Sluggish When Cold

[Guest cfryve]

Well it was only a matter of time with my penchant for quirky cars that I was going to own a C5 HDi auto (2002) and I haven't been disappointed.

 

During the 300 mile trip back home after taking delivery (another ebay bargain) I was kept occupied with the various warning messages coming up but at least it made it and with great comfort and economy. Next was to fix all the problems

 

At this stage can I give great thanks to Coastline who took time away from ferrying Geordies around the toon to giving me advice

 

The first problem was non starting when warm, ok when cold or hot. Solution was to fit a new fuel filter housing. Apparently they wear and let fuel to syphon back to the tank and cause problems.

 

Leaking powersteering/suspension pump replaced with one from scrap car

 

I took the oppotunity while under the bonnet with battery disconnected to disconnect every plug I could find and clean with an aerosol called carbaflo which seems to have cleared my auto gearbox fault warning (the ecu plug was full of power steering fluid)

 

I've taken out the intercooler matrix and all pipes and drained them of black oil as Coastline would advise. This cleared the anti pollution warning for a couple of days and it sailed through the MOT emmissions test.

 

Trouble is that my little anti pollution friend has now returned on the display with the dreaded service light. The car has consistantly been very sluggish on cold start. It'll only rev to about 2500 for the first 1/2mile but then cuts in and everythings fine.

 

Has anyone got an idea about this, could it be the egr valve?, if so help with it's location would be appreciated as the Haynes is not too clear

 

Thanks

[coastline taxis]

Good to see youve finaly getting on the site. While its sluggish is there anything coming out of the exhaust

[Guest cfryve]

Yes, it took a bit of getting on but got there eventually.

 

Nothing unusual out the exhaust, my neighbour who has a diesel scenic auto also occasionally gets this so I'll be popular if I can solve mine. Like I said it clears quickly i think even before the engine's warm, I've tested the glow plug voltages and they're ok. I wondered if it's giving me a reminder for ignoring the anti pollution.

 

By the way John turned up with a windscreen, nice bloke, great job

 

TCC were helpful as well

[coastline taxis]

had this fault a few years ago just not sure what we done to resolve it. I think it was the mass airflow. Is your engine light on all the time as youl be in limp home. If you feel like nipping through the tunnel well plug it in for you you and see whats what (subject to you turning up with a bacon sandwhich and a cuppa)

best regards

steve

[Guest cfryve]

It does feel like limp home mode but it clears quite quickly, I suppose it's limp away mode, a new first for a c5?

 

Sounds like a good deal, I'll ring before I come through

 

Thanks

 

Alistair

[Guest cfryve]

Oh and the service light never goes off

 

A

[paul.h]

I have had the service light on when the battery voltage was low and also from the front brakes which went when I moved the brake pad wear wire on one side (the pads were not worn).

[Guest cfryve]

I've read somewhere that battery voltage causes warnings which could be right as I've been using wipers and lights rather alot recently but then again the starter spins round happily in the mornings. I did notice as well that one of the pad indicator wires was adrift the other day but surely if that was shorting it would come up as a brake warning. I'll check them out if it stops raining.

[iannez]

sounds like a blocked cat or particle filter(if it has one). if it was in limp mode you would need to turn the car of for a minute or so for it reset. it will not come out of limp mode while the engine is running. get it plugged into steve's diag tool and you will have a better idea what to try next. and dont forget his heart attack in a bun lol.

[Guest cfryve]

Checked the battery voltage after standing out all night, 12.3v, I'm sure it should be higher than that. With engine running up to over 14v

Drove round all day without headlamps or wipers and hey presto anti pollution and service lights go off, could be some truth to poor battery theory

[myglaren]

Checked the battery voltage after standing out all night, 12.3v, I'm sure it should be higher than that. With engine running up to over 14v

Drove round all day without headlamps or wipers and hey presto anti pollution and service lights go off, could be some truth to poor battery theory

 

Do the battery check again after an overnight stand but first turn on the headlights for a minute to clear the surface charge, that will give a clearer indication of the actual battery state.

[Guest cfryve]

Just done it, 12.3v before and 11.9v with lights on?

[myglaren]

No, the trick is to have the battery charged, left overnight, put the lights on for a minute to dissipate the surface charge then turn them off again, then measure the voltage.

 

<12.3V would be undesirable.

 

Charge it again and get a load test done on it, could be ready to collapse and this isn't the time of year you would want that to happen.

 

If a load test is satisfactory give it a full charge before refitting it to the car.

[Guest cfryve]

Once again Coastline to the rescue, Steve plugged it in to his magic box and diagnosed the fault. Several faults appeared but the only one that wouldn't clear was the air flow meter.

Bought a new one, not cheap £70, and swapped it over. The sensors inside my original one were well covered in carbon compared to the new.

Just tried her today, the coldest day of the year, started first time (so battery must be ok) and guess what no anti pollution warning. Pulled away on full power with no service light on. Fingers crossed so far so good.