Citroen c2 starting problems please help!
Discussion
I'm new to the forums, but I'll try to be as precise as possible with the problems I am having.
-problem started around the time the battery in my key fob died. Plop battery spent message on dash, tried the spare key when one wouldn't work and it was fine for about two days.
-both fobs suddenly didn't work and when I turned the key in the ignition my car didn't turn over, all lights and radio worked in position 1, but car would not crank there was just a clicking sound.
-changed the batteries in both key fobs.
-car started first time but I did not drive it anywhere. Came to drive to work and my car cut out once, started again fine for anther 100 yards and cut out and refused to start.
-had greenflag out to look. Battery fine, alternator fine and no diagnostic faults showing. Mech had it running fine for a good half hour. Came to finish work and although it turned over it cut out after 5 minutes idle. Engine management faulty displayed once and only once on the dash, this is not the engine management warning light.
-took it to garage the next day, couldn't find any faults and had their diagnostics on it, again no old or new faults showing on it said it ran fine so I drove it home. Came to start it again and it did the same thing and wouldn't turn over just clicked.
-a week later after it was sat doing nothing the battery ended up dying so I charged it up, started first time. Moved it about 15 yards and it cut out having been idling fine. Started up once so I could park it up and then refused to turn over again.
So what could be the problem? Normally when my key comes into contact with the ignition barrel there's an audible whirring sound as either the immobilser cuts off or the fuel pump kicks in, or both.(I'm novice) but this doesn't happen when the car won't turn over it just clicks.
I thought maybe this was an immobilser issue but I'm not aware that it can kick in once the engine is running. And if it were the starter or solenoid then I wouldn't have thought that they could cut off the engine either.
Any help would be appreciated, holding off taking it to Citroen or an auto elec, as it could be costly with no idea what it could be. Thanks in advance!
-problem started around the time the battery in my key fob died. Plop battery spent message on dash, tried the spare key when one wouldn't work and it was fine for about two days.
-both fobs suddenly didn't work and when I turned the key in the ignition my car didn't turn over, all lights and radio worked in position 1, but car would not crank there was just a clicking sound.
-changed the batteries in both key fobs.
-car started first time but I did not drive it anywhere. Came to drive to work and my car cut out once, started again fine for anther 100 yards and cut out and refused to start.
-had greenflag out to look. Battery fine, alternator fine and no diagnostic faults showing. Mech had it running fine for a good half hour. Came to finish work and although it turned over it cut out after 5 minutes idle. Engine management faulty displayed once and only once on the dash, this is not the engine management warning light.
-took it to garage the next day, couldn't find any faults and had their diagnostics on it, again no old or new faults showing on it said it ran fine so I drove it home. Came to start it again and it did the same thing and wouldn't turn over just clicked.
-a week later after it was sat doing nothing the battery ended up dying so I charged it up, started first time. Moved it about 15 yards and it cut out having been idling fine. Started up once so I could park it up and then refused to turn over again.
So what could be the problem? Normally when my key comes into contact with the ignition barrel there's an audible whirring sound as either the immobilser cuts off or the fuel pump kicks in, or both.(I'm novice) but this doesn't happen when the car won't turn over it just clicks.
I thought maybe this was an immobilser issue but I'm not aware that it can kick in once the engine is running. And if it were the starter or solenoid then I wouldn't have thought that they could cut off the engine either.
Any help would be appreciated, holding off taking it to Citroen or an auto elec, as it could be costly with no idea what it could be. Thanks in advance!
Thank you for the responses guys.
The car does get serviced, last time it got serviced was about 6 months ago and a new battery was put in then.
I charged it up when it died with a slow trickle charger that plugs into the mains,
Hardly affirmative but when greenflag tested my battery after it had cut out on me, the reading came back at full charge and 90% health.
I'll try cleaning off the terminals and reconnecting them today providing it's not chucking it down!
