Engine Fault Error, Eco Mode & Stop/Start not Working DS3 DSport 110 eHdi Plus

[pcmaczone]

Light has gone off now. Car is running fine. The reason I am hanging on until the end of the month is a)because it's due a service anyway and b)because if anything is going to cost me money I can't afford it until I get paid, which coincides with the end of the month. However I would expect all this electrical shenanigans to be covered by the warranty.

Also what is the point of an engine diagnostics function that just tells you "engine fault" without saying what it is? I can clearly figure that much out for myself.

As for MPG, yes fine I know it's the EC thing but the manufacturers love it! Why don't they also include their own "real world" figures? Perhaps won't look so good? I hear the new Citroen Cactus does 96mpg! Honestly, are we really supposed to believe this nonsense? Our DS3 has never seen more than 55mpg and that was on a long run to the South Of France keeping to the speed limits.

Anyway, I know it's going slightly off topic but these electrical faults are very familiar territory for me. The C4 started with the Air-Con not working and over a grand in repairs later it worked for a week then packed up again, at which point we gave up. We had the old "limp home mode" on several occasions. The non start for no apparent reason problem. The central locking...not locking problem. The rear wiring loom needing to be replaced and various other glitches. But at least the finish was better. The DS3 has incredibly thin paint that scratches as soon as you look at it and those lovely alloy wheels corrode at the merest sight of rain!

Now just 18 months into our DS3 and it's started to play up. Not exactly boosting my confidence in Citroen's ability to build a car that will get as far as the end of the warranty without some major issues occurring. It's a shame because I love the style of the thing and how it drives but I also want something I have confidence in and I just don't think Citroen can build it.

[Bryn]

... However I would expect all this electrical shenanigans to be covered by the warranty...

I hope you're right. However, by delaying your visit to the dealership to get it checked out, you risk invalidating the warranty if there is an underlying issue that gets worse because it hasn't been addressed.

Also what is the point of an engine diagnostics function that just tells you "engine fault" without saying what it is? I can clearly figure that much out for myself.

The "engine fault" message is meant just to tell you "get the car looked at, pronto". The car's system can give a more accurate diagnosis of what the particular issue could be However the normal driver (a) wouldn't be able to make use of the information anyway and (b) might not always appreciate any related things that could also need to be checked.

Personally, I wouldn't drive around for nearly a month with the engine fault light on. I'd be worried about further damage (and my own safety!)

[BeefMasta]

[Toxic]

could be a possible bad earth strap. there is a known recall for this

[Charlotte]

DS3 Stop/start

So the other day went to start the car after being out for a run and we hear a beep and the engine fault error comes on the screen. Eco Mode graphic shows on the dash until you turn the ignition to start the car then it goes out and the Stop/Start doesn't work. Service light is now on permanently. Apart from that the car runs fine so I figure this is not actually a mechanical fault and more to do with perhaps a sensor not working etc? Anyone else come across this problem?

Car is just coming up to 18 months old with 23k on the clock. Not really had any major issues up to now.

Hi, did you manage to get this issue sorted at all? Having a very similar problem with my own DS3 at the moment and just came across this post after searching for a bit.

Thanks

[lfcrule1972]

Welcome to the club

Can you tell us some more about your issue ? Is it the same model and year ? Are the symptoms exactly the same ?

[Matt Barca]

Light has gone off now. Car is running fine. The reason I am hanging on until the end of the month is a)because it's due a service anyway and b)because if anything is going to cost me money I can't afford it until I get paid, which coincides with the end of the month. However I would expect all this electrical shenanigans to be covered by the warranty.

Also what is the point of an engine diagnostics function that just tells you "engine fault" without saying what it is? I can clearly figure that much out for myself.

As for MPG, yes fine I know it's the EC thing but the manufacturers love it! Why don't they also include their own "real world" figures? Perhaps won't look so good? I hear the new Citroen Cactus does 96mpg! Honestly, are we really supposed to believe this nonsense? Our DS3 has never seen more than 55mpg and that was on a long run to the South Of France keeping to the speed limits.

Anyway, I know it's going slightly off topic but these electrical faults are very familiar territory for me. The C4 started with the Air-Con not working and over a grand in repairs later it worked for a week then packed up again, at which point we gave up. We had the old "limp home mode" on several occasions. The non start for no apparent reason problem. The central locking...not locking problem. The rear wiring loom needing to be replaced and various other glitches. But at least the finish was better. The DS3 has incredibly thin paint that scratches as soon as you look at it and those lovely alloy wheels corrode at the merest sight of rain!

