2003 Xsara Battery Warning and Now Won't Start

[Mr McNougat]

A couple of days ago the battery light came on on the dash a few times on the way home. Later it became permanently lit. The following day car used briefly a couple of times but on return home it would not restart. Battery flattened trying. Tried charging battery and it took charge but will still not start and no sound of fuel pump running. Also will not jump start. All fuses fine and garage are confused. Is there anything electrical that would stop engine starting because of an underlying fault? Hoping to avoid a trip to main dealership which may not be financially viable although car is otherwise a great runner.

[Paul-R]

Up until the end of the second sentence I would have said that the alternator just needs replacing. My wife's car had exactly the same symptoms and we had to be recovered back home. I charged the battery and it started, which is different to your car, and then found a SH alternator from a scrappie's to fix the problem permanently.

When you say the engine won't start do you mean that it turns over but won't catch or that it won't turn over at all?

BTW, still think the alternator's had it.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ditto that. Your alternator is keeping the battery charged from using juice keeping everything running. If it has failed, then your car will eventually stop when there is insufficient charge to keep the electronic components running (think about it - fuel pump, all the ECUs, instruments, any electric pumps, injectors, lights, air blower etc.) if the alternator has gone, it won't take long for the battery to rapidly drain. No amount of jump starting will fix that without a charged battery. Added to that the condition of the battery to start with - not sure how old it is, but if near end of duty cycle it won't charge to capacity anymore, adding to the problem.

If you don't have a multimeter and you do get the car started, put the interior light on by opening one of the doors and check how bright the interior light is, then put the fan onto high and see if the light dims but then returns to normal intensity - if it stays dim then you know that the alternator isn't providing the car's electrical needs.

[Hell Razor5543]

It is possible that the brushes on the alternator have worn out. This happened on my BX, around 150,000 miles. Similar symptoms, but I was able to get new brushes for around £15. No problems after that.

[Bick]

Change the alternator and battery and go from there

[Mr McNougat]

Ditto that. Your alternator is keeping the battery charged from using juice keeping everything running. If it has failed, then your car will eventually stop when there is insufficient charge to keep the electronic components running (think about it - fuel pump, all the ECUs, instruments, any electric pumps, injectors, lights, air blower etc.) if the alternator has gone, it won't take long for the battery to rapidly drain. No amount of jump starting will fix that without a charged battery. Added to that the condition of the battery to start with - not sure how old it is, but if near end of duty cycle it won't charge to capacity anymore, adding to the problem.

If you don't have a multimeter and you do get the car started, put the interior light on by opening one of the doors and check how bright the interior light is, then put the fan onto high and see if the light dims but then returns to normal intensity - if it stays dim then you know that the alternator isn't providing the car's electrical needs.

I gave the battery a good charge so assume that this ought to have been enough for it to start and run for a bit but given that the fuel pump wouldn't run even though it had power enough to continue to turn over for some time I am wondering if the alternator dying has caused it to have some sort of computer brain meltdown (forgive my technical talk!). Since going to the garage the key light came on and windows and boot failed (the latter has now rectified). They are going to get a local electrics guru to look at it. I am left wondering even if I were to get a new alternator would the car's brain know and solve it's problem or am I left with the same issues but with a nice new alternator?

[myglaren]

The 'key' light would indicate a fault with the immobiliser.
Was the battery reinstallation procedure followed correctly? - shortcutting it can cause immobiliser faults.

[Mr McNougat]

The 'key' light would indicate a fault with the immobiliser.
Was the battery reinstallation procedure followed correctly? - shortcutting it can cause immobiliser faults.

Pass. Can you tell me more so I can relay it?

[myglaren]

The battery on most 'recent' Citroens needs to be removed according to a fairly tiresome and time-consuming procedure, and reinstalled using a similar procedure.

Failure to stick to the procedure can result in a number of unpredictable errors.
I tried to hurry the procedure one morning after charging the battery overnight, failed miserably with the immobiliser locked and had to take the bus to work.
Link to 'The Procedure'.
Note that there are some variations around but this is one I found some years ago and have adhered to wherever possible.
Some of the times when I have had to skip a stage it has been OK, others not so much