Citroen C3 Engine Management light and low revs

[Libellule77]

Went to go home on Saturday evening, and on starting my Citroen C3, the Engine Management light lit up on the dash and stayed on, and the car would only rev to a maximum of about 2000 rpm, even with the accelerator fully down. The breakdown guy said it has an Engine Management fault (think the fact the Engine Management light being on gave it away !) I got towed to the garage, but they can not look at it until Wednesday - any ideas, or has anyone else experienced similar probs ? Thanks !

[david1702198]

the fault itself could be one of hundreds of things as there are that many sensors and whatever in a modern engine management system. the lack of power probably suggests that the ecu has now swithched to " limp home" mode in order to try and minimise any damage that may occur, ie if it is a fuel problem then this can destroy the catalytic convertor. best to wait till the garage run a diagnosis check.

[marie13]

Mine did the same 3 times in the last two years only 40,000 on the clock coming up to 5 years old. Turned out the diagnostics computer lies, says it needs a coil pack. unknown fault and petrol function interupted. My brother finally sorted it seams there is a design fault. on C3 of my car age The seal around the window washers breaks, or if coil is removed. seal broken, the wash drips on to the petrol jets and it causes first the light to come on and then it will loose power and stall at that management light flashes. I guess its sorted going on the date but incase like me it reoccurs I thought I would share, Also if you do not replace citreon spark plugs with citreon plugs in early models incompatable. with the coil system creates similar problem. Citreon now have recognised design fault changed on later models a kit is available for the water jets seal �2.80 but if petrol jet affected they need replacing about �90 each don't forget add labour usually they replace all 4 often only number 3 or 4 jet is affected. This has been my 5th Citreon chose an alternative because obivously the c3 is an expensive lemon and tempting fate to buy another.

Good luck anyway

[Mike-Hainault]

Thanks to Marie13's suggestion. Engine management warning light came on, but engine running fairly well. Fault was caused by water ingress on driver's side windscreen washer jet mounted on the bonnet (there is no seal!) and dripping down straight onto injector cylinder 1. Carefully remove electrical connection to injector and dry out carefully with hair dryer on low setting. Disconnect battery for 5min to reset ECU. Remove windscreen washer jet and refit with mastic seal between it and bonnet indent. Need to reset radio and clock settings as power was interrupted. All now OK. C3 is normally Great. This problem is a silly design fault.

[ms4__]

Thanks alot for this post, saved me shed loads. The only thing I can add is that I sealed the washer jets, got the error code read by the garage and the engine management light stayed on but it was driving fine. I fooled the computer into resetting itself by letting the engine idle for a good ten minutes, putting it into drive and holding it on the break and handbreak for a further ten minutes and then repeating the process. It seems to let the computer reset the idle and the vehicle speed sensor (which was coming up as the error). If the engine gets two good rides then the engine management light seems to turn off.

[royp]

We had this problem on our Citroen C3 fixed by a Citroed garage 2 years ago. It cost several hundred pounds! They said it was due to water from the windscreen washer dripping onto the injectors. When the same loss of power occurred this morning, I "Googled" for solutions. I now believe the water enters via the driver's side (RH) washer jet, which is not sealed, so that was sealed with bathroom silicone sealer. Once the injector was dried out, the only problem was to make the management light go out. Ms4's suggestion was not clear to me and I was nervous about the side effects of disconnecting the battery so I tried a suggestion to switch the ignition on/off 3 times in quick succession along with some other wild suggestions like switching on main beam, winding down the windows, opening the door, so I'm not sure exactly what achieved the desired result when I finally realised that I had success! I can only say it is possible to make the engine management light go out without disconnecting the battery. If anyone does discover exactly what did it, It would be nice to see it here.

[mnadeem1984]

i have a similar problem with my car. However the car does start fine and does not misfire or idle rough. So all you people who say its the water leak causing failure, when your car is started, does it idle fine or does it shake and misfire?

[paulhelliker]

Have had similar problems on my Wifes C3.

