Mk1 c5 economy mode and wont start

[c5headache]

i have 2004 mk 1 c5 2.0 HDI estate with original 65k miles and its too good to scrap

It has suffered from battery issues in the past , but this week , it wont turn over , even with full battery
having reset the BSI - i cant even put the window up. both keys seem to do nothing except turn on the ignition.

Battery 2 years old , but maybe suspect - but even with jump leads its dead.

Any advice on what to check - as i wont move - anyone know an auto elect with mobile lexia in southampton area ?

Thanks in advance

[picassodad]

checks earths first

[GiveMeABreak]

i have 2004 mk 1 c5 2.0 HDI estate with original 65k miles and its too good to scrap

It has suffered from battery issues in the past , but this week , it wont turn over , even with full battery
having reset the BSI - i cant even put the window up. both keys seem to do nothing except turn on the ignition.

Battery 2 years old , but maybe suspect - but even with jump leads its dead.

Any advice on what to check - as i wont move - anyone know an auto elect with mobile lexia in southampton area ?

Thanks in advance

Are you following the Battery Disconnect / Reconnect procedure Exactly? Timings are very important, as is not opening any doors until stated.

BSI Reset / Battery Disconnect / Reconnect Procedure

A further explanation of what is happening or not happening would be helpful - is the starter trying to turn? Is the Central Locking working with the remote? Are the ignition lights coming on?

Pop your VIN up in case we need to start checking fuses.

[c5headache]

thanks all,
have followed the above exactly afew times - which has resulted in no difference , but has sometimes resulted in an electrical whining noise coming from the interior back left corner of the car - inside boot
starter not turning at all when i try the key but fully ignition lights and trafficmaster voice
central locking working on the key

Will check all earths - battery fully charged. even with jump leads on it makes no difference

advised by another citroen guy to put 12v straight on the starter and see what happens

[c5headache]

VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

[sparksie]

Well, back in the day, before we had a BSI to blame for everything, this fault was still pretty common.
My guess is the starter, or more likely, the starter solenoid.
Yes, putting power direct to the starter is one way to prove this.
If you have a meter, it's a bit safer to use that, to measure whats occurring at the starter, which might also point you in the right direction, if the fault is elsewhere.
What we're interested in is the voltage, measured at various places, with respect to B-, so pop the black probe on to the battery negative post, as securely as you can. Maybe us a gently applied mole-grip, or similar.
Then with the meter set to Volts DC, use the red probe to measure at the positive post, then the large stud on the starter solenoid, then the small spade connection, then the connection from starter to solenoid and finally the starter body. Do all these firstly with just ignition on, then again while somebody holds the key in the start position.
Be careful, because you might disturb something and the starter might turn over while taking these measurements.
If you do this, get back with your results and I'll have a look.

[Peter.N.]

The panel or internal lights can tell you a lot, if they go out when you engage the starter you either have a high resistance connection or a duff battery, if they don't even dim the starter is not engaging, faulty starter/solenoid or possibly ignition switch. You can check if its the switch by applying 12 volts to the small terminal on the solenoid, if the starter turns its a fault in the feed to the solenoid, if it doesn't its the starter itself.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so this is has the Auto AL4 box: C5 5 DOOR ESTATE 2.0 HDi 110 (DW10ATED) 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX

There is a Technical Service Bulletin on this :
"No authorisation of starting of the engine (no driving of the starter) and/or lighting of the engine diagnostics warning lamp with displaying of the message "gearbox fault" and/or selector lever locked in position "P" - in the presence of one or more of the following fault code(s) P0705, P0706, P1799, P1763, P0709"

So I would suggest getting it on Lexia to determine if in fact there are any of these fault codes (or any other for that matter) as this really has to be your next step.

[c5headache]

thanks all , really great help , will get on with these tomorrow and report back
Are there any fuses I can check also ?

[GiveMeABreak]

I'd get it on the Lexia first, check all existing codes and record these down on paper first - then read and clear them, then run another Global test. Let's see what comes back.

[sparksie]

Ah! Oops. Didn't know this was an auto.
There's definitely a start inhibit function, to stop you running yourself over (or somebody else!) by starting it in gear.
This being a Citroen, it will probably be unconventional, so Marc's advice would be my first course of action, though there may still be useful info to be gleaned from the voltage checks I suggested.
Getting it to a lexia machine may turn out to be the hardest part, given the speed/distance limitations on towing an auto.

[c5headache]

ok in order :
checked starter with meter, 12.5 across battery , with ignition on 12.5v to top large post - 0v to smaller wire - solenoid i assume
when key is turned 12v to top large post 12v to smaller wire
car does nothing - starter ???

interior lights
all on when i put key to 2nd position
when i try and start it they dim - interior light goes out

Removed starter -put jump leads across starter and nothing happened

[Hell Razor5543]

You need to put power to the little wire, as this is the solenoid that will close to allow high amperage current to the motor. There is always power available on the heavy rail, but the solenoid closes the circuit to spin up the motor.

[Subsonicnat]

Hi Mate,
Very similar to my sysmtoms some weeks back.
changed the Starter and soleniod fro scrappy,statred straight up..
eco will be able to change once running,nothing to do with starting,even a TOW will prove that.

[c5headache]

to close this out - bought new starter replaced it and its fine