Eps/de Pollution Fault/hand Brake Fault

[djdaz116]

Right guys need to pick your brains. C5 mk3 2008 onwards 2.2 exclusive with electronic handbrake.

Right here we go lol. Twice in two days when I get into the car, as I switch the ignition on to start the car, I have the esp/de pollution fault/hand brake fault with the service light on, and the car does not even attempt to start. Does not even turn over to try to start. So its not turning over and won't start it's dead.

Now it may be coinsedence but after turning the ignition on and off I still get the warnins, but I think by pressing the handbrake the warnings go away and the car starts. But when it's done this I am pressing things frantically but I'm sure the twice it's cleared it has been by pressing the hand brake, but please don't take that as gospal. I need to slow down and see if it does it again.

I have read that de pollution fault is triggered by other things. But any ideas guys. The car drives absolutely fine, this is on attempting to start the car.

 

Cheers

 

Daz

[paul.h]

It makes sense if it is a brake switch fault, possibly on the handbrake somewhere. Or maybe there is a wiring problem in the handbrake area since there is also an accelerometer/gyrometer sensor that is part of the esp system at the side of the tunnel below the passenger seat and under the carpets.

 

It may also be worthwhile checking the battery voltage since if this is low it can lead to odd electrical problems. Plus if your car is still on its original one it may be getting due for replacement. Before running the engine it should be about 12.5 volts and with the engine running it should be about 14.4 volts.

[djdaz116]

thanks for the reply, much apreciated. it did it again this morning, but only handbrake fault and service light was on, and the car wouldn't turn over just dead. didn't touch anything this morning, just switched ignition off and on and it was fine. i have hydro suspension so when i get in the car the suspension pump runs for a while to level suspension, which i had switched the ignition on as the pump was running.   i hear a lot of battery problems causing ghost faults so to speak, so i suppose i need to eliminate the obvious. and these faults to date only occur as i switch ignition on to start. no problems whilst driving.

if i can mention some history with the car since i brought it. i brought the car 4 months ago now. a month after buying it i kept getting economy mode all the time. if i was lucky for it not to go into economy mode as soon as i turned the ignition off, or at tops you would be talking 5 mins or less and the radio would go off, or id open the boot but it wouldn't close, which was a pain, and it sounded sluggish on starting first time.

Now i changed a battery which was a 75amp battery which they gave me for the car, smaller than the one i taken off, but size isnt everything lol. all was fine until recently where i am getting economy mode again occasionally. now generally i do short journeys 6 mile to work and 6 back, and shopping which is a typical day. i was cleaning the car the weekend and the radio lasted 5 mins went into eco mode.  Now roll back a few weeks, i went to devon on holiday 180 mile a few weeks ago, and obviously driving around whilst there. this eco mode did start again before i went on holiday, but whilst away and for the few a couple of weeks when i got back it was fine, but i put this down to getting a good charge, but now again, 5 to 10 mins mins with the radio on, or interior lights, on or a couple of openings of the electric boot it goes into eco mode and it does sound sluggish as it did this morning when the park brake fault was on.

i checked the charge rate the weekend and it was 14.3 - 14.5v with the engine running. so alternator seems ok.

i know it could be a faulty battery, which is warranted, but is 75A right for the car or what is recommended. or is there anything else you could suggest or any ideas

 

cheers

 

Darren

Edited September 9, 2015 by djdaz116

[MikeLane]

75 Amp hours is fine but should have 650 or more CCA (Current drain when cranking the engine) for diesel C5s, which most "heavy duty" batteries will have .

Not sure about the economy mode problem (if it is one) as my C5 went into eco mode after about 10 mins on the quay at Calais after driving 450 miles up through France! I just turned the engine on for a couple of mins and after switching off eco mode came back after10 mins or so.

(Just another Citroen quirk?)