C5 Anti Pollution Fault Cures !

[Randombloke]

Common thread is that some Citroen garages, not forgetting experienced independents can diagnose and fix well.

 

Some dealers who haven't invested in technician training or kit can't.

 

The anti pollution faults will have fault codes logged. You need to get the codes and investigate. If your car is EOBD complaint then a cheap reader may be the solution. Not found one that will work with a Mk 1 C5 2.2 diesel yet.

 

There are a lot of things that can cause Anti pollution or ESP/ASR faults, but it seems the most wrongly diagnosed one from this forum is the blocked EGR valve.

 

:D Unfortunately, seeing as people so often start new threads rather than search the forum for the already existing topic, we have the information but badly scattered about. Search here, across the C5 forum as a whole there are probably some 15 threads on anti pollution, all with good answers, but not all in the same place, and we don't have the moderation effort to merge threads and advise about using searches.

[andyc22]

Hi Everybody

I have had a C5 2.2 HDI estate for about 3 years.

The first time the antipollution fault appeared it was due to the lift pump in the tank packing up.

Then it did it again about 8 months later, the brushes disintergrated because the fuel filter was black,

but this one got raplaced under waranty. The next antipollution fault was due to the AIR FILTER FILLING UP WITH WATER and damaging the air flow sensor. BE AWARE OF THIS ONE CHECK YOUR AIR FILTER FOR ANY MOISTURE IN THE AIR BOX the garage did drill a hole in the bottom of the air box to

stop the accumilation of water but it hasn`t stopped the fault because it appeared tonight and the

air filter is soaking wet so has anybody suffered this one?

 

andyc22

[MattL]

I bought a 2nd hand 2001 C5 2.2 HDi exclusive last september - which consistently came up with the 'Antipollution Fault' message & limp home mode around once a week. In january this year I had the ECU re-mapped (which gave it +45HP +45ft torque for same or slightly better economy). I also altered my driving style at he same time, so that I now no longer coast with the clutch depressed - rather I just lift off the throttle. I haven't had the 'Antipollution Fault' since.

 

So I can't tell you whether it's the driving style change, or the re-map of the ECU that's done the trick, I just know that I didn't have to replace any parts at all, nor pay for someone to take hours to find non-existant faults in the engine of the car...

 

Hope this helps

Matt

[Guest scott097]

I bought a 2nd hand 2001 C5 2.2 HDi exclusive last september - which consistently came up with the 'Antipollution Fault' message & limp home mode around once a week. In january this year I had the ECU re-mapped (which gave it +45HP +45ft torque for same or slightly better economy). I also altered my driving style at he same time, so that I now no longer coast with the clutch depressed - rather I just lift off the throttle. I haven't had the 'Antipollution Fault' since.

 

So I can't tell you whether it's the driving style change, or the re-map of the ECU that's done the trick, I just know that I didn't have to replace any parts at all, nor pay for someone to take hours to find non-existant faults in the engine of the car...

 

Hope this helps

Matt

Hi Matt

 

I have this exact problem, it occurs every day on my Motorway commute, im interested in this ECU remapping. can you tell me what it cost and can i get it done at my local Citreon dealer?

[maguire]

:D :rolleyes: HAd much the same problem as everyone else antipolution and ESP ASB warning. I have lived with this and the lack of power for almist a year. The airflow meter was replaced last December as it was clear one of the fillament sensors was broken this produced some improvement.I eventually took the car back to the loacal independant dealer who had replaced the airflow meter fully expecting them not to be able to produce any improvement. They had the car for three days and carried out 12 hours of investigation (only charged me for 5) they found the fault a small crack in one of the rubber vacume hoses. Car no fine. Cost 5 hours labour no new parts!!!!!

