Citroen C5 (2001 - 2008) - 01 2.2HDi "declared faults" !

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Sat 9 Aug 2008 16:25
01 2.2HDi "declared faults" ! - SaabFanatic
I've been offered a 2001 C5 2.2HDi at a very good price... the downside is, it has some declared faults...

The suspension apparently raises itself up for no apparent reason - can anyone shed any light on this? Googling indicates that the Hydractive system on this model automatically raises the suspension if it detects poor road surfaces (so that's ANY UK roads then...) - perhaps this feature is getting a bit over-zeaous...? alternatively it could be a problem more "physical" in nature - any Hydractive experts out there care to offer some insight?

(Apologies for the somewhat sketchy info, this is all second-hand and I haven't actually seen the car yet.)

[Other faults are the "Anti-Pollution fault" indicating the Eolys fuel additive tank is empty (I've already estimated the refill cost via this forum) and a "replace fuel filter" fault-code that needs to be reset now that the filter has been changed.]

I'm going to phone the local independent Citroen specialist on Monday morning, but would appreciate an idea of what's involved before I speak to them. All constructive comments welcome.

Edited by Pugugly on 09/08/2008 at 17:00

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Sat 9 Aug 2008 16:32
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Screwloose

"Replace diesel filter" has nothing to do with the fuel filter - that's a FAP code.

There is no "very good price" for an ancient 4HX C5 with those codes and faults - the costs far outstrip the value of the vehicle. Tell them to weigh it in.
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Sat 9 Aug 2008 16:42
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - SaabFanatic
> "Replace diesel filter" has nothing to do with the fuel filter - that's a FAP code.

Thanks, noted - will ask the Citroen specialist re: costs.

> There is no "very good price" for an ancient 4HX C5 with those codes and faults - the costs far outstrip the value of the vehicle.

That's quite a statement... What sort of costs are we talking about?
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Sat 9 Aug 2008 18:09
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Screwloose

A FAP-'n-fill and sort-out of the level sensors could easily reach a grand in a dealers - in the blink of an eye.

The base price of an '01 C5 with the 4HX fitted is pretty close to zero - ring round a few car fronts and try and get a cash bid on it. Even an '05 plate with 60-80K on it only goes for just over £2000 at Cardiff block.

Trading it in, a dealer would reckon he's only going to see £100 when trading-out, so he's only going to offer the cash discount.

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Sun 10 Aug 2008 13:58
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - SaabFanatic
> A FAP-'n-fill and sort-out of the level sensors could easily reach a grand in a dealers - in the blink of an eye.


Not looking *super*-promising, is it...? Anyhoo - before I ring the independent Citroen specialist, can you give me a sanity-check on what specific items we're talking about? Based on various post here and elsewhere I've identified:

- Replace FAP
- Refill Eolys tank & reset
(- Possibly replace fuelling ECU? Have read reports that early ECUs cannot be reset if they exceed their range before being reset - comments?)

Assuming a knowledgeable, independent specialist who actually know what they're doing and aren't just blindly working through the fault-finding chart, can you estimate a cost breakdown?

SL: re your past posts on "forced regeneration" - now THAT sounds like something worth seeing! (Providing it's on someone else's car, of course...) :-0

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Sun 10 Aug 2008 15:08
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Armitage Shanks {p}
SFAIK an FAP filter is about £700 although I believe exchange units may be available and/or the famous forced regeneration might save the day. Eolys is £25/litre and 5 litres are needed so add in some labour and £1000 might not cover it.
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Sun 10 Aug 2008 16:19
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Screwloose
SF

I can see that I haven't convinced you yet; I fear a nasty case of "rose-tinted bargainitis" here....

This isn't a solid old Saab. It's a flimsy, hyper-complex, 3-year life, unreliable French heap that was only bought by fleets because of the 45% discount.

Worse; it's got the engine that everyone avoids, because it's slower and thirstier than an RHZ and costs a fortune to keep sorting out the, previously-untried, FAP technology that was only fitted on this engine from 2001.

