C5 Rear Wash/wipe Doing It's Own Thing

[Kisssara]

Hi Everyone, after four enjoyable years of driving my first Citroen (Xsara 2.0 HDi 110hp) I have bought a C5 2.0 HDi VTR estate. Nice motor for our 2-3 trips to France per year. One thing though is that when the stalk end button is pressed to cycle through the trip computer options the rear wash jet (and sometimes the wiper as well) operates. Other times it operates when I activate the front wipers. Also the automatic headlight function cannot be switched off. There is a screen on the trip computer which reads "Check Control" but it doesn't do anything else. From my small amount of research I am guessing that it is a problem with the comms unit which is either a Delphi or Dav make. Is it possible to find out which model of comms unit is fitted without taking things apart? In other words will Citroen know what parts are fitted to which car from the chassis number? Many Thanks, Keith.

[paul.h]

Sometimes odd things happen if the battery voltage is low, a mobile phone has been connected to the car, an aftermarket radio has been fitted. The wiper stalk end button could need cleaning - I vaguely remember something like this stopping the trip computer changing screens. Using the chassis no. (VIN) will give the exact parts used on your car but it may be a replacement Comms unit (if needed) might need programming to your car.

 

Switching off the auto headlights is in the handbook but for a mark 1 C5 (up to 2004) is something like - turn ignition key to the accessories position and then hold in the button on the end of the lighting stalk. The light switch may need to be in the off position when doing this. For a mark 2 C5 it is probably done through the radio menu button.

 

If the rear wash jet works when trying to wash the front, then this could be a blocked washer pump outlet to the front jets and just need cleaning.

[Kisssara]

Thanks for that Paul. I did the auto headlight procedure as per the manual (ignition in "0" position and a long press on the stalk button. It beeps and shows "automatic headlights on" but when the operation is repeated to turn the feature off it beeps but no message is displayed. The front washers are spraying fine but thanks for your suggestion. the "check control" screen is one that is not mentioned in the manual so I wonder if that is trying to tell me something. One thing I have learned since driving a Citroen is that they never fail to surprise you!! Thanks again, Keith.

[paul.h]

You can see the dealer parts diagrams yourself if you register on the service.citroen.com website. If you read the terms and conditions this is allowed as a member of a car club such as this. From memory, I can not remember the check control screen doing anything on our car - maybe somebody will provide a bit more info.

[Kisssara]

You can see the dealer parts diagrams yourself if you register on the service.citroen.com website. If you read the terms and conditions this is allowed as a member of a car club such as this. From memory, I can not remember the check control screen doing anything on our car - maybe somebody will provide a bit more info.

Hi again, after a couple of weeks driving the car performs well but the random action of the wash/wipes is frustrating. This morning I twisted the control to do a single rear wipe and the front washer jet operated continually for nearly a minute (without wipers until I operated them). Wonder if there is anywhere in the Nottingham area that can inspect/repair without the ultimate act of going to Citroen?

[paul.h]

Sometimes a Citroen dealer or a Citroen specialist may be a lower cost to do a repair than a garage that does not specialise in Citroens. They should have the experience/knowledge of your car and the equipment to diagnose a fault and repair it quickly. The dealer may also have a lower labour rate for older cars so they are competitive.

[Kisssara]

OK. Might look in to that then, thanks.

[seefive]

You can see the dealer parts diagrams yourself if you register on the service.citroen.com website. If you read the terms and conditions this is allowed as a member of a car club such as this. From memory, I can not remember the check control screen doing anything on our car - maybe somebody will provide a bit more info.

 

 

"Check Control" is the screen where you set the naximum speed to trigger a warning chime. Pretty basic procedure - drive to the speed you want, then hold in the stalk. Hold again to cancel ( you will want to cancel, believe me!)

[Kisssara]

Thanks for that ceefive, from my reading of the manual there is a screen "overspeed warning" which does the thing you described. The manual does not mention the screen "check control". I am very new to C5 world so I am grateful for any advice. I know that Citroens never fail to surprise you! Many Thanks, Keith.

[Jonesy]

Did anybody find a definitive answer to this? My 2009 X7 Exclusive Tourer has started to randomly apply the rear wash wipe. Sometimes it wont do it for weeks on end then on another day it will do it 3 times without having touched any controls. If its as simple as replacing the stalk I might do it. But if its something more sinister like a Comms unit gone (sounds very expensive) then I may put up with it, or shift the car on! Other than this and the terrible road noise from the front that I just can't get to the bottom of everything is good. A fantastic car ruined by a few fundamental flaws.

 

Look forward to hearing any suggestions.

[paul.h]

Does the rear wiper also sometimes not park in the correct position or not stop when it should ? If it is just the wiper and not the wash playing up, if you check the wiring where it goes between the tailgate and body you may find some damage/broken wires. Or there may be a fault with the wiper motor.

