C5 Ventilation

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 14 Jun 2011, 07:33

2002/52 C5 LX Estate. No climate control, just the three knobs and snowflake and recirc buttons.

Our C5 seems to be incapable of providing "subtle" ventilation, especially on warm days. With the distribution set to "up, down and face" and the fan on low I would expect a reasonable flow of fresh air. This setting seems to work fine under the same conditions in every other car I've driven.

On our C5 it seems to be impossible to get any fresh air unless you turn it to "face" and have the fan roaring. The recirc is off and I'm sure it works.

I was just wondering if there is something wrong with our car or if, as I suspect, the C5's ventilation system is rubbish and I'll just have to live with it.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 14 Jun 2011, 07:56

Have you replaced the pollen/cabin air filter recently? Might well be blocked up.

Post by **Paul-R** » 14 Jun 2011, 09:21

You DO have aircon - the snowflake button is for switching it in. What's more likely is that the system needs recharging, very likely givem its age.

How long have you had the car? Has the snowflake button ever done anything?

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 14 Jun 2011, 22:29

I gathered the problem was with the lack of air flow and not the chilling? Though if the AC has not been regassed then it will need doing by now.

The C5s ventilation is excellent and certainly not rubbish. I have not had a problem with its air flow, the fans are very powerful and flow is great no matter where you have it pointed - though all mine have had climate.

Check the pollen filter and replace it if its dirty, check the housing for debris.

Post by **myglaren** » 14 Jun 2011, 23:28

Citroenmad wrote:I gathered the problem was with the lack of air flow and not the chilling? Though if the AC has not been regassed then it will need doing by now.

The C5s ventilation is excellent and certainly not rubbish. I have not had a problem with its air flow, the fans are very powerful and flow is great no matter where you have it pointed - though all mine have had climate.

Check the pollen filter and replace it if its dirty, check the housing for debris.

I'll second that - it was 31° here when I left work and by the time I had gone about a mile and a half I was chilled and had to turn the aircon down - was blowing a gale too.
A year since pollen filter change, three years since regassing.

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 16 Jun 2011, 07:31

I was indeed talking about the airflow rather than the cooling. The pollen filter does sound like a good place to start, thanks. We've had the car about four years and I know it has aircon but it should be able to supply fresh air without turning it on.

I know the ventilation never be great, I think a law was passed around 1980 prohibiting decent ventilation in cars, but it really is oppressively stuffy.

Post by **Paul-R** » 16 Jun 2011, 11:37

reblack68 wrote:I was indeed talking about the airflow rather than the cooling. ... We've had the car about four years and I know it has aircon but it should be able to supply fresh air without turning it on.

There doesn't seem to be any ram effect on the C5 so, in order to get air coming out, you have to have the blower operating but not the aircon.

sifaan · Post by **sifaan** » 27 Jun 2011, 15:14

reblack68 wrote:I was indeed talking about the airflow rather than the cooling. The pollen filter does sound like a good place to start, thanks. We've had the car about four years and I know it has aircon but it should be able to supply fresh air without turning it on.

I saw somewhere (Haynes, I think) that the pollen filter should be replaced every 2 years

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 02 Aug 2011, 21:06

I replaced the filter tonight, I haven't driven anywhere yet but it definitely seems better.

This guy is selling genuine Citroen filters for less than half the dealer price if anybody else needs one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110711906658