Citroen C3 HDI P.A.S. failure

no1catman

Help & advice please.

MOT & Service not due till November, but have a 330 mile (round trip) journey in mid-October.

Earlier today, drove about two miles, parked, returned to car about five minutes later, manoeuvred out, drove half mile, parked, returned to car about five minutes later drove off - fine.
Then, after a bend and a left-hand turn - straight road - hot in the car on went the fan & air con - went over sleeping policeman - and power seemed to fade. A bit of a judder, then in 2nd gear move off, but with a stiffness, at the next junction - hard work to turn right or any later corners!
And there was a 'beep' but I'm not sure when.
After about ten minutes trying to find a parking space, at last found one - back to the car about twenty minutes later, started and reversed out - no problem steering 'light as a feather'!!?
Drove home about two miles, again no problem.

Any explanation please, or is just a case no air-con at low speeds!??

Earlier in the week did 130 miles in one day, no problem.

The only other thing I get - is moving off at an incline e.g. at traffic lights - but that could be me not the car! Yet, previous cars the bonnet would rise = handbrake down and go, not this, as I said could be me getting phobic!

gilbert_and_sullivan

I think you mean you have power steering failure, possibly intermittent, yes?

First thing to do is check the fluid level.

As for the bonnet raising as you pull away under power, would that have been a previous generation PSA car such as a 306/405/Xsara, that would have been the rear suspension design which did display those characteristics when you applied or released the handbrake or applied forward power uphill.

Quietmanc

A C3 has an electrical power steering system,so don't go hunting for a fluid reservoir . Get it to a dealer or an independent Citroen specialist to get fault codes read.Electrics on these are seldom a cheap or pain free fix.:mad::mad:

Have a read here :http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/3536-c3-intermittent-steering-failure/

no1catman

G & S:

Thanks, studied the handbook, after I rang the garage I usually go to, unless I'm missing something - only three options - 1) engine oil - no fine, 2) cooling - shows as 'max', 3) washer - not applicable.
Puzzled that in the h/book no entry for power steering, let alone fluid for it!??

Hill starts - had a Rover 200 SD before, and a Peugeot 309 before that; while prior to that when working in a Peugeot Dealership many other Peugeot cars & vans - but yes that would be the 306/405/307 era

gilbert_and_sullivan

Quietmanc wrote: »

A C3 has an electrical power steering system,so don't go hunting for a fluid reservoir . Get it to a dealer or an independent Citroen specialist to get fault codes read.Electrics on these are seldom a cheap or pain free fix.:mad::mad:

Have a read here :http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/3536-c3-intermittent-steering-failure/

Arrgh, forgot these blinking little cars come with dodgy electric PAS, i'll stay with my old as the hills and as reliable hydraulic systems.

no1catman

Quietmanc:

Thanks for the link - a couple of the comments match what happened to me i.e. putting the air con on increased the electric/power demand created the problem, and after parking coming back and restarting seemed to reset it.

Think I'll ring an independent PSA specialist in the morning, after driving round the block for the paper & lottery!