C5 Door Switch Location

[EDC5]

Replacement has arrived

I'll have a go at the weekend and see if we're on to anything.

I don't recognise any of the part numbers so it's a bit of a gamble.

[EDC5]

Right lads, just changed the lock assembly and it appears to have sorted it!

Bit of a fiddly one to be honest. I got the door card off in about 2 mins (still fresh in my mind from the speaker upgrade).



Once that was done I used a Stanley knife blade to cut the glue of the foamy cover over the door cavity. Once inside I saw that I had to get the outdoor door handle off, quite simple really, there was a hidden torx screw that released the lock barrel, after that the handle itself then comes out revealing a screw that holds the aluminium lock molding to the inside of the door.




Hidden screw to release lock barrel.

Everything else was straight forward really. I'm so glad that it's fixed!

£20... not bad really If I've got time tomorrow I'll dismantle the old unit and see if I can detect whats wrong. I also gave the electric window workings a quick squirt of silicone grease to keep it working.

[GiveMeABreak]

Nicely done Elis.

[EDC5]

Thanks, glad it's sorted.

So, I couldn't just leave the old unit laying around, I had to have a look inside





As you can see, the two motors for the central locking and a lot of mechanical workings.

Unfortunately, I couldn't do much more disassembly as the as the rest of it appears to be pressed together, in addition the electronics are potted with a white resin so a repair would be very difficult.

I did however find an example of how the switches work:



Look at the two microswitches above (orange), when I pull the lever attached to the lock barrel they are both pressed by the white piece of plastic:



This suggests that Citroen built the lock to have double redundant switches, which is good, so I must have had bad luck in both of them failed

Either way, I won't be throwing it out yet as I'm sure the motors can be transplanted should a fault develop in the future.

[GiveMeABreak]

Very useful to see inside Elis - thanks for posting the pictures

[EDC5]

No problem

Theres nothing better than pictures to liven up a thread I feel.

[xf1ref]

Very useful pictures. At the micro switch from the left I see there are 3 wires, maybe this is for detecting door closed/open. With a multi meter you can check the continuity between Red and Orange, Red and Purple...I think the red one is common.
At the micro switch from the right see only 2 wires, green and yellow, and maybe is used for courtesy lights.

[EDC5]

Very useful pictures. At the micro switch from the left I see there are 3 wires, maybe this is for detecting door closed/open. With a multi meter you can check the continuity between Red and Orange, Red and Purple...I think the red one is common.
At the micro switch from the right see only 2 wires, green and yellow, and maybe is used for courtesy lights.

If you look at the large hex piece of plastic on the right, that lines up with a rod from the lock barrel. When the key is turned in the lock barrel the white plastic shim moves down and pushes both micro switches. I think you're correct, the switch for the interior light / unlock / retract drivers seat may only be served by 1 micro switch and therefore more likely to fail?

If I have time over the weekend I'll take a hammer to it and get it apart properly

[xf1ref]

If the white resin can be removed you can change the microswitches and repair the look.
I think there is another microswitch near to one motor and has the same color at the wires, purple,red and orange.

[EDC5]

True. Is it worth the time and effort though. Usually I would say yes but the fact that the switch is set in resin and everything is riveted together puts me off. Especially when the replacement part is ~£20 and luckily it seems to be a rare problem.

[centurus2400]

Bother! I've got precisely the same fault on my 2008 Exculsive, and have been searching for a simple plunger switch without success
Symptons are identical, the fault was intermittent to begin with, and has gradually got worse until the switch is now inoperative.

Could you be kind enough to confirm the part number that you ordered please as mine should be exactly the same?
I've never tried taking off the door card but one step at a time and I'll get the new switch unit to begin with.

[GiveMeABreak]

I’ll need your VIN, to confirm parts.

[centurus2400]

OK, I'll make a not of it when I'm back in the car park tonight. That's the one you can see at the bottom of the windscreen?

[EDC5]

Just for reference the replacement part I got wasn't the same part number, is it possible that all X7 door lock mechanisms are the same?

[GiveMeABreak]

OK, I'll make a not of it when I'm back in the car park tonight. That's the one you can see at the bottom of the windscreen?

yes that’s the VIN