Citroen c3 1.4 hdi non start

[richardmorris]

My dad's c3 ( 60k ish miles four years old) has decided not to start. It did so reluctantly but engine management light came on. Ran ok after and started ok too.

 

Did it again the next morning ( today) so they called green flag who thought it may be a filter ? Great help eh! Don't know if they did diagnostic or not?

 

My dad thinks it's glow plugs, but it's not actually been that cold and these new things don't usually need any time at all to warm up.

 

Local dealer can't fit it in until the 10th to even look at it! But they have said that it could be glow plugs.

 

Any ideas? Oh, I have sent him the link to the lpg c6 on eBay but he says no!

[tommotech]

If the light came on there will be a fault code (DTC) stored. This will point you in the general direction.

[twosmoke300]

Won't be glow plugs . Modern di engines don't need them unless it's Baltic.

On one of those I'd suspect cam / crank sensor or an injector leaking back too much .

I would monitor crank / cam speed and fuel rail pressure on live data .

If it eventually starts and then runs ok it could well be cam sensor

[richardmorris]

If the light came on there will be a fault code (DTC) stored. This will point you in the general direction.

Indeed, but the garage won't look at it for a week. Helpful or what!

 

Actually, he says it was the emissions light, but I've no idea if this is what he means or means eml.

[tommotech]

Indeed, but the garage won't look at it for a week. Helpful or what!

Some people have access to a code reader, even if just the code can be read, so yes, getting the code(s) is helpful.....

[richardmorris]

Didn't mean your post wasn't helpful, just the dealer they've bought a new car from every few years. I don't think green flag guy read the codes.

 

On the other hand my experience of Citroen codes with my c5 was less than useful.

[twosmoke300]

Indeed, but the garage won't look at it for a week. Helpful or what!

 

Actually, he says it was the emissions light, but I've no idea if this is what he means or means eml.

I suppose I'm not very helpful when I'm booked up 3 weeks in advance . People just can't understand that ! "Can you just do mine tomorrow ? "No I can't ! There is only so much work you can squeeze in every day

[tommotech]

I was agreeing with you Richard. Codes are not the absolute answer either but we need a starting point.

[richardmorris]

Sure, but when I turned up at a dealer in rural France with the poorly c5 they put a guy on to it there and then. Diagnosed it in a few mins and confirmed it wasn't a faulty reading using a real fuel pressure gauge. Of course I should have set fire to it there and then, but we all learn!

 

My real concern at the moment is that they'll want to use my X1/9 to drive down to Oxford at the weekend- on the salty wet roads!!

[UltraWomble]

You do really need a code reader to confirm ( I dont think there is a way of getting the EML to flash the codes on these) but I suspect its going to be a fuel rail issue, either insufficient pressure or the lift pump in the tank not delivering.

 

Has it been troublesome prior to the FTP (??Warm starting reluctance)

[richardmorris]

I was agreeing with you Richard. Codes are not the absolute answer either but we need a starting point.

Well with modern cars anyway. I've never understood why though they can't tell you without a separate reader to interpret the codes. The Ecu knows what the code means, what stops the display putting this up in big letters? Eg the pressure sensor to the fuel rail is showing a fault. Rather than just oxygen sensor fault.

 

I'm just having a general moan as my laptop has decided to fail tonight too- no desktop functionality on Windows 10. Starts up ok, but no clicking start button does nothing, no small icons on start bar either. It's now doing some self test thing that's taking hours. All after the latest "upgrade".

[richardmorris]

You do really need a code reader to confirm ( I dont think there is a way of getting the EML to flash the codes on these) but I suspect its going to be a fuel rail issue, either insufficient pressure or the lift pump in the tank not delivering.

 

Has it been troublesome prior to the FTP (??Warm starting reluctance)

Faultless actually.

[Barry Cade]

These things are a pain in the erse for the plastic corrugated fuel pipes rubbing, causing a tiny pinhole and losing fuel flow to the pump. Try pumping the bulb for a bit then trying to start. Been out to a few roadside..-anything with this engine

[twosmoke300]

Oh yes - forgot about that little gem . Two pipes that sit in the channel across the rocker cover . The vibration from the dirty stinking diesel rubs a hole in them

[richardmorris]

I've passed all these suggestions on. Will let all you helpful souls know how it goes in the morning. I'm off to bed- antibiotics I'm on for post surgery scar infection are kicking me about.

[hairymel]

also come across similar in the tdci fiesta (same engine) leaky seal in the connection to fuel filter allowed air into the pipework and fuel drained back to tank overnight 

[Noel Tidybeard]

Indeed, but the garage won't look at it for a week. Helpful or what!

 

Actually, he says it was the emissions light, but I've no idea if this is what he means or means eml.

needs a good run to get the dpf HOT to burn some soot out- vw polos need to run at 45 in 4th for min 15 minutes

uesd to work with pug 406 90hdi

[richardmorris]

It's currently doing about 500 miles a week down the m54 and m40 to Oxford from north wales and back so Should, be ok temp wise.

 

It's definitely the emission light not eml too. I looked today. Wasn't lit up then though.

 

I had a look under the bonnet, and nothing obvious to the pipes. But priming the fuel bulb had an obvious stream of bubbles passing through the the clear section of piping. Should it?

[richardmorris]

Only fault showing on diagnostic was three of the four glowplugs dead.

 

They also helpfully identified other items needing attention along with costs.

 

 

 

 

Exhaust hanger snapped

[richardmorris]

Well it was booked in today for new glow plugs and the exhaust bracket to be welded. They have replaced the glow plugs, and fitted a non-return valve in the fuel line ( hmm! I suspect this to be the main issue, but computer says no ) but there was no one in the workshop to weld the bracket. Despite it being book in to do so. Main dealers hey!

 

Dealer says drop it back next week and they'll do it while you wait. They do want £55 +vat though for a 5 minute job!

 

Main annoyance for my dad is that they moved the seat and backrest and steering wheel. But didn't move them back!