My daughters ds3 has a serious misfire problem. its running really ruff and the eml light is on. It is not really drivable and the eml will flash sometimes and start beeping and car has to be shut off.
When car shuts down the engine fan continues to run for a good while after. Im about to start going through it but im just wondering if this is a common problem with these cars and if anyone cant point me in the right direction.
DS3 serious misfire problem
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Paul-R
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Re: DS3 serious misfire problem
What engine and gearbox are fitted?
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.
Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson
Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson
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PaulC5
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Re: DS3 serious misfire problem
Looks to be a 1.6 vti.
Since the eml has been on use a code reader to see what code(s) has been stored, far better than trying to guess and certainly do not start replacing any parts until done or you might waste a lot of money.
I am surprised the engine fan is running this time of year, you might have a problem with the engine temperature sensor. If you use a code reader with live data you can see what temperature it thinks it is seeing. We had a 1.4 vti and there was a known problem where the fan would run all the time and take a long time to shut off so Citroen had a fix by fitting a second sensor and a short loom.
The vti engine timing chains are known for wearing and ours needed replacing at about 50000 miles. At the time it was giving a fault code about timing which suggested the chain, can not remember what it was though since it was 9 years ago.
Since the eml has been on use a code reader to see what code(s) has been stored, far better than trying to guess and certainly do not start replacing any parts until done or you might waste a lot of money.
I am surprised the engine fan is running this time of year, you might have a problem with the engine temperature sensor. If you use a code reader with live data you can see what temperature it thinks it is seeing. We had a 1.4 vti and there was a known problem where the fan would run all the time and take a long time to shut off so Citroen had a fix by fitting a second sensor and a short loom.
The vti engine timing chains are known for wearing and ours needed replacing at about 50000 miles. At the time it was giving a fault code about timing which suggested the chain, can not remember what it was though since it was 9 years ago.
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archiebroge1
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 03 Jan 2026, 16:41
Re: DS3 serious misfire problem
Its the 1.6 vti engine
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archiebroge1
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 03 Jan 2026, 16:41
Re: DS3 serious misfire problem
Yeah mate thats what i was gonna do first. I seriously hoping its not the timing chain. Dont fancy having to go in about the engine. I will get more info once i get some codesPaulC5 wrote: 03 Jan 2026, 19:41 Looks to be a 1.6 vti.
Since the eml has been on use a code reader to see what code(s) has been stored, far better than trying to guess and certainly do not start replacing any parts until done or you might waste a lot of money.
I am surprised the engine fan is running this time of year, you might have a problem with the engine temperature sensor. If you use a code reader with live data you can see what temperature it thinks it is seeing. We had a 1.4 vti and there was a known problem where the fan would run all the time and take a long time to shut off so Citroen had a fix by fitting a second sensor and a short loom.
The vti engine timing chains are known for wearing and ours needed replacing at about 50000 miles. At the time it was giving a fault code about timing which suggested the chain, can not remember what it was though since it was 9 years ago.
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archiebroge1
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 03 Jan 2026, 16:41
Re: DS3 serious misfire problem
Ok so a bit more info. I got a loan of diagnostics but not getting any codes at the moment, I did have a cheap tool on it before that wouldn't read but did clear them. So I'm currently waiting to see if the eml will come back on and will get codes then. Im thinking it may be a pcv issue as the cam cover gasket is leaking quite badly and there is oil down the spark plug holes. I changed the plugs out today and removed the pcv and cleaned it.
I took it for a run then with the pcv breather hose disconnected and it ran beautifully. I've done a compression test and all was fine and car is getting spark.
Do you think im onto the right source of the problem ? Any advice on what all i should be replacing now would be appreciated.
I took it for a run then with the pcv breather hose disconnected and it ran beautifully. I've done a compression test and all was fine and car is getting spark.
Do you think im onto the right source of the problem ? Any advice on what all i should be replacing now would be appreciated.
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PaulC5
- Donor 2024
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Re: DS3 serious misfire problem
I would wait until the eml comes back on before doing anything else. Then make a note of the codes before deleting them and if your reader has live data also note down the freeze frame data before you delete the codes. These are the values when the last code was stored so may help.