Problem with Citroen Picasso - What now?

Dpire

About a month or so ago I noticed that now and again the car would kind of lose power - just for a second in the middle of driving. It happened infrequently and in the beginning wasn't that bad.
Then it started getting worse with a 'jerk' when it got to its worst, and was doing it a lot more often.
I went to my mechanic and he said he didn't know what was the cause but if it got worse to go to the main dealer and do a diagnostic on it.

About a week later a fault appeared on the dash re the brakes so I booked in with the dealer telling them about the dash fault and the power loss.
They ran the diagnostic and told me the only fault showing was one that they found a lose wire between the cpu and brakes so they fixed it and I paid €240:eek:.
Anyways, off I went thinking that all was fixed - not so - it was still losing power and jerking every now and then (at different times in different gears etc). I went back and spoke to the mechanic. He said that his wife has the same car and that the same thing happens and thet all it needed was a good long drive (I do mostly short journeys) that the exhaust emission filter was blocking up and needed 'burning off'. So off I went and the next day by chance I had a 2.5hour journey both ways. The car was fine on the journey - no jerking, but the next day it started it again - albeit less severely.
Its a week since that and its still doing it sooo my question is, should I go back to the dealer? IThe mechanic I spoke to told me that a new filter costs €240 (plus labour) ... am half thinking that even if this is changed it may not be the problem so not sure where to go from here?

Anyone any experience with something like this happening?

Thanks for any help!

Drummerboy08

I presume its diesel, 1.6HDi or 2.0HDi? Also, what year? Manual or Auto?

Dpire

Oops sorry, yes Diesel 1.6 Manual - its a Picasso Grand if that makes any difference.

Drummerboy08

Dpire wrote: »

Oops sorry, yes Diesel 1.6 Manual - its a Picasso Grand if that makes any difference.

What year and mileage?

Dpire

Ah sorry, brain not functioning - 2007 and just under 60,000 or thereabouts

Drummerboy08

IIRC, the 1.6d unit from PSA gave DPF problems in the Focus and S40. This is the same engine that is in your Picasso, among others.

Again, IIRC the repair bill that followed was a bit more than 240 quid. I'm sure someone on here knows the exact figure.



Does this light look familiar?

Dpire

I'm a bit lost I'm afraid - what is IIRC and PSA? Am not at all mechanically minded:o
I don't recognise that light either - there are no lights showing on the dash at any stage - I have looked when it happens too and nothing seems to come on

Drummerboy08

Dpire wrote: »

I'm a bit lost I'm afraid - what is IIRC and PSA? Am not at all mechanically minded:o
I don't recognise that light either - there are no lights showing on the dash at any stage - I have looked when it happens too and nothing seems to come on

Sorry ,if I remember correctly!

PSA - http://www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com/en/hp1.php

It would be unusual for the DPF to be acting up without any lights on the dash.

Dpire

aahh, thought it was a mechanical term:p

I don't know much about cars but I was thinking that if it was the filter it would show a light of some sort - but its not ... So am reluctant to spend money on changing the filter and then discovering its not that ... just haven't a clue where to go from here

Edit - Should I go back to the dealer and get them to run the diagnostic again seeing as its only over a week since they did it and it started p agian the day after? Would it be any benefit?

shamwari

I've seem similar on that engine used in the Ford Cmax. It was caused by oil contamination of the MAF and gave intermittent jerkiness and sometimes the car would stall on take off. It was cured by cleaning the MAF with Carb cleaner. I don't know about the Picasso, but certainly Ford introduced a number of mods to address this, namely a slightly revised air intake duct and a change to EGR operation to reduce pressuring in the intake which caused the oil vapours from the breater to travel towards the MAF.

Also never seen DPF issues cause a running fault like this.

EDIT: sorry MAF is "mass airflow meter".

Drummerboy08

Sorry, didnt read that it was only a week ago you were in a Citroen dealer for a diag.

Yeah, I would defo be going back as they clearly havent diagnosed the cause of the problem. I'd also be tempted not to pay for anything - kick off with the service manager. You've paid to have the problem sorted, and it hasnt been. If you really want to cause a fuss, speak to Citroen Ireland and scream down the phone at someone. More often than not, they'll just want to get you off the line, so they may do something about it.

Let the dealer sort it out.

Dpire

I just rang the dealer and they have booked it in to run another diagnostic on it tomorrow afternoon. I asked them about payment and they said they won't charge for the diagnostic - only if theres a part / work to be done on it.
If its the MAF thats contaminated should it show up on it?
What tactic should I take with them?
If its not showing a fault what should I do? Get on to Citroen Ireland? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

Row

This sounds like an egr fault...egr faults don't always bring up engine lights..:rolleyes:
The dealer should be able to check the condition of the dpf with there equipment...it should be fine @60k...:)

Dpire

Aahh, I just lost my whole post there so this one will be quick - with lots more questions:o

Thanks for the post Row!

What is the DPF? Is that the emission filter?
What is EGR ? If this is at fault can I ask them to check it along with the diagnostic if the diagnostic isn't showing an error? Am I better getting them to do it rather than my own mechanic?
Am I better getting them to fix it rather than my mechanic if thats what it is?
Also, am I looking at €€€ ?

