C3 HDi Sensodrive fault

[mark230678]

Anyone able to help.

My mums car

She was driving down the road and suddenly lost all drive.

No previous issues.

Car displays a dash where the gear symbol should be and will not change.

Have tried resetting with no joy.

Awaiting a fault scan as well at present.

Battery is flashing and eco mode as well. Reads @ 12.7 volts

No noises, clunks bangs when she was driving just seemed as though straight into neutral.

ANy ideas

[RichardW]

Several recent threads about this sort of issue. Lexia may not be that helpful by all accounts. Lighty carries a stock of 2nd hand spares, and just changes the bits till he finds the faulty one Good news is that is unlikely to be the box, bad news is that it might not be that much cheaper

[Mandrake]

If battery and Eco are flashing could it be a failing battery ? That would be the first thing I'd check before worrying about more expensive possibilities...

Under what conditions was the 12.7 volt reading taken ?

[mark230678]

12.7 when battery was taken off the car pror to charging

[Mandrake]

12.7 when battery was taken off the car pror to charging

That sounds ok for standing terminal voltage, however open circuit terminal voltage on its own doesn't prove whether the battery is good or bad when under load unfortunately.

Unless you have a fancy tester substitution is the only way to be sure.

[daviemck2006]

These sensodrive boxes are the most awful things imaginable. Does the engine start? Is it stuck in gear? My c2 was stuck in gear so would not start. Citroen changed the gearbox ECU at a cost of over a grand. If it is elderly now I would seriously consider either scrapping it or selling as spares/repairs as it is for next to nothing. Sorry I can't give you better news.

[mark230678]

Battery has been charged overnight and battery symbol still flashes.

Dont think its stuck in gear, as it revved freely when it failed.

Won't start now and it rolls freely.

Its an 04 plate, but no issues previous to this.

[Mandrake]

Sounds like you need to get it on a Lexia to have some idea of what's going on...

[daviemck2006]

Have a look on c2 owners. Com there are a multitude of threads on there about the sensodrive boxes. I would expect the c2 and c3 to be identical in the sensodrive department.

[mark230678]

Sorted.....

2 x Bad Earths and a maxi fuse on top of the box

[addo]

Excellent. If the maxi fuse pops again, might be gummed up actuators.

[daviemck2006]

Sorted.....

2 x Bad Earths and a maxi fuse on top of the box

Thats a result. It makes me wonder as it was basically the same fault as mine if I was ripped off, and charged over a grand for a fuse! I shall never know, and cant really dwell on it

[Mandrake]

My gut feeling was it was an electrical problem, glad to see I was right, given the alternatives!

Out of interest how did you track down the location of the bad earth's ?

[demag]

What is the mileage? They generally don't get too high before they start playing up. That is why you see so many low mileage "bargains" for sale.

[charentejohn]

Hi, just reviving this a bit.
I have had exactly the same problem, word for word. Garage has looked at the car and said no bad connections but didn't mention the Maxi Fuse.
Is the Maxi Fuse actually on the gearbox and if so where ? Good to know so I can explain what they should be checking.