car not starting and showing snowflake when trying to start

My car is a Citroen C3 Sx Hdi 70 1398cc Automatic Diesel (54 Reg) Sensodrive.


Today I tried to start my car but it is not starting. Instead I get the minus sign (-) just below Auto on the dashboard.
When I try to start I also see a snowflake sign above the Auto (-) sign for about one sec or two.

The gears are not changing either.

What could be wrong?


Moh

Its sounds like your automatic gearbox is giving trouble, this would stop the car starting.

'Snowflake and AUTO flashing indicate a fault'

You can try resetting or re-initialising the automatic gearbox ecu,

Re-initialisation

• Switch on the ignition. (A dash and "AUTO" will display in the instrument panel).

• Apply the brake pedal.

• Wait until you see N, or a gear engaged, in the instrument panel (about 30 seconds).

• Release the brake.

Starting is again now possible (hopefully).

Many thanks cardriver52. I replaced my battery and the same happened again.
I followed your steps and now all is fine.

My lights were coming on automatically.

I read the manual and found these instructions (given below)to turn off rain sensors and auto lights to prevent my new battery draining quickly.

The handbook/manual gives the following informtion:

Automatic Lighting of headlamps

To activate or deactivate the function:

- Place ignition key in the Accessories position (that is the first position clockwise of the key)

- Move the lighting control stalk to position 0
- Press the end of the control B (that's the push button on the end of the stalk) until you hear a confirmation gong.

This worked a treat.

Thanks for the update,

Automatic Lighting of headlamps

To activate or deactivate the function:

- Place ignition key in the Accessories position (that is the first position clockwise of the key)

- Move the lighting control stalk to position 0
- Press the end of the control B (that's the push button on the end of the stalk) until you hear a confirmation gong.

Yes, the button on the end of the left stalk, I found it by accident when trying to access the trip computer

Dear All

I was wrong it has not yet been fixed.

Two days later my new battery was drained and car did not start.
I kept getting the Auto and - dash on my dashboard that never changes to N or 1 when resetting the gearbox. I took the car to a mechanic who could not find anything wrong with it. he tested the volt charge from battery with car running and it showed about 14.10 and lower volts.

Whenever I put in a new battery or fully charged battery the car will start first time only after that no starting again.

I remembered that I had a clear box fitted in my car by insurance company (insurethebox). I contacted insurethebox who asked me to contact their installation engineers(different company for installing the box). may be the clearbox was draining the battery?

Today engineer came round and deactivated the clearbox. Luckily I had a three year warranty I exchanged the battery for 065 type with 55 Amp power.

I fitted new battery car started, I reset the gearbox, turned off automatic lights, synchronised my key and drove the car around the block a few times.

After a few hours or late at night between 11 pm and 2:45am (when I finish work) the car never starts. First the Auto and - dash never changes when I hold the clutch down for 30 seconds. Then a few seconds later the whole dash lights flickers especially the battery light.

I am now hoping it is fixed but need to wait a few hours to test it.

I am getting an headache and tired of doing everything again and again.

I really love the car and need this fixed.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Am I missing something?

Is it the immobilizer the button above the CD player that has a lock sign on it with a red light that flashes when I lock the car using the remote?

when I use my remote pressed once the indicators flash once. When I use my remote to lock the car the indicators flash many times that I lose count after 7 because it is too fast.

Do I have a blown fuse? Which fuse do I check and where dashboard apartment or the box on the right hand side of my engine?

What about the ECU and where is it?


I now waiting for a few hours and try to start the car again.

Hi Moh,

Moh wrote:Is it the immobilizer the button above the CD player that has a lock sign on it with a red light that flashes when I lock the car using the remote?

This is the central locking button, a different thing than the immobiliser. The central locking stops the doors from opening, but the immobiliser stops the engine from firing (starting).

Moh wrote:Two days later my new battery was drained and car did not start.

Sounds like something is draining the battery, to find this you will need a meter to measure the current draw of the car while not in use, then disconnect different parts of the system (e.g. by removing fuses) and monitor the current draw change. Something should show a big change, this is likely to be the thing that's causing the problem. Don't start the car - or even try to start the car - with the current meter connected!


A current meter (here), set to amps DC and connect in series with the battery live connection.

Moh wrote:when I use my remote pressed once the indicators flash once. When I use my remote to lock the car the indicators flash many times that I lose count after 7 because it is too fast.

One press of 'lock', locks the car, another press or 'lock' flashes the indicators and lights the interior light - use it to find your car in a dark car park, if you forgot where you left it

Moh wrote:Do I have a blown fuse?

Unlikley, this fault doesn't appear to be a blown fuse, but it won't do any harm to check them all.

Moh wrote:Which fuse do I check and where dashboard apartment or the box on the right hand side of my engine?

this is a diagram of the engine bay fuse box and the fuse ratings and descriptions, there are also links to the other fuse boxes.
https://citroenc3owners.com/citroen-c3-t ... -t157.html

Moh wrote:I now waiting for a few hours and try to start the car again.

When you say 'won't start', I thought you meant it turns over, but won't start, but now I think you mean that the starter won't even turn over. Can you explain a bit more about what does or doesn't happen when you turn the key in the ignition.

When I put in the ignition key the dashboard lights up and then the battery light flashes (red) when in Accessories mode.

When I try to turn over all the lights except the pre-heater light come on, then a second later the whole dash board lights flicker (the MPH the oil level indicator, the mileage etc..) then everything turns off.

When I say flicker half of the 0 on the MPH and only half of the Oil LCD display flickers. Even the time and date LCD flashes.


It is the same sign that the battery is dead.

the Auto and dash - light shows (sometimes the snowflake appears and sometimes it doesn't).


When I put in a new battery or fully charged battery everything on the dashboard and LCD is normal, I then need to reset the gearbox in order to start the engine.






Is there any electrician here (on the forum) that can travel to Slough in Berkshire who understands this kind of problem?

I really can't afford to go the Citroen.

Yesterday the same thing happened again.

The car did not start and I have taken the battery out.

I am now seeking help from a car electrician.

Moh

I think it is something that comes between the car battery and the car itself.

I have been told by a friend that there is a charger inside the car that draws the power from the battery and then distributes it. It could be a faulty charger inside the car. When I connect a new or fully charged battery I don't get much of a spark when connecting the terminals to the battery.


Does anyone have diagram of the C3 battery connections and the charger?

or diagram showing how the power from the battery is distributed?

Yours Moh

The only 'charger' in the car is the alternator - the thing that charges the battery when the engine is running.

Moh wrote:I think it is something that comes between the car battery and the car itself.

I think you fill find that this post (above):

Arfur Dent wrote:Sounds like something is draining the battery, to find this you will need a meter to measure the current draw of the car while not in use, then disconnect different parts of the system (e.g. by removing fuses) and monitor the current draw change. Something should show a big change, this is likely to be the thing that's causing the problem. Don't start the car - or even try to start the car - with the current meter connected!

was trying to help you with that .


The Haynes Manual for the C3