Hi all,
Just got my c3 and love it, got up yesterday and it just clicked when i turned the key. had alternator and battery tested and seems ok. assuming its the starter motor. bumped it and it started and been ok for the day.when i start it and its running the starter seem to run on. mechanic says thats normal?
This morning it started but when i had to turn it off it clicked again,third time it started again fine.
Read somewhere about issues with the c3
any advice?
thanx
Jason
Starter motor?
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Petrol engine related faults, like injectors, error codes, overheating.
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You can post more topics if necessary, but only one question per topic.
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My Name: Arfur Dent
- Posts: 3520
- 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
- Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
- Has thanked: 345 times
- Been thanked: 135 times
Hi jason35x,
Is it a petrol or diesel?
How many miles and what year?
I have made a suggestion to your question Citroen C3 Keyfob reprogramming which I think may be related!
Is it a petrol or diesel?
How many miles and what year?
I have made a suggestion to your question Citroen C3 Keyfob reprogramming which I think may be related!
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 
-
My Name: Arfur Dent
- Posts: 3520
- 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
- Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
- Has thanked: 345 times
- Been thanked: 135 times
That's not normal. The starter shouldn't run on after the engine has started if you stop turning the key.
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
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My Name: Ozvtr
- Posts: 1196
- 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
- Gearbox: Automatic PRND
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD
- Engine name: TU3 (75 PS)
- Location: Brisbane, Australia.
- Has thanked: 59 times
- Been thanked: 351 times
A poor battery or charging system can cause the starter to "click" and not engage but it wont cause the starter to "run on".
Also a poor battery will cause all your dash lights to go out when you attempt to start the engine. It also causes the power assist in the steering to fail and cause the steering to become heavy. It may also effect some systems causing the dash warning light to come on. You didn't mention any of those faults.
So the most likely suspect is the starter.
There are a number of things that can go wrong with a starter but the 2 classic failures with them is the carbon brushes and the solenoid.
Sounds to me like it's the solenoid.
The solenoid is basically an electromagnet that moves a core backwards and forwards. The core is connected to the sprocket that engages onto the fly wheel or flex plate when the starter spins. The core is also connected to the electrical contacts that power the actual starter motor windings. So it also acts as a switch for the high current of the starter windings.
Rust can form on the core and cause it to stick in the sleeve of the electromagnet, either open or closed or both. So this would explain why it won't start and/or "runs on" after you turn the key back.
The solenoid is the smaller cylindrical object sitting on the top of the main body of the starter.
It may be possible to remove the solenoid from the starter and remove the core from the solenoid. Clean the outside of the core and the inside sleeve of the solenoid and re-assemble it.
Unfortunately I am not that familiar with these starters and you may also have an after-market starter installed. So I'm not even sure the solenoid can be pulled apart and repaired.
If you are not going to do the work yourself, then it might cost as much as a new starter to get a mechanic/auto electrician to pull the starter apart and repair it (if it can be repaired). So don't be surprised if they only give you the option of replacing the starter.
Having said all that, it still could be something else in the starter, like burnt out electrical contacts but, again, the wise move would be to replace the starter.
P.S. I wouldn't go back to that mechanic if he says that a starter "running on" is normal!
Also a poor battery will cause all your dash lights to go out when you attempt to start the engine. It also causes the power assist in the steering to fail and cause the steering to become heavy. It may also effect some systems causing the dash warning light to come on. You didn't mention any of those faults.
So the most likely suspect is the starter.
There are a number of things that can go wrong with a starter but the 2 classic failures with them is the carbon brushes and the solenoid.
Sounds to me like it's the solenoid.
The solenoid is basically an electromagnet that moves a core backwards and forwards. The core is connected to the sprocket that engages onto the fly wheel or flex plate when the starter spins. The core is also connected to the electrical contacts that power the actual starter motor windings. So it also acts as a switch for the high current of the starter windings.
Rust can form on the core and cause it to stick in the sleeve of the electromagnet, either open or closed or both. So this would explain why it won't start and/or "runs on" after you turn the key back.
The solenoid is the smaller cylindrical object sitting on the top of the main body of the starter.
It may be possible to remove the solenoid from the starter and remove the core from the solenoid. Clean the outside of the core and the inside sleeve of the solenoid and re-assemble it.
Unfortunately I am not that familiar with these starters and you may also have an after-market starter installed. So I'm not even sure the solenoid can be pulled apart and repaired.
If you are not going to do the work yourself, then it might cost as much as a new starter to get a mechanic/auto electrician to pull the starter apart and repair it (if it can be repaired). So don't be surprised if they only give you the option of replacing the starter.
Having said all that, it still could be something else in the starter, like burnt out electrical contacts but, again, the wise move would be to replace the starter.
P.S. I wouldn't go back to that mechanic if he says that a starter "running on" is normal!
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