The car does get serviced, last time it got serviced was about 6 months ago and a new battery was put in then.
I charged it up when it died with a slow trickle charger that plugs into the mains,
Hardly affirmative but when greenflag tested my battery after it had cut out on me, the reading came back at full charge and 90% health.
I'll try cleaning off the terminals and reconnecting them today providing it's not chucking it down!
As an update to this topic.
I took out the battery and left it on charge until full. In the hope that it would reset the ECU. Also cleaned up the contacts and when I reconnected everything I resynced my keyfob.
Now, when I did this, my car actually started up. Idled fine. And managed four trips up and down the roads near me and round the block. (Daren't go far)
And I was happy.
Left it Parked up, came back to it next day and alas. The same problem. Battery light was fine. But me trying to turn the ignition resulted in the clicking sound which after numerous attempts dropped the car into Eco mode. Had my windows down and car refused to jump start so I called out Greenflag again.
Greenflag could not get the car started. The battery "seems" fine. The starter is drawing power etc. He did say the earth was deteriorated, but him manipulating the cable while I tried to turn the engine did nothing. So this will be my first port of call to replace in the hope that this could be the issue.
However he also has an inclination that there is possibly some gremlin in between the ECU and the starter or something like that. In order to get the windows up he had to do a static reset but the car is still in Eco mode because he couldn't get it fired up. I'm dreading the idea that the ECU is dead but I've heard this is relatively rare.
I also stress that when I put the key in the ignition there was no audible sound of things coming to life in the engine bay as usually is. Just gutted that it worked for a good day driving around and does this to me. Any more help would be appreciated.
I took out the battery and left it on charge until full. In the hope that it would reset the ECU. Also cleaned up the contacts and when I reconnected everything I resynced my keyfob.
Now, when I did this, my car actually started up. Idled fine. And managed four trips up and down the roads near me and round the block. (Daren't go far)
And I was happy.
Left it Parked up, came back to it next day and alas. The same problem. Battery light was fine. But me trying to turn the ignition resulted in the clicking sound which after numerous attempts dropped the car into Eco mode. Had my windows down and car refused to jump start so I called out Greenflag again.
Greenflag could not get the car started. The battery "seems" fine. The starter is drawing power etc. He did say the earth was deteriorated, but him manipulating the cable while I tried to turn the engine did nothing. So this will be my first port of call to replace in the hope that this could be the issue.
However he also has an inclination that there is possibly some gremlin in between the ECU and the starter or something like that. In order to get the windows up he had to do a static reset but the car is still in Eco mode because he couldn't get it fired up. I'm dreading the idea that the ECU is dead but I've heard this is relatively rare.
I also stress that when I put the key in the ignition there was no audible sound of things coming to life in the engine bay as usually is. Just gutted that it worked for a good day driving around and does this to me. Any more help would be appreciated.
By battery light I mean the warning light on the dash board. Which tells me when it is low. Apologies.
The car will not turn over when jump started, and i have used both chunky jump cables and a charger I have that plugs into the mains capable of jump starts or trickle charging. Have attached the cables to both the battery terminals and to the block to try. Neither currently work although did in the past, even if it was to just start the engine.
When I put my key in the ignition and I can hear the car coming to life I know the car will start fine. Although when it does, it dies shortly after driving. When the key makes no sounds there is no turn over just the relay clicking near the glovebox. I'll buy a new battery as soon as I can to eliminate that factor.
The car will not turn over when jump started, and i have used both chunky jump cables and a charger I have that plugs into the mains capable of jump starts or trickle charging. Have attached the cables to both the battery terminals and to the block to try. Neither currently work although did in the past, even if it was to just start the engine.
When I put my key in the ignition and I can hear the car coming to life I know the car will start fine. Although when it does, it dies shortly after driving. When the key makes no sounds there is no turn over just the relay clicking near the glovebox. I'll buy a new battery as soon as I can to eliminate that factor.
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