2009 C5 multifunction display

R

RobL

Member
Fellow Frogger
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
73
Location
Australia
Guys,

The multifunction display on my 2009 C5 Comfort, after progressively deteriorating over the last 12 months or so, now goes completely blank when the car interior is hot from being parked in the sun, or on a hot day, even when parked in the shade.

Apparently this problem is not uncommon.

When the car cools right down, for example, overnight or in an underground carpark for a few hours, the multifunction display is perfect. In between the two temperature extremes the display is only partially visible, and the letters and numbers are randomly fragmented, the extent of which is dependent on the interior temperature.

It's most probably either a joint problem which parts when it heats up, or a problem with the display itself.

Has anybody removed the multifunction display? An internet search brings up one procedure here: Multifunction Display - Problems and Fixes - C5 - Citroen Owners Club. The citroen cars forums

This seems straightforward enough, but I am concerned about breaking or damaging the thin strip of trim below the multifunction display screen when I prise it off.

Has anyone experienced the blank screen problem, and removed the display?

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

RobL
 
The trim is sturdier than it looks. Getting the display out is quite simple - a few torx screws.
Unplugging and opening the display case is also pretty self evident. An aerosol carby cleaner does a good job of cleaning the contacts and board. I recovered my display from totally inoperative to complete utility.
skp
 
skp said:
.... An aerosol carby cleaner does a good job of cleaning the contacts and board. ...
skp
Click to expand...

Just watch the carby spray on anything which is not engineering plastic. Also watch it on poly carbonate/ acrylic clear front panels. One dribble and they turn to a frosted finish. You may also find all the electronics components devoid of colour codes/ labels. :eek:

Personally, I'd prefer an electrical contact cleaner, used carefully, and take the same precautions.
 
Thanks, Guys.

Good to hear the plastic trim is sturdier than it looks - my concern was that it might snap, and I would be left with a broken dash trim.

So I will try prising it out very carefully, and see how I go with cleaning the contacts - hopefully, it will cure this very frustrating condition.

Thanks again.

RobL
 
Whilst I have not had a C5, I did have instrument cluster issue with an older Series 7 BMW. Some of the electrical components can be affected by heat over time. I was lucky, I found a very helpful webpage with described my symptoms and which components to replace in the instrument cluster. Sometimes the diligent seekers are rewarded.

Good luck
 
Guys,

Finally got around to removing the multifunction display(MFD), cleaning the plugs and sockets with aerosol electrical connector cleaner, reassembling, it and putting the dash back together.

Unfortunately, nothing seems to have changed - display still fine when cold, almost completely blank when hot.

I was told by the dealer that if I wanted a new MFD, "there wouldn't be much change from a grand" - a ridiculous price. So I searched the various C5 parts sources on the Net, but as yet I have had no success in finding this specific part.

Does anyone know of an online parts source that may stock the MFD for a 2009 C5 HDi Comfort that I might have missed?

Any help would be appreciated.

RobL
 
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Thanks, Gerry.

Getting the trim and dashboard out is easy if you are careful - takes only 20min. Then it is simple to unplug the MFD, remove two screws and detach the MFD. Can't see AUD$500 to do that!

Looking at the Fiches-auto data (I used the translation capability of Google) is quite depressing. However, I have had an excellent run with the 2009 C5 HDi Comfort, and with a 2008 C4 VTS. Both cars are great to drive.

500 Euros may still be a lot less than the price here, but I will check it out. Hopefully, I will be able to find an online source.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Rob
 
Find a good one from a wrecked car and swap over.

There is a guy in Melbourne who repairs them by installing a replacement lcd. Prices start from $300.
 
You cannot compare the time it takes you to do the removal with the actual time to handle the customer complaint in a professional garage.
Talk to the client, understand the complaint, move the car to a service bay, identify and characterise the fault, check with diagnostic computer, check the electrics for other faults like battery voltage, remove the display, replace it, reassemble the dashboard, reconnect the battery, reboot the computers, check all the functionality, allow for a percentage of cases where the fault was not cleared and/or others show up. Cover the cost of the repair warranty .....
probably ends up at least 3 hours. In France the hourly rate is around 100 euros for electronics in the cars.
I had problems with the LCD displays on both my XM and C5. It seems to be a quality issue because my Japanese cars have never shown such faults.
The two main reasons so far as I can see having dismantled several displays is that the LCD glass panel itself deteriorates at higher temperatures and is not robust enough to withstand those times when the car is left in summer sunlight and the dash gets to temperatures where the steering wheel is to hot to touch - 60degrees +. Only solution is to cover the windscreen when the car is parked.
The other failure mechanism is that when the panel uses a conductive elastomeric block to connect to the glass coating and the circuit board and connector. The interface is very susceptible to fine corrosion, pressure and requires good sealing technology. You can sometimes rectify this by removing the strip and cleaning it and the contact surfaces with iso-propyl alcohol, drying carefully and reassembling without touching the surfaces.
 
"Talk to the client, understand the complaint" etc in most businesses is part of the overhead. It's why charge rates are a multiple of labour costs. I find the idea of extending the time to add a further multiple somewhat repellent. I don't hang round dealers for reasons not unlike this.


There's a trade magazine here, http://www.tat.net.au/, that publishes solutions for the problems of modern cars that suggests extraordinary amounts of research time be added to jobs. If everybody did this there would be few people repairing cars older than 5 years. I don't mind researching myself, but I expect a professional shop to already know.
 
