Grand C4 Picasso Start Stop issue

[mastercare]

I have a C4 Grand Picasso Diesel Auto 1.6 2013 and only have done 7700 miles.
Suddenly the Start Stop function has stopped working. The ECO light flashes
three times and nothing happens. The battery is fully charged and noting is
draining the battery. I have already checked all requirements for the function
to work to be ok. I have a Autel Maxidas d708 and it throws error A4D4 Fault:
Rear door sills or boot lighting fault : Short circuit to positive ,

I have checked all connections and lights to be working and nothing appears
to be short circuit. However on further diagnosis I found that in BIS system
one item failed ( Number plate illumination control Actuation failed ), however
the lights are working. The DTC code comes back upon clearing.
I have travelled 100 miles without any electric item switch on, checked the issue
and it still remained.
I have switch on everything electric in car while engine is running, disconnected
and reconnected seat belts, switch off all electric devices, drove on motorway for
20 miles and yet still the Start Stop is not working, the green ECO flashes 3 times.
Every time I checked the ECU, it did had the code " A4D4 Fault:
Rear door sills or boot lighting fault : Short circuit to positive "

Please help. Thanks in advance.

[GiveMeABreak]

I think you'll find you may need to get it on a Lexia system to properly diagnose it, as third party units don't generally have all the functionality required. Those codes don't look as if they are PSA codes, so don't mean much and the actual PSA code could point to something else.

But back to the issue - the biggest problem with STOP START technology is it's dependency on a well-charged battery - the system (indicated by the ECO flashing) will not engage unless a lot of parameters are met. There are some posts on the forum about this. Cars employing Start Stop tech., require AGM Batteries to cope with the constant demand of starting the vehicle - but when they do start to go they may not be able to deliver the required power on demand and therefore the stop start system will not engage (risk of not being able to start the car) if it does not meet the power requirements. Just because the battery reads ok, it may not be enough to satisfy the system. How long has the current battery been working? If it is the original - I would say after 4 years of Stop Start - it probably isn't up to the demands. Is that 7,700 miles or 77,000 miles? If 77,000 miles that is a lot of stop and starts! I use an AGM battery for a non-stop start car precisely because it always delivers the power I need in any conditions and is built for high demand, so should outlive a standard battery. May be time to change it - assuming you have not got any other issues.
viewtopic.php?t=48907&start=15

[mastercare]

Hi Marc thanks for a quick response. It has done only 7700 miles and it is just causing a pain in my head that I have a car which has only done 7700 miles and a big feature of the engine is not working. I bought the car from Citroen main dealer and so there is no chance of mileage interference. Can you please guide me a tool which could check the proper features and can do a good diagnostics near OEM level but can be connected to the OBD? I have seen Lexia systems with non OBD ports. I would like to have a tool which could be plugged inside the car passenger compartment and not under the hood. Thanks

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes a Lexia system is a bespoke diagnostic tool as used by the PSA Group and DS Automobiles. It is specifically designed to work with PSA vehicles. You will need a laptop to run the software on though - and kits are widely available, but be aware that they are of varying quality - especially from some ebay sellers. I can personally recommend Easydiagnostics.co.uk who use the full-featured, full-chip kits - they are not the cheapest, but they provide a support service and are UK-based.
http://www.easydiagnostics.co.uk/#/shop ... e/11022604

This really would be a long-term investment and caution should be exercised in using the tool, needless to say. Citroen will undertake a diagnostic for you but tend to charge anything up to £90. A decent kit will cost you in the region of £118 as of posting from Easy, but it will need a laptop to run the software and it does connect to the OBD port.

There may be some members within reach of you who are prepared to offer diagnostic sessions, check the member map here:
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=56452
At the bottom of the post, there is a link to the Google map showing their locations. You can then contact them via the forum messaging system.

[GiveMeABreak]

Here's a blog regarding AGM batteries - seems that 4 years is seen as good - but may last to 7 years - depending
http://blog.greenflag.com/2016/cheap-ba ... stop-cars/

[Paul-R]

As the vehicle is over three years old it won't be covered by the manufacturer's three year warranty. Did the dealer you bought it from offer any kind of extended warranty? How long ago did you buy it?

With only 7700 miles in four years the car may be suffering from not enough use. If the car has been left unused for long periods then this can easily drain a battery. For example, in an airport car park between visits. There's a further problem leaving a car in such a place; the on-board computer will frequently "wake-up" when another vehicle nearby is opened/closed and, although it will go back to sleep after a while, this will hasten discharge of the battery.

The first thing I would do is take it back to the dealer you bought it from. They should give it a look over with a Diagbox at the least and tell you what's wrong. Resist any request for payment as they should have sold you car with all systems working - unless they told you it wasn't working of course (highly unlikely).

It may be possible to make a post warranty claim. Doubtful but try that as a last resort.

[mastercare]

Marc, Paul, very helpful replies, thanks

[Eddie Nuff]

£150 for a new AGM battery every four years to save a farthing of fuel a day. Just another gimmick to flog cars.

[Old-Guy]

£150 for a new AGM battery every four years to save a farthing of fuel a day. Just another gimmick to flog cars.

That's right! But not quite the full story, models like this help the motor industry in their battling the totally unrealistic expectations of politicians. Another ridiculous example is the trick (I use the word advisedly) of selling cars without a spare wheel to save weight and thus get the artificial 'emissions' figure under a totally arbitrary limit set by some idiot bureaucrat in Brussels or Washington.

I'm not surprised that Stop-Start models kill expensive high-capacity batteries; walking past a queue of cars waiting to get out of a car park, an Audi kept passing me, stopping (engine off), I'd catch up or pass, it would Start, move forward one car's length, stop (engine off). It did this five times in less than 50 metres of the exit road, and then once more when I beat it to the Pelicon crossing on the main road!

It's all a big green con: - the environmental cost of the heavier duty components and their relatively frequent replacement far outweighs the miniscule savings even for a city taxi.

[Eddie Nuff]

All fair points OG, all with more than a ring of truth to them.

And please don't get me started on the eco warrier con job! . .

[Gibbo2286]

My neighbour with a near new Honda couldn't get on with the stop start system (nearly crushed his wife somehow ), when he moaned about it at the dealership they turned it off for him.

[Hell Razor5543]

On my company van I have the option of turning off Start/Stop merely by pushing a button.

[Paul-R]

On my company van I have the option of turning off Start/Stop merely by pushing a button.

Same with our Peugeot 308. I'd be surprised if the Picasso didn't have the same/similar system.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, the PSA ones can all be disabled for the current journey if desired - should all be covered in the manual how to turn it off, but generally pressing the ECO button on the X7. I don't think it can be permanently disabled though...

[GiveMeABreak]

I have a C4 Grand Picasso Diesel Auto 1.6 2013 and only have done 7700 miles. Suddenly the Start Stop function has stopped working. The ECO light flashes three times and nothing happens.

These are listed as scenarios when the system won't engage - appreciating that you have eliminated areas such as seat belts etc...

• the driver's door is open,
• the driver's seat belt is not fastened
• the vehicle has not exceeded 6 mph (10 km/h) since the last engine start using the key,
• the electric parking brake is applied or being applied
• the engine is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment
• demisting is active
• some special conditions (battery charge, engine temperature, braking assistance, ambient temperature...)
• where the engine is needed to assure control of a system.

When you see how even having the demister on stops it from working - it's always worth a double check to eliminate these