Family life. It can be tough. Tantrums, refusal to put down screens, insistence on ‘five more minutes’. And that’s just the parents. It’s tough on cars, too, especially ones designed for use by boisterous, growing families. Cars such as the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Mk2 – an MPV designed to get you and your brood from here to there, preferably with all of your stuff as well.
It’s a great family car, but it isn’t perfect. The Grand C4 Picasso has a few common faults that you’d be wise to be aware of.
What recalls has the Grand C4 Picasso been subject to?
The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso has been recalled a few times, but not too many:
- A small number of early cars were recalled because of emissions software that didn’t comply with regulations.
- Then a potential overheating issue on diesel models could cause the DPF to crack, so that had to be sorted.
- Defective timing belts that could damage the oil pumps forced the recall of more than 14,000 examples.
- Then 6666 models were recalled because the inner skin of the bonnet could become detached.
What common problems does the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Mk2 have?
- The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso can suffer from an issue that causes a knocking noise to emit from the front of the vehicle. Luckily, it’s related to the brake pad retaining springs.
- And if you have your Citroen with an automatic gearbox, you should have to depress the brake pedal before you can more the lever out of Park. However, sometimes this does not happen.
- Coolant leaks are always annoying, but it can happen on the Grand C4 Picasso with the 1.6 HDi engine fitted. The cause is a faulty thermostat housing outlet pipe seal.
- A dodgy auxiliary drivebelt can throw up a fault code on your dashboard, and the rear suspension can generate an annoying knocking noise.
Full details on these faults are shown below.
Does the Mk2 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso have brake problems?
Well, there can be a slight issue with the front brakes on the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, because it can generate a knocking noise.
Now, while this can sound unsettling, it isn’t too much to worry about, but is worth sorting sooner rather than later – if only for your own sanity.
The problem lies with the brake pad retaining springs, which can be faulty, so you’ll need to follow part of the brake pad removal procedure in your Haynes Grand C4 Picasso AutoFix, and replace the retaining springs (not the pads).
Once you’ve done this, the noise will be history.
Why is my Citroen Grand C4 Picasso automatic playing up?
Some owners have reported an issue with the automatic gearbox. One of the safety features of the ’box is that you must depress the brake pedal before the shift lever can be moved out of the Park position. However, one glitch is that sometimes you can move the lever without the pedal being pressed. Not good.
If you connect a fault code reader and it generates the code C164C, then that’s your proof that the brake light switch behind the brake pedal has developed a fault, and needs to be replaced. Your Haynes Grand C4 Picasso AutoFix details every fault code and what they mean.
Thereafter, replacing the switch is relatively easy.
Where’s that coolant coming from on your Grand C4 Picasso?
The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2018) can sometimes fall victim to an issue with its thermostat housing outlet pipe seal, which can spring a leak.
The only way to fix the issue is to replace the seal, and your Haynes Grand C4 Picasso AutoFix can guide you through the subsidiary procedures, including how to drain and refill the cooling system, plus how to disconnect and reconnect the battery.
Then, once you’ve replaced the seal, leaks should be conspicuous by their absence.
Does your Citroen Grand C4 Picasso have drivebelt problems?
Starting up your Citroen Grand C4 Picasso only to have the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) to illuminate in the dashboard is going to take the shine off your day.
The first thing to do is to plug in a fault code reader. If this displays either P02DX or P02CX (which suggests a fault with the fuel injectors), then the actual problem is that your auxiliary drivebelt is about to fail.
Happily, full instructions on how to replace the belt are contained in your Haynes Grand C4 Picasso AutoFix product, so just fire up your smartphone, laptop or tablet and away you go.
And remember to delete the fault codes once you’ve replaced the belt.
Why is the rear of your Grand C4 Picasso making a knocking noise?
A knocking noise from the rear of your Grand C4 Picasso as you drive along is always going to be a bit disconcerting, but thankfully the repair is easy enough.
The issue is the rear bump stop contacting the body, so you need to remove and replace the faulty bump stop. Technical drawings in your Haynes Grand C4 Picasso AutoFix will give you all the component locations.