New C5 Mk1 Owner With Questions

[darkcrawler]

HI everyone

 

I recently bought a late 2002 C5 (Mk1) 2.2 Diesel Exclusive Auto. I love the car and it was a bargain on eBay. Since it was cheap i did expect a few problems on the way. So here are the questions i need to ask so that i can make sure she keeps running good. 

 

1. When driving the car sometimes the rear end becomes very bumpy. I haven't noticed the car dropping over night and it always stays the same height in the morning or if left parked for a day or so. The front looks higher then the back and i am going to try and reset the height sensors on that ( if someone has the method how to do it i would appreciated, seen the topic but don't know if the person that was offering the file with the info so was still on here).   

 

2. I am looking into getting the Lexia Software and cables to be able to diagnose the car myself. I had a look on eBay and there are alot of different ones. can you guys please direct me to the right ones. I seen posts saying the the china ones will do damage. 

 

3. On the 2.2 Diesel what stage do you have to replace the timing belt? Mine just done 98k. I tried to contact the garage that did previous servicing on the car but with no luck. I am planning to have it replaced if it needs to be done soon. i presume like any other car its safe to replace timing belt kit and water pump and a fresh dose of coolant?

 

Thanks for all the help in advance. 

 

Franco

[qman3428]

Hi Franco

I have the mk3 but they are similar, timing belt on mine (2.0 HDI) is 100k and yes do the pulleys and water pump at the same time.

Personally I have the Chinese Lexia and it works fine for me but needs to be installed in XP (wont install in anything else). I used a packaged called VMware, which is free, to create a virtual partion, I then installed XP and the lexia software in to that partition. once done I have found I can run it from Vista in compatibility mode no problems.

Rear end sounds like defective spheres but if you do decide to adjust the height sensor please take the advice on this forum and put the car on axle stands on the body or it will drop down suddenly and could cause you serious injury. Not a system to be played with.

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Before touching the height sensors it may be worth taking the suspension up and down a few times in case the height sensors are a bit seized and maybe trying something like wd40 on them (as already mentioned, use axle stands before going under the car. Note the height should be raised to max before using a jack to avoid possible suspension problems.). If this does not help let us know. Check for any suspension fluid leaks on all the front/rear struts but a slight smear on the fronts is normal. Small height adjustments are done using the Lexia, larger ones by adjusting the sensors.

 

It is worth getting the Haynes manual but it does not cover the 2.2 hdi engine. There is French RTA manual for the C5 which covers this engine (from Amazon) and you can also get the Citroen service box manuals from such as ebay to put on your computer. If you register on the service.citroen site you can see the parts diagrams as a free service but also purchase time to look at the Citroen manuals. Register as another professional, member of the Citroen Owners Club. 

 

As a quick check on the timing belt, the top cover on it can be undone a bit so you can see it and if it looks in good condition but if it has not yet been replaced it should be done, then no need to worry about it whilst you have the car. Replacement is usually distance covered or 10 years and the RTA manual it gives 100k miles but I would check your own Service/maintenance/warranty book that came with the car. If it had been serviced at a Citroen dealer they will have records on their computer system on the servicing and work done. The anti freeze recommended is Glysantin G33 which your dealer sells at a similar price to elsewhere - however, flush out all the old stuff first since when I replaced it on our C3 some grease appeared in the expansion tank, possibly due to the anti freeze being a bit different and the old not being fully flushed out.

 

Something you need to check is if the exhaust particulate filter (dpf) has been serviced - should be eolys fluid top up and filter replacement at about 70k miles. The interval will again be in your service book. If the dpf has been removed this is now a MOT failure and also possibly no insurance cover.

