C5 computer failure

[Bandit12]

Hi guys, while driving back from Lincoln yesterday the car had a major hissy fit! While doing a steady 55mph every warning light came on the dashboard at once including the "STOP" warning light. The colour screen head unit said "No computer"
I couldn't stop immediately as was on a country lane so had to drive for a few miles further. Also had no speedo, rev counter indicators or hazard lights! Luckily engine kept going and I had power steering and brakes. I suspect that had the engine been petrol and not diesel it would have cut out too.

I stopped the car in a layby switched off the ignition and took key out but the dashboard and head unit remained lit up like a Christmas tree!

I tired the central locking and that was working fine so I lowered drivers electric window (so I wouldn't be locked out of car) then disconnected battery, left it 5 minutes and slowly restarted as per a BSI reset and everything was normal??
Drove remaining 140 miles home with no further probs, warnings or alarms.

Any ideas what this was/might be? Has this happened to anyone else? anything I should be checking or replacing?

Bandit

[citroenxm]

anything I should be checking or replacing?

Bandit

Yea the car...


Sorry.. bad joke... Thats a very good one! It obviously lost communication for a moment and enough to throw up the fault.. very strange..

[Ben82]

I would say see what your lexia has to say on it, it might have logged a fault just beforehand. But if I recall when mine has been lit up like a christmas tree in the off position (when i've had my odd starting issue), it has generally had everything under the sun moaning about losing power from the battery. But you never know, you might turn up something that could help.

My guess would actually be something up between the dash module and the BSM. Since the drivetrain was still functioning (by the sounds of it without issue), I would say more likely it would be the dash module.

[Trainman]

What year is the car? Had something similar on a C6, I seem to recall, turned out to be a dodgy connection at the back of the head unit

[Ben82]

What year is the car? Had something similar on a C6, I seem to recall, turned out to be a dodgy connection at the back of the head unit

Bandit's is a 2002.

[Trainman]

Ah, right....... wasn't sure

[Bandit12]

anything I should be checking or replacing?

Bandit

Yea the car...


Sorry.. bad joke... Thats a very good one! It obviously lost communication for a moment and enough to throw up the fault.. very strange..

I thought it funny mate

thanks for the tips guys and like you I suspect it might be a citroen anomaly. Its a new battery on the car but I'll hook it up to my lexia at the weekend and see what it says
Ill also follow the good advice to check out the head unit for dodgy connections. Next question is "How do I get to the back of the head unit to look for dodgy connections?"

Bandit