Crippled C5

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metaplay
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Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

My 2001 C5 has reduced me to complete and utter desperation. I'd most grateful if anyone can enlighten me.

The C5 didn't move for a few months last year as I'd left my house to look after my poorly parents and ended up unable to start it. After charging up the battery I kept getting an air bag warning and a catalytic convert related fault but also kept flipping in to economy mode.

After changing the battery I 've been left with the air bag and cat warning but the car has otherwise behaved until the end of last week.

I suddenly got an engine immobiliser warning on Thursday and the central locking wouldn't respond.

I couldn't get it to clear using the tried and tested routine so ordered a MaxiScan MS309 thinking I could plug it in and clear all the error codes and maybe start my car.

When it arrived on Tuesday I plugged it in to reset thing I now have an additional Economy Mode message and can't get the car to respond to the MaxiScan.

I've tried charging up the battery even though it didn't appear drained but I get no joy. The side lights come on on their own and I can hear the sound of relays triggering from the engine. I can't even open the windows to try the reset routine again.

I'm absolutely at a loss what to do - I can't even drive it to the dealer to pay them a fortune to reset it.

Would buying a Lexia help me at all or will I have to bite the bullet and stump up for someone to come out?

I'd hate to scrap an otherwise mechanically fine car over this so any help would be appreciated.
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Hi and welcome to the forum.

You may not be aware but the C5 does not like having a depleted battery and worse if it does run flat like you said, it can cause electrical problems as the ECUs were probably either not shutdown, or reinitialised properly when the battery was replaced. First make absolutely sure that you have a fully charged battery - try and get it measured, as it may of reached the end of its service life.

Next, follow the BSI reset procedure below and pay particular attention to the parts about not opening doors during the process, as doing so will wake up the ECUs and you may be back to square one. The procedure is in this post here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57245&hilit=BSI+Res ... 15#p523878
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Marc
metaplay
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

Thanks Marc for a very quick response - I bought a brand new battery but the Air Bag and Cat warnings didn't go away. Tne battery is only about five months old and everything, barring getting the warnings, has run fine until last week.

I can't even open the windows so I'm not sure I can run the BSI reset routine properly.
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Right, the car is going into economy mode any time up to 30 minutes, so will not have power to run the ECUs for diagnostics. Try scanning your car with the engine running this time, read all the faults and make a note of them, then clear them down and see if any of them appear again.
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

There are members of the forum who have Lexia clones, and are willing to help out. Here is the list of those members;

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 19&t=56452
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
metaplay
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

Hi Marc, thanks again.

The car doesn't cycle through the error messages it just says "economy mode active"

I can't turn over the engine and when I plug in the scanner I get the following message:

"Waiting for vehicle to respond"

and then

"verify that the ignition is ON - Check that the scan tool's OBDII connector is securely connected to the vehicle's OLC

Verify that the vehicle is ODBII compliant

Turn the ignition off - wait for about 10 seconds and turn back to on."

Battery voltage is 13.2V.
Hell Razor5543
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Unless you are using a Lexia clone you will not get much meaningful information. Citroen (being French, who can be stubborn) tended to do things their own way, which (while it leads to the quirkiness that some people love) can make it tricky for simple generic OBSII readers to understand them. That was why I popped up the link in my previous post.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
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C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Ok, if you can't start the car, try reinitialising the key to the car again. Unplug the scanner, switch ignition off and wait for a few minutes. Then put the key in the ignition, turn the ignition on and hold the 'Lock' button on the fob for about 10 seconds. Then release the key (don't try to start the engine), shut the car door and try to operate the central locking by locking and unlocking by using the fob. Then try and start the car.
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Marc
metaplay
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

Hell Razor5543 - thanks for the list, nobody within begging distance though!

Guess I'll gamble on buying a Lexia or a clone thereof first before resorting to a garage call out
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Re: Crippled C5

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Make sure not to get a cheap Lexia clone. Some of the cheap clones do not have the full chipset, and so may not work with later PSA vehicles (and this does include the C5). Make sure (if you are looking on e-bay) the Lexia clone clearly states it CAN read the C5. It is worth considering an Easy Diagnostics Lexia, as they DO have the full chipset, and will work on a C5 (I have an earlier revision, and I have been able to use it on my C5 Mk1, and a C5 X7 (to activate the DRLs)). Mention that you are a member of this forum, and you may get a discount (this does not always happen, but when I did I got the P&P knocked off the price).

You will need to have a laptop running a 32bit O/S (or running a 32bit Virtual Machine), as the Lexia software is so old it is 16bit, and cannot directly run within a 64bit environment.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
metaplay
Posts: 11
Joined: 10 May 2017, 16:05
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5

Re: Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

Thanks GiveMeABreak but I can't get the key to initialise at all, have changed the battery in the fob to no avail.
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GiveMeABreak
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C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5600

Re: Crippled C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

What is the possibility that you accidentally connected the battery terminals up the wrong way at some point when dealing with the battery issues? I ask as it is a common mistake and can cause the car not to start and a multitude of error lights to come on along with the other errors you have.

Can I suggest that you check all the fuses - especially those in the engine compartment fuse box individually to see if any have blown. If you have your manual, you should see the ones to check. There are also 2 banks in the passenger compartment glove box attached to the BSI. Can't do any harm and may just eliminate this as a problem.
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Marc
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GiveMeABreak
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Posts: 36828
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
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My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5600

Re: Crippled C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I would certainly check the following fuses:
Passenger compartment BSI, No F11 (engine Management ECU)
F16
In the engine fusebox, check the Maxi Fuses 1 through 8
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
metaplay
Posts: 11
Joined: 10 May 2017, 16:05
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5

Re: Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

Thanks all, so much advice,

I've checked what I thought were the most important of the engine fuses but will inspect all of them to be sure as well as the "glove box" later.
metaplay
Posts: 11
Joined: 10 May 2017, 16:05
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5

Re: Crippled C5

Post by metaplay »

Still no joy.

I've been through all the glove box fuses and have a couple more to check under the bonnet.

I have now purchased a Lexia (chinese clone) and hooked it up to my car. There are several faults which seem to all relate back to the BSI, however the fault with the BSI ecu itself is:

Permanent Fault
Communication fault with the switch module at the steering wheel

The Lexia threw up a long screenful of faults that all occurred at a mileage I haven't even reached yet. I've cleared them but the


Permanent Fault
Communication fault with the switch module at the steering wheel

still remains.

I'm at a lost at what else I can try, apart from checking the last few fuses, which I'm about to do, and being towed to my local main dealer who I really don't like dealing with.

I appreciate all the advice I've been given so far but I'm now stuck.
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