Limp Mode

[x-paul-x]

Hi, a lad from work says that my c3 might be in limp mode but citroen keep saying its loads of other parts so i was wondering if anyone knew how i could see if my car was in limp mode and does anyone know how to take the engine managment light off without removing the bulb, thanx

[kfk]

The diagnostic light will come on because the Engine Management Computer has detected a fault.9 times out of 10 this will log a fault code in the computer to enable a clue to be given as to where to start looking.

 

Limp home mode is the state that the engine may go into in the event that a fault has been logged in the computer. It uses this strategy to enable the engine to 'limp you home' with out doing loads of damage to your engine or the environment. In the old days we didnt have limp home mode because we didnt have computers.....your car would have just stopped!

 

If your car is running in limp home mode its because it has a fault,....cure the fault and it will return to normal after the fault codes have been cleared and the computers reinitialised.

 

It may help you more if you post what the garage has said together with details of the fault your experiencing , the spec of your car will also assist and may allow us to give opinion.

 

If you continue driving with the light on you could be doing engine damage.

[x-paul-x]

well citroen keep saying there is a fault but they say they fixed it then cleared it then it comes back on again and its a citroen c3, 1.4 and its a 2003 model. i mean the car runs fine but the light just keeps coming on a day after it is cleared and when u first turn the engine on it gives off a beeb for a few seconds. but each time i go to the dealership they say its some other sensor then they clean it then turn off the light then the bloody thing comes back on a day later, i am seriously thinking about just taking it to get crushed, lol

[kfk]

What sensor are they cleaning what have they done to it previously?

[x-paul-x]

so far they cleaned the speedo sensor, crank sensor, throttle position valve, they done something with the power steering, they put a new coil pack and spark plugs in it, a new cat and sensors for the car and i think thats it, lol

[iannez]

sounds like throttle position copy fault. does the car loose power when the light comes on. if it is this the plug will need cutting out of thr throttle harness and the wires soldered together then the plug will need to be cut off the throttle position sonsor and the plug that was removed first attaching to it.

or it could be the injector nearest the pully side of the engine has an intermittant fault.

the are the 2 most common faults for limp home mode on petrol c3's.

multiple missfires on all cylinders=coil.

throttle position copy=throttle harness short circuit. poss electronic throttle body.

open circuit on injector no (any number)=pully side injector.