Xsara 2 problem

[yan2303]

Hi,
I have a problem with my car. Everytime i turn off, the engine stays on. Even after disconnecting the battery.
But when i press the brake or clutch pedal, then the car turns off.
Citroen xsara 2 1.4 (2005)
Anyone can help
Thanks

[ksanturion10]

Hi,
the alternator provides enough energy to sustain ignition, but you should never try to detach the battery while the engine is running, as there is great chance of experiencing even more electrical faults. Can't make relation with the clutch or brake pedal however. Maybe the currents found a new way round , or someone had messed up the whole instalation.
Could suggest to check your "+" and "-" clamps for firm contact and then go from there.

- is it a diesel?

[yan2303]

Hi,
the alternator provides enough energy to sustain ignition, but you should never try to detach the battery while the engine is running, as there is great chance of experiencing even more electrical faults. Can't make relation with the clutch or brake pedal however. Maybe the currents found a new way round , or someone had messed up the whole instalation.
Could suggest to check your "+" and "-" clamps for firm contact and then go from there.

- is it a diesel?

thanks... Does that mean the alternator is bad? will check the battery coneections.

p.s: it is petrol

[xantia_v6]

It is probably not the alternator, I think that it is more likely to be a fault in one of the fuse boxes keeping power to the engine ECU when it should be switched off.

Has any work been done to the car recently that could have triggered the problem?

[wheeler]

have you changed any of the rear bulbs just before this started?

[yan2303]

have you changed any of the rear bulbs just before this started?

Yes, and i also just realised one bulb is not lighting.

[white exec]

" Every time I turn off, the engine stays on. Even after disconnecting the battery.
But when I press the brake or clutch pedal, then the car turns off. "
" Have you changed any of the rear bulbs just before this started? "

Now this I can't wait to hear . . .

[ksanturion10]

Hi,
the alternator provides enough energy to sustain ignition, but you should never try to detach the battery while the engine is running, as there is great chance of experiencing even more electrical faults. Can't make relation with the clutch or brake pedal however. Maybe the currents found a new way round , or someone had messed up the whole instalation.
Could suggest to check your "+" and "-" clamps for firm contact and then go from there.

- is it a diesel?

thanks... Does that mean the alternator is bad? will check the battery coneections.

p.s: it is petrol

Nevertheless, I think that diesels could also receive damage from detaching the battery while engine is running, despite they are self igniting!
Well, didn't ever had such strange bulb problems - nice forum

[white exec]

The car in question is a petrol.

If a battery is disconnected (diesel or petrol) with the engine running, damage to the alternator (and the car's electrical system) is caused by the alternator looking for a battery voltage, which is doesn't find. This can cause escalating alternator output and voltage. The connected battery also provides stabilty and 'smoothing' of the alternator's 3-phase unsmoothed d.c. output, which the car's electronic and audio systems will not like.

[ksanturion10]

I'm on 100% for the stability and the "smoothing" (the regulator also plays a major role).
From what I know, and because the first thing I did for the car was the change of the collector rings and the brushes, most alternators are self excitating after each start of the engine.