Get In the event of a breakdown -> 12 V battery / Accessory battery Guide for Citroen C3 Aircross SUV Second Generation (2024-2026)

In the event of a breakdown

Frozen battery

Never try to charge a frozen battery -

risk of explosion!

If the battery has frozen, have it checked by

a CITROËN dealer or by a qualified workshop,

who will verify that the internal components

have not been damaged and that the case

has not cracked, which could lead to a risk of

leakage of toxic and corrosive acid.

Symbols

12 V battery / Accessory

battery

No sparks or naked flames, no smoking.

Always protect your eyes. Explosive

gases can cause blindness and injury.

Keep the vehicle's battery out of the

reach of children.

The vehicle's battery contains sulphuric

acid which can make you go blind or

Lead-acid starter batteries

These batteries contain harmful

substances (sulphuric acid and lead).

They must be disposed of in accordance

with regulations and must never under any

circumstances be discarded with household

waste.

cause severe burns.

Automatic gearbox

Never try to start the engine by

pushing the vehicle.

For more information, refer to the

handbook.

Explosive gases can be present close to

the battery.

Dispose of used batteries at a designated

collection point.

Electric vehicles

Protect your eyes and face before

handling the battery.

All operations on the battery must be carried

out in a well ventilated area and away from

naked flames and sources of sparks, to avoid

any risk of explosion or fire.

For petrol versions

Flat accessory battery

It is no longer possible to start the

motor or recharge the traction battery.

Procedure for starting the engine using another

battery or for charging a discharged battery.

Accessing the battery

The battery is located under the bonnet.

Precautions before working on the

accessory battery

Wash your hands afterwards.

Select mode P, switch off the ignition, check

that the instrument panel is off and that the

vehicle is not being charged.

Electronic control units/LED

technology headlamps

Never connect the negative jump lead to the

metal part of the electronic control units or

at the back of the headlamps.

Risk of destroying the electronic control

units and/or headlamps!

Connect to the remote earth point provided

for this purpose.

Jump-starting another vehicle

Do not use the accessory battery

to jump-start another vehicle or to charge

another vehicle's battery.

For access to the (+) terminal:

►ꢀ Release the bonnet by pulling the internal

release lever, then the external safety catch.

►ꢀ Raise the bonnet.

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In the event of a breakdown

(+) Positive terminal with a quick-release

terminal.

(-) Negative terminal.

that the battery reaches an adequate state of

charge.

8

Driving immediately without having

reached a sufficient level of charge

may affect some of the vehicle's functions

(e.g. Stop & Start).

Starting using another battery

If the vehicle's battery is flat, the engine can be

started using a backup battery (either external

or from another vehicle) and jump leads or

using a battery booster.

►ꢀ Lift the plastic cover on the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Connect the red cable to the (+) terminal of

flat battery A (at the metal elbow), then to the

(+) terminal of the backup battery B or of the

booster.

►ꢀ Connect one end of the green or black

cable to the (-) terminal of the backup battery B

or of the booster (or to an earth point on the

assisting vehicle).

►ꢀ Connect the other end of the green or black

cable to the (-) terminal of flat battery A.

►ꢀ Start the engine on the assisting vehicle and

leave it running for a few minutes.

Charging the battery using a battery

charger

For optimum service life of the battery, it is

essential to maintain an adequate state of

charge.

In some circumstances, it may be necessary to

charge the battery:

– When using the vehicle mainly for short

journeys.

– If the vehicle is to be taken off the road for

several weeks.

Consult a CITROËN dealer or a qualified

workshop.

Never start the engine by connecting

a battery charger.

Never use a 24 V or higher battery booster.

Check beforehand that the backup battery

has a nominal voltage of 12 V and a capacity

at least equal to that of the discharged

battery.

The two vehicles must not be in contact

with each other.

Switch off all electricity-consuming

equipment on both vehicles (audio system,

wipers, lighting, etc.).

Make sure that the jump leads are well away

from the engine’s moving parts (fan, belt,

etc.).

