C5 2002 Aircon

[Godfrey]

My C5 V6 2002 blow hot air to the passenger side even when aircon is on. Driver's side works well. What could be the problem?

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

This is most likely the motor which adjusts the warm air flap to the passenger side needs replacing. A few years ago these were about £60 and can be accessed from the passenger footwell with a bit of a struggle.

[citrophile]

I'm assuming you have the aircon with the dual temp controls.

 

I've had the same problem with my 2005 C5 but it's not the motor, it's the shaft that connects the motor to the internal flap has broken. Having had some good advice from dcba12290 I'm going to be taking my dashboard out in the next few weeks so that I can get at the aircon/heater unit and repair the flaps.

 

It's easy to check the stepper motors. On the passenger side you need to take out the glovebox and then you should be able to see the two motors. The top one is for the airflow distribution to the various vents, the bottom one is the one that controls the hot/cold mix. If you undo the two mini bolts then it should come out easily.

 

When it's out, change the temperature on the passenger side and you should see if the black "star" shaped spindle is turning. If it turns through approx 90-100 degrees (just over a quarter turn) when you go from fully hot to fully cold then the motor is fine and you need to check the shaft to the flap.

 

I found the best way to do this was to carefully remove the black spindle from the motor, find a socket to fit (very small, probably around 8mm) so that you can insert the "star" end back into the shaft in the side of the heater unit. You should then be able to turn the flap manually but do not force it as it only turns through the same 90-100 degrees that the motor does. If turning the spindle manually doesn't change it then it is most likely the flap shaft has broken inside the unit.

 

This is the problem I have, hence I will be taking the dashboard out. There's more information about the flaps and some diagrams on the aussiefrogs forum here http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/citro%EBn-forum/89911-c5-flap-motors.html

 

Good Luck and let us know how you get on.

 

Rob

[paul.h]

With the motor removed, it may be possible to use a small flat blade screwdriver or a torx bit in the end of the flap to turn it, rather than dismantling the motor spindle.

[citrophile]

Yes Paul, that's true but you don't need to dismantle the motor spindle and I found that using anything other than the spindle end started to damage the shaft socket as it seems to be made of very soft plastic (or it deteriorates with age and heat).

 

The part of the motor spindle that sticks out (the black bit) is only pushed into the motor and can be easily removed with gentle use of a flat blade screwdriver. To replace it you just push it back into the motor, it only goes in one way.

 

Rob

[Godfrey]

Thanx guys, l think l now have an idea of the root of the problem. When l bought the car, the previous owner had it parked for good 2 year because of the auto gearbox problem. I bought it as was and replaced the gearbox only to realise that the engine compartment had been a rats kingdom. Auto electricians had to put the car on surgery to join some wires. Probably the flaps you are talking about are obstructed free movement by some rats' products of mischief. Will check them first as suggested and come back to you guys.

[paul.h]

If you remove the cabin pollen filter (via passenger footwell) you can see the way further in to the cabin is blocked by the air con evaporator and heater matrix before the flaps are reached. So any rats that block the flaps would have to get in through the vents in the cabin.