Getting difficult to crank start my C5

[begins]

Dear all,

I am experiencing difficulty in crank starting my Citroen C5 2007 Petrol 2.0L (VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]).
This happened since last week, where I needed to crank the ignition a few times to start the engine.
The interval gets longer each time.
Now I have to depress my brake real hard and swivel the steering wheel left or right a little to crank start. However, i did have luck to start the engine with one crank yesterday.
Coincidentally, I was getting "Parking system assistance system faulty" when the engine started.

I have since disconnect/connect the battery and the error message seems to go off but still stuck with the cranking problem.
I do not have access to a Lexia here.

What should I do to rectify the fault? Should I be suspecting that the starter motor is failing? If so, what is the part number of the part so that I can order one from UK.

Kindly advise me and Thank you very much.

I would like wish everyone here a Happy New Year 2016.

Regards,

[GiveMeABreak]

You say you have disconnected your battery- did you follow the BSI rest procedure fully? This can cure many faults. Secondly, how old is the battery? C5s like a healthy battery with a good charge. You should consider these 2 things first before you start ordering spares you may not need.

[Xantidote]

Firstly, I should say that I've no knowledge at all about the C5. Therefore I am bemused as to why pressing hard on the brake pedal, and waggling the steering wheel, should encourage it to start

My first thoughts would be to question how good and well charged the battery is, and that you have good battery connections (not warm to the touch after operating the starter). If that's all OK, then I'd tend to think your diagnosis of suspect starter could be right, and it is failing. It may be as simple as the brushes being a bit worn. Whether you could have them checked/replaced where you are, or whether a direct starter swap is the answer depends on what facilities you have near you.

I expect someone else will be along shortly with their tup'ney (?) worth.

I see I've just been pipped by GiveMeABreak

Happy New Year

[Peter.N.]

How fast is the starter turning over compared with when it was starting OK? If its slower as previously mentioned either the battery or starter could be failing.

Peter

[myglaren]

A failing starter motor is a common thing with them, had it on both mine.
They need to spin over fairly quickly to fire up.

Do try it with a fully charged and decent battery first though.

Battery removal/replacement procedure here.

[begins]

Dear all,

I am getting a 12.5 reading when car is idle and not started. I assume the battery is still working fine. The battery is barely a year old.
Alternatively, should I be suspecting that the spark plus are failing too?
Would any kind souls advise me on the part number of the starter motor and possibly show me its location?

Thank you very much to all for the help.

Regards,

[GiveMeABreak]

Begins - send me a PM with your VIN and I'll be able to get you the part No. and a Diagram.

[wurlycorner]

Steering, brakes, plugs... None of these have anything to do with how well the engine turns over.

Battery, earths, starter motor on a normal car is all it can be.
On a c5 there is also silliness via the fuse box, bsi etc. as well, because of the circuit design. However, first statement in this reply still holds true.

[begins]

Hi all,

Strange that today crank start is quite smooth. But now getting "Parking Assistant System Faulty" warning and the "Service" word light up and goes off each time I crank start. However, when parking, the front and rear sensors still working. Really beat me!
Are the two problems related?

Kindly advise me.
Thank you very much.

Regards,

[wurlycorner]

Parking assist faulty will also have no effect on the starting problem. However it might point to what others have suggested about doing doing a BSI reset properly?

[begins]

Dear all,

I confirm that to crank start smoothly, I will have to press in the brake pedal hard enough and then turn the key. This will always follow by "Parking Assistance System Faulty" message, service word will be lighted up and will go away in a while.

In case, the parking assistant is really the fault, where is this sensor being located or it is also the starter motor that is doing the job?
I will try to perform the battery replacement shutdown procedure the next day morning again.

Thank you very much to all for the kind input and advice.

Regards,

[dnsey]

Sounds very much as though the battery voltage is low and producing spurious faults.
It's very easy to convince oneself that e.g. pressing the brake pedal makes a difference when investigating this sort of thing - it's just the brain searching for patterns!
I'm willing to stand corrected if you can prove a genuine connection.

[Stickyfinger]

I always do a battery removal/battery-charge/reset procedure, as an Over-Night process as I have seen so many faults "cured" by a 100% mains charged battery

[wurlycorner]

Is this an automatic?
And is there any interlock between the brake pedal and the ignition switch on C5 auto's????

[Stickyfinger]

Not on my ones (2001+2005)...on the X7 you have a lock between the brake peddle and the electric handbrake.