MOT due soon....

birksy · Unread post by **birksy** » 28 Jan 2011, 17:04

Is there anything in particular about C5's to look out for?

I did have a look underneath the car while on ramps in Oct and notice one of the rams looked leaky. I believe this is normal tho? The car rides fine and goes up n down ok and the ride seems good.

Its a 1.8VTR (although to be precise its actually a 1.7 being 1749.)

all lights working ok except one reverse (which I'll sort.)

Handbrake travel seems long but works well enough.

Seatbelts bit slow on winding back in.

Was a bit leaky on oil but an oil change seems to have sorted it, the undertray is missing so presumably someone was looking and didn't bother putting it back. Possibly a breathing issue. Not sure its a fail item.

Any tips I'd be happy to hear.

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 28 Jan 2011, 17:13

birksy wrote:...
Seatbelts bit slow on winding back in.
...

Before MOT I applied silicon spray under both rear seat belts in mine.
Especially Xantia Estate models tend to have lazy seat belts (rear).
Pulled seat belt all the way out. While letting it roll back slowly, I sprayed under the belt
where it goes into the pillar trim area.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 28 Jan 2011, 19:57

Seatbelts are a common problem easily rectified as VertVega has noted.

Do try and replace the undertray. I didn't when I removed it, it is still in the garden and hasn't grown at all, but I have just had to pay £53 for a new wheel arch liner that blew to bits. It is fastened to the undertray, or was

Not a problem, thought I BUT the air induction hose is in the wheel arch which has meant that it has sucked in loads of water and crap that destroyed the MAF (another £130) and possibly other side effects too.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 28 Jan 2011, 22:44

Dont know why but I thought yours was a HDI, not 1.8 16v...

Anyway, nothing really C5 specific to look out for. Suspension leaks are about all to watch for, everything else is as per every other car.

Reverse lights are not an MOT requirement anyway.

SO long as you have checked the basics, lights, horn, wipers, tyres, etc, then thats all you can do. If the MOT brings up a problem then thats when you start worrying!

I always take our hydraulic Citroens to a Citroen specialist for an MOT, as they know what to look for, whats normal and what isnt. If something is wrong, id rather know about it, ive had MOT places miss things in the past as they have not been used to that type of car.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 29 Jan 2011, 08:42

i thought country's like GBR were very strickt as regards to anything leaking from the car,

i heard that if your car drops any fluid onto the road you would get a fine,

regards malcolm

birksy · Unread post by **birksy** » 29 Jan 2011, 12:42

citronut wrote:i thought country's like GBR were very strickt as regards to anything leaking from the car,

i heard that if your car drops any fluid onto the road you would get a fine,

regards malcolm

Not heard that one but I suppose it depends just how much and what fluid you deposit on the road.

birksy · Unread post by **birksy** » 29 Jan 2011, 12:58

Thanks for the tips, The silicone spray grease would be vital I think as well as a quick defuzz on the belts. I've had that one before where the tester thought the fluff was excessive wear.

I did an MOT history check online and curiously in 2008 it failed on both headlamps aim being too low.

It also failed on the offside drop link having excessive play in it.

My thoughts would be that the tester didn't know Citroens maybe and had the height setting all wrong for the lamp aim test?

I changed the drop link myself last year as it was knackered so the replacement lasted 2yrs and 7'000 miles? It was knocking when I bought it and I was surprised it had passed an MOT.

Front tyres were an advisory April 2009 and again April 2010 but only 3'040 miles apart.

CitroenMad it defo petrol VTR, I wish it was a HDi and would like to try a 173hp version to compare to the A4 which is a TDi 130SE.

I find the VTR is ok for around town and shorter journeys but on the motorway need a few too many revs for comfort but the ride is far superior on the motorway to the Audi as it has harsh suspension.

The A4 sport is even harder which is nice for sporty driving but you feel every bump in the road, even a wee stone.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 29 Jan 2011, 15:01

birksy wrote:My thoughts would be that the tester didn't know Citroëns maybe and had the height setting all wrong for the lamp aim test?

this will not cause the aim to be out as even fully up or down the car should still be level,

what will cause the aim to appear wrong is if it was tested without the engine running, and one end or the other had not got its ass off the ground,

regards malcolm

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 29 Jan 2011, 22:45

birksy wrote:Thanks for the tips, The silicone spray grease would be vital I think as well as a quick defuzz on the belts. I've had that one before where the tester thought the fluff was excessive wear.

I did an MOT history check online and curiously in 2008 it failed on both headlamps aim being too low.

It also failed on the offside drop link having excessive play in it.

My thoughts would be that the tester didn't know Citroëns maybe and had the height setting all wrong for the lamp aim test?

I changed the drop link myself last year as it was knackered so the replacement lasted 2yrs and 7'000 miles? It was knocking when I bought it and I was surprised it had passed an MOT.

Front tyres were an advisory April 2009 and again April 2010 but only 3'040 miles apart.

CitroenMad it defo petrol VTR, I wish it was a HDi and would like to try a 173hp version to compare to the A4 which is a TDi 130SE.

I find the VTR is ok for around town and shorter journeys but on the motorway need a few too many revs for comfort but the ride is far superior on the motorway to the Audi as it has harsh suspension.

The A4 sport is even harder which is nice for sporty driving but you feel every bump in the road, even a wee stone.

If it has had a cheap, not genuine drop link then they dont last any time. I always replace with genuine ones.

The last owner obviously didnt think too much about tyres then, as they were not obviously changed between MOTs.

I didnt know you could access MOT history online, how do you do this?

The Audi A4 would compare much better to the 138bhp C5. My uncle has a 52plate Audi A4 1.9TDi 130 SE Avant, which i have driven a few times. While it performs well and there is the usual TDi kick to the turbo, its not faster than my C5 2.0HDi 138. Id also say the C5 drives nicer too, the Audis gear change is a bit too notchy and the suspension at the rear is under damped. The C5 138 has more torque and obviously a bit more power than the A4.

The 173 C5 HDi is great, very torquey and a lively performer, but with very good MPG. Interestingly, despite its extra power and torque, book figures suggest its only 0.5 seconds to 60 quicker than the 2.0 138, though in real world driving it will feel a lot different. Id like to have another drive in a 173, now I know what the 138 is like. My 138 provides me with a happy medium of performance, economy and insurance costs, which is why I didnt look at getting a 173.

C5s are excellent cruisers, ive not been in a petrol but the HDis are fantastic, so quiet, refined, low revving and great on fuel. Their refinement, comfort and ride quality takes some beating, as does their space, spec and value for money.

birksy · Unread post by **birksy** » 29 Jan 2011, 23:00

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Ow ... G_10020539

birksy · Unread post by **birksy** » 16 Mar 2011, 18:20

MOT fails on High Pressure Power Steering pipe leak and OSR Suspension strut leaking.

Part numbers are PAS pipe 4014EV & Suspension 5272 60.

I've had a look around but I'm struggling to get anything. AEP have fronts (£295 eeeek) but no rears and No PAS pipes. Ebay has low pressure pipe but not the High pressure.....

Dealer wants £800+ for these two jobs.

Is there a cheaper way other than breakers?

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MOT due soon....

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