Get Driving Guide for Citroen C3 Picasso SUV First Generation (2008-2012)

Driving

Parking brake

6-speed manual

gearbox

Engaging reverse gear

)

Raise the ring under the knob and move

the gear lever to the left then forwards.

Only engage reverse gear when the

vehicle is stationary with the engine at idle.

Applying

)

Pull the parking brake lever fully up to

immobilise your vehicle.

Engaging 5th or 6th gear

As a safety precaution and to facilitate

starting of the engine:

)

Move the lever fully to the right to engage

Releasing

-

always select neutral,

press the clutch pedal.

5th or 6th gear.

)

Pull the parking brake lever gently, press

the release button then lower the lever fully.

9

When the vehicle is being driven, if this warning lamp

and the

STOP warning lamp come on, accompanied

by an audible signal and a message on the

multifunction screen, this indicates that the parking

brake is still on or has not been properly released.

When parking on a slope, direct your

wheels against the pavement, apply the

parking brake and engage a gear.

125

Driving

Gear efﬁciency indicator*

System which reduces fuel consumption by

advising the driver to change up on vehicles

fitted with a manual gearbox.

Example:

The information appears in the instrument

panel in the form of an arrow accompanied by

the suggested gear.

-

You are in third gear.

In the case of driving which makes

particular demands on the performance

of the engine (firm pressure on the

accelerator pedal, for example, when

overtaking...), the system will not

recommend a gear change.

Operation

The system intervenes only when driving

-

You press the accelerator pedal

moderately.

economically.

Depending on the driving situation and your

vehicle's equipment, the system may advise

you to skip one or more gears. You can

follow this instruction without engaging the

intermediate gears.

The gear engagement recommendations must

not be considered compulsory. In fact, the

configuration of the road, the amount of traffic

and safety remain determining factors when

choosing the best gear. Therefore, the driver

remains responsible for deciding whether or not

to follow the advice given by the system.

This function cannot be deactivated.

The system never suggests:

-

engaging first gear,

engaging reverse gear,

engaging a lower gear.

-

The system may suggest that you engage a

higher gear, if appropriate.

* According to engine.

126

Driving

6-speed electronic gearbox system

offers a choice between the comfort of fully

automatic operation or the pleasure of manual

gear changing.

Six-speed electronic gearbox system which

Gear lever

Steering mounted control paddles

There are two driving modes:

automated mode for automatic control

of the gears by the gearbox, without any

action on the part of the driver

manual mode for sequential gear changing

by the driver using the gear lever or the

steering mounted paddles.

In automated mode, you can temporarily take

over control of gear changing.

R. Reverse

+. Paddle to the right of the steering wheel for

)

With your foot on the brake, move the gear

lever forwards to select this position.

N. Neutral.

With your foot on the brake, select this

position to start.

A. Automated mode.

changing up.

Press the back of the "+" steering mounted

paddle to change up a gear.

Paddle to the left of the steering wheel for

changing down.

Press the back of the

"-"

steering mounted

paddle to change down a gear.

)

Move the lever backwards to select this

mode.

9

M + /.

Manual mode with sequential gear

changing.

The steering mounted paddles cannot

be used to select neutral or to engage

or disengage reverse gear.

)

Move the lever backwards then to the left

to select this mode, then:

● give a push forwards to change up,

● or give a push rearwards to change

down.

127

Driving

Display in the instrument panel

Moving off

Automated mode

)

Select position N

)

Select position A

Press the brake pedal down fully.

Start the engine.

AUTO and the gear engaged appear

in the instrument panel screen.

N appears in the instrument panel

screen.

The gearbox operates in auto-active mode,

without any action on the part of the driver. It

continuously selects the most suitable gear for:

N flashes in the instrument panel,

accompanied by an audible signal and a

message in the multifunction screen, if the

gear lever is not in position N on starting.

A message is displayed in the screen, if

the brake pedal is not pressed on starting

the engine.

-

optimisation of fuel consumption,

the style of driving,

the profile of the road.

the vehicle load.

Gear lever positions

N. Neutral

R. Reverse

For optimum acceleration, for example

when overtaking another vehicle, press the

accelerator pedal firmly past the point of

resistance.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Gears in manual mode.

)

Select automated mode (position A) or

manual mode (position M) or reverse

(position R).

Release the parking brake.

Progressively take your foot off the brake

pedal.

AUTO.

This comes on when the automated

mode is selected. It switches off on

changing to manual mode.

)

Accelerate away.

You can change mode at any time by

moving the gear lever from A to M or

the other way round.

