I had a great day! - C5 V6 Now Home!

[shedvan]

Probably the shrewder course of action, discretion being the better part of valour and all that. Having tried both methods of recovery with varying degrees of success I come down 100% on the exhilarating cool side of just winding it up and pootling home, the seat of the pants and all that, but when it goes pete tong its only a cool anecdote afterwards, all the aggro of rescuing a dying swan is not cool in the moment.

 

...still it is fun

[dollywobbler]

Aye. When I dragged the Mk1 BX out of a garage after three years of slumber, there was no way I was going to chance it for the drive home. There's no bragging rights to be had when you've either had a tug from the rozzers or suffered some hideous mechanical failure that's left you stranded somewhere. Mind you, the BX did look like it had been parked up in a garage for about 30 years rather than 3!

 

Good luck with getting it sorted. I met a chap (gave me a pair of wheels and tyres for the Mk1) who is into saving C5s. He doesn't understand why folk run away from them. He showed me an electric pump he was rebuilding in his shed!

[406V6]

That'll be a C5, Laguna and Avantime sitting there all with the exact same engine...

I think you need a 406 to complete the set

[R9UKE]

I sure do. Waiting for a suitable early V6 Executive to turn up!

 

Thanks DW. Yeh, 7 years of not moving an inch is bound to have some effects. It's getting collected on Tuesday / Wednseday

[R9UKE]

We went over for the C5 this morning and I'm pleased to say that despite two seized wheels, the suspension stuck in low and not even a click from the starter motor - she's home safe and sound with little more than a few broken front bumper clips

 

The shite for towing was a 97 Range Rover 2.5 dT - previously mine, slow as a bastard but was absolutely perfect for the job. We hired a tilt trailer for the day for £20 which we couldn't have done without, with that suspension sitting so low.

 

 

First issue were the front wheels. Turned the ignition on to get the thing out of Park and started to winch it up, but we didn't realise just how badly seized they were. There was no other way around it than to remove the two front wheels and beat the living shit out of the calipers to get them off.

 

 

 

It was winched up with not a hair between the bottom of the front bumper and the trailer, tied up and we set off back to the Garden of Shite.

 

 

 

 

Arrived back and it was time to get the bloody thing off with NO brakes whatsoever. I kinda knew what was doing to happen but there was no way around it.... front bumper caught on the way down and pulled it loose on the drivers side, sending the headlight washer off like a bullet as well. It also continued to roll slightly further than predicted and hit the auto box-stricken Clio. No damage there though thankfully!

 

 

 

It's bloody FREEZING here today so not much else has been done, it's just nice to know it's home. The car's computer has reverted to German and displays this message when the ignition is turned on, while not even attempting to start. A message to a German speaking friend later and apparently the car is Power saving mode, hence the lack of any gadgets besides the electric seats working.

 

 

I'm guessing the battery that I stuck in just isn't up to power more gadgets than Currys - I'll stick in the one from the Avantime or Vel Satis and who knows, maybe she'll fire up! I have a feeling that's wishful thinking though.

 

She's well at home sitting with another 3.0 V6 on either side though, maybe the sound of them running will tempt it back into life!

 

 

 

The oil looks OK-ish. I'm going to remove each of the spark plugs (rear bank will be a barrel of laughs) and drop some oil down before even trying to turn it over. There's a quarter of a tank of 7year old fuel in there, that could probably do with some fresh stuff. The leather in the car is like new, it even smells relatively factory fresh (with a hint of must). There's even the plastic covering over the carpet on the passenger side!

 

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm off to the auction as there's a Mégane there I fancy!

[shedvan]

Congratulations it looks in good shape, its an interesting design looks deceptive from some angles, the shot of the bonnet at driver's wing position almoist makes it look snub nosed then from other angles it looks way bigger, I had a nice Xantia in that colour, looking forward to seeing more, good luck!

[dollywobbler]

You could have left it hooked up to the winch for a more controlled decent you know...

 

Hope you didn't have to drive too far with it 'strapped down' like that either. Glad it's home though. Good luck with the revival.

[Shep Shepherd]

I wish that I had my own Garden of Shite, although mine would be filled with Saabs, RWD Volvos and old Fords as opposed to Renaults and PSA products

[R9UKE]

There's a 240 Estate there to keep the Swedish flag flying! A nice 900 or 9000 would be welcome too....

 

Yeh DW, the winch wasn't exactly fully functioning or that would have saved the bumper!

[hairnet]

yer absolutley mad sor!

 

in a good way

[ruffgeezer]

So what happens when you attempt to start it?

 

If you can give me a little more info, I can try and help diagnose it.

[R9UKE]

Turn the ignition on, all warning lights come on, fuel pump goes, suspension doesn't bother trying and the sat nav screen says "Economy Mode Active" but in German for some reason. It then shuts the screen off and no electrical items function which is normal for economy mode I suppose. Turn the key to start and absolutely nothing. Not even a click, then there's a few beeps and it brings up the economy mode message again. Also, the car knows it's in Park so that's not the issue. I've tried it in N as well, same story.

[ruffgeezer]

Have you tried both keys? Dies the key/immobiliser light come on at all?

[R9UKE]

Immobiliser seems to deactivate OK, and the remote locking works. Only one key, he misplaced the other and has yet to find it. I have a funny feeling the electronics have just completely reset after sitting so long, hence it being in German (though it should shirley have gone French?). Anyway, I know a few guys with all the Citroen kit should a complete configuration be required.... it's just getting hold of them

[Richard]

There probably isn't any issue with the suspension, it won't do anything until it's seen the engine running. They do rise up to meet you when you unlock the doors, and rise up again to compensate when you get in, but none of that will happen when the car is in Eco Mode.

[406V6]

On PSA cars the Economy Mode becomes active after about half an hour when something has been draining the battery. For example you've been sitting in the car listening to the radio and after half an hour it stops as Economy Mode flashes up on the display. Could it be the case that something has been left on (or stuck on) and partly drained the battery so that when you turn the key it just says Go Away ? Try recharging the battery and giving it another go.

[cort16]

Is the battery good as I had major problems cranking over my v8 BMW when the battery wasn't up to the job (the battery was charged but wasn't big enough)? I'd be trying it with a known good battery and jump leads on from a running car so you know

you've got enought juice. I imagine these v6's take a bit of cranking.

[R9UKE]

The first battery I tried was the Bosch from the V6 Laguna which I know is perfect. The second is the huge bastard from the 3.5 Vel Satis which is is nothing short of excellent, as that car takes a good 15seconds of cranking to go! So the battery definitely isn't the issue. The 40A fuse sitting in the dash tray HAS to have something to do with it, but there's nowhere obvious it's missing from. The joys of today's electriconically reliant cars.

[cort16]

Have you tried rubbing some garlic butter into it?

[ruffgeezer]

Under the fusebox in the dash is the fusebox for the bfo fuses.

 

You should check to see if there is power at the small wire on the starter when the key is turned. Also try twatting the starter with a hammer in case the brushes are stuck.