C3 - engine warning light

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 11 Feb 2010, 16:54

Hi everyone

This is my first post here

I passed my driving test 18months ago, after 10 attempts

and 24 years of learning

I bought my first car in feb 08, an escort. My C3 I bought secondhand in May 09 (its 03). Exactly a month after I got it the engine warning light came on, I took the car straight to Citroen garage who told me the car needed a catalytic converter. The car had 3 month warranty so I went back to the seller who told me only parts inside the engine were covered

Anyway I decided to get an independant to do the job, which he did, two weeks later the warning light was on again. Took it back, he took exhaust of and checked it, changed the sensor and said it would be ok. Few weeks later light on again

He then decided cat must of been faulty so changed it. Again light has come on

I am at this moment without my car, as I decided to take it to the Citroen garage to get all the other jobs done (cambelt, alternator, brake pads/discs...and know a phone call to say radiator is leaking too

)

My reason for this post, is I wondered if anyone else has suffered with their warning light keep coming on, and how I can actually resolve this

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 11 Feb 2010, 17:00

Hi Sonia, have they told you any of the fault codes when they've checked the car on their computer?

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 11 Feb 2010, 17:04

Every time the same fault code has come up, off the top of my head I cant remember what it is, P4202...maybe

It is only this one code that appears though

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 11 Feb 2010, 19:09

one thing i'll say is cheap cat's just aint up to the job most of the time & the downstraem oxygen sensor will pick up on this & keep bringing the light on. Was it a genuine citroen cat ?

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 11 Feb 2010, 21:06

Hi Wheeler

No, it wasnt a genuine Citroen cat. At the time, id only had the car 4 weeks...and put all me money into having the car, money was tight soooo got it done cheaper by an independant

In hindsight a big mistake as its cost me more than double so far. Every time the light comes on I have 25 mile drive to mechanic, to 'read' the fault code and a £25 charge. I was charged £100 to inspect the exhaust plus the cost of the sensor and the cat

do you think if I had a genuine cat pu on the car it might end all this???

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 11 Feb 2010, 22:49

First you will need to tell us the exact fault that keeps coming up & exactly which sensor was replaced.
I have seen cheap cats causing similar faults (depending on exactly what yours is) & a genuine one usually sorts it out.

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 11 Feb 2010, 23:02

Okay, I will see if I can find out fault code and which sensor was changed as I dont know off hand

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 12 Feb 2010, 00:17

Which engine is it? petrol or diesel?

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 12 Feb 2010, 14:23

Hi Homer

Its a 1400 petrol

XantiaDaveEire · Unread post by **XantiaDaveEire** » 12 Feb 2010, 14:26

You should have bought a Xantia dear girl

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 12 Feb 2010, 14:30

right now im thinking anything would be better than the one ive got

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 12 Feb 2010, 21:42

It may sound funny, but sometimes a poor battery can cause recurrent "fault codes". If it's over three years old - I'd consider it suspect.

x-Sonia-x · Unread post by **x-Sonia-x** » 12 Feb 2010, 22:55

Well I picked me car up tonight, and am quite happy

The leader tank had leak, the hose several leaks and the connection to the radiator a leak

...whoever had the car before me decided to tape up the hose...the mechanic showed me the one he had taken off

All jobs are done now.....and the latest software has been downloaded and the mechanic said this should resolve the engine warning light problem....fingers crossed

danielsydney · Unread post by **danielsydney** » 22 Apr 2010, 05:10

In Australia on my C3 the engine warning light is the injectors i thought.

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 22 Apr 2010, 10:20

danielsydney wrote:In Australia on my C3 the engine warning light is the injectors i thought.

The engine management warning light is a general fault warning light for the whole engine management system & can indicate a fault with loads of different components. This applies in every country.