 

Our C3 rear wiper played up, would not always stop/park in the correct place/would move to the correct stop position when the doors were unlocked but when the tailgate was replaced with another used one which included the wiper motor and the wiring loom, the wiper then behaved normally - so it was either the motor at fault or possibly a wiring fault. Years ago the wiper motor internal stop switch used to wear down on British Leyland cars so the wipers would not stop but fortunately the switch was a spare part - however, I could not see a separate switch on the C3 one.

 

One of our members Mike O. is soundproofing his C5 so this is something you may consider again. http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/10660-c5-tourer-road-noise/page-2

[Jonesy]

Hi Paul. No, the rear wiper is behaving exactly as it should. As is the wash/wipe.... except for coming on all by itself. So pretty sure there's nothing wrong at the back end of the car.

[paul.h]

On our cars you can set the rear wiper to work if reverse gear is selected if the front wipers are on, but I guess it is nothing to do with this.

[Jonesy]

Yes same on this one Paul but doubt it's to do with that. Driving along on a perfectly sunny day, no lights or wipers on, and off it goes. Probably a coincidence but always seems to be after I've cleaned it that it spurts it's stuff all over the back of the car! 

[Jonesy]

An update on this one. Took it to a Citroen main dealer who said it could be 101 things (most of which seemed unlikely.) They said there were dozens of fault codes stored ranging from suspension to engine ECU to Comms unit to goodness knows what else. This, despite when I took it in for a service in February and asked them to look into an engine hesitation problem at about 1700 revs on light throttle they said there were no faults showing! I asked if they could disable it, because I really could live without it. I would just pull the fuse out but it is shared with the front washers. They said they could but it would throw up all other sorts of error messages. Their best suggestion was to clear all the codes and see how it went from there.

Well, 5 days elapsed with no problems and I was beginning to feel positive. But the damned wash wipe went off all by itself again today in blazing sunshine for no apparent reason.

I'm beginning to suspect the comms unit. That could be expensive right?

Edited July 15, 2014 by Jonesy

[paul.h]

You can get the part number from the service.citroen site (register as another professional, member of the Citroen Owners Club) using your VIN (VIS) and then the price from citroencarparts.net using the part no. top left (keyword) and then search. A new comms unit may also need the steering angle sensor calibrating using a Lexia. There is also the second hand route.

http://service.citroen.com/do/changerParametres

 

http://www.citroencarparts.net/

[specialf]

I was just googling the exact same issue as Jonesy is having - I have an 08 C2 with a haunted rear wiper. Can go for weeks with nothing, then it'll get OCD about cleaning the back window for a few tries. Frustrating, but while it works I'm not spending any money on it!

[Jonesy]

An update... They replaced the stalks (at considerable expense) which finally fixed the rear wash wipe syndrome. Then the front wipers started playing up randomly, mostly when you needed to travel a few hundred miles on a rainy day. Random swipes of one or the other blade and they would stop wherever they felt like it. A few miles or hours down the road they would suddenly join the party again and start working all of their own volition. Dealer replaced the fuse box. No cure. Eventually it happened at their premises and they said two new wiper motors were required at around £250 a shot. Bit the bullet and had this done and wipers have been fine since but that 'little problem' cost me close on to a grand in total!

 

Today I notice that the Air Con is not working. Dash says its on but it's not. No sign of cooling and the engine fan isn't spinning. Got to get it fixed but dread to think what this may cost. This car is such a shame. The good points are very good and make me want to keep it, but the bad points are just stupid and trying to ruin me financially. And you end up in that stupid situation where you think 'I've just spent £xx on it so can't afford to sell it now.' Then the next problem comes along costing you yet another Â£xx.

 

The clutch and DMF were apparently replaced prior to my ownership at 60k miles. It's now on 110k and I have the squeak, and clutch judder after sitting in heavy traffic for a while. Another huge bill if that needs doing, but couldn't honestly sell it on otherwise.

 

Guess I'll just breathe in, take it on the chin and soldier on with it. But it should be more pleasurable... I built up to this X7 Exclusive Tourer from a 2CV for goodness sake! I know what made me smile more.

[paul.h]

The air con may need regassing. I needed it doing on our last 2 C5s at about 7 years old since they were not cooling much but they had not lost enough refrigerant to not work at all. It is about £50 at a dealer or most other places.

[4rchibald]

I have exacly the same problem. First the front wiper went on and would not turn off even if car was locked! Then rear wiper turned on at random.

Cruise control would not set the speed (although it would show the system to be on). Oh and rear boot opener would not work, it then started and stopped again.

The whole BSI was reset as per manual and it fixed the problem...for about one week. Boot wont lift again, cruise sometimes works and rear wiper and washer goes off at random. I could replace the BSI, but i have no guarantee that this will fix the problem.

 

I owned different cars, including Renault, but having C5 for almost 4 weeks, I must say that I am close to agreeing to all those horror stories of "Citroen lottery" of what will go wrong today.