Service Alert

[Brigitta L D]

Hi. my first post so hopefully in the right place! We have a 2006 C4

The service light has just Started turning on after about 1/2 mile into journey, and stays on. No spanner indicator and no error messages so I don't Know what's wrong or faulty. The service Monitor says next Service isn't due for another 17000 Miles.

Any ideas folks?

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

If you turn the engine off and back on again does the service light go off ? You can look in your handbook to see what it means but it will be the car thinks something needs looking at such as battery low voltage, brakes worn if it has pad wear indicators, maybe oil level wrong, maybe a low fluid level (brake/washer/coolant) or it may just be an error. The spanner indicator is based on miles covered or possibly 2 years so would not come on.

[Brigitta L D]

Hi. Thanks for replying so promptly. When I switched off and on again- the service light Came on immediately and stays on. When I leave it overnight, it turns off initially, but then comes on again alter 1/2 mile or so, and stays on.

Should there be an indicator saying what the problem is? or do I need to take it to the garage?

[paul.h]

You would expect there to be a message saying what is wrong, if not then you will need to check the car over. If you can not find anything wrong then maybe you will need to take it to a Citroen dealer (or other Citroen specialist). This is copied from a handbook for the 2006 to 2008 model:

 

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SERVICE warning lamp

This warning lamp remains on for a serious fault.

Contact a CITROËN dealer as soon as possible

The lamp stays on only for a short time for a minor fault.

Contact a CITROËN dealer if necessary.

To learn the origin of the corresponding alert message, refer to the «Log of alerts» (see chapter II) or your NaviDrive instructions.

----------------------------------------

 

The log of alerts looks to be accessed from the radio menu and in the handbook is covered by the multi function display chapter. Have a look at this and it may say what is wrong. If not, then you need to have a look at the car for something obvious. If you have a volt meter you can check the battery - it should be about 12.5 volts without the engine running or about 14.3 volts with it running. Have a look at the front brake pads through the wheels to see if they look worn down (less than about 4 mm of friction material left). Lift the bonnet and check the brake fluid/coolant/engine oil/steering fluid and washer fluid levels. Check all the light bulbs are working.

 

From the RTA C4 manual, it lists the following are indicated by the Service light but some will depend on the model/engine:

Problems where the light will remain on:

- anti pollution fault - this could be anything that affects the exhaust emissions but may also be indicated by the engine management light coming on.

- a suspension problem.

- ESP problem.(you may also get an ESP warning light)

- battery charge problem (check its voltage).

- tyre pressure low.

- an immobilser transponder problem.

- an air bag problem.

- an EOBD problem.

- an ABS problem (you may also get an abs warning light)

- a lighting or indicator problem (check all the bulbs are working).

- an auto gearbox problem.

 

Problems where the Service light would not stay on are given as:

- engine oil level.

- low tyre pressure.

- presence of water in the diesel filter if a diesel car.

- washer fluid level.

- low level of eolys fluid (exhaust dpf filter fluid) if the car is a diesel with a diesel particulate filter.

[Brigitta L D]

Hi, thanks for all your help and info above. Bizarrly,the service light didn't come on today! Hopefully it was just a blip after all, but if it comes on again I'll Check all the items above . Thanks again.

[paul.h]

It is still worthwhile checking the fluid levels, it will not take long.

[Brigitta L D]

Hi, my service light came on again so went through levels etc as you recommended which were all fine, then checked tyre pressure which was way out on one tyre so I corrected that and no more service light since. Thanks for your advice and tips. I'd have been annoyed if I'd booked it into the garage to find out the tyre pressure had caused it. You've saved me a packet! Thanks again. :-)

[paul.h]

Is your car an exclusive model to have tyre pressure monitoring ? It may be worth checking that tyre again in a few days in case it has a slow puncture.

[john h]

I had service message, reason was fob battery needed changing, ok now