Citroen c4 won't start.

[Redboy66]

Hi, my c4 2005 automatic has suddenly developed a fault out of nowhere. It has always started on the 1st turn of the key, the problem was a week ago and the car cranks over but won't fire up. I called the AA out who couldn't repair it but did say it was likely to be fuel related as he couldn't hear the pump coming on, my car has only done 45000 miles so is it likely to be the pump has packed up or could it be a electrical problem?

[xantia_v6]

Welcome to the forum. It would be a good idea to tell us which engine your car has.

[Redboy66]

Of course it would! It's a 1.6

[xantia_v6]

Of course it would! It's a 1.6

Petrol or diesel? Power rating?

[Redboy66]

It's petrol but not sure of the power rating?

[xantia_v6]

I don't have much experience of the 1.6 engines, but I suppose the first thing is to check the fuses, particularly the fuel pump fuse.

I don't know how much equipment or expertise you have, but I would also try to measure the voltage at the feed to the fuel pump in the fuel tank (it should energise for about a second when the key is first tuned on, and then again when the engine is cranked.

If there is power to the pump, but it is silent, then changing the pump would be the next step.

If there is no voltage to the pump, or if the pump is in fact running, then you probably need to get a Lexia diagnostic tool connected to the car to find out what the Engine management system thinks it is doing.

[wurlycorner]

Welcome, sorry to hear of your woes.
The AA should have done a bit more diagnosis than that! What did they actually do/how much time did they spend looking at it?

[Redboy66]

Thanks for your replies guys, please excuse my lack of knowledge in this! The AA did do various tests to the pump, for instance he got to to crank the car over to see if there was any voltage to the pump which their wasn't any. He then did various tests and checked under the bonnet BT he was adamant that it is definitely fuel related.

[wurlycorner]

Would be worth seeing if there is a forum member with a Lexia near you.

There is a thread somewhere with a map of local members.

[xantia_v6]

It would still be worth finding out where the fuse(s) is, and checking that.

[Stickyfinger]

Would that not be the first thing the AA guy would (should) check ?......so worth checking then

[Redboy66]

He did pull out and visually check fuses under the bonnet top right. From what I have read, and forgive me if I'm wrong, but I would have had prior warning if it was the pump that has packed up like sluggish to start? My c4 has always started on first turn of the key. Two days prior to this fault I had a warning come up with 'anti pollution faulty' which the AA sort of brushed of as my car is petrol and not diesel. Is he right to brush it of?

[BenC5HDi]

I'd not be surprised to find that the engine speed sensor (crankshaft sensor) had failed, which will prevent it starting, and gave antipollution faults on a C4 that I dealt with some time ago. That was a 2.0 petrol though.

[RichardW]

Depollution fault is just generic engine management warning. Sounds like you lucked out with the AA - they're usually pretty good, and have powerful scanners. Did he plug his laptop in? You really need to get it on a diag computer to see what is going on. First thing is to see if it can see the engine rotating, and what faults are stored that was putting the EML on. Not necessarily any warning if the fuel pump was going down; like wise if the underbonnet fuse box has gone haywire (not exactly unknown!).

[Redboy66]

He did put his laptop on it and still stated its fuel related. The AA are returning tomorrow as arranged to take it to a local garage specialising on French cars.