Antipollution Faults.....patience!

[Guest Brian]

Having had three instances of this problem in so many years (2.2 HDI), with the resultant drop in power, its inconvenience and safety implications, I am convinced patience is the answer in most cases.

 

It seems to me that Citroen agents, even with their Diagnostic Gizmos, are floundering in the dark. This equipment may point to a valve, a sensor, a pump, a pressure drop, etc., etc. It will not tell them what has actually caused the unit to give a read-out on their screen. They must physically search for it and don't seem to find it, if the feed back on this and many other forums is anything to go by. How many owners have been ripped of by having a replacement part fitted, problem still there, other part fitted, still the problem? It goes on and on. Even the cost of sticking the car to the Gizmo is ridiculous.

 

In my cases I brought the car out into daylight (much better view of things-less shadow etc.) and spent up to an hour systematically examining every hose, plastic pipe, plastic junction, rubber staight and elbow connector. I also checked electrical sensors and the maze of wiring for loose connections.

This paid off on each occasion.

 

1st Case; Discovered three of the rubber hose connectors for plastic piping had perished and split in or around the servo area of engine bay. Air was being sucked in, or blown out. Replaced them with sections which I cut from Halfords fuel line of same internal diameter. Warnings dissapeared. No problems for another year. Have since replaced other sections before problems arose as I noticed they were starting to split. These connections occur throughout engine bay and in most the plastic pipe just pushes in. Check that you are not pulling at hydraulic lines!

 

2nd Case; Connecting short plastic pipe from underside of sensor connected to inlet hose of air filter box (partially hidden by battery cover) had snapped. This was difficult to find as the sensor is screwed to a metal bracket and seemed stable but by pulling at the connections I found it. Took it from bracket, cleaned well and Super Glued it. Cured!

 

3rd Case; After a few minutes searching I discovered the small plastic ball joint on rod from diaphragm, which opens swirl chamber at inlet manifold, was broken (a common fault). Agent wanted me to buy complete unit but thanks to generosity of Randombloke on the forum this problem has now been solved. He had a unit with the diaphragm blown but a good plastic ball socket which he got to me. A few minutes work.

 

All of this work during the last three years cost me about 10 Euro and a bit of patience, maybe four hours worth! No time in the workshop being diagnosed. No hanging around waiting for the diagnosis and prognosis. No paying for a replacement car while work being carried out. No returning to workshop to have another solution tried. No rip-off.

 

I have had big jobs such as timing belt, particulate filter and eloys fluid done by Citroen agent in Spain for about half of what it would have cost me here in Ireland or UK. It has covered 205000 klms. and still runs like a new car.

 

I am not a technical genius so I will not go messing at things that I reckon are out of my depth but a bit of common sense goes a long way. Give it a try.