French Car Forum

Lets see what you've found, but as always, keep it family friendly :)

Optical illusion

C5 (X7) Component Failures /Faults / Replacements Polll

X7-Saloon.png X7-Tourer.png

This is just an experiment to see if this is something that would be of interest to members and could be extended to other models. There would seem to be common and not so common part failures, so I thought an ongoing poll may be useful for members to record...

We have created this section for members to post up their experiences of being scammed or warnings of potential scams.

Please do not post personal details or emails here, as these can often be hijacked / impersonations of real accounts. Try and keep posts focussed on the scamming element, otherwise the actual threat or scam can become lost in a...

Attention C5 and C6 Owners

Another member of the Forum recently had his C5 X7 LDS tank explode at a recent tyre fitting session, when the vehicle was lowered back to the ground.

For those unaware, the C5 and C6 should have the suspension raised to the highest position and the LDS tank cap removed whenever the vehicle will be lifted off the...

Hello all,

You might want to check out Lidls' website. Next Thursday thay are doing car accessories, some of which you might find useful. I have got a set of the axle stands and they have not let me (or Gracie ) down!

onclick= window.open(this.href);return false;

It is worth going back to their site regularly, as they have special offers (on...

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said,

'Jesus knows you're here.'

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.

When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could...

If you’re interested to know what Bluetooth features are supported by your PSA / DS Audio System and your Mobile Phone, this utility might be useful.

Citroen Audio System Bluetooth Phone Features

Peugeot Audio System Bluetooth Phone Features

DS Automobiles Audio System Bluetooth Phone Features

The following site allows you to select your...

Citroen have a range of mechanics handbooks available, mostly for some models before and up to 2005 that are freely available to registered users. To make these more easily available to others, I have assembled the available resources into a table below with links to relevant PDF file which you can download.

These are in English and in PDF...

Hi All,
Seems I have a new neighbor with a lovely silver Xantia with personalized reg plate.

Have not seen up close yet, so not clear on the specifications, also due to vague parking arrangements I don't know exactly which house is theirs either.

Is this anyone on here living in HP1 area with a Silver Xantia on a personal plate?

Admins, sorry...

A post from a member who has likely suffered a Hard Drive failure on his NG4 Navidrive 3D system has prompted me to re-double my efforts in finding a possible pre-emptive solution to Drive Failure. The same can be said of the RT4 system with a HDD, although these units seem to have more issues than the NG4. Although the principle is the same for...

I've put together a procedure to cover both a BSI reset and for those replacing a battery or needing to disconnect the battery prior to undertaking a repair.

For the purposes of this post I will use the term 'multiplexed' to refer to different data networks and protocols including for example:
VAN - Vehicle Are Network
CAN - Controller Area...

Just casting my my mind around the various films in which I've see French-built cars. Comes to mind:

2 CV in Pink Panther with old Peter Sellers

Then only vaguely are the cars in the Day of the Jackal, but there have to be some in Manon des Source, Les Regles du Jeu (sp?), but I don't recall any in The Duellists.

Any more/amplification?

Anyone...

Ive been told there are two types eolys, what goes in mine? its a 02 C5 2.2HDI 136 Exclusive hatch, been looking at Pat fluid DPX 42/176 is that ok?

One for Jim this time of year

Condensed from the Parts Relay thread.

The Map

Current contributors:
EddieNuff
MikeT
JRGA1,
Jim,

bxman,
citronut,
UserError,
fatherjack2002,
f00lz,
1900sr,
stempy
Toby_HDi
Red_Dwarfers
davetherave
Vince
wotwot
Activa-Mike
Sparksie.
Handyman
Tam
and me.

Anyone wishing to be added to the list please PM MikeT or me with any details...

So.. this week, I learent a bit about potetiial fire hazard.. Even on LATE Xantia HDi's...

Main car in Question as in my blog.. Mums Y reg 2001 HDi 110.

Basically, the car failed to start and had always been slow to start.. unit it failed this week. So thinking as quick as sticking a new battery on.. this was fine untill I looked a bit deeper,...

