Just an old battery or more?

Unread post by **Mathemagic-1970** » 08 Jul 2025, 16:56

So, whilst my car is off the road waiting for a repair, I borrow my father in law's car which had been stood for months not being used. I fully charged the battery a week ago, but just this evening I started getting a lot of warning messages when I started up again after a short stop.
Tyre under inflation, parking brake ASR and something else amongst others.
I have just ordered a new battery. Is there anything else I should be looking at?

It is a 2017 1.2 Puretech automatic C4 Picasso

Unread post by **mickthemaverick** » 08 Jul 2025, 17:08

I would wait until you have fitted the new battery and followed the BSI reset: https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 79#p601679 and then see how it goes. Obviously you will have to check the basics, tyres, oil, coolant etc but with a new battery and the reset you may be ok.

Unread post by **Mathemagic-1970** » 08 Jul 2025, 18:40

Am hoping. Did a new battery on my diesel version last year - followed the fantastic instructions to the letter and it worked really well. I assume it is the same instructions even though this one is a petrol car.

Two cars developing different faults a week apart - don't ask me for any lottery numbers this week!

Unread post by **Mathemagic-1970** » 08 Jul 2025, 21:14

Just to update in case anyone else comes looking:

Have had the battery on charge (positive disconnected from the car) for 5 and a half hours until the charger was showing the battery as full. Almost all faults no longer showing. The only warning was the electronic parking break. Trying to apply it didn't work (but I knew it was on anyway). The "trick" seemed to be foot on the brake peddle and press the parking brake button away as if you want to release the break. Then it worked properly with the light coming on.

I suspect it is the battery that needs replacing - ordered one earlier. When the car was running I was seeing 14.4V or similar across the terminals suggesting the alternator was doing the job properly.

Once that is in and I've run it for a couple of weeks I'll know if it is ok.

Unread post by **PaulC5** » 08 Jul 2025, 22:32

On our 308 to put the electric parking brake on or off with the switch you need to have a foot on the brake pedal. When moving off I do not need to use the switch to release the parking brake.

Unread post by **Mathemagic-1970** » 08 Jul 2025, 22:43

In normal operation, that is what happens, but mine (or, at least the one I am borrowing for a few weeks) had developed apparent faults due to a dodgy battery and so although it was showing as not on, it was on. To clear the fault, I needed to push the button to release the brake and then pull the button to reapply and then it worked fine.

It seems like a lot of electrical circuits start throwing up lots of fault warnings if the battery becomes problematic even though there isn't really a fault.

Unread post by **Mathemagic-1970** » 09 Jul 2025, 08:38

So, this morning, went to get in the car and it is showing an engine fault but no details as to what. At least it isn't the multitude of warning messages I had yesterday.

Will wait for the new battery and see what happens.

This borrowed car whilst mine is off the road is turning into a poisoned chalice.

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Just an old battery or more?

Just an old battery or more?

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Re: Just an old battery or more?