Anti Pollution Control Fault.

[sandman2]

Hi, I have a 2011 C3 VTR+ Diesel. Which only has about 14,000 miles on the clock.

I get the above message on the screen, and the orange engine light stays on all the time.

Has only started today. Any ideas?  

[Routemaster1]

Hi, I have a 2011 C3 VTR+ Diesel. Which only has about 14,000 miles on the clock.

I get the above message on the screen, and the orange engine light stays on all the time.

Has only started today. Any ideas?  

If you have only done 14000 miles in 6 years, a diesel isn't the ideal vehicle. What type of driving do you do? If it is local and short trios, it is likely that the particle filter is blocking/blocked with soot as the exhaust doesn't get hot enough to burn off the soot particles. I would suggest that you get on a motorway or dual carriageway and drive the car for a minimum of 15 minutes to try to burn off any soot.

[paul.h]

It could be the dpf blocking or it it could be something else and you will need to use a code reader to find out. Check your handbook to see if your car gives a warning if the dpf  (FAP) is blocking before the engine light comes on. It is cheaper to buy a code reader than pay a garage to read the codes. As an example of one that also gives some engine live data https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html

[sandman2]

Hi, It's my Mum's car, and she only does short journeys. Would a diesel injector cleaner do any good? I will try taking it for a run.

[paul.h]

Apart from taking it for a run, I would not spend anything or do anything to it without reading the fault code. You could have a look for any obvious loose connectors but to start spending money in the hope of guessing the right fault can result in a waste of a lot of money. Whilst the engine light is on the car will be in limp mode so will not perform as well as normal and this could result in shortening the life of the exhaust catalyst.

 

Where in the country are you, on one of the C5 sections there is a pinned topic of members able to help with a diagnostic check so you could see if any are in your area.

 

Looking in the handbook for the car on page 30, it gives a warning symbol for the dpf (exhaust particulate filter) blocking and gives this advice

As soon as driving conditions allow, regenerate

the filter by driving at a speed of at least 35 mph

(60 km/h) until the warning lamp goes off.

 

If you do not have the handbook available, it can be read here after selecting your language, the car and model year http://service.citroen.com/ddb/

[sandman2]

Hi, I took the car for drive, and it cut out after 5 miles. Had to phone the RAC to tow it back home.

[paul.h]

Did the RAC plug in a code reader to find out what was wrong - if so did they give you the code ?

 

If it starts again once cooled down then it could be a faulty cam shaft sensor or crankshaft sensor but you should still read the codes before buying any parts. It is very unlikely to be a blocked particulate filter since this would not cause it to cut out. Both these sensors are about £30 so if one of these it should not cost much to fix.

[sandman2]

Have taken the car to Citroen, and they tell me that the Engine ECU has gone. Talking over £1000.00p.

[paul.h]

As well as a new ecu, other options include replacing with a used one plus all the immobiliser involved parts or getting your ecu repaired by somebody such BBA reman (this could cost about a quarter of a new one). First though I would check its connections to see if any have water damage since I have read that water can get in to the wiring from the washer pump and work its way back to the ecu.

[sandman2]

It's too late now, Citroen are doing it. I checked the mileage again, and the car has only done 3000 miles from new. ( three thousand). Pretty sad really.

[paul.h]

At only averaging 500 miles a year it would possibly be cheaper to use taxis than own a car. Even though it is low mileage, it will still need annual (or 2 year) services at around £200 a time, on top of the other car ownership costs and depreciation - probably together giving in the region of £2000 a year. However, using your own car is more convenient.

[sandman2]

From a financial point of view you are correct, but that is not the issue.

 

1 The car was brought brand new.

2 It has only done 3000 miles.

3 It has only been serviced by Citroen.

4 It the ECU is that sensitive, then it shouldn't be in the engine bay.

[paul.h]

There have been problems with our 2010 C3 which I also would not have expected and effectively made the car expensive, 1.4 vti petrol vtr+. It got more use than your C3 though, bought 2013 at 12k miles  and on 55k miles over 4 years when replaced.

