C8 Advice

[PB_54]

Hi, I'm looking for advice on some issues I have with my 2005 C8 2.2HDi SX with 62k.

I had to deactivate the ESP to get off some wet grass, I tried to reactivate it and the dash reported 'ABS Fault' and 'ESP/ASA Not Functioning'. I cannot clear the warning or reactivate from the button. I've tried the usual disconnect/reconnect of the battery that clears the Immobiliser Fault/Passenger Airbag Fault warnings etc. Has something failed or has the onboard computer got confused?!

My auto-wipers have stopped working, the display no longer advises Auto Wiping Enabled and the wipers simply sweep every few seconds as per a normal intermittent setting. Can this be activated from the car or is it a dealer visit - I have not long had the sensor changed, is there a connector in the loom they might not have clipped in properly?

Rear electric windows will not wind up until they have wound down fully, from any open position. If you try to close them, they go up about 2cm and then down approx 5cm and stop, this repeats until they reach the bottom, then they will close fully. This happens with both the switches in the drivers door and on the B pillars.

The fan blower for the rear appears to have packed up, I get the indicator show on the LCD but no increase in air flow - can it be accessed to check it?

I've had many niggling problems with this car which is such a shame because I really like it when its working! - - rear tailgate fouling on the light clusters, non retracting seatbelts, seat rail covers breaking up, air leaks from vents in drivers door to rear passengers, interior lights staying on, water leaks from front door seals, excessive front tyre wear (even on 16" rims) and brake wear, electric sliding doors refusing to close, washer pump failure (3 times), poor fuel economy (28mpg) and performance - now improved with tuning box, poor radio reception (even Radio 1 is difficult to get sometimes), front seat base foam disintegrating, rear seats jamming & refusing to fold or move, aluminium coating on handles peeling off plus more. I've had some fixed by the dealer but many issues remain, now the cars out of warranty they wont entertain fixing anything unless I pay - even the stuff that has been reported but not fixed while the car was in warranty - they say the car's done "extreme mileage" even though its supposed to be covered by a 3year 60k warranty...!! To be honest, what they did 'fix' has been shoddy work and I'd prefer to sort things out myself if possible, or go to an independant...

Appologies for the long post, any help/advice will be much appreciated!

[Ron807]

Hi PB_54

Nice to see another member from Redditch joining; have quite a few here now

I can't answer all your questions but for the ESP fault, did you check the brake fluid level? If it's around minimum, it could trigger these type of errors.

The wipers I believe can only be enabled again by the dealer.

The problem with the rear window sounds to me like the force limiter on the motor. For security reasons the window will partly open again if there is too much resistance while closing. Did you try to clean the window and rubber seals and lubricate the seals (special stuff is available from Halfords).

The fans for the 2nd row are located on the left and right hand side under the dashboard. When you open the front doors you can see the outlet, as the door is actually used to "tunnel" the air to the back rows.

I expect your dealer to be the local Redditch dealer B...lyn ? Which would explain the quality of repairs... I've had a Ford Galaxy from the same dealergroup... never again...

[PB_54]

Hi Ron,
Thanks for your advice - I've checked the fluid level but its okay, it happened immediately after having to wheelspin of some boggy grass in the Lake District, I cleaned it all down underneath hoping it was a clogged sensor or something like that but the problem persists. I'll try your other suggestions and yes, it was initially our local dealer but have even tried one in Shakespear's town too but to no avail, seems like the standard is universally low...
Regards
Pete

[Peter1]

Originally Posted by PB_54

... is there a connector in the loom they might not have clipped in properly? in the A-pillar passenger side

Rear electric windows will not wind up until they have wound down fully, from any open position. If you try to close them, they go up about 2cm and then down approx 5cm and stop, this repeats until they reach the bottom, then they will close fully. This happens with both the switches in the drivers door and on the B pillars. happens to my 06-2005 C8 too after a while of not having opened/closed the rear windows - completely open/close them a couple of times after each other and the pbl is gone

The fan blower for the rear appears to have packed up, I get the indicator show on the LCD but no increase in air flow - can it be accessed to check it?
put them on max. on the B-pillars while LCD indicator shows the rear blower (then they are activated separately) - should work although don't expect a storm