After cold spell before Xmas she did not drive it for about 10 days. When she did the engine light came on and ran badly.

Light went out after a few days but after Xmas she did not use again and had another cold spell and did same again. Garage took a look but could not find anything. Reset the ECU and was ok for about a month.

Since then its been getting worse and worse. Stalling, stuttering etc. Garage suggested it was the coil so I got a new one and replaced that. Runs slightly better and does not stall. LIght still on so the garage reset the ecu again (7 errors - injector 4, misfire etc etc) and within 10 metres came back on!

Now at a loss as to what to try. The garage don't know what it is (small garage, non Citroen). Car has only done 20k miles on 05 plate. We just want shot of it but can't sell it as it is.

Suggestions anyone??

[paulhelliker]

Oh and just also to ask, where is the water washer leak? I cannot even see where it could come from.....

[Phil321]

C3 Deisel 2003 Engine management light comes on if I drive under 2500 revs after startup for more than a couple of minutes, if I get the revs above 2500 straight away (when the turbo comes in) then after a few minutes the engine is hot and the management light will not come on for the whole journey. The Citreon garage said I need new fuel injectors costing over £1000. would love to know how to disable the light from coming on. The light restricts the revs to 2500. Garage said this is a safety measure built in. Also if I stop the engine for a few minutes the light resets itself.

[royp]

UPDATE : My experience with this fault was described back in February 2010. To clarify, the water mentioned was rain water, not windscreen washer solution. Before the windscreen washer jets on the bonnet were sealed, rain water was able to pass through the bonnet onto the number 1 injector, causing the car to go into "get you home mode" - a designed-in feature to protect the engine, but unnerving. As previously explained, bathroom silicone sealer was used to prevent this happening. In addition, a sheet of polythene was stuck on the underside of the bonnet, beneath the offside washer jet, to catch any water ("belt & braces"!). The engine heat evaporated any water that had previously penetrated and the engine management light had to be persuaded to extinguish as described. It is now September 2010 and the problem has not (yet) recurred. It is a Citroen 1.4 SX 2003 (05) and is a pleasure to drive.

[discland]

Wife had same problem. Changed coil pack, had a service, diagnostics, no luck. Cut along story short found butterfly in throttle body (electric type) gunged up and sticking so motor had trouble moving it. Cleaned out using cotton buds dipped in white spirits. Takes a while but worked.

[nelson087]

I have the same problem with 2006 C3.............Engine management light on and high revs and 'limp home mode'. Tried the advice of sealing the washer jets and drying injector with hair dryer and that worked for 10 mins of driving! Back to 'limp home mode' again. How long should it take for injector to dry out? Have had it to the garage several times with no sucess. Looks like i'l have to fork out loads and still may not get it fixed but what choice do i have? I dont have a 2nd car!!!!! This ones not even paid for!! Please let me know if there another solution. Thanks in advance

[denise67]

Hi all,I've had loads of problems with my C3,I've even had the ecu checked and it all stemed down to a coil pack.What citroen are't telling us is that we need a modified coil pack(borgicord) NOT A SAGEM one or our problems will never go away.So hopefully after today my princess will be back on the road,I will let you know how I get on

[willm]

I've also come across the washer jet water ingress problem on my C3 2002. It went into limp home mode so took it to a garage, fault code was P1327 wich suggested dodgy coil pack. Coli pack replace and working fine... however I managed to keep hold of the old coli pack which cealrly shows significant green oxide on one of the connectors to the spark plugs where as the others are shiny bronze colour, I haven't tried but I bet it would work fine after a good clean. Could've save myself a few bob if I knew this before. It probably depends on how the car's parked as to where the dripping water ends up, could easily land on the injectors or other parts nearby.

Today we had some heavy showers so checked under bonnet, and what do you know water dripping from the washer jet connectors! I've now sealed them with some gasget sealent. Interestingly I've also had a P0420 (aged CAT) for a while even though it passed MOT, which hasn't reoccured yet, only done 60 miles so far though with the new coil pack and code resets. Will see how it goes...

