Engine does not start, does not turn

Hi, I have a problem with my wife's C3. The engine suddenly wont start. When turning the key in starting position, nothing is happening, no turning, no noise, nothing. But it starts on bump start.
Does anybody have an idea what could be wrong?
Thank you for your help in advance, Andy

It sounds like the starter solenoid. You can repair them independently of the starter motor.

There is a topic in the tips section covering the starter solenoid.

I can't find it. Could you please send me the link about the starter selenoid? Thanks

citroen-c3-tips/replace-the-c3-starter- ... -t984.html

That one helps to show where the starter and solenoid is on the car


citroen-c3-tips/starter-motor-replacing ... -t762.html

And this one has some pictures of the starter which carries the solenoid

But also check the obvious like the battery connections are clean and tight and the battery is OK.

Thank you very much for the links. After I took the starter motor off I realized that it still is under warranty, so I sent it to the seller then.

They called me today that the starter motor was burn out and that this is not covered by the warranty, because there must be something else wrong on the car, some ''trigger'' which burned out second starter motor in the last 12 months. They suggested to check wires, shorts, ignition switch...

I checked all the fuses - glove box fuses, engine bay fuses and the maxi fuses underneath; everything is allright there and all wires look allright.
I also checked the battery connections, measured the voltage and I guess that the battery is OK as it was changed about 8 months ago, the voltage was 12.5V I think and went up to 14.4V while reving.

Before I took the starter motor off I checked the voltage on live wire - about 12.3V and on the small wire when the ignition key was in the starting position and there was about 11.9V. Is this OK? The main wires from the battery and the earth wire to the starter motor look allright, I do not know how I could test them if they really are ok.

My guess is that it could be the ignition switch as the key turns quite hard. This is all the time since we bought the car 1.5 year ago. Also, a few days ago my wife could not turn the key properly to the starting position, so she switched it off and then on again and there was not a problem with starting then. The car has an immobilizer. How would I code the new key then? Will I need to go to the Citroen dealer? Is it very expensive then?

One more thing what my wife noticed before she had the sudden starting problem: When she was driving she felt a strange vibrations on the steering wheel for a short time like for 1-2 seconds and then 2-3 lights went on on the dashboard. She thinks that it was engine check, airbag and probably one more light which she is not sure which one. Those lights went on for a few seconds and then dissapeared.

Has anybody had a similar problem? Any advice please? Thanks in advance. Andy

Hi andy32154 looks like you have been busy. Lots of questions too. I will try to answer what I know as I go through your post

andy32154 wrote:They called me today that the starter motor was burn out and that this is not covered by the warranty, because there must be something else wrong on the car, some ''trigger'' which burned out second starter motor in the last 12 months. They suggested to check wires, shorts, ignition switch...

This could be true. Starter motors generally last 100K miles and more so to have 2 that have failed in the same - unusual - way would indicate something that is causing or 'triggering' the breakdown. Its a simple system compared to other C3 electrical systems so you should be able to work out what is wrong?

andy32154 wrote:I checked all the fuses - glove box fuses, engine bay fuses and the maxi fuses underneath; everything is allright there and all wires look allright.

Its not going to be a fuse. I suggest you get a copy of the the ever useful C3 haynes manual (from amazon - here). In there you will find the circuit diagram for the starter circuit and you can use this to see which parts are used in the starter motor circuit.

andy32154 wrote:I also checked the battery connections, measured the voltage and I guess that the battery is OK as it was changed about 8 months ago, the voltage was 12.5V I think and went up to 14.4V while reving.

Good tight battery connections and nice clean earth connections are good. The battery voltage is transferred by thick wires to the starter motor and solenoid. You also need to see that the 12.5v is getting to its destination - the starter.

andy32154 wrote:Before I took the starter motor off I checked the voltage on live wire - about 12.3V and on the small wire when the ignition key was in the starting position and there was about 11.9V. Is this OK?

If there is 12.5 v at the battery then I would expect to see 12.5v at the other places voltage is used when the engine is not running or starter not turning.

andy32154 wrote:My guess is that it could be the ignition switch as the key turns quite hard. This is all the time since we bought the car 1.5 year ago. Also, a few days ago my wife could not turn the key properly to the starting position, so she switched it off and then on again and there was not a problem with starting then.

If you have the circuit you could test this, but if not then you can change this. Change would be good because you say its got a mechanical problem and this could easily be linked to your electrical problem. Its not the easiest thing to change because the security bolt will need drilling out.

Security bolt on the ignition barrel of a Citroen C3

andy32154 wrote:How would I code the new key then? Will I need to go to the Citroen dealer? Is it very expensive then?

New key? Don't buy a new key. Use the key blade that comes with the lock and use your existing immobiliser chip and remote locking chip. This way you don't need to program anything and it saves money.

This topic shows early C3 key parts
citroen-c3-tips/early-c3-transponder-ke ... -t449.html

andy32154 wrote:One more thing what my wife noticed before she had the sudden starting problem: When she was driving she felt a strange vibrations on the steering wheel for a short time like for 1-2 seconds and then 2-3 lights went on on the dashboard. She thinks that it was engine check, airbag and probably one more light which she is not sure which one. Those lights went on for a few seconds and then dissapeared.

Its probably related to the starting problem if its a bad earth or bad ignition power switch. I would expect an array of lights on the dash if there is electrical problems.

andy32154 wrote:Has anybody had a similar problem? Any advice please? Thanks in advance. Andy

Not me, but I have given you some things to go on. Good luck

Thank you so so much C3CAR for all your helpfull posts.

I am buying the starter motor and the ignition switch. I looked at the topis citroen-c3-tips/early-c3-transponder-ke ... -t449.html and I still do not understand how the electronic part works.

There will be new transponder on the new ignition barrel, so I guess that the new transponder will not work with the transponder chip from my old key.
Will I need to reprogramm the key fob as showed in this topic and it will work then? citroen-c3-tips/key-fob-reprogramming-f ... 3-t71.html

Thanks, Andy

andy32154 wrote:There will be new transponder on the new ignition barrel, so I guess that the new transponder will not work with the transponder chip from my old key.
Will I need to reprogramm the key fob as showed in this topic and it will work then? citroen-c3-tips/key-fob-reprogramming-for-a-citroen-c3-t71.html

Hi Andy, you are over-thinking it.

The transponder chip - the black part in the key is linked by a code to the car - the BSI and the Engine ECU - for starting/immo.

The circuit board is linked to your car - the BSI for central locking.

So you need to keep the black chip and the circuit board because these are linked to your car.

The key blade is cut for the ignition barrel so the new barrel will need the new blade.

I would transfer the new blade into the existing fob - with the existing black chip and circuit board.

No programming required.

Oooh.. I got it now Thank you very much