Citroen C5 2013 head unit.

C

cavalerie

New member
Tadpole
Tadpole
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Messages
4
Location
gold coast
Hi all, I am a new member. I have a 2013 C5 wagon (110,000k) which has just lost satnav, music, bluetooth, parking sensors etc....a failed head unit which apparently cost new around $3500 plus fitting and programming. Cruise control not working either? Obviously have checked and replaced fuse just in case. I have visited a number of auto electronics specialists on the Gold Coast but they are afraid of the Magneti Marelli unit installed in Citroen/Peugeot vehicles. I have tried to find replacements from wreckers and apparently the DS3 and C3 models of the same year have the same head unit, but unsure of how to proceed there?

Any advice welcome thanks. I am not mechanically or technically capable ... certainly not my expertise. In addition to various Peugeots, I have previously owned several GS wagons and a sedan, D special, CX 2200, Citroen Visa, BX, Xantia, C5 wagon series 1 and still have another C5 which I like.
Perhaps there is someone on the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Sunshine coast that could help?
 
cavalerie said:
Hi all, I am a new member. I have a 2013 C5 wagon (110,000k) which has just lost satnav, music, bluetooth, parking sensors etc....a failed head unit which apparently cost new around $3500 plus fitting and programming. Cruise control not working either? Obviously have checked and replaced fuse just in case. I have visited a number of auto electronics specialists on the Gold Coast but they are afraid of the Magneti Marelli unit installed in Citroen/Peugeot vehicles. I have tried to find replacements from wreckers and apparently the DS3 and C3 models of the same year have the same head unit, but unsure of how to proceed there?

Any advice welcome thanks. I am not mechanically or technically capable ... certainly not my expertise. In addition to various Peugeots, I have previously owned several GS wagons and a sedan, D special, CX 2200, Citroen Visa, BX, Xantia, C5 wagon series 1 and still have another C5 which I like.
Perhaps there is someone on the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Sunshine coast that could help?
Click to expand...
Hi there, welcome to Aussiefrogs. I am also on the Gold Coast and with the same year and model C5, but a sedan.
So far, haven't had any issue with the head unit. So I haven't crossed that bridge yet as to whether repair or replace.
And am no expert in that, but with the progress made in the last 10 years , such as google maps on phones etc.. I probably would install a different system rather than buying a new one of the oem if the cost is prohibitive.
Others will offer advice I'm sure.
Keep in touch anyway, maybe I can help in other issues.

Cheers
 
harrisson_citroen said:
Hi there, welcome to Aussiefrogs. I am also on the Gold Coast and with the same year and model C5, but a sedan.
So far, haven't had any issue with the head unit. So I haven't crossed that bridge yet as to whether repair or replace.
And am no expert in that, but with the progress made in the last 10 years , such as google maps on phones etc.. I probably would install a different system rather than buying a new one of the oem if the cost is prohibitive.
Others will offer advice I'm sure.
Keep in touch anyway, maybe I can help in other issues.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Thanks for your advice, but it seems that installing a different system is quite problematic from the various specialist installers that I spoke to - mainly due to the head unit being 'the brain' of so many accessories, and therefore many connections.

Hope I can sort it out with some help.
Best regards
 
I replaced my c5's head unit with an Android unit from Joying. The supplied canbus module provides support for the cars key function, like reverse sensors. Total cost was about $800.
 
dcc236 said:
I replaced my c5's head unit with an Android unit from Joying. The supplied canbus module provides support for the cars key function, like reverse sensors. Total cost was about $800.
Click to expand...
Great thanks...did you can organise this on the Gold Coast? If so is there a place or someone that I could contact ?
I know I can't do it myself but can pay someone to do it professionally.
 
cavalerie said:
Great thanks...did you can organise this on the Gold Coast? If so is there a place or someone that I could contact ?
I know I can't do it myself but can pay someone to do it professionally.
Click to expand...
If you can pump up your tyres and refuel your car you can fit one of those
 
I’ve got a 2014 wagon that also lost its headunit. Symptoms: blank screen (although on - you could see it glow black in the dark), and every 30s or so the CD mech/motor would whirr. In the end I just fixed it with a new SD card and a re flash - damn sight cheaper than any other option. But, my cruise worked fine. So I’m not sure if you have a deeper issue, or maybe you have two unrelated issues? Happy to talk you through what I did. It’s fiddly, but not hard, and a couple of other people here have had success after following the steps I took.
 
