Citroen C5 Depollution System Failure

[fatandwheezing]

Hello,

I bought an 09 C5 1.6 HDI 110 a couple of weeks back for the commute. The last couple of mornings it has failed to start first time stating Depollution System Failure. Turning the ignition off and trying again has cured it.

Before I rant at the garage, is this a sign of impending doom? My journey is ~40 miles each way so it is getting nice and hot twice a day.

[renorti]

May just need a top up with the dpf fluid,about £130 in dealers at the good end,might just be the start of the end as that 1.6hdi lump is a disaster of an engine.

[Pentoman]

Yeah it's the same engine as a Ford Focus isn't it? And maybe the Mini?

Anyway... The DPF is, I'm told by reliable mechanicas, reliable on this car. Fluid based system, they don't fix many, especially compared to BMW.

Good luck with your problem.

[Supercell]

Ideally you need to read any fault codes, the "Depollution system" warning is just a generic warning on the LCD display, it could be something as simple as needing a new fuel filter through to needing a new DPF pouch, which can sometimes leak under the car.

[fatandwheezing]

Thanks, it was approved used and that dealership had a good reputation round here so will not get too concerned and see what they say first.

[Deano_BMW]

just out of interest how does the 1.6 go? Ive got a 2.2 and find it depressingly ploddy in terms of speed. good job its unbelievably comfy and eats motorway miles.

[Pentoman]

Deano_BMW said:

just out of interest how does the 1.6 go? Ive got a 2.2 and find it depressingly ploddy in terms of speed. good job its unbelievably comfy and eats motorway miles.

I share this assessment - it could be better. Couldn't help noticing angel tuning do a 200bhp remap for it but this also may, if possible, improve the throttle response which I suspect has softened from the factory perhaps for economy/emissions.

Supposedly the Laguna is commonly remapped for an improved throttle response. I think it would help the C5 too.

[Deano_BMW]

yeah, im getting a celtic tuning map on mine. Its such a heavy car (mine is a tourer) that it just needs a bit more torque i think, its alright when you get it up in the revs but for a twin turbo it needs a bit more for the weight i think.

[Pentoman]

Pleas, please do report back how it goes. Very interested.

[rswift]

Re the 2.2 engine, being sluggish.....it shouldn't be, we had one for years, and performance dropped off. It was restored by adjusting the throttle cable (it's a fly by wire thing, that has a tortuous route on the RHD car) if you have cruise control, try accelerating on the buttons.....if it's noticeably better, you have a stretched cable.

Re the DPF fault, it is usually triggered by low Fluid, if under warranty a dealer job, out of warranty any decent Peugeot/Citroen dealer should save you a bit of money ( I don't think the fluid will be covered by warranty BTW)

The way it is designed, is that there is a sensor on the fuel flap, and a free a certain amount of opening a closing it assumes that the car has done x amount of miles and needs topping up ,

This works if you always brim the tank, but is a bit flawed if you only stick £20 In at a time.

[Pentoman]

rswift said:

Re the 2.2 engine, being sluggish.....it shouldn't be, we had one for years, and performance dropped off. It was restored by adjusting the throttle cable (it's a fly by wire thing, that has a tortuous route on the RHD car) if you have cruise control, try accelerating on the buttons.....if it's noticeably better, you have a stretched cable.

Re the DPF fault, it is usually triggered by low Fluid, if under warranty a dealer job, out of warranty any decent Peugeot/Citroen dealer should save you a bit of money ( I don't think the fluid will be covered by warranty BTW)

The way it is designed, is that there is a sensor on the fuel flap, and a free a certain amount of opening a closing it assumes that the car has done x amount of miles and needs topping up ,

This works if you always brim the tank, but is a bit flawed if you only stick £20 In at a time.

Thanks rswift.

I heard that the 'fuel flap' thing was true on early cars but not on later cars. Mine's 2009.

For me, definitely no difference on the cruise control.

Was your 2.2 the 16v 173 bhp twin-turbo version? I haven't tried the lower or higher powered versions. Current model is 200bhp though.

[rswift]

Hi, my wife's car was a 2.2 138 BHP (2001) vintage, we have now changed it to a 2008 2.0 138 BHP C5......the newer car is quicker, even though the previous one had had the DPF removed completely.

I didn't realise the fuel flap counter had changed on the later cars, I noticed that the service guide recomends 80k for a fluid replacement, a friend with a 2010 had his DPF fault flag up at around 100k.....another 2.0 engine.

[Deano_BMW]

i think the earlier 2.2s were a lot lighter. i think the dry weight of mine is 1765kgs. plus me and some fluids etc and its 2 tonnes. Im not suggesting its slow but it could do with a bit more. ask it to accelerate from 60mph in 6th and whilst it'll do it it takes a reasonable amount of time and doesnt seem entirely happy about it. Yes i know i could drop it into 5th etc

[fatandwheezing]

The 1.6 does the job and was bought purely on price and condition. I may be spoiled by having a T5 as the second car, but it is depressingly slow.it also I only 5 gears which means the revs feel high when cruising.

As its purely for going up and down the M6 it is ideal , but if it was my only car I'd want more poke.

Some other niggles are it took a while to get the right position to be comfortable, and I'm completely obsessed with monitoring the consumption.

[Pentoman]

I'm amazed really that they put a 1.6 diesel in what is a 5-series size car.