Collection thread - now the "quite cheap but already quite broken" C6 thread

[Vantman]

Please tell us more @GeordieInExile.

[GeordieInExile]

9 minutes ago, Vantman said:

Please tell us more @GeordieInExile.

What would you like to know? I'll get some more pics of it tomorrow but on the whole it's in good shape. A couple scuffs on the wheels and a couple little dings, but nothing too bad. 

[GeordieInExile]

God damn that's a handsome beast. 

Is it just me, or is it sitting a bit low..? At the front, at least.

[GeordieInExile]

Well. That's an interesting set of warning lights it's just pinged up all at once. Stability control, ABS and parking brake! You do spoil me, C6.

And then the information screen went off. 

... Yeah, I'll be ringing the specialist tomorrow right enough.

[Wgl2019]

24 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

Well. That's an interesting set of warning lights it's just pinged up all at once. Stability control, ABS and parking brake! You do spoil me, C6.

When that happened to me in a Saab it was down to a broken ABS reluctor ring, fingers crossed for a simple fix.

[GeordieInExile]

25 minutes ago, Wgl2019 said:

When that happened to me in a Saab it was down to a broken ABS reluctor ring, fingers crossed for a simple fix.

A bit of forum surfing tells me it's likely an ABS sensor in the C6. It's going to a specialist anyway so hopefully it'll be a nice quick fix for him to do.

[Datsuncog]

These are simply gorgeous cars to look at - here's hoping the specialist can help sort it!

I've always thought that acquiring one of these as more like embarking on a pilgrimage than simply buying a mode of transport... you're aware you will face hardship and tribulation, but the hope of spiritual growth is what sustains you...

Best of luck!

[GeordieInExile]

I've put the suspension up and that's got rid of the warning lights. Happy days! 

The EML has also gone off as expected... Although hard acceleration pinged it back on. Hmmm.

[320touring]

21 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

I've put the suspension up and that's got rid of the warning lights. Happy days! 

The EML has also gone off as expected... Although hard acceleration pinged it back on. Hmmm.

I use the eml on the 182 as it's "1 constant fault" 

 

If it's lit, it's not allowed other faults

[cort16]

5 hours ago, GeordieInExile said:

Well. That's an interesting set of warning lights it's just pinged up all at once. Stability control, ABS and parking brake! You do spoil me, C6.

And then the information screen went off. 

... Yeah, I'll be ringing the specialist tomorrow right enough.

It looks better in black than silver. Does it have the wooden door pockets?

Has it sat for a while?  I imagine these are very sensitive to bad batteries in regards to electronic crazyness.

[GeordieInExile]

Yeah, it had been sat a while. It evidently did not appreciate it.

[jamescarruthers]

You are right to assume the ABS sensor. That knocks out the ESP and the handbrake. 
 

Battery is heavily abused on these with all its gear and the pump which runs off it. Be aware that if you do order one, most of the listing places are wrong and you get a tiny battery which cripples the car. You need an absolutely massive one. In fact, it might be worth a look in the boot to see what you have. 
 

Suspension height on mine sometime goes weird when parked so don’t pay too much attention to the ride height unless it’s got the engine running. 

[GeordieInExile]

The specialist is, uh, 'ow you say.... not a C6 specialist.

I've got it booked into a reputable auto electrician on Friday to sort the radio. Will ring around for the Aircon - apparently it can be sorted in situ.

[jamescarruthers]

2 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

The specialist is, uh, 'ow you say.... not a C6 specialist.

I've got it booked into a reputable auto electrician on Friday to sort the radio. Will ring around for the Aircon - apparently it can be sorted in situ.

I must say I struggled to get anyone to work on my sister’s C5 up there and the C6 will be even more of a mystery. 

[Bear]

On mine the radio would occasionally reboot when driving. When it did the entire sodding dashboard would shut down, the HUD would switch to KM/H and I'd appear to lose a few controls.

[cort16]

Are the fans working it's just the aircon the doesn't work. I hate to say it but on a car of this age if it's not been done it's likely the condenser so it's probably worth getting done dye put through it. 

