C3 Aircross multiple fault warnings at once

Faults and Technical chat for the Citroen Aircross
C3A ADM
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Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2024 6:32 pm

Post by C3A ADM »

So just to update and hopefully be useful information for someone else in the future.

Garage, after diagnostic, confirmed it was the front right wheel ABS / wheel speed sensor that had gone.

Wishing I had had the time to fix it myself but other commitments meant I had to get the garage to do it.

Getting the diagnostics is the most frustrating thing. Obviously doesn't pay for the car companies to make it easy to find out what the fault is.

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Juan Sheet
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Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:59 pm

Post by Juan Sheet »

They need to run diags on the system to confirm the problem of course and there is as you'd expect a charge for this time. Many of the dealerships have their diagnostics equipment leased out and these are expensive to maintain, plus there are constant updates to the systems and all the training and bulletins , so these are costs they have to pass on.

Although I told you what the issue would most likely be in this scenario, I couldn't advise you which one of the 4 sensors it was, hence the need to diagnose it.

However, if it has been under extended warranty they wouldn't have charged you at all as was in my case.

The only other thing you could of done is if you had your own compatible CAN compliant diagnostic tool to identify the specific wheel speed sensor and then just asked them to replace that, which would of saved your the diagnostic costs.
C3A ADM
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Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2024 6:32 pm

Post by C3A ADM »

Thank you.

Yeah I said to garage I believed it was a wheel sensor but as you said they did diagnostic to confirm this and also which one.
I know they have a lot of costs for the diagnostic kit and software. So do understand their charges. Shame all car manufacturers don't use the same diagnostic software so there is less costs involved for the car garages. Or even for the car to have some diagnostic inbuilt to tell you codes, it's obviously all there in the cars CPU and there is enough there to tell me all the systems that are faulty, why can it not just come up with a diagnostic fault code on the car. Make life easier for all. But then this would make less money for the car manufacturers so they won't add that.

I had taken out 1 year extra warrenty which ended at start of February this year. Wish I had extended again but it was very costly and doesn't cover everything and I hadn't had any issues in the past 4 years so took the risk. I guess that's what you do, take a risk and either it pays off or not.

Thank you again for all your help, it was extremely useful.
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Juan Sheet
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Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:59 pm

Post by Juan Sheet »

No problem.

Re the diagnostics - problem is there are standard OBDII codes - and all manufacturers have to be compliant with these, but those are just the generic codes. Car manufacturers can have specific 'Constructor' codes bespoke to the systems employed on the vehicle. As these modern cars can have upward of 25-30 separate ECUs, it becomes impossible to have generic codes for these. That's why they have their specific diagnostic software to be able to read the ECUs and more importantly, the specific versions of the these ECUs, as the software updates can mean changes - so a diagnostic tool and the requisite software has to keep pace with all of this.

With Citroen for example, their diagnostic software and hardware deals with Citroen, Peugeot, DS Automobiles and now Vauxhall vehicles. Although Stellantis as the parent group owns 14 brands currently (Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall), there are some of these marques that require their own diagnostic tools and systems as they are not compatible, despite slowly moving over where possible to incorporate them under one system.

So although they all have a number of generic engine ECU codes, it won't work for the ABS / ESP, ADAS, Head Unit / Infotainment & Telematics system ECUs as a small example etc. etc.

In an ideal world......
Andyt
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Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:21 pm

Post by Andyt »

Hi all,
Yes, this is indeed familiar to me as well!
I have just returned from a two week motoring holiday in Europe, getting as far as Slovenia. And, I got one peaceful day (day 1) before all mayhem broke loose! I think every amber light came up at some point, but the most annoying one was the 'clutch temp high' one -this kept pinging every ten seconds regardless of what we tried to do to silence it. And, when it happened, I could not access anything via the touch screen - A/C.. Navigation etc.
Really annoying for 6 hours on the Italian autostrada. I found your post while in Italy, and took comfort from it.
There was no pattern to the lights coming on, one day we might get 3 hours of normality -other days, from the start up.
I have booked the car in to my local dealer for diagnostics and a repair -told them I suspect a wheel sensor. ( last day coming from Hull home, I got some lights, stopped for fuel, then a clear drive back home???)
Incidentally, I changed all 4 tyres a week or so before the trip - coincidence ?
regards
Andy
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Juan Sheet
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Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:59 pm

Post by Juan Sheet »

That sounds like it Andy - a wheel speed sensor. They'll be able to ID the correct one very quickly and replace it - and hopefully that will be it - this issue can be a bit daunting with all the beeps and warnings and interference - including the sat nav trying to route you to the nearest Citroen garage! :lol:
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