Hi posting this just to see if any one on here with more knowledge than i can throw any light on the anti pollution fault on the 2.2 hdi (2002)

It seems i have the same problem as a number of people ie Accelerating from 50ish either changing down or not, beep and anti polution fault appears alonof investigation on itout 12 hours g with service light. Eventually goes to limp home mode. Pull in switch off and on again and car runs fine although fault still shows. Eventually after stopping fo a while, fault display clears and the last recorded fault doesnt show on the display when cycled through. Fault might not show for few days but eventually returns. ??? Have had new ECU fitted, ok for 3 months, faulted again. A very good citroen dealer did some diagnostics and found the error read as high turbo presure or turbo pressure fault. Tried modding swirl chamber, no effect, tried new EGR valve, cured for 2 months but then returned. Now thinking ECU poss faulty again. Any ideas anyone.......... seems to me to be a sensor or mechanical fault that is caused when accelerating causing the ECU to think there is a anti pollution fault. ANy one know where to look for vacuum pipes that are to do with turbo etc. ?? If any one does find out what this is caused by can they please ring Citroen UK and tell them, as they havent got a clue !!!!

 

many thanks if any one comes up with anything.

 

Mike

[MattL]

>>im interested in this ECU remapping. can you tell me what it cost and can i get it done at my local Citreon dealer?

I've certainly never seen a main dealer get involved in anything like remapping!

I got a company called angeltuning to do it, cost me £300, but transformed the way the car drives. Economy, if driven carefully is in fact a little better than the original map on my 2001 Y reg 2.2HDi (I think it had c60000 on the clock at the time, now has well over 80K) however, as the car is so much more fun, I do have trouble restraining myself, so it works out broudly the same (average 45-57 according to trip computer. My big sofa now gives GTIs a real scare...

 

So, back to angeltuning - they came out to my place of work, at a time of my choosing. The guy who did the remap was ex PSAdrive train engineer - which was reassuring. I left him to it for about 45 minutes while they downloaded the map from my car, sent it to HQ, they tweaked it, and uploaded the new one. I've also heard from a colleague who had his Seat done the celtictuning do a good service. I can't comment on any other services as i've not tried them - but I do know that my C5 is much faster and less thirsty than another colleagues mondeo 2.2, who put one of these 'tuning boxes' in. Hope this helps - addresses below.

br

Matt

www.angeltuning.co.uk

www.celtictuning.co.uk

[Ean]

Ok - problem solved at long last, and by the local garage, not the Citroen dealer.

 

Like the above, the EGR return pipe was clogged, and the system showed a fault in the inlet air-valve. Both were replaced and now the car goes better than new, with no faults and better mpg too.

 

So why could the Citroen dealer no fix this? This board (and the equivalent Renault board) demonstrates that this is a common problem with the HDi engine, so why does Citroen not have a clue?

Ralph

 

 

hi there

my c5 is doing the same trick but does anyone know where the EGRreturn pipe is please

infact what is erg

[techbod]

EGR = exhaust gas recirculation,

 

just been looking at this problem on another site and this was the guys answer I copied it for you to see

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

I have owned the 2.2HDI SX Estate for about a year having owned virtually every Citroen to date from 2CV on. My last two vehicles were both Xsara Estates (not Picasso) and I traded up to the bigger C5 in order to tow a caravn and hump more gear to and from France. I went for the 2.2 HDI engine because I found that the 2.0 was far too slow through the gears compared to the Xsara which went like the wind. The 2.2 is quite nippy for such a large vehicle. I particularly like the different suspension heights and in fact used the highest one (max 6mph) to crawl through a flood yesterday. Also like the Sports setting which takes two of the suspension spheres out of commission thereby hardening up the suspension and reducing body roll on country roads as well as improving handling. I bought the vehicle at about 40000 miles (03) and in a year I have done 20000 miles. I have had it serviced twice at a local independent Citroen servicing centre and costs have been quite high. It seems to go through tyres as in that 20000 miles I have had to purchase 3, each about £60. Overall reliabaility is good but like numerous other 2.2 owners I have suffered, and still suffer from the phantom anti pollution sensor problem ie. the ESP Electronic Stability light comes on indicating a fault and immediately after another light (small engine shape) and words Service lit up. The display also indicates an 'anti pollution' fault and the ECU goes into limp home mode with only about 2500 rpm available in any gear. This first happened on the M25 with a caravan on the back - I kept going at 40mph until a rest area. Having switched off and left it for a couple of mins I switched back on and started up. The ESP light has gone out, revs are back but the anti pollution message persists - this goes out afet a couple of days and its back to square one. Computer diagnosis deoes not reveal the fault and it is not the Particulate Filter. This has now happened on numerous occasions to me and also to dozens of other people on the net. Noone seems to know the answer and it has spoiled what has been a super car for me and I will be trading in ASAP - what a pity. Overall MPG 40.3