AUTO and 1 1 or R appear in the instrument

panel screen.

You must press the brake pedal when

starting the engine.

Never select neutral N when driving.

128

Driving

Manual mode

Reverse

To engage reverse gear R, the vehicle must be

)

Select position M

Temporary control of gear

changing

immobilised with your foot on the brake pedal.

The gears engaged appear in

succession in the instrument panel

screen.

)

Select position R

You can temporarily take over control of

gear changing using the

"+"

and

"-"

steering

mounted paddles: if the engine speed allows,

the request to change gear is acted on.

This function allows you to anticipate certain

situations such as overtaking a vehicle or the

approach to a corner.

The gear change requests are only acted on if

the engine speed permits.

It is not necessary to release the accelerator

during gear changes.

Engagement of reverse gear is

accompanied by an audible signal.

When braking or slowing down, the gearbox

changes down automatically to allow the

vehicle to accelerate in the correct gear.

On sharp acceleration, the gearbox will not

change up unless the driver acts on the gear

lever or the steering mounted paddles.

After a few moments without any action on

the control paddles, the gearbox resumes

automatic control of the gears.

At very low speed, if reverse gear is requested,

this will only be acted on when the vehicle is

immobilised.

At high speed, if reverse gear is requested,

the N indicator flashes and the gearbox goes

into neutral. To engage a gear again, put the

gear lever in position A or M

9

You can change mode at any time, be

moving the gear lever from M to A or

the other way round.

Never select neutral N while the vehicle

is moving.

129

Driving

Stopping the vehicle

Operating fault

Before switching off the engine, you can:

With the ignition on, the flashing of AUTO

accompanied by an audible signal and a

message in the screen, indicates a malfunction

of the gearbox.

Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a

qualified workshop.

-

move to position N to engage neutral,

or

-

leave the gear engaged; in this case, it will

not be possible to move the vehicle.

In all cases when parking, you must

apply the parking brake to immobilise

the vehicle.

When immobilising the vehicle, with the

engine running, you must place the gear

lever in neutral N

Before carrying out any work in the

engine compartment, ensure that the

gear lever is in neutral N and that the

parking brake is applied.

130

Driving

Hill start assist

(with the 6-speed

electronic gearbox

system)

Operation

System which holds your vehicle temporarily

(approximately 2 seconds) when starting on a

slope, the time it takes to move your foot from

the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal.

This function is only active when:

-

the vehicle is completely stationary, with

your foot on the brake pedal,

On an ascending slope, with the vehicle

stationary, the vehicle is held momentarily

when you release the brake pedal:

On a descending slope, with the vehicle

-

certain conditions on a slope are met,

with the driver’s door closed.

stationary and reverse gear engaged, the

vehicle is held momentarily when you

release the brake pedal.

The hill start assist function cannot be

deactivated.

-

provided you are in automated mode

(position A) or in manual mode (position M)

on an electronic gearbox.

9

Operating fault

Do not leave the vehicle while it is being

held in the hill start assist phase.

If you need to leave the vehicle with

the engine running, manually apply

the parking brake then ensure that the

parking brake warning lamp is on (not

flashing) in the instrument panel.

If a malfunction of the system occurs, these

warning lamps come on. Contact a CITROËN

dealer or a qualified workshop to have the

system checked.

131

Driving

Stop & Start

The Stop & Start system puts the engine temporarily into standby - STOP mode - during stops in the traffic (red lights, traffic jams, or other...). The

engine restarts automatically - START mode - as soon as you want to move off. The restart takes place instantly, quickly and silently.

Perfect for urban use, the Stop & Start system reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions as well as the noise level when stationary.

Operation

Going into engine STOP mode

Special cases: STOP mode not

available

For your comfort, during parking

manoeuvres, STOP mode is not

available for a few seconds after

coming out of reverse gear.

STOP mode does not affect the

functionality of the vehicle, such as for

example, braking, power steering...

The "ECO" warning lamp comes

on in the instrument panel and the

engine goes into standby:

STOP mode is not invoked when:

-

the driver's door is open,

the driver's seat belt is not fastened,

the vehicle has not exceeded 6 mph

(10 km/h) since the last engine start using

the key,

-

with the 6-speed electronic gearbox

system, at speeds below 5 mph (8 km/h),

when you press the brake pedal or put the

gear lever in position N

-

the engine is needed to maintain a

comfortable temperature in the passenger

compartment,

-

demisting is active,

A time counter calculates the

sum of the periods in STOP

mode during a journey. It rests

itself to zero every time the

ignition is switched on with the

key.

