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Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6 16V / Citroen C4, 3-door coupe, 110 hp, 4 automatic transmission, 2004 - 2008 - the starter turns, but the engine does not start

Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6 16V 3door. coupe, 110 hp, 4 automatic transmission, 2004 - 2008 - the starter turns, but the engine does not start

The starter turns, but the engine does not start

Causes

There can be quite a few reasons for this behavior of a car. The main ones are listed below. We have divided them into two categories. First, let's look at those that any beginner can handle:

Human factor:
You forgot to turn off the anti-theft system, which blocks, for example, only the fuel pump.
The exhaust pipe is clogged. Kind people put a rag or a potato in it, or maybe you just drove into a snowdrift - there are many options. The exhaust pipe must be freed.

All of the above, in general, is not a breakdown, and can be solved in no time. Now let’s look at the reasons associated with the technical malfunction:
If the starter turns very slowly, the reason may be that the engine oil has thickened in the cold. Or maybe it’s a discharged battery after a long stay or its terminals are heavily oxidized. In this case, the voltage of the on-board network may drop so much that the engine control unit refuses to work. Well, everything is clear here: the oil should be filled according to the season, the battery should be charged or replaced.
Something has frozen - water in the gas line, diesel fuel in the tank or filter. Look for a warm box!
The fuel pump is faulty. This is easy to verify, unless you are trying to start the car near a busy and noisy highway. If the environment is quiet, then a sensitive ear can detect the absence of the characteristic buzzing of the fuel pump during starter operation. In the best case, poor contact in the circuit is to blame; in the worst case, you will have to replace the pump.
The flywheel crown rotates. This sometimes happened on cars of previous years, up to the VAZ-2109. You can hear that the Bendix is ​​engaged with the ring, and the ring rotates on the flywheel with a squeal. The flywheel is about to be replaced.

The starter does not engage with the ring. Reason: wear of parts, chipped teeth, etc. When you try to start, you hear grinding teeth. Get ready to replace the ring gear or flywheel.

Bendix stuck. It doesn’t matter whether its drive failed or the Bendix itself. You can hear the starter motor spinning at high speeds, but there is no further attempt to crank the engine. Get ready to repair or replace the starter itself.

Failure of the ignition system in gasoline cars. We check everything - spark plugs, coils, wiring, etc.
The glow plugs of a diesel car do not work. The problem may be in the control unit, as well as in the power relay. The candles themselves should also be checked - you will have to tinker with this.

Timing belt shattered. It’s easy to feel: it’s easy for the starter to turn. If you're lucky (the pistons don't meet the valves), it's enough to replace the belt; if not, then half the engine.

The timing belt jumped several teeth, disrupting the correct valve timing. Again, in the best case, you will need to return the belt to its place, but in the worst case, you will face expensive repairs.
Increased resistance to rotation of the crankshaft: scuffing on shafts, bearing shells, parts of the cylinder-piston group, deformation of shafts. Check if the engine can be cranked when pushing the vehicle with the manual transmission in top gear. With an automatic transmission, you will have to try to turn the engine using the bolt securing the auxiliary drive pulley. If the engine can be turned over relatively easily, then the search for the cause will need to be continued.

Seized alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor. A faulty unit prevents the engine from turning. To check, you can first see if the belt is straining excessively when trying to crank the engine. If your suspicions are confirmed, you can remove the auxiliary drive belt and try to drive to the service station under your own power. Of course, this will only work on cars where the coolant pump rotates the timing belt. With a non-working pump and no coolant circulation, even a cold engine will quickly boil.
They tried to steal your car at night, but something went wrong. As a result, the attackers dug around, broke something and disappeared in disgrace. Here, without diagnostics at a service station, the problem cannot be solved.

What to do

If the starter turns, but the engine does not start, first of all you should check the power supply and ignition systems.
Please note that all these checks should only be performed when the starter turns smoothly without jerking. Otherwise (jerks when the starter operates or clicks instead of the usual buzzing), the problem should be looked for, first of all, in the starter itself.

