Snowflake and Sport Warning Light on my C3 Auto

Sorry for the lack of updates on this... I've been royally messed about for the best part of 2 weeks by an eBay seller, and the short of it is (i) still no Lexia and (ii) chasing a refund.

However, there is a bit of news to report in that a friend of mine lent me a hand-held scanner that he said was pretty powerful and cost him a couple of hundred or so. Thinking it was worth a try in the absence of a Lexia (I've been trying various ELM327 readers in vain while waiting for the Lexia - it gives me the impression of trying to crack on with something...), but not expecting anything much, I gave it a go.

Anyway, on connecting this scanner I ran the OBD2 option, which unsurprisingly reported nothing. But, there was a "scan" option on the main menu as well, so I worked through that and was able to choose Citroen and C3, and then ran a scan which seemed to take in: injection, airbags, ABS & gearbox. For the gearbox it reported:

GEARBOX ECU -- BVA_AL4 Fault | 1.

...which on investigating further revealed:

2006 Temporary Fault
Pressure regulation (difference/setting).

So, perhaps I'm getting somewhere here? If I can get the scanning tool back, is it worth clearing (there was a 'quick erase' option) or should I leave it in case it helps anyone who might work on the car?

On a side note, while scanning the ABS it reported Anti-Lock Brake System faulty, which flashed up on the car's display and illuminated the ABS light on the dash, but both things seemed to disappear after that aspect was finished being scanned. All it logged on the scanner was "Anti-Lock Brake System -?-", so I'm hoping this might be a false one. The car recently got through it's MOT, for what it's worth.

Anyway, thoughts/advice, as always, would be very much appreciated...

Dazza wrote:GEARBOX ECU -- BVA_AL4 Fault | 1.

...which on investigating further revealed:

2006 Temporary Fault
Pressure regulation (difference/setting).

So, perhaps I'm getting somewhere here? If I can get the scanning tool back, is it worth clearing (there was a 'quick erase' option) or should I leave it in case it helps anyone who might work on the car?

Clear the codes after making a record of them (which you have done here).

If the fault returns, so will the code. If the fault doesn't return, its fixed and was a temporary problem that has since cleared.


The fault is a pressure of the gearbox oil not being what was expected by the ECU at a particular point in time. Many possible causes including a lack of or poor quality transmission fluid, those 2 solenoid valves - the main pressure and converter pressure valves as mentioned in this topic (click).

Many thanks for the reply, Arfur. I'll clear it, keep my fingers crossed, and take it from there.

The fault returned on Sunday night, unfortunately. Today I finally managed to remove the air filter housing (one or two broken clips along the way, but nothing much to bother about until I can get the gearbox remedied). I located the filler plug, which proved to be difficult to undo, but using a bit of improvisation involving a stubby wrench, a box spanner and the 8mm drain plug key, one gentle tap with a rubber mallet was enough to free it and the rest of the way could be undone by hand. I've added 0.5 L of LT 71141, so we'll see if anything comes of it. Seems a relatively simple step to take at this stage, so worth a go I think. I'll get the scanner on it tonight and clear the code once more.

Plan from now - assuming the fault comes back - is to add the other half of my litre bottle, but if no joy then the next step would be drain & replace as much of the ATF as possible. Following that, it'll be the solenoids, but I think they might be a bit beyond me. Still, I have to try these things as I can't really take on open-ended garage bills nor the prices the auto gearbox specialist quoted.

Hi Dazza

I would advise caution before adding more ATF, overfilling can damage your gearbox.

Low pressure may be down to lack of fluid but at the moment you don't know what the problem is?

If your problem persists I would suggest you drain the gearbox and re-fill with the correct amount and type of new fluid.

While you've got access to the ATF, have you taken any of the old out and looked at it?

Thanks for the reply & suggestion, Missing Lincs.

So, I'll probably hold off from adding the other half-litre, then, and I'll try to take a sample of the fluid when (not if) the fault next returns. Then, as you suggest, I think I'll just go ahead with a full change of the ATF. Is there any idea of how much ATF should come out, or is it really just a case of measuring how much old comes out then refilling with that same amount? I'm planning on buying in 5 litres in any case, which will be plenty.

I know that overfilling can damage the gearbox - as can underfilling - but it was a chance I thought I might take as I'm getting quite close to calling time on this, as topping up/changing the oil is probably about my limit, and the garage don't have much interest in this type of job beyond referring to the specialist and the high quotes I referenced earlier.

Anyway, I've just cleared the fault in the gearbox ECU again, so we'll see if anything comes of the half litre added earlier. Thanks again for the reply.

Well, predictably the fault has returned, so my optimistic adding of 0.5 litre didn't sort it.

A bit more poking around with the (non-Lexia) tool this evening led me to look at some live data:

With the engine running and gearstick in "P", it showed engine speed of 832 against input speed ranging from 640 to 704.
The oil pressure was in a fairly short range from 2.6 to 2.7.

Moving the stick to "D", the engine speed was 832 against 0 for input speed. Oil pressure ranged from 2.9 to 3.2.

My endless searches (and very limited understanding!) have led me to think that the oil pressure falling comfortably within the 10% tolerance may mean the solenoids aren't the issue, but the input speed in "P" being nowhere near the 10% tolerance range may instead suggest a torque converter problem (which, if that's the case, could maybe be down to something as simple as old and/or insufficient oil)?

Anyway, just putting this up here. I plan to continue with the oil when I next get the chance (taking a sample, then an oil change), but if anyone has any ideas based on the stats posted here I'd be pleased to hear them.

Dazza wrote:Well, predictably the fault has returned, so my optimistic adding of 0.5 litre didn't sort it.

The oil level testing an filling is done in 0.5L steps. The procedure is to top up by 0.5L then check the level (by oil flowing from the level point). Its a bit tedious, but the correct oil level is imperative.



c3-automatic-gearbox/al4-gearbox-trouble-s-t981.html has lot more information and more pictures of the AL4 filling and level checks.

You remove number 3 to check the level because the tube (4) stays in place. Remove 4 (the tube and nut) to drain down.

Dazza wrote:may instead suggest a torque converter problem (which, if that's the case, could maybe be down to something as simple as old and/or insufficient oil)?

Yes, which is why its so important to get the oil level correct.

Thanks for the reply, Arfur.

Hi All

First post .......

EmilysMum's told me the other week that the snowflake & sports lights were flashing ... apparently they'd done it before but she'd not thought to say anything . My Autel generic code reader came up with a code of P0730 ... 'incorrect gear ratio'
While in the dealers today for other stuff, I mentioned the code, so he looked it up. Apparently it was possible for various other codes to be tied in with P0730, but my code reader had just recorded the one. It seems that Citroen has come up with a software up grade for this 4 speed 'box if needed so obviously recognise a problem somewhere, (I think it's the chevrons front & back ) but if that fails, the next step up is to change the solenoids as Arfur has linked to above, but Citroen don't change just the solenoids, they change the whole valve block. £1000 please Sir!

Telling EmilysMum all this when I got back home reminded her of the fact that it'd flashed the snowflake & Sports lights again the other day ........ she'd forgot to tell me ..... again.

I've not checked the ATF level (I didn't know till today how often this has been happening) ..... is this likely to make any difference? Or should I just swap it for an Astra? Or have I to get my hands dirty and replace the solenoids myself?