My C5 In In Eco--Mod Where Do I Go From There ? Please

[zolgra]

Hello, I have an old Citroen C5 2002 so I do not expect it to be the same as later C5s. I stopped using it last

year and while it was off the road I did some mechanical only repairs to it and I removed the battery after the BSI

etc had turned off. When the battery was refitted the multifunction display came on and worked showing the

temperature but I did not set the date etc. I tried stating the 2.0L HDi engine and it failed to start on two or

three attempts, so I thought that I had better set the date because it was in need of setting. I set the date but

not the time. I tried starting again with no success. It seemed at this point the display was displaying ECO--MOD

and the ECU fault light remains on. There were lots of other eletrical items not working at this point rather like

the BSI was not communicating with some other units as it should.
I wonder if any members have experienced similar displays and what was done to remiedy the condition. Any ideas

please?

 

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Is the engine turning over on the starter motor or slow turning over ? If slow then I would check the battery voltage since if it is low (say below about 12.5 volts) it may not be turning the engine fast enough on the starter. If not low then maybe you just need to try a few more times to start it.

 

Eco mode is a Citroen/Peugeot thing to stop the battery going flat if something electrical is left on such as an interior light or the radio. If using these or a door is left open, after upto about 30 minutes (depending on how well the battery is charged) the electrics to such as these are shut down and will not work again until the engine is run. When you open a door the eco message usually appears then for a short time until the engine is run. If you have the car handbook it probably lists the things that will not work.

 

So you do not need to worry about the eco mode message. The engine management light normally goes off when the engine is started whereas the other dash lights are just a bulb check and do not stay on for long with the key in the ignition.

 

So for some reason your car is not starting but I think it is probably nothing to do with the eco mode and engine management lights. When I have reconnected the battery on our C5 I usually reset the date/time once the engine is running so I suspect this has nothing to do with the problem.

[zolgra]

Many thanks for replying paul.h. When I replaced the gearbox I did not reconnect the speed sensor in the bell housing of the gearbox before I tried stating the engine. I now realise that is why the malfunction light is now illuminated but I thought it may have gone off when I connected the speed sensor. I intend to buy a Lexia 3 out of ebay for about £60 but the C5 listed is 2007+ and I am not entirely sure that it will work on my 2002 C5.

 

I have disconnected and reconnected the battery and I have charged it and it does turn over probably ok. It always now displays the ECO--MOD every time and the fault light is permanently illuminated. I will have to get a diagnostic tool to seek fault codes and then rectify the fault then reset the codes.

 

It is the first time I have had an electronic managed diesel and I do appreciate that years around 2002 can be akward to deal with because of being not exactly EODB. I have had many diesel engined vehicles and I have always been able to start them if they have been capable of running.

 

Anyway many thanks paul

[paul.h]

The Lexia should work on your car although I have not used one. What area are you since there are some members who are able to help others with a diagnostic check and there is a pinned topic on one of the C5 sections.

 

As already noted, the eco and engine management lights will not go off until the engine is run, regardless of whether the battery is disconnected/reconnected and this is normal and does not indicate a fault. But then the engine light will stay on if there is a fault that could affect emissions. The engine light can not go off until the engine runs since all the various sensors need to check the engine is working correctly - on our cars this takes only a few seconds after the engine is started.

 

I do not know if not having the speed sensor connected would prevent the car starting or just put it in limp mode but once connected I would have thought the fault would clear so the car would run but the fault code would just be stored. If the crank position sensor was not connected this would prevent the engine starting but often when the crank position sensor fails it does not give a fault code so the light would not come on. I think sometimes fault codes that cause the engine management light to stay on will clear the light if the fault no longer exists after a few starts - so you could try switching on the ignition maybe 6 times to see if this helps.

[zolgra]

Hello, I stated making a diagnostic tool about a year ago using a STN1110 which as you know is the equivelant of an ELM device but supposed to be better. I expect the Lexia to be delivered after 17th March and I ordered it because I do not know if I could finish the STN1110 project before delivery. The C5 is sorned so no great rush although I hope to be going by April.