Never refuel with the engine in STOP

mode; you must switch off the ignition

with the key.

some special conditions (battery charge,

engine temperature, braking assistance,

ambient temperature...) where the engine is

needed to assure control of a system.

The "ECO" warning lamp flashes for

a few seconds then goes off.

This operation is perfectly normal.

132

Driving

Deactivation

Going into engine START mode

Special cases: START invoked

automatically

For reasons of safety and for your comfort,

START mode is invoked automatically when:

The "ECO" warning lamp goes

off and the engine starts with the

electronic gearbox system:

-

you open the driver's door,

you unfasten the driver's seat belt,

the speed of the vehicle exceeds 7 mph

(11 km/h) with the electronic gearbox

system,

-

gear lever in position A or M, when you

release the brake pedal,

or gear lever in position N and the brake

pedal released, when you move the gear

lever to position A or M

-

some special conditions (battery charge,

engine temperature, braking assistance,

ambient temperature...) where the engine is

needed for control of a system.

At any time, press the "ECO OFF" switch to

deactivate the system.

-

or when you engage reverse gear.

This is confirmed by the switch warning lamp

coming on accompanied by a message in the

screen.

The "ECO" warning lamp flashes for

a few seconds, then goes off.

If the system has been deactivated

in STOP mode, the engine restarts

immediately.

9

This operation is perfectly normal.

133

Driving

Reactivation

Operating fault

Maintenance

Press the "ECO OFF" switch again.

Before doing anything under the bonnet,

The system is active again; this is confirmed

by the switch warning lamp going off,

accompanied by a message in the screen.

deactivate the Stop & Start system to

avoid any risk of injury resulting from

automatic operation of START mode.

This system requires a battery with a special

specification and technology (reference

numbers available from a CITROËN dealer or a

qualified workshop).

The system is reactivated automatically

at every new start using the key.

Fitting a battery not listed by

CITROËN introduces the risk of malfunction of

the system.

In the event of a fault with the system, the

"ECO OFF" switch warning lamp flashes then

comes on continuously.

Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a

qualified workshop.

In the event of a fault in STOP mode, the

vehicle may stall. All of the warning lamps

in the instrument panel come on. It is then

necessary to switch off the ignition and start

the engine again using the key.

The Stop & Start system makes use

of advanced technology. All work

on this type of battery must be done

by a CITROËN dealer or a qualified

workshop.

134

Driving

Speed limiter

System which prevents the vehicle from

exceeding the speed programmed by the driver.

When the programmed speed limit is reached,

pressing the accelerator pedal in the normal

manner no longer has any effect.

Steering mounted controls

Displays in the instrument panel

The speed limiter is switched on manually:

it requires a programmed speed of at least

20 mph (30 km/h).

The speed limiter is switched off by manual

operation of the control.

The programmed speed can be exceeded

temporarily by pressing the accelerator firmly.

To return to the programmed speed, simply

slow down to a speed below the programmed

speed.

The controls of this system are grouped

together on stalk A

1. Speed limiter mode selection thumb wheel.

2. Value decrease button.

The programmed information is grouped

together in the instrument panel screen.

5. Speed limiter on / off indication.

6. Speed limiter mode selection indication.

7. Programmed speed value.

3. Value increase button.

4. Speed limiter on / off button.

9

The programmed speed remains in the memory

when the ignition is switched off.

The speed limiter cannot, in any circumstances,

replace the need to respect speed limits,

nor can it replace the need for vigilance and

responsibility on the part of the driver.

135

Driving

Programming

Operating fault

)

Turn thumb wheel 1 to the "LIMIT"

position: the speed limiter mode

is selected but is not switched on

(PAUSE).

In the event of a speed limiter fault, the speed

is cleared resulting in flashing of the dashes.

Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a

qualified workshop.

You do not have to switch the speed limiter

on in order to set the speed.

)

Set the speed value by pressing button 2 or 3 (e.g.: 55 mph

(90 km/h)).

You can then change the programmed speed using buttons 2 and 3:

-

by + or - 1 mph (km/h) = short press,

-

by + or - 5 mph (km/h) = long press,

-

)

in steps of + or - 5 mph (km/h) = maintained press.

Switch the speed limiter on by pressing button 4

Switch the speed limiter off by pressing button 4: the display

confirms that it has been switched off (PAUSE).

Switch the speed limiter back on by pressing button 4 again.

On a steep descent or in the event of

sharp acceleration, the speed limiter will

not be able to prevent the vehicle from

exceeding the programmed speed.

