Aircross 5 - power failure

Faults and Technical chat for the Citroen Aircross
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joho
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:53 am

Post by joho »

My Aircross suddenly lost power whilst I was driving at 30mph. I didn't even have time to pull into the kerb. I tried turning the engine on again and still no power, however the dashboard had reverted to French language. Just before it lost power I had noticed out of a corner of my eye that a yellow light appear for a second on the dashboard but couldn't remember what symbol it was

I left it again for another half hour and the engine did start but dashboard language was still French

I completed (very carefully) the remaining mile and a half journey home An RAC engineer visited and said that he couldn't diagnose any fault but that he had had 2 other callouts very recently for the same model and fault. He suggested that it might be a software fault.

My garage have had the car now for 4 days and state they can find no fault and appear mystified as to any suggestion of any current software problems

My concern is that I do a fair amount of motorway driving carrying my disabled sister to various points and if this had happened whilst I was driving at 60mph with cars behind me, then there would have been a very serious accident.

I would be grateful for any ideas - which I will then pass onto my garage

routemaster1
Posts: 365
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2019 7:57 pm

Post by routemaster1 »

Did the odometer revert to km and the digital speedo to kph? This is usually caused by an electrical power failure. I have had my C3 revert to French several times, sometimes accompanied by the odometer reverting to kilometers. As far as I recall, this has never happened whilst I have been driving. I understand your concern though.
joho
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:53 am

Post by joho »

Thanks for suggestion. Unfortunately I didn't look at that specific - just saw that all language/set-up instructions seemed to be in French.

Car still in garage for examination and they are still puzzling over the fault so any further suggestions would be most welcome
joho
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:53 am

Post by joho »

Its now been a month that my car has been in the garage whilst their mechanics try to find out why it suddenly lost power whilst I was driving (thankfully) at 30mph

Any suggestions that I can pass onto them will b gratefully received please
joho
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:53 am

Post by joho »

We have had the car back from the garage but without any diagnosis of the power failure fault

Been driving it for 2 weeks and again the power suddenly went- thankfully this time at the start of a journey

Took the car to a different garage with an RAC report showing 11 system failures

The garage have now been told by Citroen that the problem has to now occur a third time (whilst they are driving it) for any diagnosis to be completed!

I dont want one of the garage's engineers risking their lives 'waiting for it to have a power failure whilst they are driving in traffic' but neither do I want to risk that myself

What am I supposed to do?????????
JohnB
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2018 3:52 pm

Post by JohnB »

Hi, could you maybe reject the car as being unfit for purpose and demand a replacement? Not easy I know, particularly as you probably waited months to get it! (I'm assuming you've had it from new). You could maybe raise the issue with a magazine such as What Car? or Auto Express which might help move things along...
C3 Aircross Flair 1.2 110 Auto with Parking & Family packs & sunroof
joho
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:53 am

Post by joho »

Thanks for the suggestion
Tagran
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 9:59 pm

Post by Tagran »

I've had a similar problem. Occasionally it won't go into electric mode because "ambient conditions will not allow it" even though it is a beautiful summer day!
But today the engine suddenly went BANG and all power was lost. I just had to steer it gently into the side of the road. Thank god I wasn't on the motorway!
The dash board showed a message"Electric traction systen fault. Stop vehicle see onboard documents. (As if I ever had onboard documents)
2 hours later it started no problem. WTF. Will it happen again when I am pulling my caravan.......?
JohnM52
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:50 pm
Location: Kinross-Shire

Post by JohnM52 »

What weight is it listed to tow? I understood that, with a few exceptions, hybrids could not tow caravans.
C5 Aircross Flair Plus 180 Petrol EAT8, Platinum Grey with Red Accents and Black Roof. Now traded for DS7 E Tense.
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