2006 Xsara Picasso "Engine Fault" - Catalytic Converter - Advice?

1978

Afternoon all,

Following on from my earlier thread I purchased a Citroen Xsara Picasso a week Friday ago (7th August).

2006 model, just over 60k on the clock, petrol, 1.6l.

On Saturday 8th the engine management light came on (orange engine light and 'Engine Fault' on the electronic display) and I took it into the garage where I bought it on the 10th. They couldn't make sense of the messages so reset the warning and said if it happens again for me to come in.

Lo and behold, it popped up on the Wednesday (12th) and I took it in on the 13th. The message was relating to the catalytic converter. Again, a reset but same happened Saturday (15th) and I'm due back up the garage soon.

I have 3 months RAC gold cover (faults up to £500, text is wishy washy at best regarding what is covered).
The vehicle was serviced and MOT'd just prior to purchase by the garage.

I'll no doubt find out later, but will the RAC cover this fault? Is it a problem with the engine management system, or the Cat, or is there something more sinister at work.

Also, estimates on cost of parts and labour if I need to dig in to my pockets?

Apart from that, the car seems ok.

Thanks.

motorguy

Not your problem. Fault would be deemed to be present at the time of sale (i suspect the dealer had reset the lights before you got it and hoped for the best)

Its up to the dealer to fix it.

1978

motorguy wrote: »

Not your problem. Fault would be deemed to be present at the time of sale (i suspect the dealer had reset the lights before you got it and hoped for the best)

Its up to the dealer to fix it.

Hopefully the case, thank you.

I'm just a bit worried that they'll turn around and give it some 'sold as seen' talk, especially with it being 9 year old with 60k on the clock.

motorguy

1978 wrote: »

Hopefully the case, thank you.

I'm just a bit worried that they'll turn around and give it some 'sold as seen' talk, especially with it being 9 year old with 60k on the clock.

They can if they like, but it doesnt mean diddly.

See what they say first, but dont let them palm you off

nickcc

If the Garage wasn't using the correct Citreon/Peugeot Diagnotics then I would suggest either a Citreon dealer or joining a Citreon forum and asking a member with the correct diag kit to have a look for you. A generic OBD scanner will not provide anywhere near what the Lexia Planet/Diagbox Diagnotics does.

motorguy

nickcc wrote: »

If the Garage wasn't using the correct Citreon/Peugeot Diagnotics then I would suggest either a Citreon dealer or joining a Citreon forum and asking a member with the correct diag kit to have a look for you. A generic OBD scanner will not provide anywhere near what the Lexia Planet/Diagbox Diagnotics does.

This is not the O/Ps problem - its a fault with a car they just bought.

Its up to the dealer to sort it out.

1978

Thanks all,

Dealer has been excellent and car is getting sorted. Hopefully this will stop any repeats of the engine fault message.

The car is running ok apart from that, and is exactly what we were after.