Checking the fuel system should be performed sequentially - from the fuel pump to the injector (carburetor):

1. If you have an injector, then when you turn on the ignition, you should hear the buzzing of an electric fuel pump in the cabin. If there is no buzzing, it means either the fuel pump motor is burnt out or there is no voltage to it. Therefore, it is necessary to check the fuel pump itself, as well as its fuse.

2. With carburetor cars, everything is a little more complicated: the fuel pump is driven by the camshaft, so to check you will have to remove the end of the hose from the carburetor inlet fitting or the fuel pump outlet fitting. If you pump the manual pump lever several times, gasoline should come out of the fitting or hose.

3. To check the presence of gasoline in the injector rail, press the valve of the fitting for connecting the pump: gasoline should flow from there.

4. Be sure to check if the fuel filter is clogged. Perhaps the engine simply does not have enough fuel, so it does not start.

5. Another reason why the starter turns but the car does not start is a clogged throttle valve.

After completing all the steps described above, you can try to start the car again. If the starter still turns, but the car does not start, then you need to move on to checking the ignition system.

1. First, you should unscrew the spark plug and check for a spark. To do this, you need to put a high-voltage wire on the switched-off spark plug, touch the spark plug skirt to the metal part of the engine and turn the engine using the starter (you will need an assistant for this). If there is a spark, then the spark plug is working.

2. If there is no spark in a fuel-injected car, then the problem is in the ignition module.

3. If there is no spark in the carburetor engine, then you should check the ignition coil. Pull out the central wire from the distributor cover, place its end 5 mm from the metal part of the engine (without touching) and ask an assistant to crank the engine with the starter. If there is no spark, the coil is faulty.

4. If there is a spark and the ignition coil is working properly, you should remove the distributor cover and look for any defects under it (carbon deposits, cracks, etc.).

There are times when all these checks are not enough, and the car owner has to carry out deeper checks to identify the reason that the starter turns but the engine does not start. Reasons why this could be include:

1. Burnt fuse. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s still worth checking the integrity of the fuses in the blocks.

2. Corrosion on any of the electrical parts.

3. Condensation under the hood. There have been cases when the car did not start precisely because of excessive moisture under the hood.

Specifications

Technical parameters of Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6 16V / Citroen C4 in a 3-door body. coupe with 110 hp engine, 4 automatic transmission, produced from 2004 to 2008

The Citroen C4 is a comfortable, elegant, modern car in every way. The manufacturer presents diesel and gasoline options with automatic and manual transmission. The French made the perfect car both in terms of technical characteristics and aesthetics. But, despite this, owners encounter problems during operation - sometimes the Citroen C4 does not start. Let's look at the main reasons and find out how to fix these problems.

How exactly does it not start?

Many car owners who have encountered similar problems write hundreds, if not thousands of messages complaining that the engine will not start. But to understand exactly what’s wrong with the engine, you need to find out all the symptoms.

There are usually not many possible options. So, it happens that the driver, as usual, turned off the previously normally working engine, parked the car, and in the morning his Citroen C4 does not start. It also happens that the engine starts, but it takes a little longer than usual. Sometimes the internal combustion engine can work normally, but suddenly stops and will not start again. They also often complain that the engine starts and immediately stalls.

These are not all the possible breakdowns. Owners often complain that the engine shoots or sneezes when starting. There are also frequent situations when the Citroen C4 does not start, the starter turns, but the car starts perfectly when towed. Experts also encounter symptoms such as when the car hasn’t even driven anywhere, but suddenly stops starting.

Knowing how the engine behaves, you can understand at least approximately what is wrong with the engine or with other car systems.

Typical faults

If the Citroen C4 does not start, do not panic. The success of the repair largely depends on how quickly and how well the weak link can be found. To better understand the essence of possible repair work, let’s consider what can break.

