C5 1.6Hdi Turbo Lag

[Nrog]

Hi,

 

Can anybody tell me at what point the turbo should kick in on a 2009 1.6hdi 110bhp? It's done 64k miles with a FSH.

 

Mine kicks in around 2000rpm on the dot which means I have to drive it hard if I want to feel the turbo? I dont drive my cars hard and generally like to change gear around 2000-2500rpm as I drive for economy. The overall drive although really smooth feels slow and im wondering if there is a turbo lag?

 

On the service history I got with the vehicle, the previous owner had it into Citroen main dealer reporting that he felt it 'lacked power' but the come back from then was 'no fault found'.

 

I've had a problem previously with a flat spot but that has since been rectified by replacing the Turbo Vac Solenoid (see my other post). The car still feels like it is underpowered in general, although once the turbo does kick in it's absolutely fine. We have a Renault Scenice 1.5dci 106bhp which feels much nippier and makes me think it cant just be how the Citroen should be normally?

 

I'm not overly technical and I'm not a mechanic, but any advice would be appreciated.

[paul.h]

I do not know if this helps but an old C5 brochure has the 1.6 hdi saloon 0-60 mph as 12.2 seconds. So not particularly quick, probably comparable to a 1.4 petrol C3. The car though is about 1500 kg.

 

The Haynes manual for the 2001 to 2008 C5 says the 1.6 hdi turbo has a variable inlet nozzle to improve boost pressure at low engine speeds - maybe there could be something wrong with this - sticking ? See what other comments come back.

 

Whilst it is still under warranty, if you have any concerns at all about the turbo it should be sorted since they do not seem to last long on the 1.6 hdi. Maybe ask at Rigbyes since they seem to know what they are doing from your last visit.

[Randombloke]

Check MAP/MAF sensors, both from the point of wiring and of any tubing connecting them to to the main manifold. If either is not working or disconnected it would give the symptoms you mention, but that should be flagged up by diagnostics.

 

The 1.6 HDi isn't ideal for a car the size of the C5 - a friend had a Mk2 1.6HDi and the performance left a lot to be desired. That reminds me, check under the accelerator that the the microswitch for the extra oomph is working, and is not being fouled by aftermarket carpets.

[Nrog]

Thanks for the replies. Perhaps it is just the size of the engine -vs- size of the car.

 

Does anybody know if the 2.0l (2009 onwards) is as economical? I'd like to stick with a C5 but would like to feel abit more power from it.

[paul.h]

If it is round town driving then the smaller engine will use less fuel whilst stationary but on motorways the larger engine is likely to be better. These are mpg figures from the brochures for a C5 saloon as urban / extra urban / combined / CO2 g/km / 0-62 mph (secs). The maintenance costs of the 2.0 hdi may be lower than the 1.6 hdi - oil changes are 20k miles vs 12500 miles (or 2 years, but 1 year from about 2013) and especially if a new turbo is allowed for on the 1.6 hdi.

 

January 2009 brochure

1.6 hdi 110 hp - 42.8 / 58.8 / 53.3 / 140 / 12.2

2.0 hdi 140 hp - 37.7 / 58.8 / 48.7 / 153 / 10.6

 

November 2009 brochure

1.6 hdi 110 hp - 42.8 / 61.4 / 53.3 / 140 / 12.2

2.0 hdi 160 hp - 40.4 / 58.9 / 50.4 / 147 / 9.1

 

November 2010 brochure

1.6 hdi 110 hp - 44.1 / 67.3 / 56.5 / 130 / 12.2

2.0 hdi 160 hp - 41.5 / 64.2 / 53.3 / 139 / 9.1

 

On the 1.6 hdi the max torque is quoted at 1750 rpm (2.0 hdi at 2000 rpm) - this probably must mean the turbo is working at this or lower rpm, so in your case not cutting in until 2000 rpm may indicate a problem.

[Randombloke]

On the 1.6 hdi the max torque is quoted at 1750 rpm (2.0 hdi at 2000 rpm) - this probably must mean the turbo is working at this or lower rpm, so in your case not cutting in until 2000 rpm may indicate a problem.

 

I've just bought the RTA manual and oddly enough it gives the torque with the temporary over ride as being the same as without it.

 

The later 2.0 HDi is phenomenal - I've got a 2007 407 and a 2008 C5 with supposedly the same engine, and the C5 is just so much quicker and quieter, although the 407 has 130k on the clock vs 50k on the C5.