cant see in dark. now i have more problems!!!!!

[jgra1]

I just took 2 pics with my phone.. 2 points really..

one shows the OS main beam problem I have.. it points low.. on the road, its a splodge in front of me, not in the distance.. I have tried reseating the bulb but to not much effect..

the pics also show the difference between standard 55W dip and 100WW ebay cheapy bulbs.. although not that clear, the 100W mains are a factor of I guess 20-30% brighter/whiter.. (bulbs about 2 quid each)

all bulbs have the relay mod, and reasonable cables.. car was not running when pic taken.

John

[Lighty]

Bulb pattern looks ok, so bulb must be in correctly,are you saying they wont adjust up ? they do look low.

[jgra1]

hi lighty.. the dips are good.. not to high and the best they have been.. it's just the OS main.. it's low (when actually on the road) there is no distance at all.. they seem bright enough but not lonmgrange, esp the offside.. I may need to tweak the metal seat a bit.. just had a go by hand moving the bulb and it settles pretty much at the center of the OS dip..

I would be better off taking a pic further from the wall.. the ground is uneven as well, so although they look low, they are ok on the road..

[andpand]

Definitely no rectangular sections on the bumper just below the headlights at all? Didn't know ours had h/light washers 'till I changed a blown fuse Even called the missus and the kids outside to look at the amazing washer things I'd just "found"

no definitely no washers at all iv got tomorrow off work so im going to have a closer look at the lights then and il check positioning wires and levels il let you no what i find lol

[andpand]

well i found out why i cant see in the dark it turns out i have got 205 tyres on the back and 195/65r15s on the front so the front end is up in the air i.e i can hardly see the road

[Lighty]

But that is only the width of the tyres ? if the front is up in the air, then the lights would shine down the road, not just in front of the car as you describe

[xmexclusive]

As descibed you have bigger diameter wheels on the back than on the front.
That would bring the light patches closer to the car not further away.

John

[andpand]

iv just been out to the car and it looks to me that the back is alot lower than the front does the front always sit higher than the back ?? if not i think iv got a lil problem

[CitroJim]

Looks like a levelling problem. In general the car body should sit level with the sills more or less parallel to the ground - perhaps just a small nose-down attitude.

[andpand]

o dear what can i do about that

[CitroJim]

o dear what can i do about that

I know nothing of how a C5 is levelled but I believe it involves electronics and potentiometers attached to the anti-roll bars unlike the fully mechanical systems used in previous incarnations of hydraulic Citroens. I've heard the potentiometers themselves can give problems.

I'm sure one of our C5 specialists will have a full low-down in a bit.

I reckon your signature picture shows pretty well how a C5 should sit. Just slightly nose-down..

[andpand]

well it just gets better and better i went to my mums lastnight stopped the car got out and when i got out a could smell clutch i bent down to the front drivers side wheel and the brakes where really really hot and clicking i thought it was holding back a bit on the way i dont no much about cars and im worried its going to cost me a fortune
o and the handbrake only holds one wheel ??? hows that work im confused can anyone help i love this car and cant afford to change it again

[Citroenmad]

VERY common C5 issues is this ...

The front brake calipers get corrosion inside where the handbrake lever is, this then holds the parking brake on and the brakes bind. Be cafeful not to use a car in this condition, I ruined a set of pads and discs when mine stick on on the motorway with my last C5. When I stopped I couldnt see for smoke!

I would like to say its an easy fix but the best way is to replace the calipers. Ive tried numerous times to free the caliper, taking it off and pouring rust freeing agent and oil inside the caliper but this really seems a short term fix as the problem nearly always returns.

Are you sure the handbrake only works on one wheel? Either the cable has snapped or possibly someone has undone the cable from the caliper to stop it from pulling on the siezed side.

Until you get it fixed I would free off the handbrake levers on the caliper and then not use the handbrake, just park it in gear. To free off the levers, put the car in high (you can do it in normal but access is better in high) and turn the wheel on full lock to the side which is sticking. Then get some pliers or a precision tool (hammer) and work the levers on the top of the caliper (you should see the handbrake cables connected to them) towards the front of the car, this is the off position.

Often you get a wheel wobble at speed when the brakes are sticking on the front, but not always.

[Citroenmad]

Did you sort out the cars leveling problem?

Some C5s develop internal leaks which make the car sit down, most commonly at the rear, into the low position. Is the car down at the rear with the engine funning or just when parked? Does the car go into low and high with the manual buttons?

In general the suspension of the C5s are very reliable.

[andpand]

the stearing wheel shakes at at 55mph but has done that since my wife hit a kerb turning the car round last week any ideas how much it will cost for a caliper thank you sooo much for your help by the way im so glad i joind this site