C5 Won't start

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
hdi_man
Posts: 148
Joined: 18 May 2010, 13:39
Location: Glasgow
My Cars:

C5 Won't start

Post by hdi_man »

at 6am my C5 hdi alarm went off...I thought it was odd as its never happened before. anyway, at 8am I tried to start the car, nothing. the engine wouldn't even turn over !

the electric wing mirrors won't fold in/out and the car won't lock. However, the display on the dash lights and tells me of all sorts of faults...tyre pressure sensors, braking system. I am thinking the battery has lost too much charge ? :cry:
wheeler
Posts: 6848
Joined: 21 Sep 2002, 19:07
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 717

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by wheeler »

It certaintly sounds like a flat or defective battery. Have you tried jump starting it ?
hdi_man
Posts: 148
Joined: 18 May 2010, 13:39
Location: Glasgow
My Cars:

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by hdi_man »

I have no jump leads! so need to buy a set today...

been reading online that it could be flat battery and immobilizer issue. car is in "economy mode" and won't come out of it.
wheeler
Posts: 6848
Joined: 21 Sep 2002, 19:07
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 717

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by wheeler »

The immobiliser does not stop the engine turning over, neither does it cause your mirrors not to fold out, make the alarm go off or stop it locking so it's not an immobiliser issue. Economy mode is not a fault, once the enging starts it will come out of eco mode, eco mode does not prevent the car from starting.
However, a flat or defective battery can cause all of the above faults.
hdi_man
Posts: 148
Joined: 18 May 2010, 13:39
Location: Glasgow
My Cars:

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by hdi_man »

it certainly sounds like a battery issue. I will try to jump start it and if that works replace the battery
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by Peter.N. »

Sounds as though something is running it down unless it has spontainiously destructed.

Peter
Citroenmad
Posts: 8125
Joined: 04 Dec 2008, 22:08
Location: Northeast
My Cars: 07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
x 110

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by Citroenmad »

Yep, I bet that is the battery, so hopefully a simple fix.

Batteries can just give up without warning, I had one do it last week but it had been a very good starter until then.
Chris
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
.
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
hdi_man
Posts: 148
Joined: 18 May 2010, 13:39
Location: Glasgow
My Cars:

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by hdi_man »

Pleased to say that a new battery did the trick! 75 quid and back on the road :-D

I just hope alternator isn't also on the blink...time will tell
Citroenmad
Posts: 8125
Joined: 04 Dec 2008, 22:08
Location: Northeast
My Cars: 07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
x 110

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by Citroenmad »

Does your C5 have a charging rate readout? If I remember correctly yours is a C5III and I can't remember if they do or not but most C5Is and C5IIs do. Might not be the most accurate reading but it should give you some idea if its charging or not.

Chances are the battery has not taken well to the cold weather :lol:
Chris
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
.
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
hdi_man
Posts: 148
Joined: 18 May 2010, 13:39
Location: Glasgow
My Cars:

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by hdi_man »

Yes its C5 III and I'm not aware of charging readout. Nothing in manual about it...
Citroenmad
Posts: 8125
Joined: 04 Dec 2008, 22:08
Location: Northeast
My Cars: 07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
x 110

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by Citroenmad »

Ah, its a dial in with the fuel guage and temp guage on the others. I guess Citroen were forward thinking :lol:
Chris
07 Citroen C6 V6 HDi Exclusive - Red
07 Citroen C5 HDi VTR - Red
09 Citroen C3 1.4i VTR - Silver
01 Citroen Saxo 1.1i Forte - Mango Orange
.
93 Ford Mondeo 2.0i GLX
19 Hyundai i10
hdi_man
Posts: 148
Joined: 18 May 2010, 13:39
Location: Glasgow
My Cars:

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by hdi_man »

well even with new battery car struggled to start this morning. 3 tries and eventually it started. is this normal with a new battery ? would it take time to get upto full charge
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25366
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Re: C5 Won't start

Post by myglaren »

New battery should be fully charged but I once bought one that wasn't.

I've had similar problems with my estate, over the years it became slower and slower starting.
As it was on the original battery I presumed that it was on it's way out and replaced it and had a similar experience, as it turned out the original battery was fine and there was (still is probably) current leak. Left overnight it would start, reluctantly. Left over a weekend it was very reluctant to fire up and longer than that it wasn't at all interested.
Someone else’s problem now.
Post Reply