C5 Problems (Various)

[Muggle]

Hello to you all - new boy to the forum and apologies to moderators if I've not put this post in the correct place because I'm new to forums in general.

 

After a bump in Italy a year ago in my Rover 75 I was forced to buy a replacement car and settled on a 2006 2.0 Hdi Exclusive estate. Nice car I thought from the start and after I fitted a plug-in booster the performance was great, with and without my caravan.

 

However, it has cost me a small fortune over the last year. I've replaced the clutch, DMF, brake disks, aircon pipes (SERIOUSLY expensive, this one!), drivers lights switch unit, and the front sidelight bulbs. I gave up even looking at the error messages from the display - at any temperature below 10 degrees I was variously informed that the tyre pressures were not being monitored, my dpf had failed, the power steering needed repairs and so on - none of them true, as the messages disappeared on the next start.

 

Despite all this, I just love the comfort and character of the car and can forgive the weird error messages from the computer(s?) and so I'm determined to sort it out completely and I still have 2 problems which have stumped me and which mean I've got to throw myself on your collective mercy:

 

1. It is a very poor cold starter - previous Hdi engines started at a touch, but this needs winding up for a long time before it starts up for the first time - after the first start it kicks in straight away. I've changed the glow plugs and the glow plug relay with no difference and don't know where to go next with it.

• Does anyone have any ideas?

 

2. Secondly the rear suspension bushes and front ball joints/drop links need replacing and when the car came out of the garage the HID headlights started with a new set of warnings (lights failing to self level and would not turn to illuminate round bends). The garage new nothing about suspension sensors on front and rear anti-roll bars and, it seems, had screwed them up in some way and this affected the headlights. After talking to 'experts' at other garages, I've found out about a reset process and by disconnecting the battery while directional headlights is selected and it is supposed to put them right but it only worked for a week or so and then stopped. So, 

• ​Am I doing the reset properly or is there a more specific process?
• Do the height sensors need some sort of calibration process and if so, what is it?

I live in the Wirral, but am willing to travel a long way to get these problems fixed.

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any helpful suggestions (apart from getting rid!)

 

KC

 

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

As a general point it is probably best to use a Citroen dealer or specialist for any garage work since other garages may not be familiar with the C5 suspension.

 

How many miles has the car done ?

 

Have you checked the battery voltage since C5s can give odd electrical problems if it is low and at about 8 years old the original battery may be due for replacement. Battery voltage also reduces a bit as the temperature falls. Also the engine needs to be above a minimum rpm on the starter for it to start.

 

Poor starting could also be fuel draining back - has the fuel filter been replaced recently that could have resulted in a slight air leak. If you have a bulb primer it will be worth trying this first before a start to see if this helps.

 

The height sensors are adjusted using dealer type Lexia diagnostic equipment for up to 10mm height correction and above this the height sensors are initially manually adjusted on the front and rear anti roll bars. If you go under the car always use axle stands or a ramp since if these sensors are knocked/touched the car could drop to a very low level. If you need the sensors sorting (which may sort out the headlight leveling) you may be better using a Citroen dealer or specialist with the Lexia equipment. Checking and adjusting the height will probably take about 1 hour to give you an idea of the cost.

 

If you quickly disconnect and reconnect the battery this can lead to odd electrical problems and there is a pinned procedure in the C5 Technical section Common Problems post that has worked ok. There is also a post for a bsi reset but I do not know if this is what you have been doing - perhaps you could give a few details.

[Johndouglas]

The power steering fault message shows when the engine has just managed to start on a low battery.   Often the power steering will also not work until after the battery has a bit of charge and you restart it.   Even before you attempt to start the engine, a C5 battery has already done some work by raising the suspension to the correct level.   So unlock the car a few times without starting the engine, and it will make a 'tired' battery even flatter. 

[qman3428]

There is a temperature sensor in the air intake which adjusts the fuel for cold starting, worth taking it out and cleaning it. Personally I would put a new battery on it.

[coastline taxis]

have replied to your pm

[sawingate]

C5 Hdi intermittent starting problem - even starter motor does not turn

[sawingate]

I have recently purchased a 2006 C5 Vtr 1.6 Hdi 16v and have starting problems where even the starter motor does not turn.

Every morning or if the car is left more than 1 hour or so, it will fail to start. Only the ignition solenoid will click but starter motor does not turn and no solenoid or relay clicks under the bonnet.

 

I have already replaced the battery(previous one was faulty) with a fully charged new one reading 12.5 volts dropping to 12.3-12.4 on connecting up.

It will almost always start with a jump start, sometimes using a portable jump starter.

 

If I disconnect the battery, wait a minute , reconnect it, wait another minute and try to start it again, again it will not start. However if I repeat this procedure between twice to four more times, it will start normally. I always know when it is going to start before I try, because starting is preceded by a wurring noise from under the bonnet on the near side, opposite the battery. I think this is a device that sets the suspension correct height before start up. Must this happen before it will start?

 

Any ideas please on how to resolve this issue? I have already taken it to a citroen dealer who did a diagnostic on it and searched for possible causes (including drains to battery) but can find nothing wrong.

 

Could it be an immobiliser fault (but same happens with spare key) or starter motor relay behind battery ( as no clicking is heard from this area) ?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I have to insure 2 cars until the problem is fixed.

[sawingate]

I forgot to mention that with the above problem I get an error message "suspension fault - max speed 25mph". After the height preset device wurrs, this message doesn't appear and the car starts. Yesterday I had the same problem again, but car wouldn't start even after 6 attempts at reconnecting battery. However, after I swapped battery over for a spare one (both batteries ok reading 12.5 v unconnected) I got the wurring noise straight away and again when I put key on ignition, then it started ok.

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Your symptoms sound like a flat battery (or maybe an undersized one). 12.7 volts is charged and 12.3 volts is flat - is this measured across the battery terminals ? The suspension pump (the wurring noise) will not run if the suspension is at the correct height or if the battery is flat. Clicking on the starter motor of the solenoid without the starter turning again sounds like a flat battery or a faulty starter or wiring connection to it from the battery. You should also check the battery to body earth connection and the wiring and connections on the battery and the engine earth connection and wire. When the engine runs the battery voltage should be about 14.3 volts from the alternator.

 

When you disconnect and reconnect the battery follow the procedure in the C5 Technical Section pinned Common Problems post to avoid odd electrical problems (if not already being done).

[sawingate]

Thank you for your reply. Yes it does sound like a battery problem, but it isn't, as I'm using a new fully charged one which is the correct size. Also using a 2nd hand fully charged Bosch silver+ one of correct size. Swapping to his sometimes works too.

The alternator's ok as every time the engine starts, the battery voltage jumps to around 14v and also the Citroen agent checked this and checked for errors and earth leakage etc. He found nothing wrong - but the error didn't happen while he was checking it - it only failed to start again a half hour after I left the garage!

[paul.h]

Next time it happens, instead of disconnecting the battery, try moving the battery wires about to see if one has a break in it. If the battery is disconnected you could also check if the suspension pump electrical connector on top of it is fully on and if there are any signs of corrosion in the engine fuse box or on the ecu connectors but I doubt if these are the problem.

 

Are there any other problems with the car or work that was done before the problems that may help with the diagnosis ?

[coastline taxis]

You need to check the cranking amps on the battery, could be the best battery in the world but if it hasnt got the amps it wont turn engine over fast enough to start. Also 14 volts isnt right you should be up to 14.4 volts and the point 4 volts will make a difference