RTA+c5+manual