Thanks again - just want to know what to ask them tomorrow ... and how to get this sorted the best way (and chaepest if possible!)

Row

Dpire wrote: »

Aahh, I just lost my whole post there so this one will be quick - with lots more questions:o

Thanks for the post Row!

What is the DPF? Is that the emission filter?
What is EGR ? If this is at fault can I ask them to check it along with the diagnostic if the diagnostic isn't showing an error? Am I better getting them to do it rather than my own mechanic?
Am I better getting them to fix it rather than my mechanic if thats what it is?
Also, am I looking at €€€ ?

Thanks again - just want to know what to ask them tomorrow ... and how to get this sorted the best way (and chaepest if possible!)

Dpf..Diesel Partical filter...yes this is your emission filter,it is located under your turbo its covered by an aliminium heatshield....as it can get up to 500degs C when its regenerating....:eek:

Egr... exhaust gas recirculation valve...it basically recycles your exhaust gases back into the engine intake...they can somtimes jam up with carbon....:rolleyes:

If they dealer discover a problem with the egr then they will replace to whole valve...as your mechanic may remove it and clean which is worth a try.

Let them run they diagnostics and see what the come back with...any faults should be logged in the engine ecu which will point you in the right direction.

If your going to get them to carry out any work on your car get a quote from them first...as dealer to dealer prices can vary...but if there offering a free diagnostic check they seem o.k.

Best of luck.
Ron.

Dpire

Well I got the results of the test - they said its showing that the Pardtice Filter on the Exhaust is showing that its 75% blocked:eek: ... 2 weeks ago the reading was only 35% apparently .. but they didn't tell me this at the time.
So they say I need a new filter AND fluid - grand total €1100 !!
They say that they can try burning the filter off but he needs to check if they would still need to put in fluid too if they did that. Also, he said it may only last 6 months or a year that way.

They also said that the filters usually last to 100,000km but mine is only 60,000Km so probably the person before me had lots of very short journeys.
One of the guys in there said that I should phone the dealer I bought it off and ask that for 'Citroen compassion' in the matter and to basically not let the matter drop with them and they should do something for me - maybe meet half way with the cost.

I'm not really sure what to do - should I get my own mechanic to try burning it off? Will I still need the liquid (its over €300!!)?
Should I basically hound the dealer that I bought it from??

On a side note, I also found out that the car has been imported from the UK - the dealer never told me this when I bought it. I know my insurance Co asked me if it was imported when I was getting my quote and I told them no (thats what I thought up until today!) ... what effect on insurance does an import have? ... Am bit annoyed they never told me tbh but I suppose I should have checked the service history myself:o

Anyways, thats where I'm at ... anyone any advice please?

dustin2

I had a simlar problem recently with my civic .. it was loosing power, had spent 1000 euro over 5 mnts before i ifinaly discoverd what the problem was. It was over fueling. the sencer that contol's the fuel wasnt working.. it mite be worth bringing it to a garage that does pre nct to check to check the emisions .. thats how i discovered our problem .. alot of garages didnt know , as no managment light on dash ever came on ..

Dilbert75

Worth asking on the Citroen Picasso forum (see my signature) - they might have more specific experience of this fault...

Row

€1100....:eek:....Thats crazy...:rolleyes:
Basically your car should regenerate its dpf every 4-500 mls at 60k and if you had say 120k and your filter was blocked filter it maybe regening every 60-150mls.
With a filter load of 75% it should be due a dpf regen as soon as you hit the motorway....:)

Did they tell you what the average distance between regens was....??

This can be all checked out by diagnostic equipment.

Peugeot/Citroen normally fit a reconditioned dpf and top up the
eloys fluid....Peugeot usally charge around 8-€850 for the everything.

€300 for 3 litres of eloys is madness it usally costs around €120 for a full topup (3litres)...:rolleyes:
I think there really trying to take the p... here...:mad:

I would get your local mechanic to remove the dpf power wash it out,dry it out fully,maybe use a gas torch or some sort of oven and refit.

Some people do try to "burning it off" but not sure how succesful it is...

The waste water/sludge from the dpf is classed as hazardous waste so keep this in mind.
As for topping up the addtive only takes less than an hour to do but at 60k i don't think yours will need a topup...again this can be checked by looking at the tank...its usally located beside the diesel tank infront of the the rear left wheel.

Just a quick question...what oil does your mechanic use...as using the incorrect oil can cause premature dpf problems...always us a fully syn oil which has low ash content...;)

if you need any diagrams/guides on what to do p.m. me an i'll try to help
out.
Ron

scooby girl no1

or you can do what my friend has done with his peugeot 407,:cool:
call in to Sportchip.ie in Dublin, they can switch off control of dpf filter,
he paid €350 and get rid of the problem once for all

woobevok

Im just wondering if you got to the bottom of the problem with the citroen. I have a 2.0 l hdi c8 and it sounds like the same problem.

woobevok

Im just wondering if you got to the bottom of the problem with the citroen. I have a 2.0 l hdi c8 and it sounds like the same problem.