MK1 C5 HDI issues

[Dean]

Good evening fellow Citroenist's

Hope we are all keeping well, ive got a slight issue with my brothers rather rubbish C5, the issue is ive got to fix it and looking at the MK1 C5 hurts my eyes, it may turn me to stone its that ugly. Ok enough messing around then.

Two months ago it killed its battery overnight, not even enough juice 12hrs after it last run to get a light on the dash and i couldnt get it to charge either so i got him a new battery, chucked it in and normal service resumed. One week later its killed the battery stone dead overnight again, i did get this one to recover just, but it took two days to charge it.
Straight after this episode it started telling anyone who would listen that there was a "brake failure" and "STOP!", after a quick look over the car i concluded the C5 was a damn liar and instructed his wife to ignore it. Since then its been saying the ABS does not work, a short test revealed it is working fine, now this is annoying partly because i cant stand a liar but mainly because there is nothing wrong with the brakes or the ABS.
For 2 weeks it was fine but two days ago the battery pancaked again and i now learn that on a late night trip to the little girls room last night my brother noticed the radio was on in the car, which was turned off, and locked.

When i looked at it earlier its now rufusing to desable the immobiliser, you need to lock and unlock a dozen times or more to get it to fire and when it does the headlights are flashing on and off and its bringing up all sorts of utter rubbish on the display, engine overheat 30 seconds after start up, yeah right! radio staying on constantly etc etc

Does anyone have any experience with this? are you going to say its the BSI thats rolled over and if you are would you be so kind as to tell me where it is and how its replaced, is it plug and play? do i need to code it to the car with a lexia? can i use a secondhand BSI? etc etc.

Thanking you muchly in advance


D

[Peter.N.]

Hi Dean

I had a similar problem with my first C5 and it was because someone had fitted an aftermarket radio and it was feeding false information into the BUS system, if it isn't the original radio, try disconnecting it.

Peter

I know they are not an XM but beggars can't be choosers

[White Exec]

Sounds like it might be time to get the meter out, and find where all that battery power is going overnight.....something's being switched on and left on.

Had a mysterious battery drain vehicle with me a couple of years ago. Battery went flat over a couple of days, despite everything appearing to be turned off. Turned out that a twit of a so-called auto-electrician had fitted a replacement alternator, and managed to get two of the three small connections to it (perm live and IGN live) crossed over! Result was a permanently energised alternator field, enough to flatten the battery in a couple of days.

Probably not that, though...

[Peter.N.]

I have actually had an alternator cause this problem so its worth checking it for current drain.

Peter

[Ciaran]

Saw a C5 like this before, as Peter and Chris have said, current drain nd the resulting weak battery can cause all manner of electrical madness I.e the false fault reports etc.

Though the radio staying on is an odd one, could well be a BSI issue, hope not!

[Ciaran]

Dean, found this BSI reset procedure:

Don't buy a new Bsi (body control unit) for your Citroen until you have read this and tried a factory reset first. Very often the reset will solve a multitude of problems especially the ones that suddenly happened after you fitted a new battery to your Citroen or the ones that just 'appeared' form nowhere!
•Wipers stopped working?
•Central locking gone mad?
•Windows stopped working?
•Indicators and lights doing their own thing?

All of the above can be caused by a nutty BSi and often a reset is all it needs so try this....

1.Put the driver's window down, lift the bonnet and ensure all equipment is switched off.
2.Ensure all doors are closed and remove key from the ignition.
3.Wait for 3 minutes, disconnect the vehicle battery and wait 15 seconds.
4.Reconnect the vehicle battery, wait a further 10 seconds (do not open doors.).
5.Switch on the side lights through the driver's window.
6.Switch on the ignition and check system's functionality.
7.Hold lock button on key down for 10 seconds.
8.Remove key open & close door test central locking system.
9.Start the engine and complete the system's check.

Failure to follow this procedure could result in incorrect operation of many BSI related items.

That probably won't fix your current drain obviously but it might address the skitzo lights and radio etc!

Ciarán

[robert_e_smart]

[Ciaran]

[xmexclusive]

Hi Ciaran

Best use that photo in your next Citroenian article and thank Robert for supplying it.

John

[Ciaran]

Excellent idea John, I wonder would Dean supply some before and after shots of the offending C5 too