Do not disconnect the (+) terminal while the

engine is running.

To charge the vehicle's battery

yourself, use only a charger compatible

with lead-acid batteries with a nominal

voltage of 12 V.

►ꢀ Operate the starter on the broken down

vehicle and let the engine run.

If the engine does not start immediately, switch

off the ignition and wait a few moments before

trying again.

►ꢀ Wait for it to return to idle.

Follow the instructions provided by

the manufacturer of the charger.

Never reverse polarities.

►ꢀ Disconnect the jump leads in reverse order.

►ꢀ Refit the plastic cover to the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Allow the engine to run for at least

30 minutes, with the vehicle stationary, so

It is not necessary to disconnect the

battery.

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In the event of a breakdown

►ꢀ Switch the ignition off.

►ꢀ Switch off all electrical consumers (audio

system, lighting, wipers, etc.).

If this label is present, use only a 12 V

charger to avoid causing irreversible

damage to the electrical components.

Quick-release terminal clamp

Disconnecting the (+) terminal

24V

12V

Disconnecting/Reconnecting the 12 V

battery

In order to maintain an adequate state of

charge for starting the engine, we recommend

disconnecting the battery if the vehicle is to be

unused for an extended period.

Before disconnecting the 12 V battery:

►ꢀ Close all openings (doors, boot, windows,

roof).

►ꢀ Switch off all electricity-consuming devices

(audio system, wipers, lamps, etc.).

►ꢀ Switch off the ignition and wait for

4 minutes.

►ꢀ Switch off charger B before connecting

the cables to the battery, so as to avoid any

dangerous sparks.

►ꢀ Ensure that the charger cables are in good

condition.

►ꢀ Lift the plastic cover on the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Connect the cables of charger B as follows:

• the positive (+) red cable to the (+) terminal

of battery A.

• the negative (-) black cable to the (-)

terminal of battery A.

►ꢀ At the end of the charging operation, switch

off charger B before disconnecting the cables

from battery A.

►ꢀ Depending on equipment, lift the plastic

cover on the (+) terminal.

►ꢀ Raise lever A fully to release clamp B.

►ꢀ Remove clamp B by lifting it off.

Reconnecting the (+) terminal

After accessing the 12 V battery, it is only

necessary to disconnect the (+) terminal.

►ꢀ Raise lever A fully.

►ꢀ Refit open clamp B on the (+) terminal.

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In the event of a breakdown

►ꢀ Push clamp B fully down.

►ꢀ After reconnecting the 12 V battery,

perform the automatic reset procedures of the

electronic systems and manual reset of some

equipment.

For more information on Following

reconnection, refer to the corresponding

section.

If the 12 V battery is flat, the 12 V power supply

can be ensured using a backup battery (either

external or from another vehicle) and jump

leads or using a battery booster or using a

battery charger.

8

►ꢀ Lower lever A to lock clamp B.

►ꢀ Depending on equipment, lower the plastic

cover on the (+) terminal.

Do not force the lever when pressing

on it, as if the clamp is not positioned

correctly, locking will then not be possible.

Start the procedure again.

Never use a 24 V or higher battery

booster.

Check beforehand that the backup battery

has a nominal voltage of 12 V and a capacity

at least equal to that of the discharged

battery.

The two vehicles must not be in contact

with each other.

Switch off all electricity-consuming

equipment on both vehicles (audio system,

wipers, lighting, etc.).

Make sure that the jump leads are well away

from the engine’s moving parts (fan, belt,

etc.).

Do not disconnect the (+) terminal while the

engine is running.

Accessing the battery

The battery is located under the bonnet.

The Stop & Start system may not be

operational during the trip following

the first engine start.

In this case, the system will only be available

again after a continuous period with the

vehicle immobilised, the duration of which

depends on the exterior temperature and

the state of charge of the battery (up to

about 8 hours).

For access to the (+) terminal:

►ꢀ Release the bonnet by pulling the internal

release lever, then the external safety catch.

►ꢀ Raise the bonnet.

(+) Positive terminal with a quick-release

terminal.

