Citroen C5 ESP Problems

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Sat 7 Feb 2004 18:13
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - C5owner
Does anyone have my problem?

I have a C5 2.2 HDi SX auto, 2 years old, 42,000 miles.

For the last 3 months I have been plagued with ESP warnings. It has been back to the dealer 8 times and although a lot of parts have been changed the problem remains. The warning happens when accelerating at speeds between 40 and 60 mph and is quite repeatable. The problem with the warning is that it cuts down the engine power to a fraction of normal. Typically it happens when overtaking and the manoevre then has to be instantly abandoned, not a happy event!

The dealer has tried very hard to fix it but can't find the cause. I suspect that this is not a unique problem.

Can anyone tell me more?

C5owner
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Sat 7 Feb 2004 18:44
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - rg
C5Owner,

Paul Johnson at XM Centre in Oxford now specialises in C5s, and may be able to help.

See www.xm-centre.com

He managed to sort out the stuff on XMs that main dealers could never sort, (or just threw money and time at.)

HTH

rg

\'97 XM 2.5 Estate
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Sat 7 Feb 2004 20:08
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Mondaywoe
I have the 2.2 HDI (manual) A couple of weeks ago I lost power and this was accompanied by ESP /ASR and anti-pollution warnings. Turned out to be ONE of the two impellers of the turbo seized (car has only done 26,000 miles) Initially the garage thought the turbo was OK because they saw the 'good' impeller spinning. Turbo has now been replaced and everything's fine. They did wonder about a blocked cat or blocked particle filter, though - have these been checked. Could also be one of many vacuum hoses either detached or leaking.

You don't however, mention severe lack of power - my one was struggling to reach 50 with foot hard down!


Will be interested to hear how you get on.

Graeme

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Sat 7 Feb 2004 20:12
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Mondaywoe
Oops, sorry - you DO mention severe lack of power! (Must read posts more thoroughly before responding!)Might well be a similar problem.

Graeme
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Sun 8 Feb 2004 00:57
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - C5owner
Thanks Graeme. That is really useful as my dealer wants to change the turbo and Citroen UK don't agree.

chris C5 owner
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Sat 7 Feb 2004 22:05
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - vercin
Hi,

I've a C5 Hdi 2.2 as well. (30,000 miles ish).

You have not mentioned what the warning messages are. That might be useful.

The ESP problems that I've had (which were not related to drowning the engine) were related to dodgy ABS ring. However, a failure of a dealer not to upgrade the engine management software for a new 2.2 engine did result in the engine shutting down.

I've not (yet) experienced the symptoms you allude to.

You could try the very active C5 web site on Yahoo for further info.

Regards

Vercin
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Sun 8 Feb 2004 18:39
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - jlo
Hi,

My Father had a C5 2.2 HDI SX and had the problem of antipolution warning light and ESP light comming on. It seemed to happen on acceleration or going up a hill when you are giving the car some gas! (or diesel!)

Turned out after several visits it was when it had been wet weather and the airfilter was getting soaked thus not allowing enough air in to the engine which trigered the antipolution light and tripped the car in to limp home mode. This in turn trigered the ESP warning as well since if the engine is restricted then it can't acticate the ESP correctly.

Don't know it your fault is the same. It was fixed by the dealer rerouting the airfilter.

Kind Regards

James
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Sun 8 Feb 2004 19:39
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Mondaywoe
James

That's interesting about the air intake! The dealer couldn't fathom out why the turbo had gone - in fact it took them 9 days to reach the conclusion it was the turbo! Now, if my air filter had got soaked, could that maybe have contributed to the turbo seizing? Perhaps after 9 days the filter would have dried out again, covering its tracks!

Could you manage to describe the modification the dealer made to the air intake? I must have a dekko at mine!

Graeme
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Sun 8 Feb 2004 21:55
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Ben79
I had considered taking a peek at my air filter to see if it was dirty or damp, will definatly do it on saturday.
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Mon 9 Feb 2004 20:02
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Mondaywoe
To be honest, I've never actually looked to see where the filter and intake are - I'm assuming the intake must be fairly low down if it's liable to pick up water?

