2005 C5 2.0 Hdi 138

[227duke]

Not so much a help request, or indeed a clever fix for problems.....just an update about what happens when you've had a car for 18 months and think quietly to yourself, "This car runs really well...."

 

Three weeks ago, after one such rash private thought, my clutch began to slip. Nothing major, but under brisk acceleration, it was there. At 92k miles probably fair enough, and I have dragged a caravan around a few times. Being nearly four years old and out of warranty, I naturally avoided main dealers and had my local spannerman do the job. First problem was sourcing a replacement - almost complete unobtainium. After much net searching with no luck, I eventually manage to find one from Euro Car Parts, but the dual mass flywheel, which also turned out to be shot, had to come from Citroen. Total for job was £625, of which £230 was labour. Obviously it would have been more still had I bought the clutch kit from Citroen.

 

Note to others - use ECP, they're very useful. And DO consider changing the dual mass flywheel when you have the clutch done. They are nowhere near as robust as the old solid flywheels, and if they subsequently go you are into paying again for the labour. It's not just Citroen's; most modern diesels are now being fitted with them, although I hear that there is an aftermarket solid flywheel replacement available for Passats (although not for C5s yet).

 

The day after handing over my £625, I decided last Sunday morning, as it was a lovely day, to give the C5 a wash. Not being the tallest of chaps, I did my usual trick of lowering the suspension to allow me to easily reach the roof with the sponge. Having done this, I started the engine to put the car into 'high' to allow access to the wheel arches.

 

Nothing.

 

And so it remained, after much head scratching. Not much you can check - fluid, fuses, that's about it. Leave for a while, try again. Nothing. The display told me "Up In Progress", but it decidedly was not. Car moved off my drive onto the road in preparation for the recovery truck - the noise of the belly scraping as it moved off the drive made your toes curl......no choice though, other than to take it GENTLY...............

 

After being low-loadered to the local main dealer (local independent does not have the software to diagnose suspension for this model) I get the news that it is the main hydraulic pump for the suspension which has gone. "We've never replaced one of these, they really don't often go". That makes me feel better.

 

"£1100 fitted". Ouch.

 

Rock and a hard place is the term which comes to mind. I mentioned something about the repair being about a fifth of the value of the car - "more like three quarters of the value", says my friendly main dealer chap. (A four year old C5 Hdi 138 Exclusive with leather, satnav and other goodies at 92k miles for £1500? I think I've been looking for my cars in the wrong places....) But it's all academic - what's it worth in the current state? Exactly. Bullet duly bitten.

 

No good sourcing second hand (which of course with a BX or Xantia , or possibly even with a 2001-2004 C5, I could have) as any pump has to be software-matched and integrated into the all-seeing computer system (not just for the model, but the EXACT car). So you could fit a brand new pump, and it wouldn't work, until you've done the software integration. And guess who are the only ones who can do that?

 

There, I feel so much better now I've shared my tale.

[coastline taxis]

Think someone has had your pants down with the clutch. Its a bog standard HDi engine and box in it and used by puegot/citroen/fiat just to name a few. weve changed quite a few and the 4 in 1 clutch kit(includes solid flywheel) is £300 ish and readily available. As for the pump weve never done one so cant coment.

But at least your happy now

[227duke]

That's interesting, because I spent ages trying to fond a kit for this model - plenty out there for earlier models, but not for mine. At least at the places I tried. For future reference (as I've now got to keep the car for couple of years!) where would you source a kit with solid flywheel?

[coastline taxis]

Dont know what part of the country your from. Where in south shields and we done one on a 55 plate scudo HDI last week. He supplied his own parts and got them from the local discount store (parts 4 cars south Shields) £340. Theres also euro parts they do them for that year and dont be frightend to try your dealer as they will sometimes suprise you i.e c5 18 hpi discount store remanufactured clutch £130. Ttown center citroen (our local dealer) £140 for dealer clutch. just shop around it does pay