Citroen C3 Owners

This post by RC3D is the first part of a series of posts that investigate then ultimately solve the problem of an unexplained oil loss coupled with a lack of power on a Citroen C3 1.4 HDi 8v.

To summarise the problem I have
1) Sudden oil dripping from front of the engine, then saw oil in the breathing pipes that were on top the cylinder head cover.
2) Then the oil dripping gradually increased with loss of power, the car was struggling to go up hills.
3) Oil pressure light stayed on longer than usual, I was also losing oil.
4) No Mil, only a P1197 error. I had no problems at all with starting the engine.


I’ve started work on my C3, the first thing I was going to do was do a leak off test but due to the weather the pipes I ordered from ebay has not arrived yet. But I got the Lexia 3 kit from ebay before the listing was taken down by ebay https://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=ponury73&ftab=AllFeedback&rt=nc&myworld=true, I think they did him for the software. Here is the guy’s own website https://www.ukpolboy.comoj.com/1_8_Lexi ... cable.html where you can buy the kit for the same price. I can say the hardware is very good but installing the software on the computer was a bit complicated, but I’ve heard the guy is very helpful. I could not install DiagBox 6.01 on my win 7 computer and after failed attempts I managed to install it on Win Xp SP3 computer. Then I managed to install DiagBox 7.01 on to my Win 7 computer.

Once that was sorted I connected the OBD2 cable, DiagBox opened and recognised the VIN number but then I clicked on Lexia, I was faced with a problem “The communication card is incorrectly initialised, The tool must be restarted”, after spending hours researching on the net I found the following fix. You need to accept the error by pressing the Return button on the keyboard and then disconnect and reconnect the USB lead (the OBD2 lead) to the computer.

Once that was completed I did the diagnosis that’s when I got pissed off with Evans Halshaw of Sheffield, the so called Citroen specialist. When I took the car to them they have not bothered to erase the historical faults and re-diagnose the faults. So basically it would have taken them 2 minutes maximum, to read the faults, they charged me £79.99 saying that they had spent 1hr 30mins and still hadn’t found the problem behind the misfire. I have written a complaint to them and I’ve also asked for a refund. If they refuse, should I report them to Trading Standards? any advice pl.
I read a number of historical errors (I’ve to say, my heart sank when I first viewed the list, then I remembered Arfur Dent’s questions-about-a-diesel-powered-citroe ... -t471.html comment), then erased, took the car for a run and re-ran the diagnosis, it came with only one error. See below.


30/03/2013 13:30 Diagnosis
CITROEN C3

Permanent fault, Injector(s) control: Fault code: P1197
Engine speed: 1440 rpm
output injected: 22.02 mg/cp
Engine coolant temperature: 50°C
vehicle speed: 28 kph
battery voltage: 14.35 Volt(s)
Engine status: Engine at load
Time elapsed since ignition switched on: 534 S
Diesel temperature: 18 °C
Diesel pressure setting: 586 bar
Diesel pressure: 1799 bars
Pressure regulator OCR: 17 %
Flow regulator OCR: 26 %
Main brake: Inactive
Redundant brake: Not present or active
Clutch: Inactive
Air conditioning request: Inactive
Additional heating input 1: Inactive
Additional heating input 2: Inactive

Once I had completed the OBD2 test I moved on to the compression test, I have come across a couple of problems.

1) The kit I bought from Ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400437410970?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 hasn’t got a M8 dummy glow plug adaptor or the dummy injectors with the correct clamp (see photo 1 & 2). I wonder whether anybody here has got a Compression tester kit with either a M8 Glow plug adaptor or with the correct injector adaptor.

2) I took two glow plugs see pic 1, pic 2 & pic 2a, the second one was covered in oil, that has given me a good indication of that cylinder but what is concerning me is that how come I could not see the oil burning through the exhaust instead the oil was pushing up into the breather pipe?
I’ll keep you informed of how I’m getting on, any help and advice will be appreciated.

01/04/2013
I'm certain from looking at the glow plug that the 2nd cylinder is the problem, rather than wasting more money on Comp testing kit I've decided to go ahead and start dismantling the car.


The post with the photographs and guide to removing the engine appears HERE

The KKK KP35 turbo charger strip down and rebuild guide is HERE

P1197 was found to be cleared after the engine reassembled with some replacement injectors,
questions-about-a-diesel-powered-citroe ... -t529.html
tips-for-a-diesel-powered-citroen-c3-f6 ... 28-10.html at the bottom of the last post

01/04/2013
I'm certain from looking at the glow plug that the 2nd cylider is the problem, rather than wasting more money on Comp testing kit I've decided to go ahead and start dismatling the car.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for the photos and words.

It will be great to hear and see how it goes!

thanks for post! WHat year your care is made ? i want to buy lexia but afraid that it wont work with my diesel 1.4 Hdi 2002

i want to buy lexia but afraid that it wont work with my diesel 1.4 Hdi 2002

Lexia is the only tool that will work fully with your 2003 diesel as its not OBD compliant.

The lexia works with nearly all the citroen models with a diagnostic connector, it does work with ALL the C3 models, petrol and diesel.

You can find out a little about lexia tool here.