I ordered it from Joying, the whole thing is plug n play. I bought the 7 inch screen.

If I were doing it today, I'd be buying a 10 inch screen. There is a screen surround that you can buy that fits into the genuine position but the screen extends above the dash, same as many of the new cars with large screens.
 
Interesting list of symptoms @cavalerie ! I can understand most but very surprised the cruise control was also affected.

My experience was with a 2011 GMH product so not particularly relevant to the C5. It was however frustrating as not only did I lose "entertainment" functions but also heater a/c setting panel and all warning chimes, even the direction indicator " click clack". Even a second hand unit from a wrecker was a silly price.
A new $240 head unit with 8" screen, fitting kit and can bus link restored functions, plus being Android will link easily with phone and Internet. I downloaded free navigation software and maps plus rigged up a reversing camera. Better all round than the original!
Only grumble is no AM radio. I have to stream ABC local radio via Bluetooth from my phone.

Screenshot_20230423-010250~2.jpg
 
Thanks all for helping. I will try the SD card option first as recommended by DStary, and if that fails I would try the Joying alternative that dcc236 has offered as a solution. I will check if the cruise control has a separate fuse or?
I will let you know how it works out.
 
Hi dcc236. I have a 2012 C5 X7 exclusive. My head unit went through all the same symptoms before finally stopping altogether affecting sensors, display, etc. I’ve seen the Joying alternative but not sure which model & serial numbers to buy. Are you able to let me know which ones you used? Thanks in advance.
 
dcc236 said:
I ordered it from Joying, the whole thing is plug n play. I bought the 7 inch screen.

If I were doing it today, I'd be buying a 10 inch screen. There is a screen surround that you can buy that fits into the genuine position but the screen extends above the dash, same as many of the new cars with large screens.
Click to expand...
More detail please
 
DStary said:
I’ve got a 2014 wagon that also lost its headunit. Symptoms: blank screen (although on - you could see it glow black in the dark), and every 30s or so the CD mech/motor would whirr. In the end I just fixed it with a new SD card and a re flash - damn sight cheaper than any other option. But, my cruise worked fine. So I’m not sure if you have a deeper issue, or maybe you have two unrelated issues? Happy to talk you through what I did. It’s fiddly, but not hard, and a couple of other people here have had success after following the steps I took.
Click to expand...
Hey, Can you tell me how you did this pls? I have the same problem C5 2013 Wagon. Cheers, Andrew
 
Hi Dave,

I don't think Andrew can can send you a PM at this is his first post so I suggest you send him a message or your steps and then he will be able to respond.

Cheers, Ken
 
Good point Ken, and it appears as though the lack of PM for new members is two-way, as I can't seem to PM him.

Hi, Andrew, here’s what worked for me (and others who I've PM’d here):

Your issues could be due to a failing SD card which I suspect is what was wrong with mine. It will need swapping out which means removing the headunit. That's pretty straightforward with the right radio removal keys. Just disconnect the battery, withdraw the headunit and unplug everything. A tip that would have helped me - put the gear selector in drive before disconnecting the battery - the unit will not clear the gear lever if it's in park! I hate to plug another forum, but if you need more detailed instructions on removing and opening the headunit, try this: https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71954

You'll need a new SD card, I used one of these: https://www.bigw.com.au/product/emtec-micro-sd-card-16gb/p/8380723

Pull the old card, insert the new one (do not connect this new one to any PC beforehand), and reinstall the headunit. You’ll need a firmware CD suitable for your headunit. This will write data (but not maps) to the SD card to get you started. I made my own CD using an iso image, and it worked for me. Once this is done, you should have a bunch of headunit functions restored - this seems to vary car to car (I had pretty much everything, like parking sensors, sat nav (but without maps), radio, reversing camera etc).

