C5 Won't start...!!

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

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

C5 Won't start...!!

Post by hamster99 »

Have been away for a week or so and tried to start the C5 Saturday but all I had was a clicking sound. No problem I thought, it usually needs a bit of a battery top up when its been left for over a week, so plugged in the Ctek and left it a couple of days.

Tried it this morning and still the same. Plenty of battery juice but the starter solenoid just clicks when you turn the ignition switch. I'm guessing the solenoid may have died but does that just happen without any warning signs??
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
wurlycorner
Posts: 1366
Joined: 30 Oct 2012, 22:37
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
My Cars: Two C5's...
Lots of CXs...
A couple of Xantia...
A C2...
Lots of Prelude's...
And a Sunny!
x 66
Contact:

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by wurlycorner »

Not speaking from C5 experience on this one, but rather general experience of car starter motors...
Yep, solenoids do just stick.
Whack the solenoid with a big spanner or hammer a few times and try again (honestly!).
If that sorts it, then yep, you have a sticking solenoid. Until you are able to get it stripped or replaced, carry said hammer/spanner with you...
--
Iain

1x '85 CX GTi Turbo s1 (metallic blue)
2x '85 CX GTi Turbo s2 t1 (metallic silver & grey)
'88 CX GTi Turbo s2 T2 (metallic light blue)
CX DTR T2 Safari (silver)
2x '96 Xantia Activa (Black & metallic green)
'01 C5 2.0 HDi LX Estate (Blue)
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Ditto ^ - starter on the way out.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13726
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
Location: Reading
My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
x 2993

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

If it is the starter motor it could well be worth giving GSF a visit. I had to replace the starter motor in my C5 Mk1 (cost about £120 for a re-conditioned unit), and when I swapped the motor it spun the engine up much faster. As I returned the old motor in the packaging provided I got back over £50.
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!
User avatar
moizeau
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 1579
Joined: 12 Jan 2015, 16:08
Location: France 36
My Cars: 91 BX TZD Estate. Dead but loved
407 HDI 136 auto
C4 2l petrol coupé
2010 Dispatch III HDI 90
AND a 1980 Z1000ST
AND a 1983 GPz1100 inj
AND a 1995 Zephyr 1100
AND a 1980 Z650 (my moped)
x 314

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by moizeau »

Not sure of access, but you can also bridge the solenoid contacts externally, making the starter spin, or if it's the starter sticking, put it in gear and rock it back and forth. Had to do both of these methods in the past with different vehicles.
Pete
Notice the BX is still top the list but sadly gone
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

Re: C5 Won't start...!!........SOLVED

Post by hamster99 »

Hi all, thanks for the useful tips.

Spent this afternoon getting it off the car after trying to get it to work without success. As usual the Haynes BoL was its usual erroneous self.......says you need to remove clutch slave cylinder, Jack up front, remove engine under tray and then take it out through the bottom.......pah......remove air filter, intercooler hose, 3 bolts and out. 20 minutes tops.

Anyway, got it out, compared it with the spare I took off my previous C5 but pinions were different with different numbers of teeth. Bizarre really as both cars were 2.0 HDI, 2005, 6sp box etc. Anyhow, starter solenoid worked but motor seemed a bit stiff to turn so stripped it down, checked brushes (all ok) cleaned it up, refitted and started first time....RESULT.

Now I have to get round to selling it......wife doesn't think I need 3 cars......it's a shame as it's been really good to me and just keeps on going. Have loads of spares for it too. Oh well!
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
ekjdm14
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1810
Joined: 19 Jan 2015, 17:42
Location: Congleton
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: '95 Xantia 1.9D automatic - 109k one of two remaining
'03 206 GTi180 - 97k in pieces being brought back up to snuff
'03 206 1.9TD - home-built veg-fuelled B-road bruiser
'99 306 SE 2.0i cabriolet - 92k awaiting service work ready for next summer
'97 306 XS 1.6i 3 door, Bianca White, from dead 12 years & seized solid to road legal in 7 days
x 212

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by ekjdm14 »

The wife is quite correct, you don't need 3 cars...





You need to buy a nice CX or BX to keep it company ;) can never have too many cars... :D
'95 Xantia LX 1.9D-auto, Black, 109k
'03 206 GTi180 94k in surgery
'03 206 1.1S XUD9TE/veg project :mrgreen:
'99 306 2.0SE cabriolet 95k summer toy
'97 306 XS 1.6i 99k sat 12 years, fixed in 7 days, 150mile maiden voyage :rofl2:
User avatar
white exec
Moderating Team
Posts: 7445
Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by white exec »

Well done on servicing that starter motor. They have a hard and grubby life.
Chris
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: C5 Won't start...!!........SOLVED

Post by Paul-R »

hamster99 wrote:... but pinions were different with different numbers of teeth. Bizarre really as both cars were 2.0 HDI, 2005, 6sp box etc...

Years ago when I was involved with MGs there was a supersession on a starter motor pinion whereby a 10 tooth pinion replaced a 9 pin one. I absolutely could not understand (still don't) how this could work properly as the tooth to tooth pitch would change and so not mesh properly with the flywheel ring-gear. The only way that the pitch could remain the same would be if the diameter of the pinion grew but it didn't do that. It was with much trepidation that I did the first replacement and you know what? It worked no problem. No horrible graunching sounds. No excess wear. Nothing untoward that I could detect.

So it may be that your motors are based on the same philosophy.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
hamster99
Posts: 262
Joined: 21 Jun 2009, 15:20
Location:
My Cars:
x 1

Re: C5 Won't start...!!

Post by hamster99 »

Does seem strange. I also remember that when the started was changed in my other C5 the garage told me there were 3 different possible types, even one with 5 fixings which presumably had a different gearbox housing...... :roll:

oh well, you have to remember they are French so quirkiness comes as standard...... :lol:
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