Problem with auto gearbox/electrics?

Hi first time on any such forum so I will try and include all that you need to know.

I have a c3 1.4 auto, 2004, 62k miles. Has been just hunky dorey, no issues regularly serviced etc. Last night I pressed the "sports" button - something I rarely do. Shortly thereafter it seemed to do a really harsh gear change and the engine sounded wrong - not sure if I would class it as whiny but it didn't sound like it usually does, speed about 40-45 mph. The sports & snow lights were both flashing on the display and where it usually says D or R or whatever it said - so we pulled over and turned the car off. Upon starting it again, the snow & sports light were still there as was the - but it beeped too (you know that beep it does when its low on fuel type beep) I have the engine management light on also and it is stuck in park.

Green flag man came out and gave us a code os U0103. This morning an inhibitor has been replaced (no idea what that is) and now my heater/climate control is not working in addition to the above problem. I believe the snow & sports lights are out but the engine management is still on.

Any ideas on how to resolve please?

Welcome to the forum atbreakingpoint

The sports & snow lights were both flashing on the display

The flashing of sport and snow is the automatic gearbox letting you know there is a fault.

the snow & sports light were still there as was the - but it beeped too (you know that beep it does when its low on fuel type beep) I have the engine management light on also and it is stuck in park

Its probably beeping due to the MIL or 'engine light' and its stuck in park because the automatic gearbox ecu has detected a major problem with the gearbox.

Green flag man came out and gave us a code os U0103.

That was nice of him, U0103 could be "Lost Communication With Gear Shift Control Module A" from a quick look up I made, its a generic error description and a citroen diagnosis my give a better description. But from what we have now, is a communication error between the gear stick and the gearbox

This morning an inhibitor has been replaced (no idea what that is)

I have no idea, can you find out a little more about what got changed, and more importantly, why it got changed. i presume you paid for the part, so you are entitled to know where your money went, why it went there, and the old part that was removed.

and now my heater/climate control is not working in addition to the above problem.

Oh, could be a fuse?
try looking here for fuses and more fuse box diagrams are linked on that page too.

I believe the snow & sports lights are out but the engine management is still on.

The MIL or engine management light may reset itself eventually, but to be sure you can read the codes that have brought the light on, try an OBD2 reader, but if you want the full functionality with bells and whistles, the Lexia 3 is the tool to get your head around.

Any ideas on how to resolve please?

Get lexia connected (see above) and read out the codes, work through the problems one at a time in a methodical order.

Check fuses for the climate control, find out why parts have been changed and the fault is not cleared.

Thanks for replying - I had no idea anyone had replied, so my apologies for not responding.

I am not very "up" on car terms etc but basically there was a problem with a switch thing located behind the glovebox area that is to do with the brake pedal, said bit is aboout 2 inches long, has a white socket type end with 4 pins inside which then is connected to a black cylindrical bit that has a little round button poking out the end which can be pushed up and down. I can take a picture of the offending piece if it helps anyone?

With regards to the other bits not working it would appear that when this bit went wrong it blew a fuse or two which we simply replaced, jobs a good 'un.

Everything now works as it should although every now and then (rarely) it will get stuck in park, but if I release the brake and then press down again it releases from park. Touch wood it will remain ok.

When we had the centre console in pieces we managed to lose my actual S button so I have a hole there now, so I can no longer press the S button = I think this may be a good thing! Oh just to add, when we had the console out we notice that 2 prongs on the actual pressy down bit of the S button were snapped so in effect the button got pressed down but got wedged so could not be released, whether this has anything to do with the chain of events that broke the car in the first place I do not know.

Again, thanks for the reply. I doubt my information has been much help but wanted to let you know my car is fixed and this is a handy little forum.

Thanks for replying - I had no idea anyone had replied, so my apologies for not responding.

No problem, thanks for the update. Its good to hear its working OK (minus the sport button).

I can take a picture of the offending piece if it helps anyone?

Yes please, your description is quite comprehensive, but a picture would help. Thanks.

I doubt my information has been much help

You would be surprised how useful this can be. Someone with a C3 auto and the same symptoms as your car could just change the 'switch thing located behind the glovebox area that is to do with the brake pedal' and fix the fault while saving themselves some diagnostic fees. OK, so their problem may have a different cause, but its got to be worth a punt

This is what caused the problem, I do not know what it is called, but its something to do with the brake pedal.

Thanks for the photo, in its most basic name, its called a switch. I think citroen call this particular switch the 'SPEED REGULAR CONTACT SWITCH' - part number 4534 37 (4534.37).

Very similar to, and sat next to SWITCH-BRAKE LIGHT 4534 51 (4534.51) or 4534 52 (4534.52) behind the glove box.

Just like these, if anyone else needs one

Citroen C3 Brake Switch