Recharged battery and now will not start

Questions specifically about a Petrol powered Citroen C3 (usually engine or fuel related problems).
Forum rules
One question per topic.
Petrol engine related faults, like injectors, error codes, overheating.
You can post more topics if necessary, but only one question per topic.
My Name: routemaster1

C3 Master
Posts: 222
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:32 pm
Model: C3 2017-2020, The New C3
Year: 2019 (19)
Engine Size: 1.2
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 300
Trim Level: Flair
Gearbox: Manual 6 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Engine name: EB2DT-EB2ADT PureTech 3-Cylinder (110 PS)
Been thanked: 65 times

Post

Have you checked battery and engine earth connections and the starter motor cable?
My Name: Frankie

Contributor
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:29 pm
Model: C3 2006-2009, Facelift model
Year: 2006 (56)
Engine Size: 1.4
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 70000
Trim Level: Desire
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Has thanked: 10 times

Post

Thanks for your posts.
The cam belt is OK, The fuel is OK,
The starter test and locating and checking the earth connections was a bit beyond me so I called in a mobile mechanic.
He plugged in his computer and checked everything and found nothing wrong. He tried a spare coil pack to no avail.
He is coming back with an auto electrician next week. He said that there is no power going to the coil pack plug (but I may have misheard him)
I will report the next progress.
My Name: Frankie

Contributor
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:29 pm
Model: C3 2006-2009, Facelift model
Year: 2006 (56)
Engine Size: 1.4
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 70000
Trim Level: Desire
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Has thanked: 10 times

Post

The news is not good, it seems that the compression pressure is too low to start the engine.
There is probably a crack in the cylinder block.
It is terminal, and sadly a car that I have had from new is now worthless, even though the rest of it is in good condition.
Well that's life and I will have to dispose of it.
Thanks again for all the help you have given me on this forum.
User avatar
My Name: Arfur Dent

Guru
Posts: 3547
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:47 pm
Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
Year: 2002 (52)
Engine Size: 1.4 (16v)
Fuel Type: Diesel
Mileage: 100000
Trim Level: Exclusive
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
Has thanked: 356 times
Been thanked: 139 times

Post

There is probably a crack in the cylinder block
How did you get to that diagnosis.
You can add an avatar to your account - Avatar or change your vehicle details - Car Bio or even add a signature to your posts - Signature. But this is not all you can do in the User Control Panel :)
User avatar
My Name: Ozvtr

Moderator
Posts: 1257
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2019 3:31 am
Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
Year: 2003 (53)
Engine Size: 1.4 (8v)
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 80000
Trim Level: Other
Gearbox: Automatic PRND
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD
Engine name: TU3 (75 PS)
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Has thanked: 63 times
Been thanked: 375 times

Post

Frankie wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:06 pm The news is not good, it seems that the compression pressure is too low to start the engine.
There is probably a crack in the cylinder block.
It is terminal, and sadly a car that I have had from new is now worthless, even though the rest of it is in good condition.
Well that's life and I will have to dispose of it.
Thanks again for all the help you have given me on this forum.
The TU3JP engines have wet liners and they can be replaced but they rarely fail that way. The cylinder head might be warped or have a crack but the most likely reason for low compression is a blown head gasket. You might get low compression on one or two cylinders but the engine should still start. It will run very badly but it still should run.
As Arfur says, how did you get to that conclusion when the original fault was the starter motor not running?
Are you saying the engine is seized?
My Name: Frankie

Contributor
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:29 pm
Model: C3 2006-2009, Facelift model
Year: 2006 (56)
Engine Size: 1.4
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 70000
Trim Level: Desire
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Has thanked: 10 times

Post

The Auto engineers checked the compression and found 60 in one and 90 in the next. (they only checked 2)
They looked at the dip stick and said that it had water in the oil.
From this they told me that it is either a blown head gasket or a crack due to a lack of anti freeze in freezing conditions.
Either way it seems more expensive than the value of the car.
The engine is not seized and it very nearly started at my first attempt for a few days and then it just kept spinning without trying to connect.
Both of the engineers gave it a good try and would only take petrol money for their efforts.
User avatar
My Name: Arfur Dent

Guru
Posts: 3547
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:47 pm
Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
Year: 2002 (52)
Engine Size: 1.4 (16v)
Fuel Type: Diesel
Mileage: 100000
Trim Level: Exclusive
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
Has thanked: 356 times
Been thanked: 139 times

Post

Frankie wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:24 pm
They looked at the dip stick and said that it had water in the oil.
From this they told me that it is either a blown head gasket or a crack due to a lack of anti freeze in freezing conditions.
No antifreeze? Why not?

I keep antifreeze in all year around because it also has the corrosion inhibitors.
You can add an avatar to your account - Avatar or change your vehicle details - Car Bio or even add a signature to your posts - Signature. But this is not all you can do in the User Control Panel :)
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Questions about a Petrol powered Citroen C3”