72dudes

I have the manual version of your car in hatchback form. My brim to brim average over the last 16500 miles is 44.5 MPG, with high 40's easily achievable on long motorway runs. Around town, it can drop to mid 30's. Even allowing for your automatic box, your car does sound as though it is drinking too much; I would expect a real world average of high 30's. In addition to Paul h's suggestions, see if the air filter is blocked/dirty.

That sounds right - as the average is recalculated every 20 seconds (something like that, anyway), the peaks and troughs will get smoothed out. Hard acceleration or extra smooth steady speed driving will still make the average MPG change, even 400 miles after a re-set, but not hugely. Sounds like a new software download is what is needed. Just another thought - have you compared the miles covered with the the speedo tripmeter? Likewise the average speed with the speedo (drive at a steady speed and re-set the computer, after a few seconds the average speed reading should correlate to the speedometer reading. Mine reads 67 at a steady 70, which shows normal speedometer error.)

On my 2001 2.2 HDi the computer is about 5% optimistic (i.e. tells me it's doing 47 MPG when brim to brim it's doing 44.5 MPG). In my experience of various cars with trip computers, this is quite normal. However, yours does sound as though the reading is way out (almost 20%). Sorry, don't know of any free fixes, but a new software download from a dealer or specialist may help. Also, 43-45 sounds quite low for the 1.6 HDi unless you are doing a lot of short journeys. Without wishing to sound condescending, are you sure you are doing the calculation correctly? (i.e. 1 gallon = 4.546 litres)

Welcome to the forum mister-t. Firstly, I am in no way a mechanic or even a competent DIY-er but I can at least advise you of some things. For the more technical queries, kfk, iannez and one or two others are your best bet. 1. Your 2003 2.0 HDi does not have the particulate filter system. On cars of this age, only the 2.2 HDi had it. 2. I have also had the leak from the hose from the power steering pump. Turned out to be a £0.80 jubilee clip. I'm told this is a fairly common failure on C5s. 3. The leak above the rear axle sounds a bit more tricky, don't know if it's brakes or suspension. See what other forum members say or leave it to your independent. Cheers,

There you go! The message you refer to is "Anti-pollution Fault". If you are unlucky the ECU might need replacing as I believe the filter regeneration thing does not always work on older models. But it sounds as if this guy knows what he is doing. Shame he can't offer you a courtesy car of some kind; the Citroen specialist I use has 3 x X reg Saxos, although he does add £9.50 to the bill. This place is a 50 mile round trip for me so I'm happy to pay it.

Sorry to hear this. Might not be as bad as you think. If I remember correctly, there is a section in the owners manual which says that if you get this message, you should drive along at a steady 40 mph or more for a number of miles. This should clear the problem and the message. Has the car been used for a lot of short journeys recently? Or not used for a while? Can't help with the Citroen specialist question as I'm the other side of the country.

Yes, I think so, and a bit of fashion! Today everyone is more concerned about sharp handling and grip. I remember my dad having a Renault 16 in the early 70's and the recommended front tyre pressure was 24psi! Lots of sqealing on roundabouts, but a very smooth ride. The backs lasted for 50k miles and my dad wrote to Michelin complimenting them!

Thanks for this tip, seems like a good idea, like switching on aircon for 10 minutes/week during winter. I do tend to give the system a work out, every time I wash the car: Lowest setting so I can reach across the roof, then highest setting for spraying under wheel arches during salty weather.

If you do go for a 2.0 petrol, go for the 'normal' 16v motor, avoid the HPI, which although slightly more powerful and economical, apparently gives more trouble. Better still don't mess around with the fuel system at all and buy a 2.0 HDi, best model is the 110 bhp version from 2001-2004. These do without the particle filter/diesel additive and give mid-high 40's mpg with reasonable performance.

If I remember correctly, the handbook for my 2001 SX is the same, it mentions features which are only on Exclusive models or options. I think that all the things you mention are not standard on a VTR. The exception is the remote closing of the windows, which I believe was on all models. This feature can be activated or de-activated by a dealer according to customer preference, but I don't know how....... anybody else????

Hi there mcneep: 1. No, it's not normal, but it's not uncommon either. One of my rear windows goes down by a smaller amount than the others when I use the remote control. It doesn't bother me. I don't know if it's an easy fix, so I'll let somebody more technical answer that bit. 2. No, you cannot retrofit a Sport button. The front suspension pipes on Hydractive 3+ models are of a completely different configuration to that of the 'normal' Hydractive 3 models, as I found to my cost earlier this year :blink:

Interesting topic. I tend to run my tyres at just below the recommended pressures. In my C5 2.2 HDI hatch, I use 32 psi on the front and 29-30 on the back. I rarely have any people or weight in the back, and my thinking is that as probably 65% of the car's weight is at the front, it's unnecessary to have as much pressure in the rear tyres. Now, I'm the guy who gets 44.5 MPG average for this car (brim to brim over 15k miles) so I don't think economy is suffering, and tyre wear seems normal too. As long as the pressures are not ridiculously different to that recommended, it's all down to personal choice. I used to own a classic sports car, a 1968 MGC GT (3 litre straight six iron lump) and these cars were lambasted for poor handling when new. However, it was all down to the wrong tyre pressures being recommended on the Press cars which were road tested! As long as you had 28 psi in the front and 22 psi on the back (very low by today's standard) and not vice-versa, the car handled fine! Back to the C5, I find that the 33-34 recommended makes the car too thumpy around town, although fine on the motorway. In fact if I know I'm in for a long motorway journey, I will tweak the pressures up a bit. Like I say, personal taste and common sense.....

