C5r Radio / Control panel removal

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

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

Does anyone have any tips or links to a guide on how to remove these at all so i can get at the heater mixer control flaps/motors at all as i cant see any easy way of getting the front dash section out?
User avatar
Clogzz
Posts: 2115
Joined: 15 May 2005, 18:04
Location: Australia
My Cars:
x 36
Contact:

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by Clogzz »

Access is through the glove box.

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=32780" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=36678" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=37149" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89911" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
2002 C5 2.0i AL4 230,000 km 76372389
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by hamster99 »

Why do you need to get at the heater flaps? I've just replaced the heater/aircon unit on my C5 so might be able to help with some info if I know what it is you need to do.
Cheers
Rob
15 C4 1.6 eHDI 115 Exclusive - better half's
12 RR Westminster 4.4 TDV8 - Gentleman's Club on wheels
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 Exclusive - gone but not forgotten
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 VTR - crushed May 2015
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

Cheers guys.

The unit adjusts fan speed fine but doesnt change temprature at all on either side when you adjust it.

Strangely the AC compressor never kicks in either :(
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

Does anyone know how to do this at all? I need to be able to see down into the heater box to see if it's just one side as I'm not feeling 100% that it's both sides now :(
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

Well the spindle bit has fallen back into the heater box :( When i took the motor out it was literally hanging on by a thread so i gingerly tried to pull it back out and the contact with the heater box alone was enough to send it back in! AR53!!!

So can anyone help as i think if i can get the front bits off for the radio and all i can get the vents out and maybe get down into it?
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by hamster99 »

Hi KP

Sorry so late with reply, haven't been on FCF for a while. I'm assuming you have a C5 Mk 2 (2004-2008).

I'm afraid you've become the victim of one of the C5's weak components, the fragile plastic bits inside the heater unit. The flaps that vary the temperature have plastic spindles but they are like a lattice structure rather than solid and over time become a bit brittle and snap due to the strain put on them by the motors, mainly I think because the flaps move through approx 100 degrees but the motors move through 120 degrees straining the spindles at the end of travel in each direction.

Unfortunately there's no way to either repair or replace these without removing the entire heater unit which means removing the dashboard. I know because I've just done it on my C5 twice.....once to remove the heater unit from my donor car, and then to fit it in my other C5.

It isn't as much of a nightmare as you might think and there are some shortcuts which I discovered which means you don't need to follow all the steps in the Haynes book which saves a huge amount of time and hassle. I would now have no worries about doing it again if I needed to and could easily do it in a weekend.

One thing I would suggest is that, if possible, you try and obtain another set of flaps so that you're just swapping them rather than repairing, as it may be that the spindles in yours are too bad to glue and strengthen. This might prove difficult although you might be able to get a complete unit from a breakers. I think the same unit is fitted to both the C5 and 406. You'd need to make sure the flaps are ok which will mean opening up the unit but a good breakers should allow you to do this on site before parting with your cash.

I will at some point get round to writing up my experience on this and posting here but haven't found the time so far! If you're half decent at car maintenance then I'd certainly recommend you give it a go.

Happy to offer any advice you might need if you decide to do it yourself.
15 C4 1.6 eHDI 115 Exclusive - better half's
12 RR Westminster 4.4 TDV8 - Gentleman's Club on wheels
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 Exclusive - gone but not forgotten
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 VTR - crushed May 2015
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removals

Post by KP »

Cheers hamster :)

I'll await your write up but think I'll just order some new spindles from citroen as I know the local parts dept have them in stock as they mis ordered them when I was initially asking about ordering the motors as I've been shown the newer motors have much longer spindle splines, about twice as long, to reduce the stress as well.
User avatar
Clogzz
Posts: 2115
Joined: 15 May 2005, 18:04
Location: Australia
My Cars:
x 36
Contact:

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by Clogzz »

Image
2002 C5 2.0i AL4 230,000 km 76372389
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13727
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
Location: Reading
My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
x 2993

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Now where did I put that bl00dy thing?
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

That looks like a full weekend of ball ache!!

