spacepods Posted August 23, 2017 Posted August 23, 2017 Hi all, I have a 2008 C4 Grand Picasso 1.8 VTR+ (petrol), bought last October 2017. I have been having niggly problem with it. A few times now, the car goes into limp mode which means I have a loss of power. Every time this happens (without fail), I am in slow-moving, or stationary, traffic. The first warning that comes up is Depollution System Faulty, followed by Handbrake/ESP/ABS faulty errors and the car enters limp mode. Most recently, last week, I had a full load of 7 people trying to get up a hill in St. Ives, Cornwall and this happened. I managed to get up the hill and park up. Later that day it was OK.A couple of days later, after an hour or so of driving, I hit congestion on the motorway. When I stopped in traffic I got this issue again. Luckily, because the traffic was stationary, I was able to turn the engine off for a minute. When I fired it up again I just got the depollution warning with nothing else and therefore I did not have a loss of power - A couple of off an ons over the next 10 minutes and I got no errors and the car was fine for the next 3 hours of driving. I have seen people here have had issues with the depollution system faulty messages but nothing related to it being solely related to slow-moving or being stationary, and could not see anything with the car subsequently throwing up these other messages and going into limp. Any ideas why this would happen in slow traffic and why it results in all of these other messages (and then going into limp)? I took it to the local garage a few months back with this problem and there was cylinder 3 misfire when it was diagnosed. The coil pack was replaced and it was OK for a few months. Cheers Quote
paul.h Posted August 23, 2017 Posted August 23, 2017 I think you have the car purchase date wrong, October 2017 is in the future. Rather than try to guess what is wrong you need to use a code reader, otherwise you can start replacing lots of expensive parts in the hope of finding the right one before wasting too much money. The depollution system faulty message simply means there is a fault that can affect the running of the engine and hence the exhaust emissions. So it could be any of the sensors, a wiring/connection fault, an air leak, the exhaust catalyst, the exhaust lambda sensors, etc. The other warning message will likely be related but could be such as a brake light switch, wheel abs sensor, speed control, etc. Limp mode is a preset control of the engine to minimise emissions to let you get home or to a garage. If you do not have a code reader they do not cost much, less than a diagnostic at a garage. As an example one that also does some engine live data http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html Quote
spacepods Posted August 24, 2017 Author Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks Paul, Well spotted - 2017 indeed. 2008 I meant. I have been meaning to get a code reader. I'll take a look at your link. I think I've already started with the expensive parts replacement by having a new coil pack! I'll stop now. I think I'll need to take a look myself with a reader and see what may be the problem. There's something about it in slow-moving or stationary traffic though. Only this morning, I pulled up at the lights and the problem reared its ugly head again. I think the depollution system error is where I need to focus. The others are related, I'm sure because when I get more than just the depollution warning, without fail it's all of the others. Thanks again. Quote
spacepods Posted August 24, 2017 Author Posted August 24, 2017 "Well spotted - 2017 indeed. 2008 I meant."Actually, not 2008 either. Bought October 2016. Quote
spacepods Posted October 26, 2017 Author Posted October 26, 2017 I am still having an issue with the car as explained above and bought the Foxwell NT200 diagnostic device as suggested. When I see the problem, the code given is P1339. Now, I've had a look online and found a bit of info, however there's lots of conjecture about what the cause is. As already mentioned the issue is that, when the problem arises, it's always when I'm in slow-moving (below 25 mph) traffic or stationary. When it happens it always appears as Depollution System Faulty followed by all of the the other errors.A quick fix to get it out of limp mode is to turn the ignition off and back on again (which isn't a big problem because I'm travelling slowly or stationary anyway). When I turn it back on, I just get the Depollution System Faulty error and no others and I have limp mode no more! Another thing to point out is that when I'm pulling away in first gear, I need to apply quite a bit of right leg to get the revs up - it just feels as though it's about to stall. I've read a forum discussion thread where somebody had a similar throttle issue in a BMW and, when I search for code P1339 it comes up with a few BMW-related issues, so I think the two issues could be related. Possibly this is a throttle issue - I understand a stepper motor is used in these cars for the throttle. Anyway, if anyone has anything to add or suggest I'd be grateful. What I will do is to check the throttle - hand-press the throttle pedal, keep it at a set position and check the revs - the behaviour explained is that the revs drop off despite the pedal remaining in the same position. Thanks in advance.Kevin Quote
paul.h Posted October 26, 2017 Posted October 26, 2017 I am not sure but I do not think you have a BMW vti engine so things about variable valve timing will not apply. The engine type is in the letters in the car VIN, a Citroen 1.8 I think may have EW7 whereas vti may be EP. Looks as if P1339 is a misfire on cylinder number 3. Note Citroen sometimes number cylinders from the gearbox end. Could be a coil pack that needs replacing http://www.c2club.co.uk/showthread.php?27177-P1339-error-code-when-engine-cold-fine-when-warm If you remove it have a look at the contacts where the spark plugs touch and check for any corrosion, I had this on a C3 and they had turned green but it was not bad enough to give any fault codes. If you replace the coil pack also replace the spark plugs. I had a faulty spark plug on a Saab once that gave intermittent misfires and it took a lot of effort to find the fault. Some coil packs may not be good quality so cheap is not always best. Another similar one http://www.diagnostic-world.com/pages/peugeot_trouble_code_p1337_p1338_p1339_p1340_how_to_fix_227104.cfm However, you have already replaced the coil pack and this did not help. Is the timing belt due for renewal but I would expect any fault with this would happen all the time if the timing is out. If the engine is rattly it could be a sticking tappet on cylinder 3 but it would likely happen all the time. http://c4owners.org/plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?197437.0#post_197447 I replaced the accelerator pedal on a C3 where the revs did not increase gradually between about 1000 and 2000 rpm which made it difficult to set off but this happened all the time. It is probably not this, but do you clean the carbon build up off the throttle plate when you service the car. I use carb spray cleaner but a cloth damp with white spirit will do. If not done this can affect the idling and cause stalling. If your next option is to spend a lot of money, I think you may be better getting a Citroen dealer to do the diagnostic check. Quote
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