Think Citroen and you can’t help but think ‘quirky’. Think back to the Citroen CX, which had a single-spoke steering wheel that meant they had to put stuff like the indicators and wiper controls on the dashboard. Or the ‘cyclops eye’ speedometer of the old Citroen GSA. So, quirky, yes. Reliable? Mmm, maybe not so much.
So, Citroen decided to lessen the quirks and make something that looked funky but which would be dependable. The C3 Mk2 was the car intended to make the switch. The car did undeniably look more sensible than Citroens of old, although the exploits of a certain Sebastien Loeb in the World Rally Championship did much to enhance its appeal. Reliability still wasn’t a given, however.
And that’s where Haynes comes in, because instead of spending huge sums of money on garage labour rates, why not make a one-time purchase of a Haynes Autofix and fix the car’s common problems yourself? Haynes will be there every time you need us to be.
What recalls has the Citroen C3 been subject to?
Have a seat, because this could take a while.
First up, debris from a faulty timing belt could damage the brake vacuum pump. If faulty, these had to be replaced. A small number of cars suffered oil leaks from the turbocharger, while front subframe and suspension mounting bolts weren’t tightened enough at the factory, so had to be properly torqued up.
A detaching rear screen caused a small recall, then an incorrectly tightened brake hose forced another recall, this time of 49 cars. Loose wheel bolts and incorrect battery earth cables caused more recalls, as did an ABS/ESP hydraulic unit that could go on the blink.
Out-of-spec driver’s airbag units caused a recall of 25 cars, then faulty tailgate struts did the same for 34 cars. A dodgy handbrake was the source of another recall, and then loose fuel tank mounting bolts caused another one. Loose bonnet mounting bolts affected 67 cars, and a faulty front-right driveshaft had to be replaced on 114 cars.
What common problems does the Citroen C3 have?
Several Citroen C3 owners have complained about a creaking or squeaking noise from the front suspension of their vehicles. There have also been reports of the Citroen C3 refusing to start, and it’s a faulty fuel pump that is the issue.
Brake lights that won’t go off can be another problem, while a handbrake that won’t go on is another source of trouble.
Finally, owners have mentioned that the alternator on their Citroen C3 can be fragile and prone to failure.
Does the Citroen C3 Mk2 suspension squeak?
According to a number of owners, yes. This noise is particularly noticeable at low speeds, such as when parking, and also when the car goes over a speed bump.
The issue is that the front shock absorber bump stop isn’t properly lubricated.
But that’s where the Haynes C3 Autofix can help, because it contains all the technical drawings and torque specifications you’ll need to remove the front strut and lubricate or replace the bump stop as required. A little bit of labour, a little bit of lubrication and the squeaks and creaks will be gone forever.
Why won’t your Citroen C3 Mk2 start?
Oof. Disconcerting at first. Then frustrating. Then annoying. What’s that? Oh yes, a complete failure to start. That’s what Citroen C3 owners can suffer with their cars. The engine will turn over but there’s no sign of it firing into life.
Your first course of action is to plug in a fault-code reader (click here for our test of the best fault-code readers you can buy). If this displays no code, then the fault is quite probably a dodgy low-pressure fuel pump.
This is sited inside the fuel tank and is actually a comparatively easy repair. It involves the removal of the rear seat cushion and then an access panel which will reveal the top of the pump unit.
Your Haynes C3 Autofix will guide you through the exact procedure of removal and fitting a new unit, and a new seal for the tank.
After that, turn the key, fire up the engine and forget the problem ever happened.
Are your Citroen C3 brake lights on all the time?
There you are, reversing up to the car behind as you park, and it’s illuminated in a warm red glow as you gently ease the car to a smooth stop. Just a quick edge forward and you’re parked. But the car behind is still bathed in red. Yup, no matter how often you press and release the brake pedal the lights remain on.
You’ll also notice that when driving along a motorway, your C3’s cruise control system will refuse to engage. That’s because it thinks you’ve hit the brake pedal, which would cause the system to automatically disengage.
Plugging in a fault-code reader reveals one the codes: P1536, P0504, P0571 and P0703.
Just as well it’s an easy fix, because the problem lies with a brake pedal switch that’s gone on the blink. This is located on the brake pedal, behind the lower dashboard panel.
First, disconnect the car’ battery, then simply remove the wiring plug and remove the switch from the pedal, then replace it with a new one and plug it in. reconnect the battery.
Has the handbrake failed on your Citroen C3 Mk2?
It’s becoming a feature that’s ever rarer these days but the Citroen C3 has a manual handbrake lever situated between the two front seats.
Simple, effective, and just works. Until it doesn’t. We’ll leave aside the handbrake turns carried out by the aforementioned M. Loeb, but the handbrake (aka parking brake) is a vital part of your car’s safety systems because it stops the vehicle from rolling away when you’re in traffic, at the lights, or not in the vehicle at all.
So, handbrake failure is A Bad Thing, and it can happen to the Citroen C3.
The problem is usually a seized rear drum handbrake lever, so you’ll need to remove and replace the rear brake shoes.
This procedure is covered by the Haynes C3 Autofix, so just read up, check out the technical drawings, watch the video and away you go.
Why do your Citroen C3 headlights fluctuate in brightness?
A number of C3 owners have mentioned a problem that causes the headlights to become brighter, then dimmer, then brighter and so on.
The issue isn’t that the headlights are on the way out, it’s that the car’s alternator is developing a fault and if you don’t fix it quickly you could find yourself stranded at the side of the road with a dead car.
The alternator is a generator driven by a belt that runs on the engine, and it provides power to recharge the battery. If it fails, the battery will quickly die.
The alternator replacement procedure in the Haynes C3 Autofix can guide you through what to do, and pulsating headlights will be a thing of the past.
