C5.... AGAIN..

[citroenxm]

Yet another damm problem with this S1 C5 my customer has... This is getting to be the last straw.. this particular C5 has prooved nothing but a right PITA... And I dont mean for me, for the owner.. Normally for someone who works on cars they be rubbing their hands together, but Im finding this an unhappy experiance.. its one thing after another.. Who ever said the XM was an unreliable car should try a S1 C5.... :RANT OVER:

When bought the car has a record of cam belt and water pump at around 150k... I have since fitted a New thermo stat, and now a NEW rad... However, extreamilly randomly the top of the Rad get an Air Lock, resulting in the water not being able to pass through the rad to cool.

Its NOT the thermo stat as the Top Hose is hot, then the top of the rad is cold... If the top bleeder screw on the top of the rad is opened just air escapes and no water... however.. if the engine is stopped for a moment it seems to suddenly free up and cool normally..

So is someone gonna sugest the thermo stat!?? Not sure if that would insult me or not..

Any ideas anyone?? Waterpump fins possibly??



Paul

[Citroenmad]

Im not sure what to suggest, have you tested the thermostat? Even if its new it might not be a good'en.

When did the problem start? After or before the rad change or the cambelt change?

I guess this is a 2.0HDi 8v? If so it could just as well happen to a Xantia

C5s are superb cars

[citroenxm]

Its started completely ramdomly! The car was fine for around 3k... then started..

I didn't do the belt and pump myself.. so no idea what type was fitted..

Yes chris, I agree it could happen with a Xantia.. So i guess a little unjustified, but so far everything else has needed dooing.. its just come at the wrong time!

Should I take the thermostat out and leave it out for a while and see what happens??

Paul

[addo]

Test the thermostat in a double boiler. If it's been bruised in transit then it may be internaly misaligned and sometimes sticky in operation.

I note both the "start opening" and "fully open" temperatures, also the "start closing" and fully closed" temperatures once the heat is turned off.

For that matter, if you don't have the coolant CO tester, what about some of those cheap indicator strips? I know a BHG is off your radar but never hurts to check when other stuff is going awry...

[DickieG]

C5s are superb cars

You'd a change of opinion on that if you'd have been in my position today trying to sort out yet another C5 with ESP/ABS problems

[Citroenmad]

C5s are superb cars

You'd a change of opinion on that if you'd have been in my position today trying to sort out yet another C5 with ESP/ABS problems

Did you get it sorted out?

Ive not had any problems with ESP or ABS on C5s.

What year car is it?

[myglaren]

Just a WAG but could the problem be the new water pump?
If it isn't pushing the water around there is a strong likelihood of boiling in the head waterways - which would give rise to the air in the top hose.

[DickieG]

Did you get it sorted out?

Ive not had any problems with ESP or ABS on C5s.

What year car is it?

No, another three hours with digging with my Lexia finding faults appearing and disappearing only to then pop up again and again, as an experiment I've disabled ESP temporarily whilst the ABS is sorted out due to a problem with the pump, this is part 2 with part 3 some time in the future, the car is a 2002.

I hate MK1 C5's, the bloody things were designed over the phone, well at least the electrics. I pity anyone having to put up with one of these devices

[Citroenmad]

Did you get it sorted out?

Ive not had any problems with ESP or ABS on C5s.

What year car is it?

No, another three hours with digging with my Lexia finding faults appearing and disappearing only to then pop up again and again, as an experiment I've disabled ESP temporarily whilst the ABS is sorted out due to a problem with the pump, this is part 2 with part 3 some time in the future, the car is a 2002.

I hate MK1 C5's, the bloody things were designed over the phone, well at least the electrics. I pity anyone having to put up with one of these devices

All good fun then!

It'll be something simple

[DickieG]

It'll be something simple

Yeah right

[citroenxm]

I hate MK1 C5's, the bloody things were designed over the phone, well at least the electrics. I pity anyone having to put up with one of these devices

YAY I NOT the only one in this boat!! The ONLY good thing about S1 C5's is the 8v (ONLY) 2.oi HDi 110 engine!!

I think id advise everyone to jump straight to a S1.5... (C4 type headlights and extended boot lights) apparently these are well sorted...

Paul

[Gibbo2286]

Are you bleeding the system properly? You need to use a high level of coolant to do these i.e. a bottle or suchlike sealed into the filler neck so that the top up coolant is high above the bulkhead level.

[DickieG]

I hate MK1 C5's, the bloody things were designed over the phone, well at least the electrics. I pity anyone having to put up with one of these devices

YAY I NOT the only one in this boat!! The ONLY good thing about S1 C5's is the 8v (ONLY) 2.oi HDi 110 engine!!

I think id advise everyone to jump straight to a S1.5... (C4 type headlights and extended boot lights) apparently these are well sorted...

Couldn't agree more Paul, had I kept my MK1 C5 I reckon that by now I'd have poured a gallon of petrol over it and another inside it just to make sure then enjoyed every moment of seeing it burn in revenge

[wheeler]

Do you have a cooling system pressure testing kit ? this can check the water pump operation in a few minutes.
Also as already asked are you using a header tank to bleed the system ?

[Citroenmad]

Our 3 C5 S1s were great, with varying mileages from 60-135K miles and all the 2.0HDi 8v 110s. Nothing needed replacing other than service items and age related things (battery etc). Our current one goes like a train and rarely requires anything.

However I do agree in that the facelift C5 is a far more polished car in many ways, the engines are also superb and the later 2.0HDi 138 beats the 110 for economy and obviously performance, its a much nicer drive too. I have recommended C5s to quite a few people now and all are very pleased with them. The facelifts are the ones to get if possible.
Otherwise a 2.0HDi 110 from after mid 2002, changes were happening between launch and then, so those are the ones to get. If you have a snowflake symbol on the climate control its the older version, the eco button and lift up reverse suggests the later cars.
Also during late 2003 the cars seemed to change in drive, the steering became more direct and a tighter drive, however the turning circle was reduced ... I think bigger engines to the 2.0s and all estates always had a larger turning circle though. Bigger wheels were also fitted.

Obviously C5s, especially S1s, have seen many years and miles now, they will all have been treated differently. Some things are to be expected and this sound like an odd and not at all common issue.

I think the C5, like many cars, evolved over time in small whays which wouldn't often be noticed. Electrical problems seem far less prone on the facelift cars. However even those differ in other ways, my 56 plate has a few differences to our 05 estate, though nothing of real substance, just material and apperance things. No traffic master on the later C5 facelifts, fully painted doors on the insides instead of the dark grey on the earlier facelifts and all S1sa etc etc. I bet if the number plates were removed from a C5 I could still tell its age