The best advice I can give you is to go to a Citroen specialist or dealer who has the necessary hand held computer. The C5 has something like 146 'steps' in the suspension, so getting it right is tricky. The parameters at the front of yours may be set wrong. After I had major front suspension work, the ride height at the front was far too low and 'solid' but the car and the hand held computer were reading OK. In my case, the problem was a faulty height sensor at the front. Once this was replaced, everything was OK.

LOL! Yes, I'm pretty sure my dash light only comes on with dipped beam (also 2001 2.2HDi). Of course, all panel lights come on with sidelights.

On Saturday I went to see the new C5 at the local dealer. I didn't have a test drive as I didn't want to waste his time. The model in the showroom was a 2.0 HDi VTR+ (£18595), which will be the big seller. I then went to other garages to compare it with a Mondeo 2.0 Zetec (same price), the new Mazda 6 TS2 (£18420) and the new A4 2.0 TDi SE (£24000). OK, so for image, you'd probably have the Audi, but apart from that, I reckon the C5 is now the best of the bunch. That's big news because the new Mondeo is very impressive. The Citroen dealer had an unregistered old shape C5 VTR right next to the new model, it's in a different league! (and I like the old C5 as a used buy). Incidentally, anyone wanting the old shape car can have this 2.0 HDi for £12995 - bit of a bargain!

I have to disagree seefive, but I do understand your points. From my point of view, the C5 is a big step forward. Citroen have recognised that in Europe, people prefer saloons to large hatches. In this country, probably 65% of the car market is made up of either company car purchases or PCLs to people who are opting out of company cars. To tap into this market currently dominated by Mondeo, Vectra and increasingly A4, 3 Series and Accord, Citroen needed a higher quality strikingly designed car which would fight it's corner. I reckon the new C5 provides that. Yes, it is a bit more mainstream, but there are still plenty of quirks to appeal to us Citroenites (fixed hub steering wheel, Hydractive suspension option, parking space calculator etc) and keep those all-important Fleet Managers happy. I remember when the ZX first came out and everybody lamented the passing of gallic charm, but 16 years on the ZX is regarded as quirky and French! Give the new C5 a chance, I believe it's got a lot of character, and hopefully it won't go wrong as often as our C5s.

Me too, I haven't been to see one yet, but I've read all about them in Autocar, What Car and Auto Express. They all like it and say it's up there with the best. Best for comfort and refinement, not bad on handling and good build quality and interior. I reckon that for a sub £20k car, this is the one to have and it looks great! Best of the bunch seems to be the VTR+ (£18595 for the 138 bhp 2.0 HDi or £20k for the 173 bhp 2.2HDi).

What's the thinking here BarbsC1? If you leave the cap off and start up, then the tank will not be dosed with eloys?? (as the magnets in the fuel cap "instruct" the fluid to be dosed)

Too technical for me I'm afraid; I'll let somebody else answer or I'd be guessing.

No, the pre 2004 Mk I 2.0 HDi engine (90/110 bhp) did not have a particulate filter, so this is the one to go for. Personally I'd avoid the 90 bhp version (only available in LX trim) and go for an SX or VTR with the 110 bhp engine. I think they did this engine in Exclusive trim early on, but there are more electrical toys to go wrong! Let us know if you take the plunge....

Absolutely right, apologies!

Apart from alignment, did they check toe in/toe out (I think that's right) - i.e. how the wheel sits in the vertical plane? I remember 2CVs and Dyanes used to look as though the wheels were coming off on full lock due to some unusual geometry. Perhaps there is an element of this on C5s? Another thought. Ride height can be varied by computer, there are something like 145 steps between lowest and highest. If on the normal height setting your car is riding a little too low (or high), the suspension/steering may not be working optimally, so maybe worth a check against parameters (which any dealer or good specialist will have).

Agreed, usually most noticeable on gravel. Has never got any worse so does not bother me. In terms of general handling, it's not a sports car, but I find it rarely understeers unless you're really provoking it. Initial turn-in is fairly sluggish, but I find outright grip is decent, even in the wet. Definitely not a car to chuck around, but I'm happy to forego that for cruising ability and comfort. As Randombloke suggests, your tyres may be to blame? Unlike Randombloke, I prefer to leave mine in "Normal" mode, as I find that when in "Sport", the car tends to hop a bit in mid corner, especially on scarred or poor surfaces. I once pushed the Sport button mid way through a fast roundabout, and got plenty of tyre squealing as the computer tried to work out what was happening!

It's the Mk 1 2.0HDi (110 bhp) which does not have the particulate filter, which means looking for a pre 2004 model. The Mark 2 has different shaped front/rear lights (probably the easiest feature to distinguish) and a 138 bhp 2.0HDi engine.

You may even have to go for a petrol car then! As someone said on another post, nearly all new/recent diesels have the old particulate filter/eolys combo. It's the only way they can cut down on emmissions and meet the Euro IV regulations. However take comfort in the fact that they seem to be far more reliable on the post 04 C5s than the early 2.2HDi's, some of which need attention at 50k. Might also be worth talking to somebody like Warranty Direct, who can advise whether they offer cover for partical filters (they do for ECU problems).