Now just 18 months into our DS3 and it's started to play up. Not exactly boosting my confidence in Citroen's ability to build a car that will get as far as the end of the warranty without some major issues occurring. It's a shame because I love the style of the thing and how it drives but I also want something I have confidence in and I just don't think Citroen can build it.

Mine is just 2 years old now, 50k on the clock and serviced 4 times, had no issues other than a blown speaker and Bluetooth stopped working about once every 3 months just for a day. Wouldn't be so judgmental, although I am also against French cars 😂

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

[Charlotte]

Hi, yes its exactly like the original post, service light came on when I switched the ignition on and the dash said Engine Fault, then stop/start has stopped working. I was going to get my local Citroen dealer to have a look but they said rather than pay £79 for their time I should take it for a long blast somewhere and see if it kicks the stop/start back in. The service light only comes on every few times I start it up, not permanent...

Its a 2012 E-HDI

[pcmaczone]

We did actually get it sorted in the end. It was the Stop-Start unit under the front passenger side wheel arch. It had corroded badly and this was causing all the electrical issues. Citroen tried to bill us for over a grand to have it replaced because they said there was damage to the wheel arch and this allowed water in.
However the wheel arch was not replaced properly by one of their mechanics when it was in for a service last time...not even sure why it was removed, but of course I couldn't "prove" that.

Anyway after a lot of haggling and given the car needed to be returned to the leasing company within a week we settled on £500 and although I was pretty hacked off at having to pay out I was also just happy to see the back of it.

and.....no I didn't go for a non French car as a replacement. We ended up with a Peugeot 2008, which has actually been fantastic. It goes back in August and I have to admit we are now looking at Citroen again...possibly the Cactus. What can I say? I just like French cars

So Charlotte my guess would be a bad connection somewhere.

[lfcrule1972]

Hi, yes its exactly like the original post, service light came on when I switched the ignition on and the dash said Engine Fault, then stop/start has stopped working. I was going to get my local Citroen dealer to have a look but they said rather than pay £79 for their time I should take it for a long blast somewhere and see if it kicks the stop/start back in. The service light only comes on every few times I start it up, not permanent...

Its a 2012 E-HDI

I thought the taking it for a blast was normally reserved for the diesel particle filter (DPF) issue. Do you do a lot of miles in your diesel rather than short commutes ?

[Charlotte]

They suggested it because the stop/start mechanism apparently runs off battery life.. I don't understand it much myself! I do about a 25 minute journey to work and back every day so it's not exactly short journeys. A colleague has suggested the stop/start has been disabled because there's an engine fault showing. He's going to plug into diagnostics for me & see what it brings up.

[Charlotte]

We did actually get it sorted in the end. It was the Stop-Start unit under the front passenger side wheel arch. It had corroded badly and this was causing all the electrical issues. Citroen tried to bill us for over a grand to have it replaced because they said there was damage to the wheel arch and this allowed water in.
However the wheel arch was not replaced properly by one of their mechanics when it was in for a service last time...not even sure why it was removed, but of course I couldn't "prove" that.

Anyway after a lot of haggling and given the car needed to be returned to the leasing company within a week we settled on £500 and although I was pretty hacked off at having to pay out I was also just happy to see the back of it.

and.....no I didn't go for a non French car as a replacement. We ended up with a Peugeot 2008, which has actually been fantastic. It goes back in August and I have to admit we are now looking at Citroen again...possibly the Cactus. What can I say? I just like French cars

So Charlotte my guess would be a bad connection somewhere.

Sounds like a lot of hassle.. I'm hoping to figure out what the error code is for before I take it into my local Citroen so they don't bill me for unnecessary time!

[lfcrule1972]

They suggested it because the stop/start mechanism apparently runs off battery life.. I don't understand it much myself! I do about a 25 minute journey to work and back every day so it's not exactly short journeys. A colleague has suggested the stop/start has been disabled because there's an engine fault showing. He's going to plug into diagnostics for me & see what it brings up.

Ok, I'm not an expert on the stop/start system, sounds like they were suggesting a longer drive would charge the system up ?

[jammastasim]

Hi, new member. Just had this happen to me this morning. Going 70mph and had 'beep' engine fault and 'SERVICE' come on dash. Stop/start turned off but car still running as per normal. I am in urgent need of my car all week driving an our each way for work. Is it something that needs doing ASAP or something which can be monitored and repaired within next 2 weeks? I do have a friend I am seeing later in week with a diagnostic kit which I hope will tell me more. Reading through these posts it seems it may be a fault with the part under the passenger wing but I hope not as don't have £1k to spare.

Charlotte how are you getting along?

[lfcrule1972]

Welcome - how old is your DS3, is it still under warranty ?