C5 crushed by carwash

miked · Unread post by **miked** » 14 Feb 2010, 08:25

My local paper is reporting a story about a C5 being badly damaged by a car wash. Click here for story It looks like the tailgate opened as the brush went over.

I don't have a C5 but was wondering if the tailgate release on a C5 is exposed enough that the brush might have triggered it? Or did the customer either not have the boot closed in the first place or accidently pressed the remote boot open button?

Must have been a shock for the couple in the car though.

mooseshaver · Unread post by **mooseshaver** » 14 Feb 2010, 08:49

That's in my local paper too!
The tailgate, should that not lock when driving off?
I wondered if it was not shut properly or broken

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Feb 2010, 09:09

Shocking

I hate car washes. They terrify me on a personal level and seem a lot of expense and bother.. I would NEVER use on on my own cars.

The last time I used one, to run SWIMBO's learner instruction car through, it reminded me of the worst aspects of rides at Alton Towers...

An hour or so with a bucket, sponge and hose is cheaper, safer and does a far better job.

Still, realising not everyone has the time or facilities, I hope these people get some compensation from the outfit who run the carwash in question. It must have been frightening.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 14 Feb 2010, 09:12

The tailgate locks at 5mph but IIRC releases again when the car is stationary or a door is opened.
The release catch (on mine anyway) takes a firm pull to release and the tailgate doesn't lift on its own.
I can't see how the brushes would operate it, or even the rear screen, the button is well shrouded although light in operation.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 14 Feb 2010, 09:16

CitroJim wrote:Shocking

Still, realising not everyone has the time or facilities, I hope these people get some compensation from the outfit who run the carwash in question. It must have been frightening.

You are forgetting those of us that are just plain lazy

I always use the carwash, when the car gets washed at all, with very few exceptions!

(Had an insane interlude when all the carwashes were broken and bought a bucket and sponge - fully recovered now though

)

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 14 Feb 2010, 09:39

I think the odd thing is that the owner is upset with Morrisons. If it were me, I would be blaming Citroen.

TopDonkey · Unread post by **TopDonkey** » 14 Feb 2010, 10:45

my C5's boot is a very light touch on the button to electronically unlock it, it then pops up about an inch and takes light pressure to lift the boot up till the gas assisters lift it the rest of the way

I can see how a car wash's brushes would be able to unlock and open a C5 boot quite easily, but i'm glad to say that my car only geet a wash once a year in the summer !!, so i'm not at too much risk of that happening to me, the simple solution would be to press the lock button on the dash before you go into the car wash, this locks all the door and disables the boot lock

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 14 Feb 2010, 11:09

Another reason to stick with Xantias

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 14 Feb 2010, 11:44

I work on the principal that the dirt will build up until the next time it rains.

My C5 is safe!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 14 Feb 2010, 11:48

Just read the original report and it is a saloon, not estate and was a conventional boot hit by the dryer rather than the brushes.

Couldn't say for the saloon but on my estate the catch is pulled away front the car body and upwards, which might have been possible if there were something caught in the horizontal brushes and they happened to be rotating in the right direction but the dryer bar should never come into contact with the car although it sometimes gets disconcertingly close.

WAG but I imagine that after shopping they have not closed the boot properly, it failed to latch and has popped open in front of the dryer that has then crushed it against the rear screen.

TopDonkey · Unread post by **TopDonkey** » 14 Feb 2010, 11:52

I've owned 3 xantias and 2 c5's (all diesel), and have to admit that the Xantia was the better car to drive, but the suspension and spheres on the c5 and the general maintenance on the C5 is much easier, i only went over to C5's because it was a newer car, the wife doesnt like me having a p reg car !, she would prefer i drive something newer otherwise my old green sx xantia xud diesel would still be on the drive !

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 14 Feb 2010, 14:03

CitroJim wrote:Shocking

I hate car washes. They terrify me on a personal level and seem a lot of expense and bother.. I would NEVER use on on my own cars.

The last time I used one, to run SWIMBO's learner instruction car through, it reminded me of the worst aspects of rides at Alton Towers...

An hour or so with a bucket, sponge and hose is cheaper, safer and does a far better job.

Still, realising not everyone has the time or facilities, I hope these people get some compensation from the outfit who run the carwash in question. It must have been frightening.

I must confess to using one occaisionally but with a n XM estate it represents quite good value

Peter

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 14 Feb 2010, 14:12

Quite a few years back a friend of mine got a loan of some guys pride and joy and took it to one of these to clean it before handing it back.

The entire machine collapsed on the car and my friend had the unwelcome task of informing the owner that his car was totalled.

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 14 Feb 2010, 18:06

Washing car is good excercise. Don`t see the point of spannering a car then can`t wash it yourself......who wants swirl marks on paintwork anyway

andycarter · Unread post by **andycarter** » 14 Feb 2010, 19:24

Xac wrote:Another reason to stick with Xantias

Carwashes can open the fuel filler flap on my Xantia if I don't lock up before going in.

I am a bit surprised that the machine destroyed the C5 boot though - I would have though there might be some sort of safety cutout on overload.