 

The heater warm air control cable started bending since the warm air flap was seizing so the heater could not be set to warm. A sign of this is the heater warm control knob does not turn easily over its full range. In the end a new heater was needed at about £1400 fitted by Citroen. A drive shaft oil seal needed replacing as it started to leak (about £180). The timing chain needed replacing at only 55k miles - we have now changed the car with this fault but the parts alone were up to £300 and about £400 labour (or about £50 for timing tools if DIY). The rear drum brake cylinders do not seem to last that long and I have replaced 3 over the last 3 years, about £40 each from Citroen but a diy job and found leaking slightly during the annual brake clean. There have been oil leaks on the engine - the timing chain tensioner had not been fully tighened when built (a common fault), a solenoid on the oil pump was leaking when the car was 3 years old but fixed under warranty. One of the rear suspension coil springs broke whilst out of warranty but again fixed by Citroen without charge as a good will gesture (Citroen do this if coil springs break). This engine has always used engine oil, about 1 litre every 3000 miles, the first on a car we have owned since the 1980s. It also seemed to use a bit of coolant but there were no leaks. One of the cam shaft sensors failed but only about £30 to replace diy.

[coastline taxis]

This whole situation just dosnt seem right at all. Get straight onto citroen uk and tell them its a 3k car with full dealer service  to break down with such a major fault is just wrong on every level. ask the dealer how they have diagnosed the ecu.  If the dpf is full then the car wont run as the exhaust gases cant escape and will result in every sensor going daft on the car. And as paul has already said bba remain can fix them at a fraction of the cost

[sandman2]

Was hoping that the dealer would phone today, but didn't. I will contact Citroen UK and try to explain the situation. But I imagine that I will have to settle the bill first, before hopefully getting some form of compensation.

 

Paul H's car sounds like a f**king nightmare as well.

[paul.h]

I would not put our C3 down as that bad, but had problems I would not expect. Other than these it was reliable and gave good service, just the BMW design (I think) engine is not that good and other makes of car with the same engine have the same engine problems such as the Mini. It has not put us off Citroen cars but I will avoid the vti petrol engine. It has now been replaced by a C4 Cactus 1.6 hdi since the C3 was now a bit small. So within our family over the last 12 years we've had 2 C5s, 3 C4s, a Xsara Picasso, 2 C3s (both petrol, the other cars all diesel) and now the Cactus. Prior to getting Citroens I used to spend much of my spare time fixing cars but this ended when we changed to Citroens but these have been newer and lower mileage cars which helps.

 

If you can, I would try Citroen UK before you pay the bill since comments on here suggest it is difficult to get anywhere with them and once you have paid they might show even less interest. I think I read somewhere it is better to contact them through social media which can get a quicker response - see this topic as an example http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/21266-brand-new-citroen-ds5-plenty-of-faults-and-bad-paint-job/page-0

[sandman2]

Paul.H, Your car's had about 11 different problems, and you still bought another Citroen?

[paul.h]

The other 7 Citroen cars have not given any problems. Before Citroens I had 3 Saabs and these took up a lot of time and expense doing diy repairs. The Saab 900i though was on 200k miles when I replaced it at 14 years old after 8 years use, the 9000 on 150k miles but the 9-5 only 99k miles and this was the worst needing a turbo and steering rack. Other cars have also needed body repairs due to rusting which has not been a problem on Citroens.

[sandman2]

The fuel injector seals are leaking, and also have to be replaced. 

[paul.h]

Leaking seals where the injectors seal at the cylinder head might be a common problem but surely not at 3000 miles. It needs doing sooner rather than leaving it though to prevent carbon build up stopping easy removal of the injectors. Makes you wonder if they were not tightened up enough when built.

[sandman2]

I'm just under the Moon.

[sandman2]

Got the car back today. Final bill came to £1733.00p.

Have sent a letter to Citroen UK explaining it as best I can.

[sandman2]

I'm also looking for a towing eye for the above vehicle.

[paul.h]

I hope you do not have any more bother with the car and good luck with Citroen UK. The front towing eye is Citroen part 7212SQ, a dealer will sell you one or you can get one through ebay for about £15, as an example https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Genuine-Tow-Hook-Towing-Eye-Ring-Bracket-CITROEN-C4-Picasso-Ds3-C-elysee-7212SQ/721474567

[sandman2]

I've also got a vibration in the rear passenger door, I don't really want to take the panel off. Any ideas?