While messing around with my heated seats I thought I would investigate the leaky washer bottle so I removed the front bumper. Simple enough job tho the headlight washer covers were a bit tricky to remove. I found that the leak was from the level sensor and the previous owner had used sealant to bolster up the rubber seal. I also noticed that the level sensor had been disconnected. As the local dealer was shut today I used fresh sealant and reconnected the level sensor. However although the bottle is empty I thought I would quickly check all the washers motors were working. windscreen yes, headlight no? In addition the rear washer wiper now does not operate?
Question is any idea why the headlight washers and rear wash/wipe are now not working? Even though the bottle is empty the front screen motors can be clearly heard when switched on! I will leave the sealant a few more hours to dry properly before filling the bottle and trying again.
C5 Windscreen washer issues
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- Bandit12
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C5 Windscreen washer issues
2002 Citroen C5 2.2Hdi exclusive estate (sadly gone)
2009 Citroën C5 X7 2.0 hdi (136bhp) exclusive estate (Oh wow what an upgrade)
2009 Citroën C5 X7 2.0 hdi (136bhp) exclusive estate (Oh wow what an upgrade)
- Bandit12
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Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
Scratch that guys, I've just put some water in the bottle and all washers and re wiper are working fine! very odd but I'm not complaining
Is this normal behaviour for citroens?
Think I've found why the level sensor was disconnected because even with 3 litres of water it still says "fluid low". Its a strange setup, instead of a float it has 2 metal contacts that just sit in the fluid. I presume it works on conduction through the fluid and they were corroded so I cleaned them up before putting it back in but would not surprise me if I need a new one (or simply disconnect it again )
Is this normal behaviour for citroens?
Think I've found why the level sensor was disconnected because even with 3 litres of water it still says "fluid low". Its a strange setup, instead of a float it has 2 metal contacts that just sit in the fluid. I presume it works on conduction through the fluid and they were corroded so I cleaned them up before putting it back in but would not surprise me if I need a new one (or simply disconnect it again )
2002 Citroen C5 2.2Hdi exclusive estate (sadly gone)
2009 Citroën C5 X7 2.0 hdi (136bhp) exclusive estate (Oh wow what an upgrade)
2009 Citroën C5 X7 2.0 hdi (136bhp) exclusive estate (Oh wow what an upgrade)
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Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
On some cars the headlight washer will only trigger if the headlights are on, and sometimes a counter is also involved (especially if there is a mobile nozzle involved, as this can drain the screen wash very quickly). On one of my company cars there was a count of 5 involved (that is, first, sixth, eleventh, and so on throughout that journey).
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- Bandit12
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Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
thanks Hellrazor, yes the headlights do need to be on for the washers to work but did not know about the timer.
2002 Citroen C5 2.2Hdi exclusive estate (sadly gone)
2009 Citroën C5 X7 2.0 hdi (136bhp) exclusive estate (Oh wow what an upgrade)
2009 Citroën C5 X7 2.0 hdi (136bhp) exclusive estate (Oh wow what an upgrade)
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Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
hmm my level low warning comes on too, after what seems like just a handful of screen wash applications.. thought/think I have a leak as well.. will look soon
my washer bottle does have a transparent pipe coming from it, that has been closed off by a ziptie.,, did the C5 come with a rear wash pipe even though there is no rear wiper etc on my S1 hatch?
my washer bottle does have a transparent pipe coming from it, that has been closed off by a ziptie.,, did the C5 come with a rear wash pipe even though there is no rear wiper etc on my S1 hatch?
Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
Hi, can anyone tell me how I get access to the sensor, to hopefully disconnect/unplug it? It doing my head in bleeping and saying washer fluid low every time I wash the screen.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Current vehicle
2010 peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi exclusive
2007 Citroen C5 20.HDi estate exclusive
Past French cars
2000 Xantia HDi 90 Forte
2002 C5 HDi 110 LX
2002 Renault laguna 1.8 16v
2008 Renault laguna estate 1.5dci
2010 peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi exclusive
2007 Citroen C5 20.HDi estate exclusive
Past French cars
2000 Xantia HDi 90 Forte
2002 C5 HDi 110 LX
2002 Renault laguna 1.8 16v
2008 Renault laguna estate 1.5dci
Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
The pre-facelift models with no rear washer used a single-outlet pump as standard, rather than the one with a shuttle valve. That's not to say that they didn't run out and substitute pumps at some time, of course, but I don't know why the rear outlet would be tied off - it only squirts when the pump runs 'backwards'. I suspect that yours is a replacement, fitted by someone who didn't understand how they work. In fact, the valve block can be unclipped and swapped with care.
@Mdon - the washer bottle is behind the bumper, but you only need to ease one side away for access. I think you'll need to short out the sensor rather than disconnecting it; otherwise it can possibly be disabled via Lexia.
@Mdon - the washer bottle is behind the bumper, but you only need to ease one side away for access. I think you'll need to short out the sensor rather than disconnecting it; otherwise it can possibly be disabled via Lexia.
Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
I unplugged the sensor and stuck the plug into the top of the bottle, where there are two places to park unused plugs.
No false alarms ever again … somehow it thinks that there is no sensor.
No false alarms ever again … somehow it thinks that there is no sensor.
2002 C5 2.0i AL4 230,000 km 76372389
Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
Did you have to remove the bumper to do that? I don't really want to take the bumper off if there's a way around it.Clogzz wrote:I unplugged the sensor and stuck the plug into the top of the bottle, where there are two places to park unused plugs.
No false alarms ever again … somehow it thinks that there is no sensor.
Current vehicle
2010 peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi exclusive
2007 Citroen C5 20.HDi estate exclusive
Past French cars
2000 Xantia HDi 90 Forte
2002 C5 HDi 110 LX
2002 Renault laguna 1.8 16v
2008 Renault laguna estate 1.5dci
2010 peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi exclusive
2007 Citroen C5 20.HDi estate exclusive
Past French cars
2000 Xantia HDi 90 Forte
2002 C5 HDi 110 LX
2002 Renault laguna 1.8 16v
2008 Renault laguna estate 1.5dci
Re: C5 Windscreen washer issues
The “bumper” is only a floppy plastic cover, with the metal bumper inside.
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 58#p440458
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 58#p440458
dnsey wrote: @Mdon - the washer bottle is behind the bumper, but you only need to ease one side away for access.
2002 C5 2.0i AL4 230,000 km 76372389