C5 2.0 HDI with an automatic gear box

Hi Willem,

your car has the AL4 gear box, which is quite known for that specific issue. The most probable cause is that the two magnetic valves are defective; those are reinforced in later AL4 gear boxes. Best to go to see your nearest Citroen or Pug dealer for a repair quote (unless you can have the seller to cover the costs, the parts here in Finland cost around 250 eur + 3h work time).

Adding oil does not help, unfortunately. It is advisable to have the gear box oil changed after every 40.000 kms, even though Citroen says it is not necessary. And make sure the oil is *exactly* the same type as the original. Plus have the gear box software updated as well.

Hope this helps, Marko

Thank you for the advise I know the history of the car very well , it belonged to my parents .The gear box problem exists as long as the car.Allways been maintenanced by an official dealer.The software has been updated.Never heared mentionning magnetic valves. Never the less i'am planning to change the gearbox oil and argue with the dealer about the magnetic valves since it's a known problem and it goes way back to the first year of the car . Hope to get some good news to the group. Willem

"M" schreef >> Hello

Yup, the local Citroen web forums here are quite full of the same complaints here, I don't know if it is because that the climate up North causes extra strain or what (actually Australian Pug forums discuss the same issue!). I have had that same problem with my -00 Xantia and the C5, fortunately the costs were covered by the guarantee. And of course the importer had "never heard" of the problem.... yeah sure.

And yes, changing the gear box lube is not part of the regular maintenance program as it is supposed to be long life oil, to be functional forever so probably the gear box oil in your car has never been changed unless specifically ordered.

Good luck to you and let us know about the results!

- Marko