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seasink said:
"Talk to the client, understand the complaint" etc in most businesses is part of the overhead. It's why charge rates are a multiple of labour costs. I find the idea of extending the time to add a further multiple somewhat repellent. I don't hang round dealers for reasons not unlike this.


There's a trade magazine here, TAT - The Automotive Technician, that publishes solutions for the problems of modern cars that suggests extraordinary amounts of research time be added to jobs. If everybody did this there would be few people repairing cars older than 5 years. I don't mind researching myself, but I expect a professional shop to already know.
Click to expand...

The multiplier here largely arises because of the on-costs of employment which are responsible for the loss of French competitiveness.

My experience has been that in spite of training courses, the mechanics in the Citroën garages still spend a lot of time learning about faults and how to fix them on the job. It is even worse in those small garages that try to offer multi-marque servicing and even repairs.
For example, one large multi-marque franchise changed the front tyres on the C5. The idiot doing the work didn't fit the correct jaws on the hydraulic tyre remover and apparently cracked the alloy wheel. After several weeks of slow deflation and topping up, I got fed up and took the car to my nearby Citroën garage. They removed the wheel and the tyre and discovered the crack. So they bought a steel wheel to use as the spare at a fraction of the cost - I gave up before I started trying to pin the blame on the other mob.
The garage then moved the new tyre to the spare alloy wheel and fitted it on the front. I paid the bill and off I went. 50 metres down the road the display show deflated tyre- stop immediately. I did and checked the tyre which was OK. Tried again, same result so I limped back to the garage. This time the manager had a look and said there is another fault. The mechanic removed the wheel and separated the tyre and said all was OK. The manager looked and said you have no pressure sensor in the tyre. No, because they don't fit one in the spare and the mechanic was unaware of their existence. He now has learned but it cost the garage double the charged hours to fix a simple wheel swap. I have a list of these experiences, one of which led me to chuck the C5 to the wreckers.
That is why today I drive quality cars that have no repairs under warranty or during my 5 years of ownership and I drive vehicles of another era that I can fix myself.
 
As in all repair & service industries correct analysis of the problem is absolutely essential. Too many modern mechanics have not developed their analytical skills , if they had any in the first place, by their reliance on the Lexia fault codes. For example, replacing a fuel pump before checking connections, wiring, & the faulty relay up front first. When something goes thump, with a squeak & a hiss, they need to be analysed as to their logical relationship before throwing an expensive part away. I seem to remember a recent example on this forum of poor idle being cured, after much experimentation, by replacing a leaking hose, the hissing noise reported earlier having been ignored. Obviously experience of common faults helps with accurate, economical rectification in service, but for the young, inexperienced mechanic, unless proper analytical procedures are being taught, service costs on our modern extremely complex vehicles will only continue to rise & frustrate.

Richard
 
C5 X7 MFD update - replacement finally completed.
As recounted in my earlier posts, I was quoted a price of $670 for a replacement MFD, and that, adding the cost of having it fitted, would not leave much change from $1000.
It only took a few minutes on the Internet to locate a Citroen specialist in Holland who had the correct OEM part.
The part number is on the label on the back of the MFD. That was confirmed by the specialist in Holland when I supplied the VIN number of my car, a C5 HDi Comfort, purchased new in 2009.
The service was excellent, and the price, including delivery to Australia, was only $179.00, almost $500.00, that is FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, less than the quoted price in Australia. Spare MFDs are not stocked in Australia, so the part would have to be ordered from Europe in any case. I asked that the part be despatched by standard airmail, rather than a courier. It took just over two weeks to arrive, and I could follow its progress to Australia on the Dutch postal tracking service, the tracking code being supplied by the sender.
You do not have to disconnect the battery, and the replacement of the MFD is an easy task, taking around 30mins. All you need is the appropriate torx screwdriver, and a moulding remover tool to gently prise off the dash mouldings. Both are readily, and cheaply, available as sets at your local SuperCheap Auto store if you do not possess them already.
The plugs for the hazard lights switch, and the MFD itself, are easily removed, although note that the MFD plug has a black plastic secure holder, which swivels out of the way so that the plug can be removed. I attach a few photos of the job.
The new MFD is now installed, is crystal clear, and works perfectly.
After installation I only had to reset the time and date.
All in all, a satisfying, and very cost-effective, outcome.

Thanks to everyone for their helpful posts on the topic.

RobL
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Congratulations RobL for a most informative thread which you finalized with a detailed account of the successful fix. It's funny that you were looking for a solution to the problem you were experiencing and ended up solving it yourself. Other owners will benefit from your hard work in the years to come.
 
Hi kiamaian. Thanks very much for the feedback; it is greatly appreciated. I hope that the lessons from my experience with this known C5 X7 problem will be useful to others, and save owners a very considerable amount of money. I have certainly found many of the posts on this Forum to be very beneficial over the years. RobL.
 
Good result Rob. It's worth repeating the point that the new part is supplied by the factory either to be configured by the dealer or as a configured part, requiring the VIN to be supplied. I don't know if that's VIN-coded somehow or just configured to the characteristics recorded for the VIN (options, engine tppe etc.), so taking a random unit from a wreck may or may not work as a simple plug in swap.
 
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