[Ean]

hi there

my c5 went to the main dealers in chester to fix ( :huh: ) the fault

anti pollution esp light anyway they had it THREE YES 3 weeks said it was an electrical fault but could not fix it .

well i had a list of things it could be off here and elec fault was not on there i thought it was the particulate fillter.

anyway sent it to the main dealer in wrexham on tuesday back wednesday night all the lights are off runs very nicely thankyou.

they said it was the swirrel control diaphram so just changed it out and there you go

 

hopefully that is the end of the matter as i would like to start driving my car again hope this helps someone thanks for all your help Ean

[davidad]

they said it was the swirrel control diaphram so just changed it out and there you go

I've had the anti pollution fault for several months on my 04 2.2hdi. When it first happened the diagnostics reported the swirl chamber control valve as faulty so I had it replaced but the problem came back after about a week. The valve probably was faulty as performance and fuel consumption improved after it was replaced but it wasn't what was causing the anti pollution fault.

 

The fault is quite predictable now. It will happen after about 70 to 80 miles on the motorway and always occurs when it is just cruising steadily with no great load on the engine. The warning lights come on and the engine goes into limp home mode. If I pull in to the next services, switch off for about 5 minutes and restart, the engine warning and service lights will be on but not the ESP/ASR light and the car will run normally for another 50 miles or so before a repeat performance. If I avoid motorways for a few days the lights will go out and the car runs as it should. I suspect that if I never did any long motorway journeys I wouldn't even know there was a problem with the car.

 

The car has now been back into my local Citroen dealer several times The fault is always "turbo overboost" but they can not trace what is causing the problem. Citroen have told them that the most likely cause is a vacuum leak but they have examined all the pipework and can find no leaks. To their credit, they have done a lot of diagnostic work which they have not charged me for but it is all very frustrating.

 

I'm always suspicious of EGR valves and if it wasn't such a pig to get at on the 2.2 I would have removed it myself by now and cleaned it out. I'm contemplating getting it done anyway as it certainly won't do any harm after 74k miles.

[Randombloke]

The car has now been back into my local Citroen dealer several times The fault is always "turbo overboost" but they can not trace what is causing the problem.

 

Turbo over boost says 3 things to me:

 

Turbo waste gate is stuck shut, or not opening properly.

 

Sensor that measures turbo over pressure is Donald Ducked.

 

There is a kink or blockage in the pipe that carries the turbo pressure to the sensor that measures it.

 

After all the whole idea of the waste gate is to stop the turbo over boosting.

 

kfk or iannez will correct this if they are around.

[davidad]

Turbo over boost says 3 things to me:

 

Turbo waste gate is stuck shut, or not opening properly.

 

Sensor that measures turbo over pressure is Donald Ducked.

 

There is a kink or blockage in the pipe that carries the turbo pressure to the sensor that measures it.

 

After all the whole idea of the waste gate is to stop the turbo over boosting.

 

kfk or iannez will correct this if they are around.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but as I understand it the wastegate opens when the turbo boost reaches maximum rated pressure to avoid overload. In my case the fault always occurs when the engine is under a light load at which time the turbo boost should be very low. I've had it happen in heavy motorway traffic at a steady 55mph in 6th gear when the engine is running at very low revs and presumably the turbo doing very little.