I've seen some pug posts about people and places that cut into each side of the unit to replace the flaps so may give Paris autos a call tomorrow and see what they quote, if it's a few hours labour I'll take the hit as I've already got the glovebox and bits out on that side so that's one job already done for them :)
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removals

Post by hamster99 »

KP wrote:Cheers hamster :)

I'll await your write up but think I'll just order some new spindles from citroen as I know the local parts dept have them in stock as they mis ordered them when I was initially asking about ordering the motors as I've been shown the newer motors have much longer spindle splines, about twice as long, to reduce the stress as well.
I wasn't aware that these were available as spare parts and having seen the internals of the unit not sure how longer spindles would work (the flaps themselves are moulded with the spindles), unless the motors are then fitted on spacers so they are further away from the casing. Can you (or someone else if they have them) post a photo of the new spindles/flaps when you get them, I'd be interested to see if we are actually talking about the same bits!
KP wrote:That looks like a full weekend of ball ache!!

I've seen some pug posts about people and places that cut into each side of the unit to replace the flaps so may give Paris autos a call tomorrow and see what they quote, if it's a few hours labour I'll take the hit as I've already got the glovebox and bits out on that side so that's one job already done for them :)
I also thought about cutting the sides of the unit out to replace them but again, when I had the unit out of the car I couldn't see any way that it was possible to cut the sides, replace the flaps and then glue the sides back on again. Can you post the links to the Pug posts that refer to places that can do this job "in situ".

Yes, it's a weekend job, but trust me it isn't half as bad as it looks!

Rob
15 C4 1.6 eHDI 115 Exclusive - better half's
12 RR Westminster 4.4 TDV8 - Gentleman's Club on wheels
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 Exclusive - gone but not forgotten
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 VTR - crushed May 2015
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

Yeah citroen do a repair kit for the flaps inside. Its about £65 IIRC.

The motors have also been revised to have longer spindles on them to reduce the torsional stress load by about 50% and were i believe fitted to later models but im not sure at what point the new parts came into force as this would provide the info for the perfect donor vehicles to get a complete heater box from as you would get motors and flaps.

To be clear the longer spindles are fitted to the motors. These then slot into the spindle recievers which are the same length on the flaps.


Links below;

http://peugeot-407-heater-fix.weebly.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.peugeotforums.com/forums/407 ... eot-21728/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



After reading thru some of the links i have now found that a doncaster specialist and pug breaker that i used to live round the corner from and know quite well does these jobs within a few hours!

It may be the case that i go over with the car and drop it with them for a morning but I'd rather see if the local specialist will do it this way first as im not bothered about how it looks on the side of the box as no-one will ever see it!
KP
Posts: 3980
Joined: 10 Jul 2006, 12:11
Location: Warrington
My Cars:
x 27

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by KP »

Well I have rang around and nowhere round here does it without a dash removal :(

Guess it's just left to join the pug forum and see if anyone there is local and willing to do it for me or take the plunge and get cutting!
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

Re: C5r Radio / Control panel removal

Post by hamster99 »

I think if you only have a problem with the passenger side then you could probably follow the instructions on the pug forum and cut out the section and put in the new flap. Lining it up after should be OK as there are some helpful ridges on the heater box!

If it was the drivers side then I don't think you could cut the heater unit as access is impossible with the dashboard moulding around the drivers knee airbag unit and the tube for the wiring loom. In this case you'd have to remove the dashboard and then either cut the unit or remove it completely and then split the two halves. The downside of actually removing the unit is that you have to disconnect the AC pipes so will need the refrigerant removed first and then regassed afterwards. Fortunately mine had no gas in following a leak on the pipework last year!
15 C4 1.6 eHDI 115 Exclusive - better half's
12 RR Westminster 4.4 TDV8 - Gentleman's Club on wheels
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 Exclusive - gone but not forgotten
05 C5 2.0 HDI 138 VTR - crushed May 2015
Post Reply