Here you have a choice: attempt to use mirascript to pull config from your old SD card (which may or may not work, depending on how damaged your card is), or press on without changing anything. I did the latter. I could successfully open some partitions of my old SD card, so maybe the script could have helped me. Then add the maps:

I ended up downloading the zipped map files (not massive, at around 300Mb), and then used a little script to generate activation codes. I'm not precisely sure how it works, but it interrogates a file within the zipped map files, and then I assume it combines your VIN (which you enter), and generates a code that is based on your VIN. When installing, I guess the headunit accepts this code, decodes it to determine a match to your VIN, and then permits installation of the maps. In my case, I generated the code, but my headunit never asked for it (for someone else it did though, and this step worked). I think this is because the new install of firmware on my RT6 (based on the iso file) was either modified to remove the need for a code, or the latest version simply doesn't ask for a code.

You can find a link to the code generator here, or I am happy to run it for you (just need your VIN): https://www.peugeotforums.com/threads/smeg-map-and-speed-camera-update-procedure.168681/page-122

I downloaded the latest map (2019) from the PSA website: http://psa.download.navigation.com/automotive/PSA/RT6-SMEGx/M49RG20-Q0320-7111.ZIP

The map data suits various headunits, mine is an RT6. You must use the key generator on the right map file for your headunit (pasted from https://www.navitotal.com/peugeot-c...meg-smeg-smeg-iv2-wip-nav-t21113.html#p172157):

For SMEG systems: /SMEG_UPG/DATA/CCT.DAT.inf and press the GENERATE button, write down the activation code that will appear.
For SMEG + systems: /SMEG_PLUS_UPG/DATA/CCT.DAT.inf and press the GENERATE button, write down the activationcode that will appear.
For SMEG iv2 systems: /SMEG_IV2_UPG/DATA/CCT.DAT.inf and press the GENERATE button, write down the activationcode that will appear.
For RT6 systems: /CCT.DAT.inf (use the ROOT directory file) and press the GENERATE button, write down the activationcode that will appear.

RECOMMENDATION: GET THE 4 POSSIBLE CODES, WRITE THEM IN. I HAVE TESTED THEM IN THE CAR UNTIL YOU GET THE CORRECT ONE (with this you will avoid going up and down to the garage when the code fails you)

PS: When the code fails it gives the following message "Check the version of the cartography and / or the activation key"

After getting your activation codes copy the contents of that zipped folder (not the folder itself - should have 13 files and 6 folders) to an empty FAT32-formatted USB drive, and plug it into your car (in the centre console for my car), then start the car. The headunit will identify it as map data, and ask you if you want to update it. Enter code (if asked), then keep the car running and wait for it to finish. Australian map data is in two zones (WA and the rest) - I didn't bother with the WA data, and the east coast map data probably only took 10-15 mins to copy across. I have heard that too big a USB drive will cause problems, so avoid Tb plus sizes, and try to dig out an old 2/4/8 Gb USB instead!

Good luck,

Dave
 
Hi Dave, Wow! v detailed information here - thanks so much - not sure that I fully understand the process tho. I get putting a new SD card in, but the rest is v foreign territory for me. Not sure what I can manage on my own, or what you can do to assist? Not sure what head unit I have? Pic attached. The car's a 03/2013 C5 Tourer - VIN is VF7RWRHHADL506627
Appreciate anything you can suggest
Cheers, Andrew
 

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PS Dave - apologies for a v late response too btw - been away working for the last few months.
 
Hi Dave, Wow! v detailed information here - not sure that I fully understand the process tho. I get putting a new SD card in, but the rest is foreign territory for me. Not sure what I can manage on my own for what you can do to assist? Not sure what head unit I have? VIN is
 
Hi Andrew, where is brisbane do you live?

Cheers, Ken
 
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