For hybrid versions

Procedure for starting the engine using another

battery or for charging a discharged battery

(12 V or 48 V).

(-) Negative terminal.

►ꢀ Access to the 12 V battery.

Starting using another battery

For more information on Accessing the

battery, refer to the corresponding section.

►ꢀ If necessary, perform the 12 V battery

disconnection/reconnection procedure.

For more information on Disconnecting/

Reconnecting the battery, refer to the

corresponding section.

The hybrid system starts the vehicle,

but a 12 V supply is required. There are

several reasons why the vehicle cannot be

started.

►ꢀ Lift the plastic cover on the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

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In the event of a breakdown

►ꢀ Connect the red cable to the (+) terminal of

flat battery A (at the metal elbow), then to the

(+) terminal of the backup battery B or of the

booster.

►ꢀ Connect one end of the green or black

cable to the (-) terminal of the backup battery B

or of the booster (or to an earth point on the

assisting vehicle).

►ꢀ Connect the other end of the green or black

cable to the (-) terminal of flat battery A.

►ꢀ Start the engine on the assisting vehicle and

leave it running for a few minutes.

►ꢀ Operate the starter on the broken down

vehicle and let the engine run.

Charging the 12 V battery using a

battery charger

For optimum service life of the battery, it is

essential to maintain an adequate state of

charge.

In some circumstances, it may be necessary to

charge the battery (e.g. if the vehicle is to be

taken off the road for several weeks)

Consult a CITROËN dealer or a qualified

workshop.

►ꢀ Switch off charger B before connecting

the cables to the battery, so as to avoid any

dangerous sparks.

►ꢀ Ensure that the charger cables are in good

condition.

►ꢀ Lift the plastic cover on the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Connect the cables of charger B as follows:

• the positive (+) red cable to the (+) terminal

of battery A.

The hybrid system is connected to the

12 V network through the DC/DC

converter. Any operation may affect the

overall behaviour of the system.

To charge the vehicle's battery yourself, use

only a charger compatible with lead-acid

batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.

If the engine does not start immediately, switch

off the ignition and wait a few moments before

trying again.

►ꢀ Wait for it to return to idle.

• the negative (-) black cable to the (-)

terminal of battery A.

►ꢀ At the end of the charging operation, switch

off charger B before disconnecting the cables

from battery A.

►ꢀ Disconnect the jump leads in reverse order.

►ꢀ Refit the plastic cover to the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Allow the engine to run for at least

20 minutes, with the vehicle stationary (in

a ventilated area to avoid accumulation of

exhaust gases), so that the battery reaches an

adequate state of charge.

Follow the instructions provided by

the manufacturer of the charger.

Never reverse polarities.

It is not necessary to disconnect the

battery.

Charging the 48 V battery using a 12 V

battery charger

If the start fails, refer to the paragraph

"Starting using another battery" and follow

the recommended procedure.

In case of failure, especially after long storage,

the 48 V battery may be discharged and require

a charging process.

►ꢀ Switch the ignition off.

►ꢀ Switch off all electrical consumers (audio

system, lighting, wipers, etc.).

Driving immediately without having

reached a sufficient level of charge

may affect some of the vehicle's functions

(e.g. e-Auto mode).

158

In the event of a breakdown

Do not try to charge the hybrid

system directly.

The hybrid system is connected to the 12 V

network through the DC/DC converter. Any

operation may affect the overall behaviour of

the system.

►ꢀ At the end of the charging operation, switch

off charger B before disconnecting the cables

from 12 V battery A.

►ꢀ Refit the plastic cover to the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Operate the starter on the vehicle and let

the engine run.

8

►ꢀ Wait for it to return to idle.

Only use a specific 12 V battery

charger capable of maintaining 13.5 V

with a high level of current 40-50 A (approx.

600 W).

To charge the vehicle's battery yourself, use

only a charger compatible with lead-acid

batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.

Never use a 24 V or higher battery booster.

►ꢀ Switch off charger B before connecting the

cables to the 12 V battery, so as to avoid any

dangerous sparks.

