From: Chris Whelan on
On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:51:32 +0000, Dr Zoidberg wrote:

> "Mentalguy2k8" <mentalguy2k8(a)googlemail.com> wrote in message
> news:s2RWk.24383$sj.9209(a)newsfe11.ams2...
>> Hi
>>
>> Not sure if this is the right group, I'm sure someone can point me in
>> the right direction if not.
>>
>> I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, 4 months from new. Last week it cut
>> out a couple of times and was difficult to re-start, followed by
>> various error messages including "depollution system faulty"
>
> That will be the Diesel Particulate Filter getting clogged up - a common
> problem on modern diesels of lots of makes. If you only do short
> journeys it won't gte hot enough to burn off the soot and will clog up.
>
> The solution is to drive round at higher speeds for at least half an
> hour apparently!

As far as I can see, the OP doesn't say whether or not his vehicle is a
diesel.

As you say, DPF equipped vehicles can't cope with lots of slow running.
Failure to follow the correct driving procedure once the warning light is
lit will mean a trip to the dealer for filter decontamination.
Eventually, an expensive DPF replacement will be needed.

The "Depollution system faulty" error message is one of several spurious
ones that can often be displayed by the C4's notoriously temperamental
electronics; whether or not it is related to the poor running of the OP's
vehicle may be open to doubt.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.
From: Mentalguy2k8 on

"Tim S Kemp" <news(a)timkemp.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:x6idnf_bnf66YLHUnZ2dnUVZ8rSdnZ2d(a)eclipse.net.uk...
>
>
> "Adrian" <toomany2cvs(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:6p4c52F6bb1cU2(a)mid.individual.net...
>
>> Ignore Tim - he just hates french cars on principle...
>
>
> My principles are honest and pure. The only decent French car is the
> Veyron. Bugatti is now owned by the Germans.
>
> If you want to buy a poorly assembled car then a Citroen or Peugeot is one
> of the better choices, you won't be disappointed. Renault seem to have
> some quality control but why take the risk?
>
> German and Japanese manufacturers understand the importance of
> consistency, quality engineering and quality control, the French and
> Italians just churn out huge numbers of cars with government subsidies for
> the home markets at cheap prices.
>
>
>
>
> --
> And remember kids, RAID is safe and the UPS never fails.

I've got no complaints about the build quality (yet), it was all going very
nicely until this "software problem". I upgraded from the Xsara Picasso
which I had for a couple of years. Before that I had the Zafira, but I found
that to be pretty shoddy and basic. 6 months from new I had interior bits
falling off or snapping, and it was very basic inside. While the C4 was in
for repair we were given an 08 Zafira and it doesn't seem to have changed
much.

From: Mentalguy2k8 on

"Chris Whelan" <cawhelan(a)prejudicentlworld.com> wrote in message
news:qL9Xk.4$Lg2.3(a)newsfe10.ams2...
> On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:51:32 +0000, Dr Zoidberg wrote:
>
>> "Mentalguy2k8" <mentalguy2k8(a)googlemail.com> wrote in message
>> news:s2RWk.24383$sj.9209(a)newsfe11.ams2...
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Not sure if this is the right group, I'm sure someone can point me in
>>> the right direction if not.
>>>
>>> I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, 4 months from new. Last week it cut
>>> out a couple of times and was difficult to re-start, followed by
>>> various error messages including "depollution system faulty"
>>
>> That will be the Diesel Particulate Filter getting clogged up - a common
>> problem on modern diesels of lots of makes. If you only do short
>> journeys it won't gte hot enough to burn off the soot and will clog up.
>>
>> The solution is to drive round at higher speeds for at least half an
>> hour apparently!
>
> As far as I can see, the OP doesn't say whether or not his vehicle is a
> diesel.
>
> As you say, DPF equipped vehicles can't cope with lots of slow running.
> Failure to follow the correct driving procedure once the warning light is
> lit will mean a trip to the dealer for filter decontamination.
> Eventually, an expensive DPF replacement will be needed.
>
> The "Depollution system faulty" error message is one of several spurious
> ones that can often be displayed by the C4's notoriously temperamental
> electronics; whether or not it is related to the poor running of the OP's
> vehicle may be open to doubt.

Yes, it's a diesel. The RAC man reckoned it could have been caused by
turning the engine over when it wouldn't start, and I read somewhere that an
"Italian test drive" is the way to fix it... ! Plenty of throttle and revs.
Our car usually does plenty of motorway miles, so this theory seems to make
sense.

From: Mentalguy2k8 on

"Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOO!!!!!!!!@drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ggj67a$dtr$1(a)news.motzarella.org...
> "Mentalguy2k8" <mentalguy2k8(a)googlemail.com> wrote in message
> news:s2RWk.24383$sj.9209(a)newsfe11.ams2...
>> Hi
>>
>> Not sure if this is the right group, I'm sure someone can point me in the
>> right direction if not.
>>
>> I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, 4 months from new. Last week it cut
>> out a couple of times and was difficult to re-start, followed by various
>> error messages including "depollution system faulty"
>
> That will be the Diesel Particulate Filter getting clogged up - a common
> problem on modern diesels of lots of makes.
> If you only do short journeys it won't gte hot enough to burn off the soot
> and will clog up.
>
> The solution is to drive round at higher speeds for at least half an hour
> apparently!

Ah, the old "Italian test drive" !


From: Dr Zoidberg on
"Mentalguy2k8" <mentalguy2k8(a)googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:PMaXk.131$4m6.6(a)newsfe18.ams2...
>
> "Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOO!!!!!!!!@drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:ggj67a$dtr$1(a)news.motzarella.org...
>> "Mentalguy2k8" <mentalguy2k8(a)googlemail.com> wrote in message
>> news:s2RWk.24383$sj.9209(a)newsfe11.ams2...
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Not sure if this is the right group, I'm sure someone can point me in
>>> the right direction if not.
>>>
>>> I have a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, 4 months from new. Last week it cut
>>> out a couple of times and was difficult to re-start, followed by various
>>> error messages including "depollution system faulty"
>>
>> That will be the Diesel Particulate Filter getting clogged up - a common
>> problem on modern diesels of lots of makes.
>> If you only do short journeys it won't gte hot enough to burn off the
>> soot and will clog up.
>>
>> The solution is to drive round at higher speeds for at least half an hour
>> apparently!
>
> Ah, the old "Italian test drive" !
>

Not necessarily thrashing it , just driving at such a speed as it gets up to
proper operating temperatures.

--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger , then I hide until it goes away"