To avoid any risk of jamming of the

pedals:

)

Exceeding the programmed speed

Pressing the accelerator pedal to exceed the programmed speed will not have

any effect unless you press the pedal firmly past the point of resistance

The speed limiter is deactivated temporarily and the programmed speed, which

is still displayed, flashes.

-

ensure that the mat is positioned

correctly,

do not fit one mat on top of another.

-

Returning to the programmed speed, by means of intentional or unintentional

deceleration of the vehicle, automatically cancels the flashing of the

programmed speed.

Leaving limiter mode

)

Turn thumb wheel 1 to the "0" position: the speed limiter mode is

deselected. The display returns to the distance recorder.

136

Driving

Cruise control

System which automatically maintains the

speed of the vehicle at the value programmed

by the driver, without any action on the

accelerator pedal.

Steering mounted controls

Displays in the instrument panel

The cruise control is switched on manually: it

requires a minimum vehicle speed of 25 mph

(40 km/h) and the engaging of at least 4th gear.

The cruise control is switched off manually

or by pressing the brake or clutch pedal or

on triggering of the ESP system for safety

reasons.

The controls of this system are grouped

together on control stalk A

The programmed information is grouped

together in the instrument panel screen.

1. Cruise control mode selection dial

2. Speed programming / value decrease

button

3. Speed programming / value increase

button

5. Cruise control off / resume indication

6. Cruise control mode selection indication

7. Programmed speed value

It is possible to exceed the programmed speed

temporarily by pressing the accelerator pedal.

To return to the programmed speed, simply

release the accelerator pedal.

9

Switching off the ignition cancels any

programmed speed value.

4. Cruise control off / resume button

The cruise control cannot, in any circumstances,

replace the need to respect speed limits,

nor can it replace the need for vigilance and

responsibility on the part of the driver.

137

Driving

Programming

Operating fault

In the event of a cruise control malfunction,

the speed is cleared resulting in flashing of the

dashes.

)

Turn dial 1 to the "CRUISE" position:

the cruise control mode is selected

but is not switched on (PAUSE).

Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a

qualified workshop.

)

Set the programmed speed by

accelerating to the required speed,

then press button 2 or 3 (e.g.: 70 mph

(110 km/h)).

You can then change the programmed speed using buttons 2 and 3:

-

by + or - 1 mph (km/h) = short press,

by + or - 5 mph (km/h) = long press,

in steps of + or - 5 mph (km/h) = maintained press.

When the cruise control is switched on,

be careful if you maintain the pressure

on one of the programmed speed

changing buttons: this may result in a

very rapid change in the speed of your

vehicle.

Do not use the cruise control on

slippery roads or in heavy traffic.

On a steep descent, the cruise control

will not be able to prevent the vehicle

from exceeding the programmed speed.

To avoid any risk of jamming of the

pedals:

)

Switch off the cruise control by pressing button 4: this is

confirmed in the screen (PAUSE).

)

Switch the cruise control back on by pressing button 4 again.

Exceeding the programmed speed

Intentional or unintentional exceeding of the programmed speed results in

flashing of this speed in the screen.

Return to the programmed speed, by means of intentional or unintentional

deceleration of the vehicle, automatically cancels the flashing of the speed.

-

ensure that the mat is positioned

correctly,

-

never fit one mat on top of another.

Return to normal driving

)

Turn dial 1 to the "0" position: the cruise control mode is

deselected. The display returns to the distance recorder.

138

Driving

Rear parking sensors

System comprising four proximity sensors, located in the rear bumper.

This detects obstacles (person, vehicle, tree,

When the distance between the rear of the vehicle

Detection zone

gate, etc.) behind the vehicle. However, it

cannot detect obstacles located just below the

bumper.

and the obstacle is less than thirty centimetres, the

audible signal becomes continuous and the "Danger"

symbol appears in the multifunction screen.

On completion of the manoeuvre, when you exit

reverse gear, the system becomes inactive.

Activation

The system is activated as soon as reverse

gear is engaged, accompanied by an audible

signal. The proximity information is given by:

An object, such as a stake, a roadworks

cone or any other similar object may be

detected at the beginning of the manoeuvre,

but may no longer be detected when the

vehicle comes close to it.

-

an audible signal, which becomes more

rapid as the vehicle approaches the

obstacle,

a graphic in the multifunction screen, with

blocks which become increasingly closer to

the vehicle (depending on version).

9

The parking sensors system cannot, in

any circumstances, take the place of

the vigilance and responsibility of the

driver.

-

139

Driving for Your Citroen C3 Picasso SUV First Generation (2008-2012)

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