Injection

It is possible to identify faults related directly to the injector. With such breakdowns, the car will not start either cold or hot. The “Check Engine” light will illuminate on the instrument panel. Less often, the engine runs with the light on, but in this case it will be difficult to start, and the operation will be extremely unstable. Most often, injectors become clogged in engines from this manufacturer. The ECU fails. These components should be diagnosed first if the Citroen C4 does not start.

Ignition

Also very often starting problems are related to the ignition system. There are more possible breakdowns here. Usually the reasons lie in the spark plugs - they can be flooded with fuel. In this case, the engine starts and immediately stalls, and after several attempts to start it stops even starting. Rarely, but problems still occur with other components in the ignition system - this is the ignition coil or module, the crankshaft sensor.

Fuel system

Starting problems can also be associated with poor or incorrect operation of the vehicle's fuel system. French engines may suffer from three possible problems here:

• Clogged fuel filter. In this case, the symptoms will be as follows: the car seizes, but does not start; if it is possible to start, the engine will be very unstable.

• Faults related to the fuel pump can be identified. The car will not start under any circumstances and in any condition.

• Fuel rail pressure. If it is not enough, starting the engine will be very problematic. There is also a lack of cold and hot start-up and unstable operation.

Engine

Well, in the end, the motor itself can be identified as the cause of the problem. Here is the widest selection of possible options. Most often the reason is poor compression or misadjusted valve clearances. With such problems, high-quality diagnostics are needed, otherwise it will be very difficult to determine why the Citroen C4 Picasso does not start.

How to bring life back into your car?

If the engine stalls and does not start, you need to find and fix the problem. Let's see what is included in the list of diagnostic measures. In fact, many operations can be performed with your own hands, without specialized tools.

When the starter turns but there is no effect

If the starter turns, but the Citroen C4 does not start, then you need to make sure that the fuel pump in the car is working at all. In most cases, the working fuel pump can be heard. Most often, the sound of its operation can be heard near the back sofa. A characteristic buzzing sound will be felt when the device is operating.

If the pump does not function, then experts recommend checking the integrity of the fuses, as well as the fuel pump relay.

It would be a good idea to check the ECU relay. If the fuses are in good condition, then you need to find out whether the relay turns on. Its performance can be determined by a characteristic click. This click will be heard when the car ignition is turned on.

Fuel system diagnostics

If the Citroen C4 stalls and does not start, then the problem may lie somewhere in the fuel system. If the pump is operating normally, then you need to make sure there is pressure in the rail. For this you will need a pressure gauge. Testing in the field is also possible. There should be a spool on the ramp - you should press it. If the pump is running, then the pressure in the ramp will be within 2.8 atm.

If you press the spool, the flow of fuel from it will be smooth. The pressure must be constant. If the pump is functioning quite normally, but there is no pressure in the rail, then you need to check the presence of fuel in the tank, clogged filters, and patency of the lines.

Pressure regulator

Injection engines operate under a certain pressure, which is pumped into the rail by a fuel pump and adjusted by a special pressure regulator. To diagnose it, disconnect the hose through which the fuel flows into the tank. With the hose disconnected, turn on the ignition. If fuel is supplied from it, then the problem has been detected and the regulator must be replaced.

If this malfunction occurs on the road, then you can plug one end of the regulator or clamp the tube. This way you can get to the repair site.

What else should you pay attention to?

If there is pressure in the ramp and there is gasoline in the tank, then the car’s ignition system should be diagnosed. For diagnostics, it is recommended to use a special spark gap. If there is a spark, but the Citroen C4 car does not start, then check the serviceability of the spark plugs visually, and then with special equipment.

Throttle valve

If this node does not work correctly, then you can’t expect quick startup and stable operation. Failure can be diagnosed in various ways. You need to unscrew the supply pipe, inspect the housing and the damper itself visually - perhaps wear or some mechanical defects will be visible.

