Ignition switch plugs and sockets disconnection

There are two plugs and sockets for the Citroen C3 ignition switch.

They are split into Left and Right (of the steering wheel).

Access is easier if you pull out that lower plastic panel from under the steering wheel and remove the lower steering column cover (two torx from below)


The left is a pair of wires (Yellow and Green/Yellow) that terminates to a plug and socket just up and behind the left-hand side of the steering column.

To separate the plug and socket, there is a tab on the plug, and pressing the tab will release the catch holding the two sections from falling apart.

The left cable pair is for the accessories switch position.

You can find the right-hand ignition switch plug and socket to the right of the steering column.


The Right-hand ignition switch plug and socket has 3 cables (Red, Yellow and Blue).
To disconnect them, slide the red latch to the side.



This is a classic Citroen connector, as you find on the BSM module plugs.

The right-hand trio of cables are for the ignition and starter position of the ignition switch.



The cables are quite a heavy gauge making them easy to follow the plug. Then when you find the plugs, their larger size makes back probing them much easier than the small plugs you sometimes need to check.



One of each pair of plugs or sockets is fixed to a part of the framework behind the dash; You can easily disengage those mountings by sliding the fixed part off the mounting, Don't pull or twist; a simple slide will release the fixed part.

Here is the wiring with the ignition lock removed.
In the Mk1 or prefacelift (2002-2005) C3's, the full current of the starter solenoid (NOT the starter...the solenoid) goes through the ignition contacts of the ignition switch.
In the facelift C3's, the starter solenoid is engaged by a relay. The relay is engaged indirectly by the CAN BUS. There is no direct connection between the ignition switch and the starter! So virtually no current flows through the ignition switch 'start' contacts in the 'start' position.

Some power comes from the ignition switch to power the BSI and BSM. But some power for the BSI and BSM comes directly from the battery through the Maxi Fuses.