 

The garage reckon to have checked the wastegate, various sensors and all the pipes. They have suggested that the next time it goes wrong I get the car to them while it's still in limp home mode in case that shows anything else up on the diagnostics.

[Randombloke]

The garage reckon to have checked the wastegate, various sensors and all the pipes. They have suggested that the next time it goes wrong I get the car to them while it's still in limp home mode in case that shows anything else up on the diagnostics.

 

A fault should be logged in the diagnostics, even when it's cleared. I had a faulty swirl valve put me in limp home, and then after the car had been left and restarted it cleared, but was still in the history.

 

Turbo on HDi engines works very hard at low revs, I can here it on mine starting to whistle between 1,300 and 1,500 rpm.

 

The only other thing is to be 100% sure that the battery is ok. kfk has made this point a number of times.

[Guest WillR]

Hi Mike,

 

My 2001 C5 2.2HDi (upgraded to 173bhp at 50K miles) auto has suffered 5 times since 17K from a software shut-down fault which I believe is associated with a component in the Dash Panel locking up the vehicle Management for 2 seconds then coming back to life, like a Power-On-Reset does, leaving the Cruise Control and the Radio OFF after the event. The engine dies and all but the lights go OFF during this period. The fault leaves no trace - I have even driven the car directly to my Cirtoen garage with the service indicator glowing, to be told their diagnostic machine can only see a report of unhappiness regarding the radio (presumably a trace of the switch-off during the reboot). The car has now done 104Kmiles and after the 100K service, my fuel consumtion changed drastically - I ran 4 full tanks at over 47mpg, which is totally unheard of (never better than 40mpg per tank before). However, I suffered the shut-down failure about 4 days before I went on holiday to the South of Frog with my wife's new C4 Picasso 2.0HDi EGS for 2 weeks. When I used the C5 today, for the first time in 2 weeks (I have never before left it untouched for more than about 5 days), it misfired for about 10 seconds after start-up, (never done that before, ever!) and about 10 miles later on my way to work, during which time it decided to run its pollution treatment routine (to get rid of excess soot - you can hear it, if you know what to listen for). As I put my foot down (and the gearbox refused to kick down) to get out of the way of a low-flying lunatic behind me, your faults occurred. 1. Antipollution fault and 2. ESP/ ASR failure. Toggling the ESP/ASR button cleared that fault, but the Antipollution fauly continued. There was no noticeable loss of power, and I never noticed any difference in idle speed. The Antipollution fault was still there this evening when I left work to return home, so I decided to try to help the soot-burning by driving home in 3rd gear (4-speed auto). When I got home, I left the car to idle for nearly 10 minutes to make sure I didn't cook any turbo bearings, then shut it down. 20 minutes later I restarted the engine and the antipolution fault had cleared.

Tomorrow will possibly bring another story, but at the moment, apart from not being able to continue with the 47mpg+ consumption, everything seems to have gone back to the beginning.

There is a lot of waffle here, but you may get something useful out of it.

Incidentally, I would be grateful if anyone can point me towards a cure for the shut-downs...

PS I LOVE THIS CAR - AND CITROEN, YOU MADE A MAJOR MISTAKE REMOVING THE HATCH FROM THE NEW C5!!!

[davidad]

Turbo on HDi engines works very hard at low revs, I can here it on mine starting to whistle between 1,300 and 1,500 rpm.

 

The only other thing is to be 100% sure that the battery is ok. kfk has made this point a number of times.

I've never really been aware of any turbo noise on mine. The turbo obviously works as the car goes well when it's not limping.

 

The battery is an interesting suggestion although I would have thought that once the engine is running the battery would be irrelevant. It's still the original so it's over 4 years old but it's not showing any signs of weakness.

 

One other thing that has occurred to me is that I've only had the problem since the DPF/Eloys was serviced about 6k miles ago. The problem didn't appear immediately after that, probably about 3k miles after that service. I wonder if something is happening when it tries to burn the soot off the filter?

