What are the reasons for the Citroen C-Quatre's failure to start when igniting?
3 Answers
Citroen C-Quatre's failure to start when igniting can be caused by issues such as idle speed motor, carbon buildup in the intake tract, intake valves, and combustion chamber, leakage or excessive carbon buildup in the fuel injectors, or fuel pump failure. Introduction to the reasons for Citroen C-Quatre's failure to start when igniting: In most cases, it is due to excessive carbon buildup in the idle speed motor, intake tract, intake valves, and combustion chamber. Excessive carbon and dirt in the intake tract can change the cross-sectional area of the air passage, leading to an overly rich or lean air-fuel mixture, resulting in abnormal combustion or engine shaking after starting, or even failure to start. Timely cleaning of carbon buildup is necessary. Alternatively, it could be due to leakage or excessive carbon buildup in the fuel injectors, causing a lean air-fuel mixture during startup and making it difficult to start. It could also be due to a faulty carbon canister or carbon canister solenoid valve, which can also lead to difficulty in starting. Inspection and cleaning of the relevant components are required. Fuel pump failure is similar to running out of fuel. A damaged fuel pump can also cause failure to start. During ignition, the starter operates normally, but the car does not start. If the fuel pressure in the fuel line is too low, it is highly likely that the fuel pump is damaged. Replacement of the relevant components is necessary.
I've encountered this issue many times. When owners bring their Citroën C-Quatre in for repairs, nine times out of ten it's a battery problem. Try turning the key to see if you hear a clicking sound. If you do, it means the starter is receiving power but can't turn over, which basically confirms the battery is dead. Either the battery is too old to hold a charge, or you've drained it by listening to music while parked. If that's the case, you can jump-start the car to get it going. However, you should also check if the alternator is generating enough power. Sometimes, a loose alternator belt can cause unstable charging, which puts extra strain on the battery. By the way, older C-Quatre models are prone to oxidized electrical connections, especially the battery terminals. If you see white corrosion on them, it can lead to poor contact.
Last time my neighbor's 10-year-old Citroen C-Quatre couldn't start either, and it turned out not to be the battery. The engine light on the dashboard was on, and reading the fault code showed the crankshaft position sensor was dead. When this sensor fails, the ECU has no idea where the pistons are, so naturally it won't start. Another common issue is the starter motor brushes wearing out - if tapping the motor housing makes it start, that confirms it. The fuel pump could also be on strike - listen for a buzzing sound under the rear seats when turning the key to the ON position. If the fuel pump stays silent, chances are the fuel pump relay is burnt out or a fuse has blown.
