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Citroen C3 Vibe

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granny grump | 18:44 Sun 05th Oct 2014 | Motoring
12 Answers
I have been having trouble with my C3. It cuts out randomly. The garage haven't been able to find anything wrong

It is an 08 reg and has 50,000 miles on the clock and serviced regularly. Nothing else wrong. I can drive 200 miles without any problems and then it can cut out 4 or 5 time in a single journey. Has anyone had a similar problems or any idea what might be causing it?
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I am thinking that it may be a dodgy battery earth connection or maybe the idle air control valve ( thats what controls the tick over ). So if were me the first thing to check is the earth connection on your battery and were it connects to the bodywork and also the earth strap from the body to the engine or gearbox. Just make sure the bolts are tight with no corrosion on...
20:26 Sun 05th Oct 2014
Is it a petrol or diesel model, granny ?.
got to pop out for a while now, will have a look when I get back.
When it cuts out, does the engine die suddenly or lose power to a stop?
Any fault lights on the dash before/during cut out?
Does it cut out at low revs (idle) or at any revs?
Once it has cut out, does it restart easily or take a few attempts?
As Iggle Piggle say's.
Question Author
It's petrol tony; yes it suddenly loses power and stops no fault lights and the garage has used a fault finding 'thing' on nothing showing up. Cuts out mainly at low revs and restarts easily. I have had the car about 5 years and has only just started to do this. The worrying time is when if it cuts out when I am turning a corner as the steering locks.
Does it tick over ok ?. And when it cuts out is it with a splutter or does the engine just stop like you have turned the ignition off ?.
Question Author
For the most part it ticks over ok. It just dies. Sometimes it difficult to tell it has died because the engine is very quiet - I am just waiting for it all the time now
I am thinking that it may be a dodgy battery earth connection or maybe the idle air control valve ( thats what controls the tick over ). So if were me the first thing to check is the earth connection on your battery and were it connects to the bodywork and also the earth strap from the body to the engine or gearbox. Just make sure the bolts are tight with no corrosion on them or unbolt them and clean the area were they bolt to the bodywork / engine / gearbox with a bit of emery paper.
Question Author
Thank you very much tony - I am going back to the garage. They have always been very good and don't make me feel stupid Apparently I do need a new battery but they don't seem to think it has anything to do with that . I'll get a new battery and see if that makes any difference
Your welcome, granny. Hope it fixes your problem, by the way A dodgy battery earth or air idle control valve wouldn't normally put a warning light on.
-- answer removed --
Son had similar problem on Alfa 147 which came down to a faulty crank position sensor.
As the above answer, it could be a dirty or failed TDC (top dead sensor)

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