C5 II speedo calibration

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ekaftan
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C5 II speedo calibration

Post by ekaftan »

2007 C5 V6. Speedo needle is about 15km/h off to the slow side.

85 k/h indicated is really 100k/h
100 indicated is really 115 and so on.

If I engage cruise control, the speed on the LCD display matches what Waze or Google maps indicates almost exactly, its only the needle that is off.

I know the last three owners of the car and they all report never having replaced or fixed the speedo in any way.

Is there a way to re-calibrate it with Lexia? Or would I need to open it up and move the needle 15k/h upwards?

thanks!
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Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by Dormouse »

HI. Does the needle sit "low" on the Speedo gauge at standstill and, say, at 40 k/h is it under reading too. In other words is it only under reading low at higher speeds or is the same mis-read occurring all the way through the speedo range.
If it gets worse as the road speed goes up then there is something wrong in the speedo head. If the speedo is under reading all the way up the speedo then the needle needs adjustment but I don't know if the needle pivot is mounted conventionally against a coil spring or whether the needle is driven by a stepper motor.
Anyway, lets see if the needle always under reads even at a standstill or just as you get up the speed range. Cheers.
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Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by GiveMeABreak »

These are a known issue. They can be replaced with a kit. There’s no calibration or other repair.

Video on repair replacement below:

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ekaftan
Donor 2023
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My Cars: 2006 C5 II Exclusive V6
1996 Volvo 940
x 5

Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by ekaftan »

Dormouse wrote: 15 Dec 2021, 20:27 HI. Does the needle sit "low" on the Speedo gauge at standstill and, say, at 40 k/h is it under reading too. In other words is it only under reading low at higher speeds or is the same mis-read occurring all the way through the speedo range.
If it gets worse as the road speed goes up then there is something wrong in the speedo head. If the speedo is under reading all the way up the speedo then the needle needs adjustment but I don't know if the needle pivot is mounted conventionally against a coil spring or whether the needle is driven by a stepper motor.
Anyway, lets see if the needle always under reads even at a standstill or just as you get up the speed range. Cheers.
Standing still, needle rests against what would be -5 a bit off but not much.

Over 40kph and above its off 15kph
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Dormouse
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Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by Dormouse »

Looks like you have the stepper motor type speedo according to Give Me A Break. Try watching the video and then dismantle and clean all the pieces in your speedo head, rebuild and replace the needle at the zero point. Hope that helps. cheers
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Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by citroenguy »

Simple fix, the needle has slid om the pin.
Remove the clocks and take off the "glass"
Reset needle and fixate with plumbers tape or super glue.
I have various repair handbooks and wiring diagrams for C5 mk1, Xantia, XM, Berlingo and C3 mk1.
I have Lexia/Diagbox (Sweden) and Servicebox/sedre
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Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by Dormouse »

Do not superglue the needle in place unless you are absolutely desperate. You need to be able to remove it if you ever want to dismantle the speedo mechanism. Plumber's Tape (thread tape) would help on a slack shaft and would not be permanent.
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Re: C5 II speedo calibration

Post by Gibbo2286 »

This fault is almost always the stepper motor gears failed.
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
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