Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel - Citroen C3 - Engine Cutting out

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Sun 14 Nov 2010 18:12
Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel - Citroen C3 - Engine Cutting out - cholyo

Apologies this is my first posting - so hopefully this is OK.

We have a Citroen C3 (1.4 Diesel) which has been running fine, and runs generally OK for 90% of its time. However its started to cut out when slowing down to junctions or when the clutch is pressed (usually with radio/blower on). There is zero stuttering, just 100% engine cut off with the battery light illuminated as if I rotated the key off.

It only seems to happen at the approach to junctions almost when the clutch is pressed the idle can't cover for the electrics that are on (usually fan / radio etc).

A mechanic informed us, that it was the other halfs driving, but its now happened to me, so know its more the car. I've heard of the idle control valve and other items... but we're lost. Unfortunately the garages who have seen it are a replace 1 part at a time til its repaired - which i'd prefer not to go down this route if others have experienced similar issues and know the fault.

Any thoughts... would be highly appreciated.

Colin

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 14 Nov 2010 19:11
Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel - Citroen C3 - Engine Cutting out - Collos25

It needs taking to a citroen specialist who can hook it up a computer and read the faults in the ecu.,

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 14 Nov 2010 19:15
Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel - Citroen C3 - Engine Cutting out - injection doc
I agree with Andy, but also I seem to remember the 1.4Hdi has a quirk on the idle speed which was later rectyfied.
If the idle speed drops 1rpm below the specified the engine cuts out dead and has to be restarted, is the car being allowed to drop too low in engine speed ?
Engine diagnosric check should be able to confirm if the fuel pressure is dropping to low
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 15 Nov 2010 23:09
Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel - Citroen C3 - Engine Cutting out - cholyo

Hello, Thanks for the prompt reply... I love these forums.

Its funny you should say that... on a couple of "monitored clutch presses (and holding it down" it typically adjusts / drops to around 800 and settles. Once I've seen it fly all over the place, almost to 200- 400 revs then backup to 800 - but it didn't cut out.... almost like the ECU / some sensor is mis-reporting or reporting too slowly for the ECU to recover... The cut outs are very clean - no warning, just complete engine stop and the car rolls... (only at slower speeds also.

A garage has the computer and will stick it on that. The only worry is that no lights are appearing, thus hoping something is being logged...

Any thoughts as to the sensor / issue that got rectified? Just to prepare the credit card :-)

Cheers Colin

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 16 Nov 2010 09:23
Citroen C3 1.4 Diesel - Citroen C3 - Engine Cutting out - injection doc
have you spoken to Citreon to see if there is a software upgrade available for stalling.
It could be a speed sensor but i would speak to citreon first as software upgrade were available for the 1,4HDi for a stalling issue.
You may of noticed that sometimes when you reverse it just cuts out dead and that is to do with the designated idle speed and when the pump drops below the threshold it just switches off instantly.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link