Citroen C5 2003 1.8 16V Engine Running After Key Removed

[wpeter]

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice please.

I ran out of petrol in my 2003 C5 1.8 16v yesterday, and from that moment on the engine will not turn off with the key. I have to stall the engine to stop it.

 

The car is functioning normally otherwise, and the only warning light on the dash is the orange engine light, although that has been on since I had the car a year ago.

 

Also, can anyone identify the unit circled in red on the attached picture please? It continues making an audible high-pitched whine long after the engine is stopped.

The noise stops when I unplug its power, but returns when plugged back in....I wondered if that was the cause.

 

Thanks very much. 

 

 

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

When you turn the key off does the dash remain lit up suggesting the ignition switch is stuck or maybe a relay ?

 

I think that part is the throttle body which controls the amount of air in to the engine. During normal maintenance the inlet duct to it should be removed and the throttle plate cleaned using something such as carburettor cleaner or a cloth soaked in turps/white spirit to remove any carbon build up. Whether or not the noise is normal I do not know but if it has only just started doing it then see if the plate is sticking and needs a clean.

 

With the engine management light on there will be a fault code that will indicate what is wrong. Possibly the new fault may have given a new code but since the light was already on you would not have noticed. You need to use a code reader to check this, they are not expensive and one with live data is of more use than just a code reader such as this one from Gendan https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html

[wpeter]

Thanks very much for the reply. No, all the dash lights go out as normal .... the engine continues to run with the key removed. I'll clean the plate tomorrow and see if theres any change, then look to get a code reader. Cheers

[wpeter]

Actually, the key symbol on the dash came on and stayed on during my drive to work this morning ..... is this pointing to the ignition barrel as the problem? Thanks.

[paul.h]

I am not sure but a key symbol on the dash could mean the battery in the key fob needs replacing. You could check this using the spare key fob.

 

How many miles has the car done, just trying to think what could cause the engine to run without any sparks if the ignition has switched off and one thought is the engine needs a decoke. The fuel pump would also need to keep running though.

[wpeter]

It's done 95,000 miles. 

[wpeter]

And I've just noticed that the battery light stays on when the key is removed, so the engine is still drawing power then?