I've had many niggling problems with this car which is such a shame because I really like it when its working! - - rear tailgate fouling on the light clusters specific pbl on earlier models (my 2003 C8), resolved on my 2005 C8 (a little smaller light clusters), non retracting seatbelts sometimes the belts on the 3rd row are indeed, but pull them out and in a couple of times and....... , seat rail covers breaking up again specific on earlier models, a new cover wouldn't cost a fortune, I think, air leaks from vents in drivers door to rear passengers again specific on earlier models, I think there are other rubbers available for the front doors which resolve this, interior lights staying on never had that on my 2003 C5, water leaks from front door seals a little when going trough the car-wash high pressure cleaner, excessive front tyre wear (even on 16" rims) put your front tyres at 2.6bar, take roundabouts very quietly and it'll be much better - my experience and brake wear this is strange - I replaced front pads only @ 97.000km and the rears are still OK now @ 139.000km, but I don't have ESP on my 2.0HDi of 2005, which can explain a lot specially when you are a 'sportive' driver: ESP will react frequently and use your brakes - a C8 is a heavy car, electric sliding doors refusing to close don't have e-doors so can't advise, washer pump failure (3 times) specific on earlier models again, poor fuel economy (28mpg) and performance 2.0HDi is more economic but worse in performance - not using the airco too much will help keep consumption down, my experience- now improved with tuning box, poor radio reception (even Radio 1 is difficult to get sometimes), front seat base foam disintegrating stays a weak point of the EV2, rear seats jamming & refusing to fold or move, aluminium coating on handles peeling off plus more specific on earlier models, later on they were painted grey and no pbl anymore - my dealer replaced them under warranty for painted handles on my 2003 C8. I've had some fixed by the dealer but many issues remain, now the cars out of warranty they wont entertain fixing anything unless I pay - even the stuff that has been reported but not fixed while the car was in warranty - they say the car's done "extreme mileage" even though its supposed to be covered by a 3year 60k warranty...!! To be honest, what they did 'fix' has been shoddy work and I'd prefer to sort things out myself if possible, or go to an independant...

Appologies for the long post, any help/advice will be much appreciated!

A number of items I recognise from my 2003 C8 - they are well known pbl's on the car - indeed try to find another dealer.... - also take care for your timing belt - mine broke @ 117.000km when a couple of months out of warranty although all motor damage was repaired under warranty - only payed belts and tensioner rollers - cost 300€.
Success,
Peter

[davidwfaulkner]

I had a similar problem with the rear fans on my 807 - one would not work at all.

I traced the wiring back to the connector behind the instrument cluster / above the pedals, although the connectors were pushed fully home, one of the pins had slightly pulled out due to the fact that it was as tight as a piano wire.
Pushing the pin back in, re-routing the loom and the addition of a couple of cable ties has ensured it has worked for the past 2 years.

It could be this.....

[bombus]

ABS and ESP errors could also emerge because of brake pads that need to be replaced.
Regarding the windows - try resetting them by fully openning each and then keep pressing the "down" button for several seconds, and do the same with closing.
I had some very strange behaviour because of a blown fuse (of the diagnostic socket), so maybe check this as well.

[davidwfaulkner]

I don't believe it....after reading this thread, the very next day MY rear electric windows are doing exactly the same thing as PB_54's !

They have gone mad....and I will go mad soon unless I can fix them.....I have so far tried all the suggestions in this thread to no avail, any more ideas please ?

[londonirish]

Good luck in your search for a solution !

[davidwfaulkner]

I don't need luck...just the solution !!

[davidwfaulkner]

Forgot to mention....3 times tonight the alarm has gone off.....in 2 1/2 years of my ownership it has NEVER done this before

I checked the obvious things - all windows closed tight, I opened and closed all doors, bonnet, tailgate, started and stopped the engine etc....1/2 hour later the alarm went off again !

Could these two things possibly be linked or has my otherwise trusty and reliable car finally joined the rest of the un-reliable brigade......or could a fly be hiding somewhere in the car....mmmm I wonder....

[PB_54]

I have found that the rear windows on my car "appear" to be loose on the bottom guides - when the windows are partly open they can tilt slightly out of the vertical guide. If I push them back into the guide before trying to close them, they wind up ok. Looks like I need to remove the door trims and re-secure them to the guides. Anyone done this before?
My alarm went mad a few months ago, this happened when the boot lights would come on some time after locking the car which seemed to be the reason why the alarm triggered. After fixing this, the battery had to be disconnected twice (the first reconnect caused an Immobiliser Fault message on the dash, left it disconnected for an hour 2nd time) to cure !?!
Since my last post, the engine under tray has fallen off - £80, the slide mechanism for the middle seat has fallen apart with bits of plastic and cogs falling on the floor - waiting for a quote, both 12v power sockets have pulled out of their housings - dismantle trim & fix, the retaining hooks on one middle row blind have snapped - £££'s and now the rear tail gate wont always open without lifting it slightly when operating the release... I was going to buy a roof box for holidaying but I think I need one now just for storing all the bits that fall off the car!!

[davidwfaulkner]

PB_54

....perhaps you'd be better off buying a bigger roofbox to take the whole car and cutting some holes in it for the wheels to poke through....come to think of it the shape wouldn't be that different and at least you wouldn't lose anything !

Can't wait until mine gets that bad, thanks for the info about the windows, I will take a look.

[FuliHdi]

Originally Posted by davidwfaulkner

I don't need luck...just the solution !!

Sorry, but you're wrong ... using today's tehnology you certainly need at least as much luck as knowledge .... starting from the software that's full of 'branch maybe' instructions
Rgds Bor

[davidwfaulkner]

Aha but see this thread for a possible solution

http://www.eurovan2.com/forum/eurova...html#post83853