05 C5 2.2hdi Ecl Auto - Various Electrical Problems

[JAZsDad]

I'm at my wits end with this thing. Can anybody help me as Citroen in Cardiff haven't got a scooby.

 

Suspension wouldn't go up. Took it to Citroen, who replaced the hyd pump fuse and 'found' a dodgy wire.

2 weeks later, after I had excercised the suspension full range (as I do weekly on advice from Citroen when I bought it), it wouldn't go up. Back to Citroen who couldn't find the fault, replaced the fuse and gave it back, 'unable to reproduce fault'.

2 weeks later, same thing. This time, they had it for a week and drew a blank. They suggested a full engine harness removal, bench test, and possible replacement. I refused, asking for the wiring diagrams so I could con-check it myself. They wouldn't part with the diagrams but showed me where the 50A fuse was so I could replace it myself if and when it ever happened again.

I then had a couple of months trouble free (I stopped playing with the suspension), albeit with a glovebox full of 50A fuses!

 

Then one day, the engine stopped for no reason, luckily whilst stationary in traffic. It showed a depollution system fault. After it wouldn't restart, I left it 5 mins and it started. I took it to Citroen. Their computer found 6 faults on different systems. They couldn't get it to cut out again and didn't know what the problem was. They gave it back. A short while later, I had to replace the 50A suspension fuse following a tyre change. 2 miles down the road, the thing cut out again. Back to Citroen - same faults - when they decided to work on it, they couldn't find the problem. They wanted to start deep stripping down the looms again. They admitted they didn't know what the problem was but did suggest TWA Auto Electrics in Newport, who the workshop manager knew to be good! Citroen saying, 'don't know - how about these people'!!!!

Dropped it off at TWA at 10:30am, who rang me at 1:30pm saying they knew what the problem was. They replaced the power distribution box (ECU fuse box), and everything was fine, including the suspension problems.

 

The other morning, I went to the car and it was proper dead. It wouldn't even open the doors. Put a bulb across the battery and wouldn't even think about glowing. Got a jump start, took it for a re-charge run and popped into ATS for a battery check. Battery fine, alternator fine and charging at 14v. Drove all day without problems. Parked up at 3:30, only to hear the alarm go off at 5:00. Battery almost dead. As I need it for work, I've been managing by disconnecting the battery every time I park up. Not ideal but it gets me around.

 

Took it to Citroen today, who said that the computer can't find a fault but there's a constant draw of 38A on the battery when keys out of the ignition. They want permission to start stripping down the harness to look for faults. They said they'd work on it for 1 hour to check out anything obvious and will disconnect the live from the alternator, starter motor, and hyd pump in turn to see if any of those are drawing it.

 

So, what the hell would draw 38A with ignition off? I know full well that they're going to ring me later with an, 'I don't know, can we strip down the harness?'.

 

By the way, Citroen Cardiff have a big sign outside saying 'experienced technicians required'. No s**t, Sherlock!

 

Any ideas would be most welcome. Thanks for reading this far.

 

Steve

[coastline taxis]

Had this fault in just last week. Turned out to be rear hieght adjuster punter would lock car up and go after 5 mins the suspension pump would start and continue till battery went flat. traced it back to hieght adjuster. Quick way to check is go under car and disconect the wiring from the adjuster His also started by blowing fuses

[JAZsDad]

Thanks for that - very much appreciated.

With the previous fuse blowing problems, my first guess was the hyd pump but it never carried on running when the ignition was off after stopping the engine. It hadn't even occured to me to wait 5 mins and see if it started up.

 

I must admit, I've been rather dismayed at Citroen's lack of technical knowledge over these issues, even suggesting I take it to a non-Citroen Auto Electrics firm (which actually did me a huge favour). Their main response throughout was that it's probably a harness problem and wanted to replace it. To their credit though, they've put in some serious man-hours on my car at no charge (as they didn't fix it properly the first time).

 

As I'm going to see them tomorrow, I'll mention the rear height adjuster and see if this sorts it.

[JAZsDad]

It appears that the current (forgive the pun) problem has nothing to do with the suspension system.

 

The constant 38A drain was due to 'the glow plug solenoid and a knackered glow plug, possibly two'. They've disconnected the connector to the glow plug system so I can have the car back for now, and will replace the glow plug solenoid and all 4 plugs on Friday.

 

That should give me another couple of months before the Citroen random electrical fault generator kicks in again.