Still no Like button! I'm outraged that we are expected to articulate our impressions, rather than just click an icon...
You may notice that like icons have appeared at the bottom right hand side of forum posts, and there is an extra box appearing at the top of the index page and forum pages.

Well... Following a successful rolloout on BXC, I...

Image files can now be uploaded directly to the forum server .
Please read the entirety of the information below before uploading any files.
There is a limit of 10 files per post. images with dimensions larger than 1600 pixels will be automatically resized to that maximum dimension.

Uploading an image file
Drag and drop
In the post editing...

If your interested to know what Bluetooth features are supported by your PSA / DS Audio System and your Mobile Phone, this utility might be useful.

Citroen Audio System Bluetooth Phone Features

Peugeot Audio System Bluetooth Phone Features

DS Automobiles Audio System Bluetooth Phone Features

The following site allows you to select your...

For those interested, French Car Forum members can obtain a 15% discount of products at the Easydiagnostics website.

Easy Diagnostics Website

Any member who wishes a 15% discount code to use with Easydiagnostics needs to send a Private Message (PM) to GiveMeABreak .
We will send to Easydiagnostics an email to verify your FCF username and...

Diagnostic Code Identifiers (SAE / EOBD Standards)

Here are the explanations of the make up of a diagnostic fault code Prefix:

First (Character) Identifies the Related System
P Powertrain
B Body
C Chassis
U Network
Second (Digit) Type of Code
0 Complies with EOBD Standard
1 Manufacturer Specific Enhanced
Third (Digit)...

Diagbox V7 Update process

Always ensure you have a copy of your licence file from a working and activated Diagbox prior to performing any updates. Your licence file can be found at:
C:\AWROOT\BIN\FI\APPDIAG.SYS)

Ensure the Diagbox application is closed
Launch only the single update you want to install
Follow the instructions.
When the...

This intentionally only covers versions from 7.02 to 7.76:

DiagBox v7.02 needs 4.3.0
DiagBox v7.57 needs 4.3.2
DiagBox v7.58 needs 4.3.2
DiagBox v7.62 needs 4.3.3
DiagBox v7.66 needs 4.3.3
DiagBox v7.74 needs 4.3.3
DiagBox v7.76 needs 4.3.3

Hi to all interested in buying a Lexia (I'm one)
Not sure if this has been linked to before but if the sellers' claims are true about PCB quality it might be interesting:

10% off would bring the price down competitively. BTW I'm no expert on Lexias whatsoever and I have no connection with this seller.

You may notice a new Bookmarks button in the forum header and a bookmark icon: bookmark.png at the top of each forum post.

These are part of a post bookmarking extension that we are trialling. Please try it, and give us some feedback.

To bookmark a post (or delete the bookmark) just click the bookmark icon in the post. You may add a short...

The nice people at Total have generously offered a 15% discount on their full range of products purchased through their new online store.
All items are postage free.

The discount available is 15% on all purchases from our online store: onclick= window.open(this.href);return false;. Another thing which may be of use to your members is a tool we...

I thought I'd do a Sticky on how to upgrade the MyWay Firmware as this keeps cropping up. Note this is to update the Firmware (System Software) only which is freely released to improve features and fix post-release bugs in the hardware. This does not cover Navigation Maps.

Like anything software-related, if you choose to follow the following...

A very good technical description of how the Activa suspension system works can be found here:

For more general Citroen Suspension topics, including Hydractive, look here:

These pages are re-written versions of our old favourite PDF 'Citroen Technical Guide' which has been our bible for years on such subjects...

Mods: Can you please make...

We are happy to announce that we have added the facility to upload images to the forum, so that in most cases it is no longer necessary to host image files on external sites.

See for more information.

You will see that we have quite a few rules on copyright of images, this is because we cannot take any risk of having legal action taken against...

You know that horrible sound, rusty metal squealing against rusty metal as the compressor's pulley bumps and grinds away with old age.
We know that if you can't replace the bearing, it eventually fails and you end up making fire - which is bad. Very bad.

Should you need to go without an additional engine heater in your O/S/F wheel arch, then you...