Yes; many places do replace the additive ECU at every FAP service. It's certainly a lot easier to get the system reset when starting with a virgin ECU - otherwise it can take hours; even with the dealer kit. A differential pressure sensor [£260] is another near-automatic requirement.

There may be an exchange FAP available for this one; but there have been myriad part-number changes over the years, as they struggled to make this silly system work - and you don't want to find that this one only takes a £900 one!

Don't forget that sorting the Hydractive suspension can be another bottomless money-pit too. However nice it looks; it's now only crusher-fodder.
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Sun 10 Aug 2008 17:07
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - gordonbennet
These suspensions would pump themselves to their highest setting when we delivered them brand new on a transporter, key out of car, and locked up, they'd still be active.

We bemoaned the replacement of the xantia, which was a pretty good all rounder.
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Sun 10 Aug 2008 17:14
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Screwloose
GB

Yes; they're quite a danger to work on. You have to plug-in and send them to sleep with a scanner to do anything.
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Sun 10 Aug 2008 17:55
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Frogeye
GB.

Hope they were on the top deck!!
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Sun 10 Aug 2008 19:31
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - gordonbennet
Hope they were on the top deck!!


Luckily before i could let one pump itself into the deck above (and you know more about transporters than you're letting on Frogeye), we'd already had reports of cars being badly damaged, not by roof damage, but when they were first released we were allowed to body tie them down, and one of the tie down points was the large point at the rear centre of the boot, which would partially collapse the bootwell.
They were required to be at full height subsequently.

And i am not getting into the merits of tie down procedures as new clever clogs's (that haven't been out and done the job) have deemed the way we have done it for donkeys without problem to be wrong...no change there then.
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Mon 11 Aug 2008 11:22
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - SaabFanatic
> I can see that I haven't convinced you yet; I fear a nasty case of "rose-tinted bargainitis" here.... It's a flimsy, hyper-complex, 3-year life, unreliable French heap that was only bought by fleets because of the 45% discount.


It's OK, you've convinced me now! Anyway, thanks to all for the information, I will pass it on to the vendor (a family member) for his info.

Someone PLEASE tell me that TDi Xantias are better, because I quite fancy one...

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Mon 11 Aug 2008 12:15
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Collos25
Get one of the last ones made with all the extras they are superb.
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Mon 11 Aug 2008 14:20
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Screwloose
SF

I can't put a, possibly considerable, sentimental value on a family's loyal servant - only as an anonymous lump of metal. You'll have to decide that bit for yourself.

A Xantia and a C5 are chalk-and-cheese. Just avoid a motorway one - the salt gets into all the wrong places.
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Wed 13 Aug 2008 22:16
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - TurboD
and what about any undeclared faults?, or unknown ones. Add a bit for those too.
Hmm, makes a nice Ford look inviting.
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Mon 8 Jun 2015 10:51
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - RickH

My HDi Xantia (in fact all of the six Xantias I owned) was brilliant and did 200k no worries. My current tow/tip run/skip car is a 2001 C5 2.0 HDi SX and I've owned it for ten years.

It is on 238k miles now and has been super reliable in all aspects. If you fancy a C5 get a pre FAP 2.0 HDi they are brilliant. There are plenty of taxis around that back up the longevity of Citroen C5s.

I have a Lexia so I can read and remove fault codes, recode keys and radios and all that good stuff, and provided you have a modicome of mechanical nouse and are prepared to spend £100 on the software and hardware for the Lexia you won't be at the mercy of the dealers.

The problem is, in general, that because French cars are cheap to buy and have a bad reputation people don't bother servicing them correctly. Don't forget that Citroen Peugeot (PSA) engines can be found in cars from Land Rover, Jaguar, Ford, Mini and BMW.

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 13:07
01 2.2HDi Citroen C5 (2001, 2.2HDi SX model) - Railroad.
Any more than £20 is not a good price for this model and this age. Your hand will be forever in your pocket with this. It's an unreliable piece of French junk and should've gone to the scrapyard years ago.
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