Graeme
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Tue 10 Feb 2004 00:55
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - vercin
To be honest, I've never actually looked to see where the
filter and intake are - I'm assuming the intake must be
fairly low down if it's liable to pick up water?
Graeme

>
I believe that you will find it approximately level with the bottom of nearside headlight

Regards

Vercin
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Tue 10 Feb 2004 20:43
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Mondaywoe
Hm...just perfick for puddle-at-the-side-of-the-road encounters!

Caution duly noted!

Graeme
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Tue 10 Feb 2004 20:46
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Mondaywoe
Or rather -puddle-at-the-side-of-the-road-encounters if you have a RH Drive!! At home in France it would be centreline of road - away from pooling water at the verge! Methinks we've been had by the frogs' legs again!

:-)

Graeme
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Fri 29 Jun 2007 21:47
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - merbrise
C5 Exclusive 2.2 Diesel

I too have been having ESP and Engine Polution System Faulty warnings with an horendous loss of power. After a rest the faults often go away only to return later. To date I've spent nearly £ 600 pounds trying to have the problems solved. The catalytic converter has been renewed the engine particulate system has been renewed, a swirl pot and linkage have been renewed and a new turbo pressure valve fitted. All to no avail.
Then I was told I needed a new Turbo, another £ 1000.
I thought it very unlikely that all of these mechanical parts would fail similtaneously.
Either the fault is electrical OR parts have been changed for no good reason.
Shortly the car is going back to the garage for yet another 'Investigation'.
One would think that Citroen would have found a 'foolproof' way of discovering the answer by now instead of repair by replacement at the owners expense.
Pity really because the car is perfect when working properly but it will be my first and last Citroen.
merbrise
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Thu 12 Jul 2007 20:48
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - NVH
Going to dealer Monday for new swirl pot after diagnostic download last week. Quote a tad under £100.
Console message: "Unblock diesel filter" flashes up occasionally.
Fuel consumption up by 10% ( 43mpg now 38mpg).
Sluggish acceleration.
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Tue 23 Mar 2010 15:37
citroen c5 eSP Problems - Ralfie

i had this problem back in 2008.

it turned out to be either an air inlet valve on the induction, or an odd recirculation pipe that goes between the exhaust and the inlet (full of carbon deposits). anyway, replacing both of these (cost £75) solved the problem.

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Mon 28 Feb 2011 10:22
citroen c5 eSP Problems - Citroen Man

A bit late but I have had this problems for years it has finally been diagnosed as a failing crank sensor

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Tue 17 Jan 2012 22:46
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - carbonunit1

yes bin there done that,i have just got rid of my c5.it feels like it must feel when you get rid of a particulary nasty nagging fat wife,brilliant,what a heap of tempermental unreliable unfixable french junk.citroen should be taken to court for these,i wont call them cars.money drains is a better description.all those c5 owners with their unfixable particulate filter problem,going into crawl mode,myriad electrical problems,absolutely disgusting,modern electrical computerised nightmares,designed to get you into the maindealer clutches.no reason on earth to make them so unreliable and expensive to repair.feels like a cloud off me,honda or toyota from here.

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Wed 18 Jan 2012 12:10
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Milpol1

Does anubody know where the OBD connector is located pleas, I need to have a look at codes, the car is a c5 2.2hdi 173bhp

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Tue 15 May 2012 18:01
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Ben79

The OBD socket is in the glovebox, on the left hand side behind the little pocket. Just pull and the whole panel comes out.

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Mon 7 May 2012 15:40
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - Ivanovich

You must have got a real Dud!

Mine has done over 95,000 kms and I have to now replace front Brake pads because they "squeal" when approaching a Stop. The Cam Belts were done at 75,000 kms and that's all! Best car I have ever owned in 55 years of motoring in South Africa. My Toyota Camry's clutch blew apart in a Snow Storm in the Drakensberg in Freezing temperatures and it took 3 days to get spares to Mooi River to repair it! So Toyotas alo have problems.

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Wed 15 May 2013 22:04
Citroen C5 ESP Problems - snakecharm

hi i see the post about rerouting the air filter, this is exactly the same prob i am having is there any chance you can tell me how it was done, as citroen themselves will not change the car from standard

thanks

alison

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