Get Driving -> Starting / Switching off the engine with the key Guide for Citroen C3 SUV Third Generation (2016-2024)

Driving

Before setting oﬀ

In all cases, pay attention to the coolant

temperature.

If this warning lamp and the STOP

warning lamp come on, stop the vehicle

and switch oﬀ the engine as soon as possible.

Starting / Switching oﬀ the

engine with the key

Nose weight

► Distribute the load in the trailer so that the

heaviest items are as close as possible to the

axle and the nose weight (at the point where it

joins your vehicle) approaches the maximum

permitted without exceeding it.

Key ignition switch

Brakes

Braking distances are increased when towing a

trailer. To avoid overheating of the brakes, the

use of engine braking is recommended.

Tyres

► Check the tyre pressures of the towing

vehicle and of the trailer, observing the

recommended pressures.

Side wind

Bear in mind the increased susceptibility to the

wind that the vehicle will have.

Lighting

It has 3 positions:

– 1. Stop: inserting and removing the key,

steering column locked.

► Check the electrical signalling on the trailer

and the headlamp beam height of your vehicle.

Anti-theft protection

If a genuine CITROËN towing device is

used, the rear parking sensors will be

deactivated automatically to avoid the audible

signal.

– 2. Ignition: steering column unlocked, ignition

on, Diesel preheating, engine running.

– 3. Starting.

Electronic immobiliser

The keys include an electronic engine

immobiliser system, whose secret code must be

recognised in order for starting to be possible.

If the system malfunctions, indicated by the

display of a message, the engine will not start.

Contact a CITROËN dealer.

Avoid attaching heavy objects to the key

or the remote control. It would weigh

down on its shaft in the ignition switch and

could cause a malfunction.

When driving

Cooling

Towing a trailer uphill increases the temperature

of the coolant. The maximum towable load

depends on the gradient and the exterior

temperature. The cooling capacity of the fan

does not increase with engine speed.

For safety and theft protection reasons,

do not leave your electronic key in the

vehicle, even when you are close to it.

It is recommended that you keep it with you.

Ignition on position

It allows the use of the vehicle's electric

equipment or portable devices to be charged.

Once the state of charge of the battery drops to

the reserve level, the system switches to energy

economy mode : the power supply is cut oﬀ

► Reduce speed and lower the engine speed,

so as to limit the heating-up.

Driving

automatically to preserve the remaining battery

charge.

Wait until this warning lamp goes oﬀ in

the instrument panel, then operate the

starter motor by turning the key to position 3

without pressing the accelerator pedal, until the

engine starts. Once the engine starts, release

the key.

To facilitate unlocking of the steering

column, it is recommended that the

wheels be returned to the straight ahead

position before switching oﬀ the engine.

Starting the engine

With the parking brake applied:

► With a manual gearbox, place the gear lever

in neutral then fully depress the clutch pedal.

► With an automatic gearbox, place the gear

selector in mode N or P then fully depress the

brake pedal.

► Insert the key into the ignition switch; the

system recognises the code.

► Unlock the steering column by simultaneously

turning the steering wheel and the key.

Never switch oﬀ the ignition before the

complete immobilisation of the vehicle.

With the engine oﬀ, the braking and steering

assistance systems are also cut oﬀ - risk of

loss of control of the vehicle!

In wintry conditions, the warning lamp

may stay on for a longer period. When

the engine is hot, the warning lamp does not

come on.

Check that the parking brake is correctly

applied, particularly on sloping ground.

When leaving the vehicle, keep the key in

your possession and lock the vehicle.

If the engine does not start straight away,

switch oﬀ the ignition. Wait a few

seconds before operating the starter motor

again. If the engine does not start after a few

attempts, do not keep trying - risk of

damaging the starter motor and the engine.

Contact a CITROËN dealer or a qualiﬁed

workshop.

In certain cases, you may have to apply

signiﬁcant force to move the steering

wheel (wheels on full lock, for example).

Energy economy mode

After the engine has stopped (position 1. Stop),

for a maximum combined duration of about thirty

minutes, you can still use functions such as the

audio and telematics system, courtesy lamps,

windscreen wipers, dipped beam headlamps,

etc.

► With a petrol engine, operate the starter

motor by turning the key to position 3 without

pressing the accelerator pedal, until the engine

starts. Once the engine starts, release the key.

In mild conditions, do not leave the

engine at idle to warm up but move oﬀ

straight away and drive at moderate speed.

With petrol engines, after a cold start,

preheating the catalytic converter can

For more information on Energy

economy mode, refer to the

corresponding section.

cause noticeable engine vibrations for

anything up to 2 minutes while stationary with

the engine running (accelerated idle speed).

Switching oﬀ the engine

► Immobilise the vehicle.

► With the engine at idle, turn the key to

position 1.

► Remove the key from the ignition switch.

► To lock the steering column, turn the steering

wheel until it locks.

► With a Diesel engine, turn the key to position

2, ignition on, to operate the engine preheating

system.

Key left in

When opening the driver's door, an alert

message is displayed, accompanied by an

Driving

while pressing the "START/STOP" button to

audible signal, to remind you that the key is

still in the ignition switch at position 1 (Stop).

If the key has been left in the ignition switch

at position 2 (Ignition on), the ignition will be

switched oﬀ automatically after one hour.

To switch the ignition back on, turn the key

to position 1 (Stop), then back to position 2

(Ignition on).

Starting

assist unlocking of the steering column.

With petrol engines, after a cold start,

preheating the catalytic converter can

cause noticeable engine vibrations for

anything up to 2 minutes while stationary with

the engine running (accelerated idle speed).

Switching oﬀ

Starting / Switching oﬀ the

engine with Keyless Entry

and Starting

► Immobilise the vehicle, with the engine at

idle.

► With a manual gearbox, place the gear lever

in neutral and fully depress the clutch pedal.

► With an automatic gearbox, select mode P

or N and press the brake pedal.

► Press the "START/STOP" button while

maintaining pressure on the pedal until the

engine starts.

For Diesel engines, when the temperature is

below zero and/or the engine is cold, starting will

only occur once the preheating warning lamp is

oﬀ.

► With a manual gearbox, ideally put the gear

lever into neutral.

► With an automatic gearbox, ideally select

mode P or N.

► Press the "START/STOP" button..

In some circumstances, it is necessary to turn

the steering wheel to lock the steering column.

The electronic key must be present in the

passenger compartment.

If it is not detected, a message is displayed.

Move the electronic key so that the engine

can be started or switched oﬀ.

If there is still a problem, refer to the "Key

not detected - Back-up starting or Back-up

switch-oﬀ" section.

If the vehicle is not immobilised, the

engine will not switch oﬀ.

If this warning lamp comes on after

pressing the "START/STOP" button:

► Keep the pedal fully depressed and do not

press the "START/STOP" button again until the

engine is running.

With the engine oﬀ, the braking and

steering assistance systems are also cut

oﬀ - risk of loss of control of the vehicle!

Never leave your vehicle with the

electronic key still inside.

If one of the starting conditions is not met, a

message is displayed.

In some circumstances, a message indicates

that it is necessary to turn the steering wheel

Driving -> Starting / Switching off the engine with the key for Your Citroen C3 SUV Third Generation (2016-2024)

Related Topics

Driving

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals