2002 C5 lights flicker.....

[sirlynedoch]

Hi ,

Can anyone help with this one?

Only noticeable when headlights and heater blower is on. Headlights flicker badly and blower "pauses" as if there is a short circuit to earth somewhere.

How can I trace a bad earth if this is the problem?

Thanks

Ally

[SaabC5]

Are we talking HID or halogen headlamps? Do you know the last time it had a new battery?

[sirlynedoch]

They are HID lamps, self levelling , battery is good but more than 2 yrs old.

[SaabC5]

HID's tend to start flickering when they get older, they also start to change colour and go bluish and then almost pink when dying. But this doesn't explain why the blower motor stop/starts unless it coincides with the aircon compressor kicking in/out. My Renault Laguna used to do this all the time even with a new battery, which would suggest the voltage regulator on the alternator is faulty.

[Peter.N.]

I have heard of flickering headlights being a 'feature' of C5s, don't know why. One of my XMs sometimes does it when I first start but I think that's because the alternator belt is slipping.

Peter

[Clogzz]

The suspension pump causes the lights to flicker, even more so when a battery terminal works loose, like one of mine does.

[Citroenmad]

Some C5s, especially early ones do tend to flicker the headlights, its usually when the suspension pump cuts in. However with a good battery it is far less noticeable.