Two Probs; 1. Cutting Out. 2. Battery Re-connection/radio

[Matti Ghofen]

2003 C3 Hdi, 70,000 miles.

 

The engine has finally stopped after months of occasional/intermittent cutting out. It would cut out for about two seconds whilst driving and restart straight away, and always before any momentum was lost.

Tonight it cut out again but won't start. The battery is strong, the cambelt is intact and there are no unusual noises. No obvious pattern either, sometimes cut out after a mile, but more often after an hour or so.

 

I read somewhere on this forum about a reset by disconnecting the battery. This hasn't made any difference but I can't use the radio now. Does anyone know how to reset the radio please?

 

Thanks,

MG

[flitwick]

2003 C3 Hdi, 70,000 miles.

 

The engine has finally stopped after months of occasional/intermittent cutting out. It would cut out for about two seconds whilst driving and restart straight away, and always before any momentum was lost.

Tonight it cut out again but won't start. The battery is strong, the cambelt is intact and there are no unusual noises. No obvious pattern either, sometimes cut out after a mile, but more often after an hour or so.

 

I read somewhere on this forum about a reset by disconnecting the battery. This hasn't made any difference but I can't use the radio now. Does anyone know how to reset the radio please?

 

Thanks,

MG

 

Sounds like the sort of problems i had i would check the main connector under the bonnet big round one with lots of wires near the top left. Mine was water regresion and caused alsorts of problems maybe worth a look

[Matti Ghofen]

Flitwick,

I can't find the connector you mentioned. When you say 'top left', do you mean near the coolant header tank?

Is your car a 1.4hdi?

MG

[flitwick]

Flitwick,

I can't find the connector you mentioned. When you say 'top left', do you mean near the coolant header tank?

Is your car a 1.4hdi?

MG

As you look under the bonnet there is a very large plug with alot of wires coming out just to right of the water filler cap in between the metal part of the water intercooler and the airbox mines a16v 1.4 hdi sx had my car going backwards and forwards to the citroen dealer til the found out about this onre turned out it was leaking water down from the screen washer jets straight into this connector thats what caused mine to go into limp home mode several times and losing power at round abouts

[Matti Ghofen]

Thanks, I'll check that tonight.

 

The car is driving me nuts now;

This morning the engine started fine, ran for a while then cut out before restarting ok.

I started the engine again when I got home from work just after 5 and it has run ok for about 25 minutes. I have driven it back and forth on my drive. Even the radio works now!

 

The only apparent problem is with the power steering... it's heavy as if the electric power steering isn't working.

 

Any suggestions please?

Can the steering motor or the electrics be reset?

 

Cheers,

MG.

[paul.h]

I think I have read on here that the steering can be reset by switching the ignition on and off 3 times but without starting the engine.

Water leaking down past the washer jets is also a known problem for the petrol engines, dripping on to the injectors and causing failure - happened to our 1.4sx. Prevention is by putting sealant under the jets to seal against the bonnet and also to ensure the hose connecting to the jets does not leak at the join. I replaced the hard plastic hose with rubber and moved the T-join to the 2 jets to the side of the bonnet so this also could not drip onto the injectors.

[Matti Ghofen]

This all seems to be fixed now.

Supreme Automotive in Chesterfield couldn't have been more helpful... fully recommended.

 

The faults in the diagnostic memory were;

1. P0339 Engine RPM/crank sensor fault

2. P1164 Fuel pressure circuit

 

Supreme fitted a new crank sensor. The car is running perfectly and the faults have cleared. It appears that the fugged crank sensor was giving spurious readings in the fuel pressure circuit.

 

Parts & Labour £89

 

Simon - Supreme Automotive; 07894 810699

 

Cheers,

MG