Citroen C4 - Money Hole

flakjack_2

Hey Guys,

My 2007 Citroen C4 Picasso (auto) has encountered a number of issues and despite passing an MOT and service two weeks ago, undergoing a full electronics diagnostic by a separate Citroen garage and being looked at by a mechanic friend, nobody has managed to find the problem:

- Car sometimes drops from Automatic to manual mode (flappy paddle gears)
- Handbrake, gearbox and engine warning light come on randomly
- Car battery was flat despite normal usage and couldn't be jumped (though we had the hazards on for 15 minutes and a 5 minute tow)

Any ideas? This has already cost me close to a grand with no indication as to the fault! My partner has only ever driven an automatic and having it drop into manual on the motorway completely threw her, she's never used the manual gears and had our twin babies in the car!

AdrianC

I'd start by getting the alternator properly load-tested.

Arklight

Those flappy paddle gears are notorious.

Flakjack

Thanks Adrian, called the garage and asked about the alternator, they suggested it would be unusual as the car dropping into manual mode would be a separate issue if it was the alternator. They're going to run the test just in case.

AdrianC

I'm thinking low voltage causing electronic shenanigans. It may well be that the alternator's putting out proper charge voltage, but not much current. so any significant load is causing the voltage to drop.