C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

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mistuart
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C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

Hope someone can help
I have just bought a 2005 MK2 C5 2.0 VTR petrol.
When I went to collect it the battery was flat so they used a jump pack and it eventually started after 20 seconds of cranking they told me it had been standing for 6 months.
My problem is the car cranks over but wont start unless I leave the ignition on for approx 20 seconds then it will start ok, run and drive until I leave it a while then it wont start again.
If I leave it locked after approx 30 seconds the wipers will start and the headlamps will come on for approx 1 minute, turn off then 30 seconds later wipers and headlamps are back on.
I have fitted a new battery and tried to perform a BSI reset about 6 times, I have also replaced the under bonnet fuse box with a new genuine unit from a Citroen dealer as the original had a white residue on it.
I am thinking either the BSI has been spiked by the jump pack, the BSI didn't get woken up correctly and is corrupted or the COMM 2000 unit is faulty.
Has anyone had the same problem before I go spending money on a new BSI or COMM 2000 unit.
Thanks in advance for any help.
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by Stickyfinger »

The first thing to do before anything else is get it on a Lexia to get accurate readings of what is going on.
General "readers" will not give you the readings you need most likely. PSA cars use no standard code readers.

Use this to do a BSI reset......charge the battery overnight after disconnecting and do the reset in the morning is the battery is not new.
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 19&t=43609
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

I did buy Lexia and tried playing with it on an older C5.
How do I do the BSI reset from Lexia?
The battery is brand new I bought it today.
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by Stickyfinger »

OK...

The BSI reset is not with the Lexia.....just follow the link exactly.
C5's are very sensitive to batteries, just always make sure its charged if you are doing a lot of cranking.

Others here better qualified by a long long way will help with the problem....make sure the Lexia is working, you will quite likely need it so might as well get it ready.
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by Peter.N. »

A lot of problems can be cured just by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, its worth a try anyway.

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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by VertVega »

Peter.N. wrote:A lot of problems can be cured just by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, ...
You're right. it usually does but not in this case :evil:

mistuart, you're lucky that I've been reading and answering messages this weekend :)
I think I know the cure which costed me 155 EUR (it will be free for you :lol: ) but before that let me ask
you this: Do you also have an Estate C5?
C5 II 2.0i 16V - 2005 - Estate - 103KW - EW10A - Petrol - Manual
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

No my car is a saloon
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by VertVega »

I got this pic of a C5 II saloon from a car sale webpage and modified it.

cause of problem:
This is a symptom of CAN-bus functioning error which is caused by the corrosion at the end connector.
The connector made ready for the tow bar is one of the connectors. The interference in the CAN-bus "wakes up"
the BSI even if it goes to sleep after parking and can cause this very unique disorder :roll:

cure:
- Open/bend the upper left corner as seen in pic.
- Find the bunch of connectors (location as marked in pic).
- Clean connectors with some electric corrosion remover (circuit board cleaner, electronic parts cleaner).
- Dry out excess cleaner.

suggestion:
At the end I tied connectors together and fixed with a cable tier to upper end of the pocket.
This way the bunch of connectors would be protected better from water/humidity.

Image

I hope this helps 8-)
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mistuart
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

Can this cause the no start?
Will let you know if it cures it.
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by VertVega »

Of course the long start :) I didn't comment on that at all. I think it is not related to this corrosion.
Based on my experience with Xantia I would say that it might be caused by failing fuel pump.

My previous car was Xantia petrol which developed long start problem around 350k km. The fuel pump in the tank was not able to provide a healthy 3 bars (or was it 3.5 bars) fuel supply pressure. It took long (20 secs) to start. I struggled with it about two weeks. Petrol engine is somehow more strict on the correct supply pressure. Finally I replaced the fuel pump and it was solved like that.

If you are sure that the battery is in good condition next you can check the long starting problem. As I said they are not necesarily related to each other. I would handle them as two separate cases.
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

Just checked the connectors and I don't have any corrosion cleaned them anyway but still have my problem.
Disconnected the COMM 2000 unit just in case it was giving out dodgy information but still the wipers and lights come on with it disconnected.
I have removed the BSI and think I will get it virginised then reprogrammed by the dealers.
Thanks for the advice I appreciate it.
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by Stickyfinger »

mistuart wrote:Just checked the connectors and I don't have any corrosion cleaned them anyway but still have my problem.
Disconnected the COMM 2000 unit just in case it was giving out dodgy information but still the wipers and lights come on with it disconnected.
I have removed the BSI and think I will get it virginised then reprogrammed by the dealers.
Thanks for the advice I appreciate it.
Then take care....
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by VertVega »

Corrosion cleaning woud have been an easy and cheap solution :(
Mine was solved like that in the dealers service. I forgot to mention that I had to buy a new battery also since it drained the previous one and I thought low/weak battery was the reason.

I still would focus on the CAN-bus disturbance since the symptoms are same as in my case (lights ON, front wipers ON).

If you have tow bar fixed clean also the tow bar plug next to the hook.
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mistuart
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

Don't have a tow bar fitted
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Re: C5 Wipers and lights turn on after 30 secs

Post by mistuart »

Going to try disconnecting the auto wiper unit just in case it's giving false information to the bsi.
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