[alggomas]

I have a C3 auto and would like to suggest [though there can be many causes], the coil pack. This happened to me recently and this is what was diagnosed, [at great cost]. This is because the car has to be put on a diagnosyic computer. If this is the problem,also have the plugs changed as well. Pity you are not a member of the RAC/AA etc. Call them out and say car lost power. Anyway thius ia a stab in the dark as really you HAVE to pay to put on computer as it could be more serious. Mine cost £285 which included tests, a smoke test [do not ask], a Coil pack and four spark plugs plus minor adjustments. Get a branded coil pack [ This is a modern coil which attaches to the spark plugs which in turn ignites the petrol. If any one of the four "mises" you will lose power and the engine warning light MAY come on.

[alggomas]

I have a C3 auto and would like to suggest [though there can be many causes], the coil pack. This happened to me recently and this is what was diagnosed, [at great cost]. This is because the car has to be put on a diagnosyic computer. If this is the problem,also have the plugs changed as well. Pity you are not a member of the RAC/AA etc. Call them out and say car lost power. Anyway this is a stab in the dark as really you HAVE to pay to put on computer as it could be more serious. Mine cost £285 which included tests, a smoke test [do not ask], a Coil pack and four spark plugs plus minor adjustments. Get a branded coil pack [ This is a modern coil which attaches to the spark plugs which in turn ignites the petrol]. If any one of the four "misses" you will lose power and the engine warning light MAY come on.
The AA or RAC MAY fit a coil pack for you if they agree that the fault is as above. You will have to pay about £90. I would also ask them to change spark plugs, say anotherv £20. You are saving on the diagnostics.However just realised yours is in the garage. If they charge you say £55 for diagnostics and say £140 for the parts. Not too bad. I am in London! Desira in Southgate wanted to charge me £73 + VAt just for diagnostics!

[samantha85]

My 04 reg C3 was running fine this morning, then i stalled but didn't think anything of it. About 10 miles later i was feeling a juddering and not much power when setting off in first gear, then the engine management light came on. I managed to get home without totally breaking down but now i'm worried about driving it further.
I know i'll have to take it into a garage tomorrow but i'm dreading the bill :(

[Emma28]

I have had the samething happen yesterday to my c3 2003 plate I had it MOT and a full service done on the 20/12/11 and evething was fine. I then went out yesterday and hadn't even got out my road when the light came on and my car would not go faster than 7 mph so went home and got my husband who took it out and it drove normal but was very slugish. I have now taken it to the garage today and awaiting an out come...

[royp]

Perhaps I should clarify where the water gets through the bonnet. The small, plastic windscreen washer nozzles sit in holes in the bonnet. There is no sealant between the plastic nozzles and the bonnet. Water is able to get through the small gap around the plastic nozzles. This can happen when it rains or when the car is washed. The water is NOT the water in the windscreen washer bottle. The water may, or may not, cause a problem, depending on where it falls on the engine.

Either use a sealant on the nozzles and/or "tack" a small polythene sheet underneath, to prevent water dripping on to the engine. This solution is so simple and cheap, it is surely worth trying before getting involved with garages or more expensive possible solutions?

Of course, reading this, you already have the problem. I would suggest that you try to identify where the water has affected the engine and try to dry out the area. The engine management warning light can be encouraged to go out as I have explained in a previous post,

My experience with a C3 is that, as a precaution, the sealant should be applied to all C3 washer nozzles, whether or not problems have yet been suffered, and especially after the engine is running properly again.

[lisa202]

I have had the same problem with my 02 plate C3 Engine Management Light coming on and running rough. Took it to the Citroen Garage yesterday for a diagnostic test. Rang today and was told the light had gone off after the diagnostic test and had road test without it coming on again but the problem could re-occur and could be the Air Inflow and something to do with a butterfly housing. Not mechanically minded so have no idea what this means. Could this be to do with the water leak around the washer nozzle that keeps being mentioned here?