 

Toggling the ESP doesn't clear the ESP/ASR light on mine. The dash message says that the ESP is disabled but the light stays on.

[Guest La Durande]

I've never really been aware of any turbo noise on mine. The turbo obviously works as the car goes well when it's not limping.

 

The battery is an interesting suggestion although I would have thought that once the engine is running the battery would be irrelevant. It's still the original so it's over 4 years old but it's not showing any signs of weakness.

 

One other thing that has occurred to me is that I've only had the problem since the DPF/Eloys was serviced about 6k miles ago. The problem didn't appear immediately after that, probably about 3k miles after that service. I wonder if something is happening when it tries to burn the soot off the filter?

 

Toggling the ESP doesn't clear the ESP/ASR light on mine. The dash message says that the ESP is disabled but the light stays on.

 

I have just posted the ESP and anti pollution fault with computer switching to Get you home speed on the Wheel wobble thread.

 

It appears that only the ESP fault triggers the engine management to place the engine in it's Get you Home mode. I have a suspiction that the problems start with the ESP sensors e.g. wheel wobble, coupled with fast acceleration when using cruise control button to increase speed.

 

If that is the cas does anyone know the circuit/components used to monitor the ESP (I have deactivated the ESP but as soon as I start wheel wobble the ESP warning still comes in and shuts down acceleration).AS with all reports after ESP warning Pollution fault, service light etc activates

[ChrisWakeham]

Hi posting this just to see if any one on here with more knowledge than i can throw any light on the anti pollution fault on the 2.2 hdi (2002)

It seems i have the same problem as a number of people ie Accelerating from 50ish either changing down or not, beep and anti polution fault appears along with service light. Eventually goes to limp home mode. Pull in switch off and on again and car runs fine although fault still shows. Eventually after stopping fo a while, fault display clears and the last recorded fault doesnt show on the display when cycled through. Fault might not show for few days but eventually returns. ??? Have had new ECU fitted, ok for 3 months, faulted again. A very good citroen dealer did some diagnostics and found the error read as high turbo presure or turbo pressure fault. Tried modding swirl chamber, no effect, tried new EGR valve, cured for 2 months but then returned. Now thinking ECU poss faulty again. Any ideas anyone.......... seems to me to be a sensor or mechanical fault that is caused when accelerating causing the ECU to think there is a anti pollution fault. ANy one know where to look for vacuum pipes that are to do with turbo etc. ?? If any one does find out what this is caused by can they please ring Citroen UK and tell them, as they havent got a clue !!!!

 

many thanks if any one comes up with anything.

 

Mike

 

 

Hi all

 

after drivin and getting a a beep with the {anti pollution fault} popping up i went on line and found this were you all said you'v had this folt after reading a lot of it started thinking it's about time to sell the car i love but as i was 100's of miles from home i had to do something the last thing i needed was it playing up on me and having all the other folts that come with this lil folt so i did the only thing i cud at the time think of and that was to do what i was told to do on this and keep staring and messing kith locking and trying to see if it would reset but had no joy so the only other thing i thought of doing was give it a lil wash so i pulled off all the bit's and covers so i cud get at the engine and used a pressure washer on the engine getting in an bit i cud after 4 mins the light whent out and the folt stoped popping up i'v now run it in a bit aka bake home and give it a good race car drive home to see if this folt pop's back but even after the boot it had the folt has gone :-D i'm so happy and do feel sorry for anyone that had to pay for this to be fixed after Citron UK just seem to play dum and rip you all off if i have this folt pop back up i'll let you all know but i fixed it and it cost me no more then £3 happy days...

 

hope this helps and you find it works for you all

[ChrisWakeham]

forgot to add a few bits

i have a 2.0 HDI C5 with 200,000 miles on the clock and well looked after

and i'm from the UK and used a cold Jet wash with a bit of soap also if this do fix your folts i'd go back to them and kick up and tell them you want some of your money back :)

[DaveHerns]

Sorry but what did you wash ? The engine or the particle filter ?