[citrophile]

On your question of Lexia software I got mine from Jim at Easy Diagnostics (www.easydiagnostics.co.uk). I rang him up rather than buy it blind off a website and he's very knowledgable and happy to chat through it. Mine installed on windows 7 with no hassles and I've used it lots with no problems connecting or programming various settings.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[darkcrawler]

thanks for all the info guys really appreciate it. I will do the up and down with the suspension and and use a bit of WD40 as you adviced and see how it goes from there. Dont worry about the axles i don't like getting under any car unless i have them under there. I will do that first and see if it helps. Its a bit strange how it does it. It never sinks or drops when i park the car but it has a bad habit sometimes that when i start the car it drops slightly and it raises again but then it get really hard on the back. If the raising and lowering doesnt help then i will look into the spheres. They are not too expensive so i dont think it will do it any harm replacing them. Thanks Paul for the advise regarding getting the Hayes book. Already got one on order through ebay. When it comes to the DPF i dont think it has been removed although i haven't been under the car properly. The car is completely standard and it looks like its been looked after properly. Hopefully this week i got some time off work and i will jump on it and do all this stuff plus installing my stereo and bluetooth system. thanks again for your help.

 

Franco 

[paul.h]

You may find some problems with your list of to dos, so I would post on here to benefit from others experiences.

 

Replacing the stereo can lead to problems (such as central radio display and steering wheel radio controls not working), so can installing a phone if you plan to do this. Lowering the car is not straight forward and would need the height sensors adjusting on the anti roll bars if more than a few mm (the Lexia should do small adjustments). The car should automatically lower above about 60 mph.

 

I noticed on the Easy Diagnostics site they sell the Citroen Service box manual for about £29 (which could be more than others on such as ebay).

[darkcrawler]

HI Paul

 

Thanks for all the info and help so far.I know that you will lose the top part of the display where it shows the stereo info in the central display. I have already ordered the cable(specific for the C5) from a stereo shop that enables to connect an aftermarket stereo to the steering radio controls. I done this already once on my 2004 C2 VTR without any problems with the same stereo. The stereo itself has bluetooth built into it so my phone will link directly to that and all i have to run is one mic wire to a discreet place and another for an ipod connection into the glove box. When it comes to lowering the car i am going to see how it sits on the 17 inch when i get them and then go from there. I understand that it involves some work to lower this kind of car but will drop it first with Lexia and see how it looks if not i will readjust the height adjusters. It needs the front lowered for sure as it looks and feels like its a bit higher then the back anyway. will do what you suggested first with the WD40 and going up and down a few times see if that fixes the height problem and bumpy. i will also see if it might be mud or dirty around the sensors and clean them up. You know where i could get the instructions how to adjust the sensors if i have to? remember reading a post about it that someone had a step by step way how to do it. thanks

 

Franco

[paul.h]

The Lexia can do up to 10 mm suspension, greater is done by altering the height adjuster. Using the Lexia will involve following the instructions on it (I do not have a Lexia so can not add any more). The procedure for the adjuster is not in Haynes but is in the Citroen Service box manual. It is possible to post bits from this but the diagrams will not copy to post on-line.

[darkcrawler]

thanks for the info paul i will look into getting a Citroen Service box and go from there. first i need to get some quiet time at home and also some good weather. I will update the post with some pictures when i fit the stereo in the car and also the live data feed from the ODB port also regarding the bumpy ride in the back if its fixed with your method. you never know it might help someone in the future. thanks again for your help 

[coastline taxis]

The sinking of the rear suspension will be the middle rear sphere.   When you 1st sit in them the car goes down then the pump kicks in and lifts it up is normal for a c5 so that part is correct

[darkcrawler]

thanks for the info coastline. would all the spheres be the same if i buy a new one? I mean are they all the same or they specific to their location? thanks

[coastline taxis]

the middle one is the anti sink sphere as yours is the exclusive model

[darkcrawler]

thanks Coastline i will look that up! will update when its done. 

[darkcrawler]

hi guy sorry to be a pain trying to locate the anti sink sphere and ordering one. in the diagram below would it be sphere number 5? thanks