ds3 1.6 ehdi stop start issue

[skyline895]

hi all.
i have a ds3 2012 1.6 ehdi and about a month ago my stop/ start failed to work, i have no warning lights on, i have taken the battery off and re charged but it still fails to work. any ideas?

[StevenRB45]

Does it still flash the eco light 3 times when you lift the clutch in neutral? If so it's functioning normally but the parameters for it work (of which there are a lot) haven't been met.

[Funky]

This issue has come up a lot recently and there are a fair few posts on it. Do a search of the site and you will find plenty of info on it. The stop/start (Eco) will only activate when all the required systems of the car are working correctly. As said by StevenRB45 above, if the green Eco light flashes 3 times on your left hand dial as normal, but the engine continues to run, then it doesn't mean it broken, it usually means that your cars ECU has decided something isn't at the correct working level to allow the stop/start to function correctly without damaging the engine. If you do lots of short journeys, it won't engage until the engine has sufficiently warmed up, battery is fully charged etc etc. There are loads of reasons it doesn't always activate.

Edit: Here's a link to another recent post with plenty of info in:

http://www.ds3club.co.uk/forum/ds3/d...eco-stop-start

[skyline895]

hi there StevenRB45

yes it still flashes 3 times when you lift clutch in neutral . and thanks for your reply.

[StevenRB45]

Diesels take forever to heat up in cold weather, won't stop until it is. Our stop start didn't do much in winter, basically if the heaters going full blast, the lights are on and the engines cold, it isn't going to do anything. It doesn't want to drain the battery, get rid of the coolant temp e.t.c.

On the petrol C3 it seems a bit more eager, but that heats up much faster.

[skyline895]

hi StevenRB45.

I have just had it out for a 100 mile run up the motorway and back( in the dark) so lights on heating on etc but it still not kicking in.

[StevenRB45]

The official line is, if the light flashes it's still working it just has chosen not to stop the car for any one of at least 30 reasons.

To give you an idea of how small these reasons can be ours didn't stop on hot days in summer and I couldn't think why..eventually figured it out. The climate control was using the a.c. compressor to maintain cabin temp. It couldn't do so of the engine was off. You could literally turn the a.c. off and it would stop, switch it on and it would start.

[skyline895]

thanks for your help but i ahave tried turning all off apart from running lights but still doesn't stop/start.

[Mr Softie]

I had mine for about a week before it finally started to work, I'd keep trying giving it a good drive for a few days and see what happens.

[BeefMasta]

I agree with what others have said, it sounds like it’s working as expected. It’s been cold and dark recently, probably the main causes. There’s something like 70 checks the system makes before deciding to work, primary ones are charge in the battery and battery usage (eg: heating / lights on).

If there was a fault, here’s what the manual says:
“Operating fault-
In the event of a fault with the system, the "ECO OFF" switch warning lamp flashes for a few moments then comes on continuously. Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a qualified workshop.”

Info from the manual:
“Special cases: STOP mode not available-
STOP mode is not invoked when:
- the driver's door is open,
- the driver's seat belt is not fastened,
- the vehicle has not exceeded 6 mph
(10 km/h) since the last engine start using
the key,
- the engine is needed to maintain a
comfortable temperature in the passenger
compartment,
- demisting is active,
- some special conditions (battery charge,
engine temperature, braking assistance, ambient temperature...) where the engine is needed to assure control of a system.
The "ECO" warning lamp flashes for a few seconds then goes off.
This operation is perfectly normal.”

Also from the manual:
“Special cases: START invoked automatically
For reasons of safety and for your comfort, START mode is invoked automatically when: - you open the driver's door,
- you unfasten the driver's seat belt,
- the speed of the vehicle exceeds 7 mph
(11 km/h) with the electronic gearbox
system,
- some special conditions (battery charge,
engine temperature, braking assistance, ambient temperature...) where the engine is needed for control of a system.
The "ECO" warning lamp flashes for a few seconds, then goes off.
This operation is perfectly normal.”

[Pagecrew]

I have had mine for about a month now and have the 3 flashes of the Eco light but not much in the way of actual stop/start - as set out before, there are lots of reasons why it won't s/s - in my case, it seems to be down to lots of traffic lights near to home and an engine that isn't warmed through. A case of persevering.

[poolman]

I have a 1.6 Blue HDI 1955 edition and the stop start has never operated - although I regularly get my three green flashes to assure me that the system is operational and that when, one day, the planets are aligned correctly, it will leap in to action. My Berlingo on the other hand stop starts in all weathers regardless of AC on, lights on or R's in the month. It does seem the DS3 system is very selective about its operating parameters or is actually just a flashing green light. To be fair I haven't raised this with my dealer - but I would expect them to tell me its all fine anyway as the happy lights are winking and no further action required.

[peter m]

Resurrecting the thread of stop start not working.On my 3rd ds3 with stop start previous hdi and 165 thp never had an issue with stop start not kicking in winter or summer and no matter what type of driving it went into stop start mode 90% of the time . I've now have 210 performance which as stop start and with the same type of driving as only worked for a day and more or less kicked in on nearly every stop. This happened a few days after having car . 2 plus weeks no stop start activating despite of a few long runs followed by town driving.
Getting the flashing eco light on putting clutch down .

[Chris_Blue]

is there any way of mapping out the stop start?
mine has a habit of not starting that quick in a line of traffic, and its irritating. Have switched it off, but you have to switch it off every time you get in/ Sometimes 15 times a day!

[peter m]

Update on stop start not working, battery was the problem even after been charged it's no load voltage was 12.3 volts not good enough for the stop start to work, new battery fitted this morning fingers crossed now working.