Sixchannel

Look on the thread "rain water getting in". (I'm mobile tonight so can't copy/paste the link). The door trim panels on that Scrapper may well be good - its a side/ rear impact job.

OK - back to the strange battery / alternator saga. Curiouser and curiouser. We were out in car today, my wife driving. (Normal engine turn over on start up AFAICT) Engine off 12.5v. Engine running 12.5-12.6v But here's the weird thing - under engine braking (on the "over-run) when going downhill or coming up to traffic signals etc, the indication jumps immediately to 14.6-14.7v!! The slightest right pedal and it jumps back to 12.5. Its absolutely instant both ways. Why should the throttle make ANY difference to the voltage?

Ooh, Er, Missus!! Do they have a notoriously poor running life? At least with them enabled on the Lighting Parameters, I have the option of turning them off. I wonder if they can be changed to Canbus LED's?

Thank you for the help,guys. Much appreciated. I wouldn't say it turned over particularly slowly from cold. Seems quite "normal". A nice frosty morning might sort that one out - (lol) - its been very mild since I got the car. If alternator wasnt charging properly, wouldn't a 125 mile trip on M5 in pouring rain at c50-60mph with all lights and electrics switched on have shown something up? Flattened the battery? AFAICT its just the same now as it was then. Strange! If it wasn't for those two odd instances of the battery light coming on, I wouldnt have given the electrics another thought. I need to see our local independent Citroen specialist next week about enabling the DRLs so I'll get him to give it the once-over. And I'll report back.

The gadget arrived today. We have been away for a few days touring around and not once has the battery symbol come on. I even tried loading the alternator with every darned thing switched on - lights, fogs, hi-intensities, fan blower, aircon etc etc and it still didnt come on. Anyway - with the ignition on, engine off and the gadget in place the reading is c 11.9 - 12.0v. With the engine running its a nominal 12.5-12.6, although I have noticed that it does go up to 13.8-14.1 momentarily if I tap the brake lights but then settles back down. Just occasionally I have seen a "running" figure of 13 point something pop up briefly. Even with everything switched on (as above) it typically stays at c12.5. Does this help?

IIRC the Safari was the estate version of the "flying saucer" Palas from the 60's. How would you ever restore a classic like that?!

That should read "flag". Oops!

Thanks guys For £3.49 its gotta be worth the punt so I have ordered one. Let's hope it not the alternator as we are away this weekend and don't fancy coming home a la Green Fag. Or if it is let it conk out "local". Cheers

Thank you, sir. My concern was the size as I think my old Xantia battery was around 90ah and I wondered if it was the reason the battery light came on for no apparent reason. Obviously not. Cheers

The battery fitted is a Varta L3 720A (EN) 70ah. Was that the original equipment or an after market replacement please?

Did it again today! One mile from home after a cold start - gentle ding,ding,ding sound and battery light came on. Everything still worked OK. I checked headlights and they didn't look dim or as if the alternator was offline and they were running off battery only. Satnav, radio, aircon - all still working. Turned engine off, waited a few seconds only and then restarted car. Completed journey with no problems. What could be going on please?

They are probably the front fog lights. Be careful using those when it's not foggy. A stroppy copper will have words with you..... B)Sadly, its become the Norm now to see lots of cars driving around with fogs on, day or night. And with headlights way brighter than mine. Maybe the Law has changed or looking the other way, as with mobile phone use. Seems to be mostly kids saying "look at my (ghastly) pimped ride". End of daily rant! Lol!

Having changed from a Xantia to a_2010 C5 I guess I have eolys fluid too. But_- where is it, how do I know when to top it up and where and how do I reset whatever I reset? Ah- I feel better now! Cheers Ian

Many thanks,Sir.

My 59 plate ( reg'd Feb 2010) C5 VTR+NAV 160 Tourer - if I'm going to use LEDs where I can, how do I know if I want can bus type or normal? Cheers Sixchannel

Not quite the same thing, seefive, but here is my two penn'orth - When my second (and last) Xantia wore out after intergalactic mileage, the C5 seemed the logical choice - the C4 being too light for towing my caravan and having an abhorrent dash (IMO) to boot. I wanted a more modern C5, so a late Mk2 or a Mk3 seemed right. However, the "facelift" on the Mk2 was a horrid job cosmetically (again just my opinion) and the two I tried both had "issues". The styling on the Mk3 is very tasty especially the Tourer and the 160bhp after my Xantias 90 was very welcome. Maybe I should have got my head out of my backside and looked more closely at the Mk 2 ,say around 2007. Most of all I miss the Hydraulic suspension, only having a VTR+NAV, not an Exclusive. Mk3s are quite choppy on ordinary town roads. Nice on Motorways though. The front door roof line is low but I'm getting used to ducking now! Front storage on the Mk3 is absymal compared to the Xantia. Mind you, its made me edit and tidy up all my Gubbins. Fuel consumption is not a patch on the Xantia but I guess all that Grunt has to come at some cost. That ridiculous " economy mode" is really getting on my wick, especially when waiting in the car park for Ever Loving to come out of Sainsburys and the radio going off every few minutes. Grr! Is there no way of defeating or deactivating that? Cheers Sixchannel

They were probably Bonded to the steering wheel during the manufacturing process, not added during final assembly so attempts to prise them off would be doomed.

And that would cost his much appx? Never having had an real probs with my Xantias since 1993 (they just wore out!), I'm beginning to get the feeling that these C5 Mk3s are not cut from the same cloth. More comfort inside (better seats for one thing), quieter, but poor ride compared to my Xantias and, after nearly 2000 miles now,I get nothing like the book figures, especially on the Mway cruise with Cruise control set at 70. Is it a general consensus that they are unreliable cars that are expensive to repair/maintain? I am at 43k now - what is the general expectation of what goes wrong with them between now and say 60k? Moderator - if this post needs moving, please do. Cheers Ian

Thanks for that Gem, Paul. Much appreciated.

Is there a MANUAL door mirror rotation switch on C5X7 VTR+?

Hi I have just filled the tank after around 545 miles. The "Range" said I still had enough for 180 miles. However I put 57 litres in which means that there were only 14 ltrs in the tank - a Big Ask for 180 miles. Because - the Fill / Mileage comes out at 43 mpg! I did 300 miles Motorway driving at a steady 70-75, 100 miles cross country touring, and the rest as general driving. Does the Team think that 43 overall is Ok under those circumstances? Also, should I not pay too much attention to the figures the Trip Computer shows. Are they prone to error etc? AFAICT, I get nothing like the "book" figures, and being used to my frugal old Xantia, its a bit unnerving to say the least. I expected an average of around 50+ cheers ian

Maybe I'm having a bad day but is there a "trick" to removing the rear wiper blade from the arm? I can't see a catch or detent and I don't want to wreck it trying. Cheers Sixchannel

Not according to The Caravan Club survey. The 508 pretty much beat it every regard, which I found astonishing. However, just having changed from a trusty old X plate 2.0HDi Xantia to a "steel sprung" Mk3 C5, there are times when I was wishing I had spent a bit more and got an Exclusive, as the standard ride is not a patch on the hydraulic one. Bad move, Citroen!!

Don't know the wheel diameter but are both tyres the same aspect ratio? If one tyre was, say, /70 and the other /65 that would do it.

Thanks. That will work.