When the motor is not running, the damper will be closed. If it cannot close normally, then you need to clean the throttle.

The engine starts and stalls

If a Citroen C4 car starts and stalls, then most likely everything is in order with the engine and its other systems, and the problem lies in the immobilizer. Diagnosing this malfunction is simple - usually a light will light up or flash on the dashboard. If the connection between the chip on the key and the immobilizer is lost, then you can forget about normal engine starting.

To solve the problem, you will need to use special equipment, which is available at the official dealer. Otherwise, you can replace the key with a spare one.

Starter clicks, no effect

If, when you try to start, the Citroen C4 does not start and clicks, then we can say that the solenoid relay is faulty. It needs to be replaced. After replacement, the starter will be able to work normally. It is also worth checking the condition of the battery. When the battery is discharged, the current will only be enough to make clicks.

If the Citroen C4 does not start, the starter does not turn, then you should check the wire connections directly to the starter, as well as the relay.

The starter may not show signs of life if there is a bad ground or missing contact. But it also wouldn’t hurt to carry out diagnostics with a scanner. The car is completely controlled by electronics, and it is possible that there are errors in some of the components.

Doesn't start hot or cold

In the first case, faults associated with the coolant sensor can be identified. The sensor should be replaced. If there is no cold start, then all of the above is possible.

Diesel versions of Citroen C4

Diesel engines have a different operating principle than gasoline engines. And the reasons for a poor launch are slightly different here.

For diesel engines, high compression is important. If for a number of reasons the compression has decreased, then the air in the combustion chambers will not be sufficiently compressed. And if the air is not compressed, it will not heat up and the fuel will not be able to ignite.

Starting is often affected by various problems with glow plugs. Conventional diagnostics will not help here, since problems are not visible on a hot engine. But it will be problematic to start the engine when it’s cold with faulty spark plugs. Often the causes of failure lie not in the spark plugs themselves, but in the electronics that control the operation of the glow plugs.

There may also be problems with the fuel system. If any small particles get into the diesel injectors, the engine may not start. In this case, you need to pay attention to blue smoke when trying to start. If it is, then fuel is supplied to the cylinders, but for some reason the mixture does not ignite.

If the diesel Citroen C4 does not want to start in cold weather, then this may be due to fuel. It contains paraffin. In winter, such fuel thickens. It cannot pass through the filter in this state and, naturally, is not fed further. You need to use winter diesel fuel.

Problems often occur with the fuel line. If there are cracks in it, then fuel will escape from the system. The main thing to remember is that if smoke is visible from the chimney during startup, then fuel is entering the cylinders. If there is no smoke, then it is worth diagnosing spark plugs or compression.

Conclusion

So, we found out why the Citroen C4 car may not start. As you can see, the problem can be of a different nature. If it is a gasoline engine, then first of all you need to inspect the pump and spark plugs. Well, with diesel engines it’s a little more complicated. After all, if the problem is in compression or injectors, you won’t be able to fix it yourself.

