paul.h

Sounds as if the revs are too low on start up, could possibly be a temperature sensor problem or accelerator pedal problem, reminds me of adjusting a manual choke. I replaced the accelerator pedal on ours (1.4 sx petrol 2003, manual), it was about £40 and 2 nuts to fit plus cable connector to undo, since at low revs it did not pick up smoothly (revs jumped about) and made setting off difficult. I think there is a known problem on the pedals but in time I would expect the electrical contacts/tracks to wear anyway. Also had something similar on a Saab which turned out to be a faulty spark plug and caused jerking when cold, sorted with new plugs, obviously not relevant for a diesel but maybe a glow plug problem although hdi is not meant to use them unless really cold.

Manuals for recent cars can be read/printed (mouse right button click) from the service.citroen.com website. If there is a button on the end of the wiper stalk, pressing this in will go through the pages of a trip computer if there is one - our 2003 C3 1.4 sx petrol does not have one.

Sealey do one that will read/reset airbag codes but it is over £200. Low cost code readers only do engine codes. Other option is a dealer tool Nexia but again it is not low cost. Lowest cost option is probably to visit your dealer. First though it may be worthwhile checking all the connections are good.

You have not said what type/speed of driving you are doing - from memory, official figures for a manual 2.2 hdi hatchback are about 32 mpg urban, 57 mpg extra urban, combined about 45 mpg with slight differences over the years. It also pays to reset the trip computer at the start of a journey. On a long motorway trip and not in to the wind, keeping about 65 mph, we get about 50 to 53 mpg, much faster and it can easily drop to 45 mpg (2004 2.2 hdi vtr hatchback, mark 1). Pulling a caravan gives about 30 mpg.

Is the car using oil between services to confirm the MOT tester and if so, how much ? Other causes of high emissions are the need for servicing - dirty air filter, dirty throttle plate/body, blocked engine breather pipes, oil/filter change, old spark plugs, lambda sensor faulty, catalyst faulty, etc.

If you are in the RAC/AA and have Homestart, then you could call them out and they will try and get it going/diagnose the problem although it seems odd that the Citroen dealer got it wrong. My experience - if the car turns over at normal starting speed, if you spray something like an easy start into the air inlet near the throttle body and the engine then runs a bit, it would point to a fuel problem - the RAC used this when I had a fuel pump fail on a Saab. You could also remove a spark plug and see if it smells of petrol. If on turning the engine the rpm indicator works then that may show the crank position sensor is working - also part of RAC checks. When checking the fuses did you also check the maxi fuses which are hidden in the engine fusebox under the first layer of fuses ? Do the radio/interior lights and no. plate lights still work since Haynes has these listed as using the same fuse as the 12 volt socket ? Car Mechanics magazine also has a help service you could try - Rodney Jacques e-mail carmexhelp@aol.com and include a postal address. They also have a help service Diagnostic Doctor, website ecutesting.com and e-mail tunemycar@btconnect.com - these are taken from the April 2011 magazine. They ask for as much detail as possible, car, model, year, miles.

If the C2 was bought from a dealer then I would think you should be covered by a warranty, hence if so, it needs to go back to the dealer. Ideally the fault codes would be read to find the problems - note that low cost engine code readers will not read braking and air bag codes, you will need a dealer one for this. It could be something simple such as dirty abs sensors on the wheels which also probably give the speedometer reading. The air bag fault could again be something simple such as a loose connector under a front seat, also on the C3 pages there was a case of a loose connector on the switch to disconnect the front passenger air bag.

Lexia is the Citroen diagnostic tool.

The window switches may just need a clean internally - I think there was a case on here recently where one switch did not work, the connectors where swapped over on the switches and this then worked the none working window. A clean of the switch sorted it. There was a recent case of a faulty heater panel which I think was fixed by refitting its cable connector so maybe dirty contacts. The rear window heater also did not work until the fix. Another possibility is a faulty fan speed control - a common failure on many cars where the resistors burn out.

Not sure on your car, but our C4 is done via the radio menu button.

'usually leads to an "Anti Pollution" fault warning' This did not happen when mine broke, unless it was just before I lifted the bonnet. However, previous few trips, I had been getting nearly 60 mpg and once replaced, it was back to 50 ish.

There is some info in the Haynes manual for the C5. If you do not have this and can not find it in your local library, Shenden on here has a copy which others can see through a link - have a search through his posts. If you register on the service.citroen.com site as a member of a car club (this one), you can see and print (right mouse click) the parts diagrams that are used by the Citroen dealers.

Is there anything in the car handbook ? If you do not have one, they can be read/printed on service.citroen.com website.

This may not be your problem, but on the 2.2 hdi there is an actuator at the gearbox end of the cylinder head with a plastic cup on the end of a long rod which breaks. It is called a diaphragm and controls the swirl plates. It is a common failure and there are numerous posts about it.

There is no mention of a particulate filter or eolys fluid in the Haynes manual for the C3 2002 to 2005 so you do not need to worry.

Could be a faulty alternator, nothing else that I can think of will increase the voltage above battery voltage. Also check the battery connections but likely if loose, the voltage would drop.

If there are buttons at the sides of the display, hold in the left one until it changes, then use it to go through the different settings - language, km/miles, clock setting, etc. making changes using the right button. On recent Citroens, the settings are done by using the menu button on the radio.

There was something similar to this on a C5 and it turned out to be water in the electrical connector on the switch. Once dried and cleaned it worked ok.

For a car, the registration V5C document gives the car's mass in service which is the unladen weight plus 75 kg to cover the weight of driver. You may also find the kerb weight in the handbook.

Rattly things I have had before on other cars include worn timing chain so hitting casing, worn oil pump so low oil pressure, sticking hydraulic tappets, faulty hydraulic tappet so pushrod was loose, thin oil, low oil level. Things to try include additives that free up hydraulic tappets, check the oil pressure, check oil level, change the oil filter and oil, check the camshaft for wear.

Possibilities include fuel, ignition, fuse problem. Is the engine management fault light on? Does everything else work that does not require the engine running ? Can you hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds in the back when the ignition is turned on ? Worth checking all the fuses in the engine fuse box and the cabin fuse box (in the glove box).

Somebody on the C5 subforum has recently imported a C5 to France so a search of the posts there may help (or even post the question there). It mostly concerned changing the headlights so suitable for left hand drive roads.

Our only moderator is iannez, we could do with more but how is this done and what are the responsibilities. At one point he was deleting a lot of the spam almost full time but one of his posts referred to a new house which was taking a lot of his time (as well as work).

That bracket/strap that goes around the silencer is common to a few Citroens and it rusts through. Common solution is to weld it up to the silencer since it is not available to buy.

It should be covered by the warranty so I would try your Citroen dealer before doing anything else.