Is my C5 dead? Need help.

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bfds88
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Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by bfds88 »

Hi guys.
I've a citroen c5 Tourer Exclusive 2.0hdi 2011.
My car was almost 2 months in garage without using it. So the battery depleted.
I tried to jump start it with no success. So I took off the battery and charged it outside the vehicle.
Today, after installing the charged battery the car gives no signal whatsoever. Neither a single dash light turns on. Looks like it doesn't even have the battery installed.
I confirmed that the battery is correctly connected.

How can I figure out the problem? Is there something I can do to make it work?

Thanks for you help.

Best regards.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by xantia_v6 »

If everything is dead, you will need to use a voltmeter and check the voltages, starting at the maxi-fuses near the battery.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by bfds88 »

I had a quick look to check if the maxi fuses were blown. Every single one is ok.
Going to check voltage later, need to buy a voltimeter. I should read 12 volts in each of the maxi fuse entry right?
If not what can I do next?
Thank you.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by myglaren »

Approx 12V across the fuses but pull them and check the resistance across them too - it has been known for them to have a hairline crack, invisible - or for the wire to detach from the posts.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Does this car have a fusible link in the battery cable? I had a case once where a guy connected the jump leads wrong way round and blew the link, not on a Citroen but...… same symptoms.

First thing to check is the battery, no need for a voltmeter a bulb and a couple of wires will suffice, battery positive to earth.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Pop your VIN up and I can let you know the fuses to check.

When you connected the battery back up did you hear the whirring or clicking noise (or suspension pump kick in if you have hydraulic suspension)?
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by bfds88 »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 09 Dec 2018, 12:10 Pop your VIN up and I can let you know the fuses to check.

When you connected the battery back up did you hear the whirring or clicking noise (or suspension pump kick in if you have hydraulic suspension)?


I'll share de VIN when I get home. When trying to jump start, the suspension pump kicked in yes.
But not when I plugged the recharged battery.
The car died when trying to jump start two or three times.

So I took the battery out and charged it fully outside the car. Now when I plugged the battery there's no signal. Trying to figured out the problem. Hopefully is not the BSI that died. ☹️
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I’m thinking that because it’s gone completely flat after the two months, that maybe when you really tried to jump start it you’ve upset it.

Never really a good idea to jump start these with all the electronics involved. Did you try the battery reconnection procedure prior to connecting the battery back up to properly wake up the ECUs?
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by bfds88 »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 09 Dec 2018, 12:10 Pop your VIN up and I can let you know the fuses to check.

When you connected the battery back up did you hear the whirring or clicking noise (or suspension pump kick in if you have hydraulic suspension)?


The VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff].
Thanks.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by bfds88 »

Ok. So I bought a voltimeter to check the battery voltage to have an idea of the problem. Looks like the charging didn't work so well because the battery has only 7.80V.
I checked the maxi fuses for continuity and all is good. I'm going to buy a new battery tomorrow (although this one has only 2 years).

What is the procedure I should be aware when installing the new battery?
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by admiral51 »

Remove the old battery asap, that will allow any charge in the ECU's etc to discharge.
Sure others will give advice but i would just connect the new battery and then leave the car alone for 15 minutes to let systems reboot and then start it because you know it will start :-D
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by MikeT »

Before you disconnect the old battery - turn everything off, remove the key, open the bonnet and close the doors then sing a song (or whistle, or navel gaze for a couple of minutes) to let the ECU's shutdown properly.
Then disconnect the terminals and install new battery.
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by moizeau »

When you have the new battery, do as Mike says but leave the drivers window open, reconnect the battery, leave for a few minutes, possibly a beer for dutch courage, then turn the ignition on, see if the dash lights up, then turn the sidelights on, if all works....start the car....then...have another beer!
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by sparksie »

As I read it, he won't be able to open the window, until after he puts the new battery in, so I think he'll have to do it twice.
First time to get the window down and turn everything off.
Second time to do the BSI reset.
I'm not at all surprised a battery that's been left flat for so long won't take a charge. It's well sulphated up, by now.
Going forward, if there's a need to leave it for protracted periods, it would be well worth getting a smart charger and leaving it plugged in.
Jump starting is never a good idea on a multiplexed car and the drivers handbook should be consulted before trying it. Always use surge protected leads, not the ones you bought in Halfords for a fiver, 20 years ago!
Hope all goes well tomorrow
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Re: Is my C5 dead? Need help.

Post by crapday69 »

As said before its not a good idea to jump start modern cars but sometimes its needed to get the car going for work etc. If your ever giving a car a jump start in the future, put your lights, rear heated window and other power hungry devices, then connect to the car to be jumped. After you've jump started the other car, individually put the power hungry devices off, this reduces the chance of any power surge damaging the delicate electronics in modern cars.


Gary.
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