C5 Won't start

hdi_man · Unread post by **hdi_man** » 11 Mar 2013, 09:27

at 6am my C5 hdi alarm went off...I thought it was odd as its never happened before. anyway, at 8am I tried to start the car, nothing. the engine wouldn't even turn over !

the electric wing mirrors won't fold in/out and the car won't lock. However, the display on the dash lights and tells me of all sorts of faults...tyre pressure sensors, braking system. I am thinking the battery has lost too much charge ?

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 11 Mar 2013, 09:41

It certaintly sounds like a flat or defective battery. Have you tried jump starting it ?

hdi_man · Unread post by **hdi_man** » 11 Mar 2013, 09:56

I have no jump leads! so need to buy a set today...

been reading online that it could be flat battery and immobilizer issue. car is in "economy mode" and won't come out of it.

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 11 Mar 2013, 10:01

The immobiliser does not stop the engine turning over, neither does it cause your mirrors not to fold out, make the alarm go off or stop it locking so it's not an immobiliser issue. Economy mode is not a fault, once the enging starts it will come out of eco mode, eco mode does not prevent the car from starting.
However, a flat or defective battery can cause all of the above faults.

hdi_man · Unread post by **hdi_man** » 11 Mar 2013, 10:18

it certainly sounds like a battery issue. I will try to jump start it and if that works replace the battery

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 11 Mar 2013, 10:20

Sounds as though something is running it down unless it has spontainiously destructed.

Peter

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Mar 2013, 11:04

Yep, I bet that is the battery, so hopefully a simple fix.

Batteries can just give up without warning, I had one do it last week but it had been a very good starter until then.

hdi_man · Unread post by **hdi_man** » 11 Mar 2013, 20:05

Pleased to say that a new battery did the trick! 75 quid and back on the road

I just hope alternator isn't also on the blink...time will tell

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Mar 2013, 20:30

Does your C5 have a charging rate readout? If I remember correctly yours is a C5III and I can't remember if they do or not but most C5Is and C5IIs do. Might not be the most accurate reading but it should give you some idea if its charging or not.

Chances are the battery has not taken well to the cold weather

hdi_man · Unread post by **hdi_man** » 11 Mar 2013, 20:36

Yes its C5 III and I'm not aware of charging readout. Nothing in manual about it...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Mar 2013, 20:39

Ah, its a dial in with the fuel guage and temp guage on the others. I guess Citroen were forward thinking

hdi_man · Unread post by **hdi_man** » 12 Mar 2013, 09:03

well even with new battery car struggled to start this morning. 3 tries and eventually it started. is this normal with a new battery ? would it take time to get upto full charge

Unread post by **myglaren** » 12 Mar 2013, 17:54

New battery should be fully charged but I once bought one that wasn't.

I've had similar problems with my estate, over the years it became slower and slower starting.
As it was on the original battery I presumed that it was on it's way out and replaced it and had a similar experience, as it turned out the original battery was fine and there was (still is probably) current leak. Left overnight it would start, reluctantly. Left over a weekend it was very reluctant to fire up and longer than that it wasn't at all interested.
Someone else’s problem now.

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