The keenly anticipated FrenchCarForum.co.uk stickers have arrived from the manufacturer and are ready for purchase and delivery.

If you have already been contacted by us and offered stickers, you don't need to do anything, they will be delivered shortly.

Anyone else will need to order them by clicking the image below or use the Stickers button...

As we get many questions about the right type of engine and gearbox oils to use, I've compiled a guide for most of the engines and gearboxes on the FCF Wiki.

This guide is for Citroen recommended oils for the specified engines and climates, providing the part numbers for these products. There are other oils available, but they should meet the...

Please note the following points when using Lexia, Planet or Clip diagnostic equipment!

A Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) and associated software such as Diagbox, Lexia, and Peugeot Planet 2000 are professional-level diagnostic tools. Extreme care should be taken when using these devices as incorrect use may adversely affect your vehicle...

Please note the following points when using Lexia, Planet or Clip diagnostic equipment!

A Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) and associated software such as Diagbox, Lexia, and Peugeot Planet 2000 are professional-level diagnostic tools. Extreme care should be taken when using these devices as incorrect use may adversely affect your vehicle...

Please note the following points when using Lexia, Planet or Clip diagnostic equipment!

A Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) and associated software such as Diagbox, Lexia, and Peugeot Planet 2000 are professional-level diagnostic tools. Extreme care should be taken when using these devices as incorrect use may adversely affect your vehicle...

Please note the following points when using Lexia, Planet or Clip diagnostic equipment!

A Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) and associated software such as Diagbox, Lexia, and Peugeot Planet 2000 are professional-level diagnostic tools. Extreme care should be taken when using these devices as incorrect use may adversely affect your vehicle...

Please note the following points when using Lexia, Planet or Clip diagnostic equipment!

A Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) and associated software such as Diagbox, Lexia, and Peugeot Planet 2000 are professional-level diagnostic tools. Extreme care should be taken when using these devices as incorrect use may adversely affect your vehicle...

I have added a section to the Forum Wiki that details a lot of the PSA Wiring Diagram Symbology, along with all the codes for the components.

See the Electrical Component and Wiring Codes section on the Wiki below:

Strictly speaking, this isn't specific to French Cars, but as members often need to send 'bits' to one another, the following may be useful.

To send a Xantia radio, which is just a bit too large to be a Royal Mail 'small' parcel, the cheapest my local Post Office (very obliging) could do it for was £8 :shock: second class parcel post.

However, I...

Diagnosis
To diagnose a faulty ABS Sensor you ideally need to have access to a diagnosis tool such as a Lexia to tell you which sensor is at fault. Failing this, most of the time it is also possible to use these pinout diagrams and measure the resistance of each sensor -
Up to Jan 1998:

From Jan 1998 onwards:

The ABS ECU is located just...

Anyone with either of these items who would be prepared to use them on behalf of other members bung your name and approximate location here and we will generate a map similar to the FCF Couriers and Lexia Locations ones.

Well, i'm hoping to get a thread full of healthy and informational links, so its easy to look and find them all in one place.

so ill start by posting this link to SANDEN site about maintenance and diagrams of their A/C compressor.

SANDEN

SANDEN main site
SANDEN service manual HTML
SANDEN service manual direct download PDF

CLUTCH...

All new member signups are scrutinised by the admin team before activation.

To assist the admins in this task each potential new member must provide a Location a list of My Cars , at least one of which should be French. This is not some elitist thing but one of a number of measures to evaluate registration request to keep spammers and other...

From an Aussie website.

It has been brought to my attention that Pleiades in the U.K. has closed down! Nothing could be further from the truth. I can assure you that Pleiades in the U. K. is alive and well, however, they have changed their address to:

Green End House,
Scotney Way,
Sawtry,
Cambs.,
PE28 5XF.

The telephone number remains the...

If you find a hurricane howling through your aircon equipped Xantia because the blower fan is running uncontrollably at top speed, this indicates that the speed control module has failed.

This module, located on a heatsink just underneath the fan motor, has two large power transistors, one or both of which go short-circuit and cause the fan to...