The car after the accident, according to the owner of the car, the impact hit exactly in the middle of the “muzzle”, but did not reach the engine. The car looks terrible, of course, but it can be restored. They complained that the car would not start, the spark plugs were dry, but there was fuel in the ramp. Based on the first signs, I got the impression that the immobilizer was blocked and the problem was most likely in the key, but they convinced me that it was started with this key and that it was working before the accident.
Computer diagnostics showed errors in the crankshaft position sensor (phase sensor), and this can already be said to be the main reason that the car does not start, and the following errors are misfires in the cylinders and the absence of a signal at the injectors. The sequence of work is clear, replace the broken phase sensor. I checked, the sensor was not working, the wires from the sensor to the control unit (CU) were intact. After replacing the sensor, a spark should appear on the spark plugs; when a spark appears, the control unit gives a signal to the injectors. This is how the algorithm for working on Peugeot and Citroen is built, I will say that the French must be given their due, the control system is built in such a way that if there is no spark, the spark plugs will not flood with fuel. They brought the sensor, replaced it, the key is on “START”, but the car does not show signs of wanting to start. I turned the key again, I couldn’t hear the fuel pump. There are three options for this situation to arise: the first is a built-in alarm that blocks only the fuel pump, the second is a native alarm (immobilizer), and the third is the fuel system is blocked during an accident. Previously, these cars had a button that was activated during an accident or during very strong shaking (which was also considered an accident) to reduce the likelihood of the car catching fire during an accident. And now there are no such buttons, but the protection system remains, only in electronic form. The so-called Double-relay is responsible for this. This relay is controlled by the control unit for full engine operation, and the second part controls signals from the airbags. In the field of an accident, this protection system is triggered, then it is unlocked, but there are exceptions. I started sequentially, unlocking the built-in alarm system so that suspicion would not fall on it. DOES NOT START. Double-relay cannot be bypassed, since the manufacturer made the unit non-dismountable and all components (relays, including Double-relay) are not removable. I decided to postpone this situation as a last resort and decided to deal with the immobilizer. The immobilizer unlocking chip is located right in the key. There are times when the battery in the key simply runs out and the immobilizer does not recognize the CHIP. It's easy to check, press the control buttons on the key, and if the car responds, the key is in working order. In this situation, the car did not respond to the key. DEFINITELY an immobilizer, the second sign of immobilizer blocking is a refusal to reset errors in the control unit. I asked for a second key, the key was at home, and they brought it some time later. I inserted the key, and the car began to purr with just a click. It turned out that the first key did not have a chip; it was removed to bypass the immobilizer in the built-in alarm, for auto-start. The owner of the car began to scold himself: “WOW, I called an auto electrician, spent so much time, spent money, but it turns out that I just got the key mixed up.” I had to calm him down, although the first question was about blocking the immobilizer, but they suddenly convinced me that the key was intact. THERE IS NO BAD WITHOUT GOOD. Firstly, the car would not start due to the phase sensor, secondly, they did computer diagnostics, reset the errors, inspected the car electrical system and found out what could fail in the near future (due to an accident). All in all, money well spent.

This representative of the French automobile industry has found wide appreciation among domestic buyers. Citroen C4 has a modern appearance and has excellent technical characteristics.

But, like all cars, it can sometimes malfunction, for example, it won’t start or stalls at the most inopportune moment.

Many motorists are faced with situations where:

• We parked the car in the garage, but in the morning the car does not start;
• the car starts working after several attempts;
• the car drives, the engine hums regularly, but suddenly it becomes silent and shows no signs of life;
• After turning on the ignition, the engine will make a little noise and stall;
• when the engine is running, the car makes sounds similar to a sneeze or shoots from the exhaust pipe;
• The starter turns, but the Citroen does not start. But in tow it starts with half a turn.

By the operation of the engine, you can determine what happened to the car.

Main disturbances in engine operation

If the Citroen C4 stops starting, you need to think about it and try to determine the reason.

• Injection.

First you need to examine the injector. If this unit fails, the car will not start in both hot and cold seasons. The check engine warning should be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Of course, there are exceptions when the engine is running even when the indicator is on, but in such cases it will stall or operate unstably. Citroen injectors may become clogged. Very often, the ECU can be the cause of a silent car engine. Therefore, it is recommended to start checking the functionality of these particular nodes.

• Ignition.

The most common cause of unstable engine operation is spark plugs filled with fuel.

The first few attempts to start the engine can still give the driver hope for a positive outcome. But then the engine stops completely. One of the causes of the breakdown may be the ignition coil or crankshaft sensor.

• Fuel system.

European engineers have designed very good units, but most models suffer from three significant drawbacks: rapid clogging of the fuel filter.

