C3 1.4 petrol low oil press message

[charentejohn]

Any ideas on this please, I will list what happened and hopefully it will make sense. 2008 stop startsensodrive model.

Car went in to citroen service dealer (local garage) for timing belt change, I am in france and 130k Km.
All ok and car returned and running fine, did 2 x 50km journeys during the day on open foads and no problem.
Couple of days later in the evening, dark, I did 3km and when I stopped the low oil pressure stop warning message appeared.
Next morning the garage, which was nearby came and looked and all running fine, no message no noises.
Drove 20km next day and all ok but decided to have a diagnostic.

This morning went to the garage, 3km, and sure enough same message.
They ran a diagnostic and saw the old messages but all checked out ok, they then cleaned the sensor contacts and that afternoon I drove it home.
3km return journey and guess what, warning message.
I put the battery on charge for an hour and now message is gone, I will see what happens tomorrow.

So, the battery os old and needs charging, after 1hr only 3 out of 4 bars showing.
I did read that this problem can be, dead sensor (seems ok) or low voltage causing this. Does the low voltage sound plausibe, the battery could be original. As it seems ok daytime but with lights on at night may make a difference ?

Only other thing is I read the filter could have a problem, something to do with the filter cover ? If nothing else I can get them to fit a new filter.
After that perhaps a new battery as I think this is original ?

The engine seems fine and when the warning stays off makes no clattering noises, my wife has the same car and they sound the same. I would assume real low pressure would give clattering on tickover ?

[charentejohn]

Just an update, I will post any solution as it may help others in future. Looks like nobody here has had this problem so far.
I decided to do the old fashioned metal bar on the engine and then to the bone in front of the ear to have a listen. Just whirring noises so I do believe all is well.

All I can think of is that the battery, which I think is 16yrs old, charges but I start the car (headlights come on in the garage) but when I put it on charge again it is slow to go to full charge.
The anomily is it starts the car ok but has a problem with the sensor ?? This is how the sensor works
So my best guess is that the battery is working but not properly and is losing power to the sensor on tickover, that is it is absorbing the alternator charge. On a long journey this would be no problem as well charged. I will pass on any results.

[Hell Razor5543]

It is known that the C series Citroens have a lot of electronics, and are reliant on the battery being in good condition to keep the electronics stable. A weak battery can result in all sorts of unrelated glitches (as the battery helps to keep the voltages smoothed out), so a new battery could be a worthwhile investment.

[charentejohn]

Thanks James, makes sense. A friend had the opposite problem many years ago, he knocked over a brand new battery, it then tested all ok but wouldn't start the car.
I think this battery is working but showing it's 16yr age. This is just enough to cause a problem ? I charged it last night, left it 24hrs and repeated the charging, went to 3 bars in 5-6 seconds but sat a while to get to 4 bars. Normal electronic's drain but should have gont to 4 bars faster.
This is a stop start with sensodrive so with the gearbox actuators a good battery is essential.

I usually use a Total oil, semi synthetic but the garage did this and use a reddish one. Could be that it is slightly 'runnier' and a reduced pressure has highlighted the weakness, i.e. old oil gave 8v on tickover this is 7v and a problem ? Never comes on when cold but when warm even after 3km drive, hence thinking an weak sensor and a weak battery have now combined to do this.
I am happy with the metal bar to the ear bone test as no nasty noises, if true that would have shown any clattering.

[charentejohn]

Just to redirect this to another thread as it covers this and a stop start message, changed sensor no difference so off for a reset by Lexia, all results posted in the other thread from now on.

[charentejohn]

Problem solved, phew.... They checked and it was the wrong oil filter which restricted the flow, only steady long runs so no harm done I imagine. Garage changed it and renewed oil with an apology and no charge, as expected.

At least having changed the battery to see if it cured it the car drives much better. Being sensodrive the battery needs some power to operate the clutch, I was sometimes getting 'thumpy' changes when moving from a standstill.