New Member

[c5 and mostly happy]

Hi gents,

 

have owned a 2003 2.2 c5 Exclusive Auto for nearly 3 years and been very happy for most of that time, sprinkled with periods of doom and panic as various lights and problems arise.  110k when bought - now135k.

 

These pages have been very informative and helpful, so despite my reluctance to post online (maybe age/generation thing - dont do facebook either),  just wanted to say thanks.

 

Problems over the years have been:-

 

diesel additive light on soon after buying , but soon reset itself and never came back so think it was done at last service before I bought it.  Cambelt done at same time but no service docs came with car.

 

Fwd droplinks at first MOT - no problems changing

 

Various random headlights - cured with new Xenon lights

 

Speedo underreading then stopped - replaced stepper motor from breakers

 

Recently had problems getting locking wheelbolts off. Started bending key pins so went to local lorry servicing place and they kindly attacked them with heavy duty impact gun which spun them off before I totally destroyed the adaptor.

 

Most recently changed track rod, but when lowered to ground rear would not lower.  Front ok but no luck with rear after battery reset or citroenobics.  Eventually supported car fully up and played with rear position sensor.  Thought it may have over centred in wrong direction.

 

Took out jacks &supports and car came fully down and "hunted" in fully down position - doh.  Eventually managed to get car jacked again and repositioned rear sensor to original position.  Worked perfectly straight away and ever since.

 

Think the leg must have been over-extended and got stuck.

 

Anyway, still think its the best car I've owned, driven for ride/comfort etc, but always fearful of whats around the next corner.

 

Strange things I've lived/living  with:-

 

airbag message on.

 

washer level sensor gave up - couldn't get one anywhere until found one at breakers.

 

Heater display randomly has changed to reading in Fahrenheit. Last time it went back to 'c but dont know how.  When it does this - also lose heating backing lights.  

 

Once when going round M25 at Heathrow, directly under Airbus on approach, all lights on, engine cut out.  Automatic so couldn't just bump restart.  Luckily put in neutral and started first turn of key .  Stopped at next service, turnoff - turn-on all back to normal.  Spooky and not nice. Maybe radio/radar affected.

 

Anyway, thanks again for the help and entertainment and hope I may be able to help in turn.

 

Cheers

 

Keith

 

 

 

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

If the air bag light is on the air bags could be disabled until the problem is fixed or the light reset. This would prevent the air bags going off in a crash and might affect any insurance claims. You can check in the MOT testers manual on a .gov website to see if it would cause a MOT test failure. Possibilities can include a loose connector under one of the seats but if you do try these make sure the key is removed from the ignition switch for at least 10 minutes or so to remove any possibility of setting off an air bag and you may want to disconnect the battery.

 

If the car is jacked up, in the handbook it says somewhere to first raise the suspension to max height. If this is not done there is the possibility of suspension problems so it would be of interest if you did this. If you are going under the car it should be supported on axle stands since catching one of the height sensors can cause the suspension to quickly drop to a low level.

 

On some cars you can change the units °F/°C, mph/kmh, litres/gallons using the radio menu and also change the language.

[c5 and mostly happy]

Thanks Paul,

 

having had a Xantia before and reading here,  always put in axle stands.  Have heard of a few accidents/deaths.

 

Yes , I always raise before jacking, but thought problems may have come after jacking one side a lot more than other.

 

With the temp indication- outside temp is changed as you say, but doesn't affect cabin temp.

 

I don't have an airbag light on as such, just servicing and "airbag fault" on centre display.

 

Keith

[paul.h]

You could try the front passenger air bag on/off switch to see if this does anything and also see if its connector is fastened on - just vaguely remember reading something about this a long time ago.

[c5 and mostly happy]

Thanks again Paul,

 

have checked the connectors and not found any problems.  Would this still be logged as a fault and need resetting even if the fault had cleared?

 

Never used a Lexia before and hear a lot about them here.  Any advise on the best to buy and guide for use?

 

Had an MOT recently and was only an advisory.

 

Keith

[Johndouglas]

Never used a Lexia before and hear a lot about them here.  Any advise on the best to buy and guide for use?

Lexia is the diagnostic machine used by Citroen dealers. The Chinese have copied them and turn out cloned versions - some better than others - it seems that some won't even work on C5's. Guys who know more about them than what I do reckon that this company's machine is a good one. http://easydiagnostics.co.uk/#/shop/4590186381/lexia-3-diagbox-for-citroen-peugeot/10015520