In this case, the car will try to start for a long time and, if it does, it will work unstable; fuel pump failure. This entails complete engine silence; insufficient pressure in the fuel rail.

• Engine.

The main problem is poor compression and uneven valve clearances. In this case, a complete engine diagnosis will be required, without which it is not so easy to determine the possible cause.

Some breakdowns can be completely eliminated without using a special tool yourself.

Fault name	Possible reason	What should be done
You can hear the starter turning, but the engine does not start. At the same time, the sound of the fuel pump, which is located under the rear seat, is not heard.	The fuel supply unit is not working.	Replace the fuel pump switch relay. Check the ECU. You need to turn on the ignition, then a click will be heard (for the working relay).
The car has stalled and the engine will not start.	There is no pressure in the fuel rail.	Using a pressure gauge, check the pressure through the spool on the ramp. If the pressure is normal, then you need to check the presence of fuel in the tank and whether the filters and lines are clogged.
Unstable engine operation when the vehicle is moving.	Fuel is not supplied, the pressure regulator is faulty.	Disconnect the hose that goes into the fuel tank and turn on the ignition. If fuel is supplied, then the regulator needs to be replaced. If this happened on the highway, then it is enough to clamp the tube to the regulator or plug one side of it. So you can try to get to a car service center.

What else do drivers pay attention to?

• Throttle valve.

To ensure that it is broken, it is necessary to disconnect the supply line and conduct an external inspection of the damper (mechanical defects are possible). When the engine is not running, the throttle must be in the closed position. If it does not close completely, the throttle should be cleaned.

• If the engine starts and immediately stalls.

Perhaps it's the immobilizer. How to find out? The indicator should show a malfunction. To fix the problem, you need to use special equipment or replace the key with a chip inside with a spare one.

• The starter does not turn, but makes clicking noises, but does not start.

It looks like a starter solenoid relay. It needs to be changed urgently. We must also not forget about the battery. If it is discharged, then its charge is just enough for clicks. If this problem occurs, check the starter and relay wiring connections.

The Citroen C4 car is completely subordinated to the electrical system. Therefore, it should be diagnosed so that there are no questions with it in the future.

Diesel engines for Citroen

French Citroen cars are available in two versions: with gasoline engines and diesel. As for diesel cars, the operating principle is significantly different from their gasoline counterparts. Accordingly, the reasons why they do not start are also different. For efficient operation of diesel units, high compression is required.

If the compression ratio decreases, the air that enters the combustion chamber will be compressed, but not to the extent that is necessary. If the air is not completely compressed, it will not heat up and the fuel will not be able to ignite. Often, spark plugs influence engine starting. And what’s special is that starting problems may not arise as long as the engine is hot. But once it cools down, the car will not budge even an inch.

There are times when the problem is not in the candles, but in the electronics that control them. The fuel system also suffers when foreign small particles enter it. If, when starting the engine, blue smoke pours out of the exhaust pipe, it means that the problem lies in the fuel system (fuel is supplied to the cylinders, but the combustion process has not begun).

If the C4 diesel engine does not start in cold winter weather, this should lead to the idea of ​​low-quality fuel. It may contain paraffin. The fact is that in cold weather the fuel simply thickens to such a state that it does not pass through the fuel filter. Therefore, in winter, only special fuel is used for diesel Citroens.

Another negative point is when a crack forms in the fuel line. Fuel will leave the system through it.

There is a pattern - if a caustic exhaust is formed during startup, it means that fuel is entering the cylinders. The absence of smoke means a malfunction of the spark plugs or compression.

There can be many problems with the engine. If you are dealing with a gasoline engine, you need to pay special attention to the gasoline pump. In the case of diesel units, it is better to contact a car repair shop, since it will not be so easy to diagnose the breakdown yourself.

A car is a very complex mechanism, and in order for it to fully help and not cause inconvenience with repairs, which often cost a hefty sum, it needs good care and periodic maintenance.