C5 undertray question

BaldEagle · Post by **BaldEagle** » 28 Jul 2010, 20:23

Car is a year 2006 C5 HDi VTR Estate. The undertray eventually shed all its front fixings and local speed bumps have done the rest. There are a few C5s breaking on eBay but mostly 2002-03. Before I ask them if they have the undertray does anyone know if it will fit my car or were there any changes with the 2004 facelift?

Thanks

JC

jimleshed · Post by **jimleshed** » 29 Jul 2010, 09:26

Cant help you with if it will fit, but I went through a whole load of the Ebay breakers recently for wheel arch liners/undertray and they mostly claimed not to have one. Ended up buying a real one. If you cant collect it shipping charge will be horrendous.
Also, if I were you, when you refit it, use bolts. Can be fiddley, but the original citroen fittings are rubbish and fall off.....
I used roofing bolts (with the big square nuts). They fit in the original mounting holes fine. Use 2 nuts per bolt, one by the head of the bolt, and big washers.

BaldEagle · Post by **BaldEagle** » 29 Jul 2010, 09:33

Yes, I suspected that the trays might be elusive from the breakers. How much did you end up paying for a pukka one?

JC

jimleshed · Post by **jimleshed** » 29 Jul 2010, 09:40

I ended up just buying the wheel arch liner (£55 odd) and was able to botch the under tray on as only the rear engine mount and one of the side mounts had broken off - none of the front mounts were broken just the fixings gone. The rear I tie wrapped to a handy strut in a couple of places. The side was just a case of drilling a couple of holes and attaching it to the new Wheel arch liner.

GB · Post by GB » 30 Jul 2010, 14:05

jimleshed wrote:Also, if I were you, when you refit it, use bolts. Can be fiddley, but the original citroen fittings are rubbish and fall off.....
I used roofing bolts (with the big square nuts). They fit in the original mounting holes fine. Use 2 nuts per bolt, one by the head of the bolt, and big washers.

+1

The original fittings are just rubbish, seem to last only one oil change, then they wear out and fall off - once lost three of them at an autobahn in Germany doing 100mph, not a nice experience. Fortunately there was a repair shop at the next petrol station - apparently the local mechanics already had some experience with rubbish undertrays on French cars.

Now I have (German engineered!) roofing bolts holding the undertray - they are pain to remove and refit when changing oil, but they do the job.

Cheers,
GB

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 31 Jul 2010, 15:48

pain to remove and refit when changing oil

Isn’t there a slot to access the drain plug ?

The petrol car does.

Post by **myglaren** » 31 Jul 2010, 16:16

Clogzz wrote:
pain to remove and refit when changing oil
Isn’t there a slot to access the drain plug ?
The petrol car does.

Mine hasn't - which is why it lives in the garden now, pretending to be a flower.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 31 Jul 2010, 16:39

Ouch !

I remember your garden tray.
I now wonder if my slot is an ‘aftermarket’ job.

boristhespie · Post by **boristhespie** » 11 Jun 2011, 10:16

Should I cut a hole in my new undertray at the sump plug?

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 11 Jun 2011, 11:36

That would be a good idea and the easiest is to mark the top side with chalk when the tray hangs down at the front and sides but is slotted in at the back.
I’m looking into cutting out most of the centre of the tray to leave only a frame of about 8 inches wide all around.
That will hold all the floppy plastics together.

Post by **myglaren** » 11 Jun 2011, 13:06

boristhespie wrote:Should I cut a hole in my new undertray at the sump plug?

A 'trapdoor' a la Xantia would have been great, can't imagine why they weren't designed in.

Also, they should slot in at the front, less air resistance to rip them out.
Mine is currently resident in the garden again, going for a ride in a skip next week, what's left of it.