[GeordieInExile]

54 minutes ago, cort16 said:

Are the fans working it's just the aircon the doesn't work. I hate to say it but on a car of this age if it's not been done it's likely the condenser so it's probably worth getting done dye put through it. 

Haven't seen a receipt for a condenser... But the fact it blows hotter through the driver's side suggests to me it's a common issue that can be dealt with without the dashboard having to come out. The problem is gonna be finding a garage that can/will attempt it in situ...

[cort16]

12 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

Haven't seen a receipt for a condenser... But the fact it blows hotter through the driver's side suggests to me it's a common issue that can be dealt with without the dashboard having to come out. The problem is gonna be finding a garage that can/will attempt it in situ...

I would get the aircon system checked before tearing into the dashboard. My old 7 series used to pump hot air into the cabin no matter what the climate settings was when the aircon wasn't working. 

[Bear]

33 minutes ago, GeordieInExile said:

Haven't seen a receipt for a condenser... But the fact it blows hotter through the driver's side suggests to me it's a common issue that can be dealt with without the dashboard having to come out. The problem is gonna be finding a garage that can/will attempt it in situ...

I would genuinely get a workshop manual and do as much trim removal and access work as you can before letting a garage, particularly a not-C6 specialist, in there out of your sight. You might find the problem yourself, and you will spare yourself broken trim pieces and nonsense which would spoil the flawless serenity/solid weight and feel that is one of the C6's best strengths.

[Rocket88]

I presume the C6 is one of those marvellous French machines in which the entire HVAC system was dangled from the factory roof on a string of onions, and the rest of the car was built around it?

[GeordieInExile]

Booked into a trusted garage for a week on Friday. They can sort the ABS sensor and see what the check engine light is about while it's there. 

If the aircon is gonna cost ££££££ I'll just have to leave it for now.

[Bear]

52 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

I presume the C6 is one of those marvellous French machines in which the entire HVAC system was dangled from the factory roof on a string of onions, and the rest of the car was built around it?

Now now. They tried things differently with the XM #notallcitroens

[GeordieInExile]

Holy front overhang, Batman.

Tell you what though, even in a semi borked state this is a special car. You feel special driving around in it. People look at it. 

[riek]

i love looking at them, and i would like a go in one, but they're a terrifying ownership proposition even though i drive about 2000 miles a year.

 

Because i love looking at them, i know that Upndown on youtube (who i believe also lurks here) has a video on metal tabs and things that the car uses in sensing what height it's at, that can get bent and cause it to get confused.

[jamescarruthers]

18 hours ago, jamescarruthers said:

You are right to assume the ABS sensor. That knocks out the ESP and the handbrake. 
 

Battery is heavily abused on these with all its gear and the pump which runs off it. Be aware that if you do order one, most of the listing places are wrong and you get a tiny battery which cripples the car. You need an absolutely massive one. In fact, it might be worth a look in the boot to see what you have. 
 

Suspension height on mine sometime goes weird when parked so don’t pay too much attention to the ride height unless it’s got the engine running. 

Just checked the part numbers for the batteries here https://catalogs.ssg.asia/citroen/?lang=en# as I was worried I was giving you duff info with your engine being the smaller one.  But no, the 2.2 and the 3.0 both take the humongous Citroen part number 5600TK.

I just replaced mine and can tell you that:

• Exide 017 / 019 (100Ah) is £132, (Euro Car Pats number 444770176)
• Varta 019 is £192 and (Euro Car Pats number 444770194)
• Citroen was over £250 (Citroen number 5600TK)
• Yuasa do an equivalent battery and this is what I removed from my car.

[GeordieInExile]

Dear Lord that's a lot of money for a battery. Might be worth spending, though, depending on the age and size of the existing one...

[Erebus]

Try Battery Megastore or Tayna.  Used both in the past.  Fast and very competitive

[Schaefft]

Tayna definitely is a good place to buy batteries from, I buy all of mine there (and returned some).

[Cento16v]

+1 for Tanya, used them for the Disco 3 battery and for my S60 Battery, good service.

[TheOtherStu]

+1 for Tayna too.
However, I tend to play the "buy cheap, buy twice" ethos and prefer Yuasa 5000 series.
https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx5019/