Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 11:43
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - Adam Dexter

Hi,

I have a used 2009 Citroen C5 tourer. Whilst on the motorway yesterday the windscreen wiper cut out and will not restart - it goes up about an inch then retracts.

I have looked around and it appears there was a recall on this relevant to my car's VIN number. However, when I called the Citroen dealership they have said there is no such recall.

Are recalls time limited? Do I have any redress with Citroen?

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 13:55
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - elekie&a/c doctor
Recalls don’t time out . If Citroen say your car is not subject to this recall , then at 11 years old it looks likely you are going to need to pay for repairs. It’s possible to check for any recalls on dvsa/ vosa website .
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Tue 25 Feb 2020 16:07
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - thunderbird
It’s possible to check for any recalls on dvsa/ vosa website .

The DVLA/VOSA would be unlikely to get involved in a wiper recall. Their recalls are for safety issues. If there was a recall it would likely as not have been what some manufacturers call "campaign updates" which are picked up when you take the car for a service etc at an official agent. We have had a couple in the past, one was for an updated spec fuel filter and the other for an updated engine map. If the car only goes to an indy these recalls will not get picked up.

You cannot blame the manufacturers timing these out if the owners are not visiting the workshops. What could originally have been a cheap fix could turn into an expensive replacement, why should the manufacturer sort that when the owner has possibly been skimping on maintenance.

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 16:08
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - Adam Dexter

Hi, Thanks for your reply.

It is on the govt website showing a recall, and also Auto Insider shows my VIN is in the range. I have said this to Citroen via email and got this (abridged) response:

"I have checked your registration number against the CITROEN database and there is no outstanding recalls on your vehicle. For peace of mind I have also checked against the recall checker on the government website which you are more than welcome to check for yourself www.check-mot.service.gov.uk , again no outstanding recall.

The recall you are referring to was carried out in 2011 and has since expired."

So they seem to be saying the recall has an expiry?

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 16:12
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - Adam Dexter

https://www.check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk/recall-type/vehicle/make/CITROEN/model/C5/year/2009/recalls

Shows it when you select Make/Model/Year, but not when you type VRN... hmmm

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Wed 4 Mar 2020 10:56
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - Peter.N.

I have a 2008 tourer with wiper problems although not the same as yours, mine is intermittent, works most of the time but then suddenly doesn't - usually when it rains. Fortunately I also have another one which I use when its raining!

I have had both motors out to check for corrosion of electrical contacts, nothing found, refitted the motors and it worked fine - for a while, now doing it again. It would be a lot easier to find the fault if they would pack up altogether but will eventually will check for a 12 v supply when they stop.

There is a firm that will repair the motors:

Somerset Technical services. 01460 78930. They are at Crewkerne.

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Wed 4 Mar 2020 14:38
Citroen C5 - Citroen C5 Windscreen wiper - Andrew-T

So they seem to be saying the recall has an expiry?

It sounded to me as if the recall has already been implemented on your car, presumably when with a previous owner ?

I thought PSA wiper motors were prone to faults like non-parking wipers? I recently fitted a used wiper assembly to my 306 to cure that problem.

Edited by Andrew-T on 04/03/2020 at 14:40

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