Electrical disaster

Hey All,

So just some basics on the car quick, it's a Citron c3 pluriel 06 1.4 petrol 5 speed manual.

So the last Sunday I had a call from my partner saying her car has broken down, as she was driving the radio switched off the wipers came on for less then 30 seconds before her car had a complete black out, she managed to coast it into a car park, the car had no power what's so ever at this point, no hazards no lights or radio.

Her uncle came out tested the fuses and battery but had no joy, 6hours later on our way home after working stopped by to tow the car back home, opened the passanger door and the interior light came on. She managed to drive the car back home fine with me following her.

So out comes the multimeter, 12.70v being read off the battery, and 13-14 volts with the alternator, brilliant.. locked the car with fob came in and forgot about it till morning thinking maybe it's just having a hissy fit.

The following day went to unlock the car with fob, nothing.. so out comes the multimeter again, battery still reading 12.7v. So stuck the key in ignition thinking it was a dying fob or fob battery. Low and behold no power at all..

So start to check the basics, battery volts, battery terminals, battery cables, ground to engine, power to fuses, power to starter and power to alternator. All reading well with the multimeter.

Whilst I'm there I get out some wire brushes and sander on the dremmel to clean all connections up good. And vasalined up the connections, and when I say I cleaned them they are so shiney they look new. Still this gave no joy went in warmed up with a cuppa and some lunch went back out and lights were on again and needless to say I must have looked rather confused. A big sigh of relief thinking that was the end of the nightmare, started the car and ran for 30mins fine everything working as it should, battery, alternator all going well and getting good readings still, so I locked it up came back in.

Went back out as had left my lighter and smokes on the front seat, flicked the unlock on fob and once again not so much as a clink clank or pop.

This occurred several times with the power being fine one moment and the next it being like there was no battery at all. No dash, hazards, side lights, radio etc.

Now the past couple of days there's been no life at all

So I began to create a list starting from the very top, to date this is what I have done, checked or cleaned.

Battery - cleaned terminals, halfords battery check (good battery) cleaned connectors, reading 12.7v battery and connectors. Replaced negative connector

Fuses engine bay - all checked with multimeter, test light + visually, all good.. positive cable reading 12.7v. checked today with power probe 2 (30amp and 40amp no power in second key position)

Maxi fuses - checked, continuity tested no apparent issues

Negative to engine ground - cleaned as was very blue, reading 0 resistance now.

3 grounds passanger engine side - cleaned, cont tested

Positive to starter - cleaned cont tested

Positive from starter to alternator - cleaned cont tested

Ignition - reading as it should, 2 ground 1 positive 2nd key, cracking 2 positive 1 ground.

Ignition to started - cleaned cont tested

Inside glovebox and under fuses - checked visually, cont tested


What am I missing? I can see any relays, any fusible links, any damaged or lose wires, I have no wiring diagram and can't find one to see where things go from the ignition I've used, multimeter, continuity pen and power probe, the starter cranks with positive from ignition wire with the probe not with the key?there's a crack in the alternator arm I noticed that the positive is located on. Upon attaching the battery there is a beep from (I'm guessing the bsi).

The power has switched on twice randomly this week before it died completly, once when testing the volts between battery and the alternator, and once removing the air filter although I've tried to recreate these shortly after with no joys.

I'm at my wit's end with this car now as can't fair what's causing this issue and hope someone may be able to help, I'm partially residing myself to the fact it might be the ECU, or fuse box that's died but would like some more opionions.

Many thanks Dan

it looks like you covered all the basics.

A faulty ignition switch?

The C3 Haynes Manual (amazon) has those illusive wiring diagrams.

Went back out as had left my lighter and smokes on the front seat, flicked the unlock on fob and once again not so much as a clink clank or pop.

This is BSI controlled (look inside here). Check you have power to the BSI.

Hiya c3car, apologies for not replying sooner

Still no joys with this issue, I've tested the ignition switch, and double checked today. Forgot to say the OSB reader said no codes aswell, the BSI has power (as far as I'm aware) as the wires coming in and out are reading polarity, have managed to download a Haynes manual with diagrams so hopefully might she'd a bit more light on the problem.

If anyone might know if the car has relays anywhere I could check that would be great as I'm stumped, and think it might have to be sent off for a bsi test and repair possibly :s

TheFailingDIYer wrote:If anyone might know if the car has relays anywhere I could check

The BSI is the fusebox and relay box - its a black box. Solidstate and mechanical relays soldered to the board. BSM (Engine bay fuse box) is another black box with relays and solid state relay devices that are not user changeable.

You can't change any of the relays like in the old days

TheFailingDIYer wrote:the car had no power what's so ever at this point, no hazards no lights or radio.

It really does sound like a bad earth, bad battery internally, BSM, or ignition switch. Its intermittent so testing will only show a fault at some times and not others. A very difficult fault to track down

Thank you C3car, had a auto electrician out today as I've checked as much as I possibly can, who has said he thinks it's the BSI infact he's 99% sure although someone has been there before as broke the plastic trying to get to it. So looks like it's being sent off for testing and repair, which will hopefully resolve the issue

Also found two relays behind the BSI didn't ask what they are for but he did test them

saw you problem recently posted on the Forum. I too have a similar probem, I have power on the Bsi and Bsm but nothing inside the car to say their is power on it?
Did you find out what the Relays were behind your Bsi? I too have this??
How did you check your ignition switch? I have nothing at all when I turn the key so I'm guessing its a relay on the board? Bsi?