2009 Citroen C5 vibrates on Acceleration.

[titch]

Thanks for all the replies. Would a simple thing like a heat shield actually give vibration through the body of the car? wouldn't it just make a vibration noise? I have ruled out the DMF at this point as the clutch works fine with no vibration in gear stick, pedal or when engaging gear. I am still looking at the inner cv on the passengers side being faulty even though its new, the problem gets worse when run for a while and got nice and warm(shafts not engine) plus I have had intermittent slight clunk noise from that side on rotation. Any further ideas will be much appreciated.

[MikeT]

I too have my reservations about the heatshield theory on mine due to the deep resonance through the body shell.... and co-incidentally, found my offside driveshaft outer gaiter clip was missing just before the MOT this year, allowing all the grease to centrfuge out the gaiter. After fixing it geting the MOT, this vibration got a tad more noticeable and I feared perhaps the driveshaft was badly worn or I may have inadvertantly done a bad job of either under or overloading it with grease or something. Whatever the cause, it does appear related to engine torque through the gearing imo.

[titch]

I am in the same frame of mind MikeT as it is under toque that it is most present. I have read that some aftermarket shafts have problems even if new. I have spoken to gearbox/diff specialists and they have said it is very very unusual for gearboxes/diff to cause vibration so have eliminated that for now. As garages use different suppliers I might have to get another garage to fit a new/used driveshaft to see it is two bad new shaft fitted and see if this sorts it.

[ekjdm14]

Another possibility is the offside driveshaft centre bearing, as I suspect is the case on the 206 at the moment. Sounds more likely the exhaust shield on these though as it seems a known problem. Just another point to check if the shields are all good

[MikeT]

While I had my airbox off last doing an unrelated job, I took the opportunity to wiggle one shield I could reach down to at the back of the engine. Like many cover/panels on this car, it's not very firmly fitted so I can't rule it out. But it's so lightweight and tinny, I just can't comprehend how it could cause such a deep rumble through the car, it's weird.

If, however, I feather off the throttle a bit, I can literally and directly control the severity of the vibration hence the belief it's drivetrain related.

[titch]

That is what I am thinking MikeT and believe it could well be one of the inner CV joints on the driveshaft ekjdm14. It vibrates when accelerating and up hill when the drive-train is under pressure but when easing off the power or reach the top of a hill it disappears which after reading other forums with this problem it points towards the centre CV joints on the driveshafts and some reports that driveshafts that they fitted were faulty. The problem I have is both shafts have been changed and the N/S has been changed twice. So I have either got another problem or one of the driveshafts that have been fitted is faulty. I have one mechanic saying he thinks its the N/S driveshaft is faulty even though that has been changed twice by another garage. The mechanic that changed the drive shafts on the N/S isn't convinced that is the problem but cant find where its coming from. I am not willing to throw money at it that is why I have asked on here in case anyone else had problems like this that was not a driveshaft and was solved.

[MikeT]

Mine appears to be getting progressively worse. It's noticeable even on level road, not just uphill and it's taken more of a shuddering vibration like going over a rumble strip at speed or the suspension arm is now a mini jackhammer, only through a narrow rpm range which I guess is peak torque.

[Gibbo2286]

Mine has exactly the same symptoms that you describe but as I said If I get under and give the under shield a tug it cures it.......for a while.

I don't bother too much now as it keeps me a bit less heavy footed on the accelerator.

[MikeT]

I know, it just causes me cognitive dissonance trying to reconcile how a lightwieght component can cause a mini-earthquake through the body shell. It's not that I don't believe it but I sure would like to hear the science behind it.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'm not surprised TBH. I went out a few days ago to replace the sidelights and discovered by chance that 3 trim studs for the front plastic covering the top of the radiator section / lighting panel were missing. These are the studs with the central piece that you have to lift up to release the whole thing. A further one had obviously been yanked off without bothering so that had broken, plus when investigating underneath the trim to pull out the old stud shaft, I found that the bonnet release cables were hanging loose and had not been put clipped back into the supports! I then found that my A/C compressor belt had a nick in the edge (this had been replaced recently with a new compressor) - so I'm guessing they used a screwdriver to lift it off and damaged it.

So I will be having words next time I visit my dealer! Apart from my OCD of not having things right, it's lack of attention to detail and proper training. I carry a stock of replacement trim studs now which are slowly dwindling!

[ekjdm14]

Dealers for you shouldn't be the case, but it is...

On the driveshaft side of things, my understanding (from previous threads on here) is that the shake/rumble through the whole car is caused by the O/S (driver's side) shaft, it's a longer one with a support bearing and I believe this causes the shake when it gets rough. Certainly it only started on the 206 after I disturbed the driveshafts fitting coilovers, & may have been a little rough on the O/S shaft. shame I'm out of gearbox oil or I'd have them replaced and see if I'm right with ours at least!

[titch]

Just an update on the Citroen C5 vibration problem. I have had it all sorted and was something that was not obvious. I had the lower rear engine mount replaced as was badly worn at my local garage and asked them to have another check on the vibration problem. They said they couldn't find anything and the vibration was still there, whist talking about it the mechanic that done the job walked past and said he thought the front suspension looked a little high and was a possibility that could cause the vibration as the axles run at more of an angle. they checked it on there machine but could not get in far enough. I took it to a Citroen specialist(not dealer as they rip you off) in Bridgend to check it out, they were very helpful and checked all the suspension and reset the suspension height at a reasonable price. now all the vibration has gone, so a simple thing like suspension a little too high caused such a problem. Hope this might come of help if anyone has the same problem.

[MikeT]

Why didn't I think of that? I've had similar issues with my Xantia and had to reset the height, the symptoms were so similar I should have recognised it at least as a consideration - silly me! I'll be checking my ride height in due course.

[CitroenSlo]

What kind of suspension do you have on your c5? I have exactly the same symptons on my citroen c5 2012, but on regural suspension, it's not exclusive. It's driving me crazy.

I'm sorry for my bad english

[MikeT]

Mine? It's hydraulic.