►ꢀ Ensure that the charger cables are in good

condition.

►ꢀ Lift the plastic cover on the (+) terminal, if

the vehicle has one.

►ꢀ Connect the cables of charger B as follows:

• the positive (+) red cable to the (+) terminal

of battery A,

• the negative (-) black cable to earth point C

on the vehicle.

►ꢀ Open the driver's door and turn the ignition

on without pressing the brake pedal (to wake

up the vehicle).

►ꢀ Allow the engine to run for at least

20 minutes, with the vehicle stationary (in

a ventilated area to avoid accumulation of

exhaust gases), so that the 48 V battery reaches

an adequate state of charge.

Disconnecting/Reconnecting the 12 V

battery

In order to maintain an adequate state of

charge for starting the engine, we recommend

disconnecting the battery if the vehicle is to be

unused for an extended period.

Before disconnecting the 12 V battery:

►ꢀ Close all openings (doors, boot, windows,

roof).

Follow the instructions provided by

the manufacturer of the charger.

Never reverse polarities.

It is not necessary to disconnect the

battery.

The hybrid system will automatically start

charging the 48 V battery after 1 minute with

a 12 V power supply higher than 13.5 V. The

current supplied by the battery charger should

be about 30-50A.

When the appropriate energy level is reached

in the 48 V battery (between 30 to 40 minutes

depending on 12 V battery state of charge), the

hybrid system automatically stops the charging

process of the 48 V battery.

►ꢀ Switch off all electricity-consuming devices

(audio system, wipers, lamps, etc.).

►ꢀ Switch off the ignition and wait for

4 minutes.

After accessing the 12 V battery, it is only

necessary to disconnect the (+) terminal.

►ꢀ Switch the ignition off.

►ꢀ Switch off all electrical consumers (audio

system, lighting, wipers, etc.).

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In the event of a breakdown

Quick-release terminal clamp

Disconnecting the (+) terminal

►ꢀ Push clamp B fully down.

General recommendations

Observe the legislation in force in the

country where you are driving.

Check that the towing vehicle is heavier

than the towed vehicle.

The driver must remain at the wheel of the

towed vehicle and must have a valid driving

licence.

When towing a vehicle with all four wheels

on the ground, always use an approved

towbar; ropes and straps are prohibited.

The towing vehicle must move off gently.

When the vehicle is towed with its engine

off, there is no longer braking and steering

assistance.

►ꢀ Lower lever A to lock clamp B.

►ꢀ Depending on equipment, lower the plastic

cover on the (+) terminal.

Do not force the lever when pressing

on it, as if the clamp is not positioned

correctly, locking will then not be possible.

Start the procedure again.

Following reconnection

After reconnecting the battery, turn on the

ignition and wait 1 minute before starting the

engine, to enable the electronic systems to

initialise.

►ꢀ Depending on equipment, lift the plastic

cover on the (+) terminal.

►ꢀ Raise lever A fully to release clamp B.

►ꢀ Remove clamp B by lifting it off.

If minor problems nevertheless persist following

this operation, contact a CITROËN dealer or a

qualified workshop.

Referring to the relevant section, reinitialise

certain equipment:

– Remote control key.

– Electric windows.

A professional recovery service must

be called in the following cases:

– broken down on a motorway or main road;

– not possible to put the gearbox into

neutral, unlock the steering, or release the

parking brake;

Reconnecting the (+) terminal

– not possible to tow a vehicle with an

automatic gearbox, with the engine running;

– towing with only two wheels on the

ground;

– four-wheel drive vehicle;

– no approved towbar available.

– Date and time.

– Preset radio stations.

Towing the vehicle

Procedure for having your vehicle towed or

for towing another vehicle using a removable

mechanical device.

►ꢀ Raise lever A fully.

►ꢀ Refit open clamp B on the (+) terminal.

160

In the event of a breakdown -> 12 V battery / Accessory battery for Your Citroen C3 Aircross SUV Second Generation (2024-2026)

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