C5 2.2 Hdi low additive alarm.... but it's full

KevMayer · Post by **KevMayer** » 02 Oct 2010, 18:35

2 days ago I got an alarm:-

"Level of Diesel antipollution additive low"

I had the FAP changed and Eolys topped up at 110k miles and i've only done 133.5 k miles now. So, would it run out over 23.5k miles when it should last 50k?

I put the C5 on axle stands and took the cover off the additive tank.

I got the level checking plug off and fashioned a piece of clear tube with a wire in it to form a tool to dip the level.

My first test seemed to show it had about 0.5 ltrs left. So, I went to GSF and purchased their 4.5 ltr DPX42 kit.

I set the pipes up and began to fill. But, just short of 2 ltrs had gone in when it began to overflow. I dipped it again, but, this time I did it correctly by putting the tube in and then holding my finger over the open end so that the Eolys didn't run back out. Sure enough, it showed completely full.

So, in 23.5 k miles It had actually only used just under 2 ltrs. But, why do I have the low level alarm ?

At the moment the C5 is on the drive with the battery disconnected to see if that clears it.

spider · Post by **spider** » 02 Oct 2010, 18:48

I could be wrong, but I think you have to have it 'told' you have filled the tank via a Lexia.

KevMayer · Post by **KevMayer** » 02 Oct 2010, 18:59

The eolys wasn't low level. It's a 5 ltr tank and it only took just less than 2 ltrs to make it overflow. So, it already had over 3 ltrs in it. The low level alarm should come up when there's only 0.3 ltrs left.

My system is an early mk1 with a level sensor in the additive tank. The alarm should reset once the level is topped up. My level didn't go low.

My low level alarm has to be due to something else?

The later model has a counter in the ECU which needs to be reset to zero by a Lexia.

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 02 Oct 2010, 20:21

KevMayer wrote:The eolys wasn't low level. It's a 5 ltr tank and it only took just less than 2 ltrs to make it overflow. So, it already had over 3 ltrs in it. The low level alarm should come up when there's only 0.3 ltrs left.

My system is an early mk1 with a level sensor in the additive tank. The alarm should reset once the level is topped up. My level didn't go low.

My low level alarm has to be due to something else?

The later model has a counter in the ECU which needs to be reset to zero by a Lexia.

I think you will find that there is a counter on all of them, I say that because on mine at least there is a parameter which tells you how much cerium is in the FAP the only way it can "know" this is by "counting" the total amount of additive injected into the fuel. This counter should have been zeroed when the new / clean FAP was fitted

cachaciero

KevMayer · Post by **KevMayer** » 02 Oct 2010, 21:38

Thanks for that.

I'll contact the local Citroen specialist who changed the FAP and get them to zero the counter.

I'll let you know how it goes.

KevMayer · Post by **KevMayer** » 03 Oct 2010, 10:40

The additive tank level sensor on the early (up to Aug 2003) 2.2 Hdi is a Thermistor according to Citroen Service Doc.

KevMayer · Post by **KevMayer** » 07 Oct 2010, 17:19

I took my C5 to the local specialist and left it with him for the day.

He charged £40 + vat to reset the FAP. Not sure exactly what he did.

When I picked it up he told me to fill with 25 ltrs of diesel and then take it for a run up the motorway to regenerate the FAP.

As I pulled away the alarm was still present, so, I put 25ltrs in and took it for a 40 mile run at no less than 60 mph.

When I got back the alarm was still there.

But, this morning (the day after the garage visit) and on the way home tonight, the alarm has cleared.

I don't know what caused the alarm, it certainly wasn't low additive. It must be a counter in the ECU which has now been reset.

Now I have 2.5 litres of Eolys DPX42 in the garage which I won't need for another 50K miles, which is nearly 3 years away, and, realistically, I probably will have changed my car by then. So, does anyone want 2.5 ltrs of DPX42 for a good price.