Electrical & Running Fault

[LIGHTFOOT]

Hi Everyone

i have a c5 2002 2.0 110 hdi always been a great car. it has developed a couple of faults, the first started a couple of weeks ago.

driving along at 60 mph (any speed really) feels as if someone has pulled the plug on power, foot to the floor and it will pick up but as soon as you go to "cruise" the car will stop pulling intermittently. also sometimes when this happens the rev counter, temp gauge will stop working big red stop sign will come on, and then the battery charge light, traction control light will come on and blowers will stop.

 

have fitted new air mass, fuel and air filter and crankshaft sensor still the same, cleaned all earths to car and gearbox have also cleaned the pins and plugs on ecu (with electrical contact cleaner) alternator charging at 14.55 v at alternator and at battery on tickover 12.6 v in battery on stop at a bit bit of a loss anyone with ideas.

 

Paul

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Not sure if I can help but some questions anyway.

 

- has the engine management light come on at all - if so have the fault codes been read ?

- have you looked for any wiring damage around the engine or loose connectors ?

- have you tried a battery disconnection/reconnection since this sometimes can help with odd electrical problems ? If you do this do not be too quick to do it. The following is copied from the C5 Technical section Common Problems pinned topic:

 

16. Odd electrical problems caused by wrong battery disconnection procedure.

If you need to disconnect the battery and not do a BSI reset procedure, I have found the following has not given me any problems on a 2004 and 2007 C5 and a 2003 C3:

- remove the ignition key from the car

- open the bonnet

- wait a few minutes for the BSI to shut down

- disconnect the battery negative terminal

 

When reconnecting

- ignition key out of the car

- reconnect the battery

- wait a few minutes

- insert the key in the ignition and wait a minute

- turn the key to the first position and wait a minute

- turn the key so the dash lights come on and wait a minute

- start the engine

- take the windows down and up to reset the anti pinch

- reset the clock (and radio on the C3).

[MikeLane]

Could it be the alternator failing or belt slipping under load? (i.e. OK when ticking over but not when revving engine.)

[LIGHTFOOT]

Hi

 

thanks paul & Mike  belt is ok although I did buy a new alternator when the charge light would not go out, reluctant to fit as I have the right charge voltage at the alternator and battery.

 

engine management light has on a couple of occasions come on but gone off and has not been on for a couple of days have tried a reset from the battery but not in the way you have described and I will try that on monday

 

thanks

 

 

[paul.h]

Since the engine management light has been on, the car is likely to be in limp mode, or at least when the light is on. The fault code given will be stored until it is deleted and also there will be freeze frame data when the fault was given with values from the engine sensors. Limp mode will limit the performance. Unless there is any obvious wiring/connector problem found then the best option will be to have the fault code read since this will usually indicate the fault and lead to a fix. Any other method is likely to involve replacing parts in the hope of finding a faulty one without spending too much money, which I am guessing you have already tried but without success.

 

If you buy a code reader it is better to get one that does live data but diesel EOBD was not required until 2004, so some low cost readers will not work on your car. Gendan do low cost readers but you need to check if they work on your car. As an example https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html

[MikeLane]

 

 

If you buy a code reader it is better to get one that does live data but diesel EOBD was not required until 2004, so some low cost readers will not work on your car. Gendan do low cost readers but you need to check if they work on your car. As an example https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html

Hi Paul - just followed your link and the device seems remarkably cheap, less than most garages will charge for running a check with a Lexia.

Have you tried one? Is one able to clear errors with it?

[paul.h]

I have not tried this particular one but have a Gendan GCR25 which is similar in its functions and that works well but Gendan appear to have replaced it with the one in the link. I have used it on our 2010 C3 to find a cam sensor fault that put on the engine management light and also used it to check the temperatures/cooling system was ok. If you want more than the engine sensors that can put on the eml then something like a Lexia is needed but I have not tried one. However, for about £40 it is a bargain if you have the eml on and then it will read the codes and clear them, as well as give the freeze frame live data at the time of the fault which may/or may not help. It will also give some engine sensor live data such as temperatures, O2 sensors so you can see if these are ok, possibly fuel pressure and a few others depending on the car.

 

I also have an old Sealey VS863 which is specific to Citroens but can not be updated since Sealey no longer support it (despite current sellers on ebay suggesting otherwise), so whilst the EOBD part is still ok, the Citroen specific engines and codes are only up to 2009 - this is ok for our 2007 C5 though and it also covers the abs and air bags. So from this experience I would not bother getting something expensive that is specific to one make of car since it quickly becomes out of date. I have used this one a few times and helped a neighbour whose Peugeot 206 eml was on and that showed the exhaust cat was not working from the O2 sensor readings.