2011 Citroen C4 engine

9
DRIVING
144

Automatic release

The electric parking brake releases au-
tomatically and progressively
when
you press the accelerator:


)
Manual gearbox:
press down fully
on the clutch pedal, engage fi rst
gear or reverse, press on the accel-
erator pedal and move off.

)

6-speed electronic gearbox system
:
select position A
, M
or R
then press on
the accelerator pedal.

)

Automatic gearbox:
select position D
,
M
or R
then press on the accelerator
pedal.

Full release of the parking brake is con-
fi rmed by:


- extinction of braking warning
lamp and of the P
warning
lamp in the control lever A
,

- display of the message
"Handbrake off".

When stationary, with the engine
running, do not press the ac-
celerator pedal unnecessarily,
as you may release the parking
brake.



Immobilising the vehicle,
engine running
With the engine running and the vehicle
stationary, in order to immobilise the
vehicle it is essential to manually
ap-
ply the parking brake by pulling
control
lever A
.
The application of the parking brake is
confi rmed by:


-
illumination of the braking
warning lamp and the P
warn-
ing lamp in the control lever A
,



- display of the message
"Handbrake on".

Before leaving the vehicle, check
that parking brake warning lamp
on the instrument panel is on
fi xed, not fl ashing.

Particular situations


In certain situations (e.g. starting the
engine), the parking brake can auto-
matically alter its force. This is normal
operation.
To advance your vehicle a few centime-
tres without starting the engine, but with
the ignition on, press on the brake pedal
and release the parking brake by pull-
ing
then releasing
the control lever A
.
The full release of the parking brake is
confi rmed by the warning lamps in the
control lever A
and in the instrument
panel going off and display of the mes-
sage "Handbrake off".
If the parking brake malfunctions while
applied
or if the battery runs fl at, an
emergency release is always possible.

When the driver’s door is opened, a
loud beep is heard and a message is
displayed if the parking brake has not
been applied, unless the selector lever
is in position P
(Park) in the case of an
automatic gearbox.

9
DRIVING
145

Emergency braking

If a failure of the ESP system is
signalled by the illumination of
this warning lamp, then braking
stability is not guaranteed.
In this event, stability must be assured
by the driver by repeating alternate
"pull-release" actions on the control
lever A
.
In the event of a failure of the main ser-
vice brake or in an exceptional situation
(e.g. driver taken ill, under instruction,
etc) a continuous pull on the control
lever A
will stop the vehicle.
The electronic stability programme
(ESP) provides stability during emer-
gency braking.
If the emergency braking malfunctions,
the message "Parking brake faulty" will
be displayed.
The emergency braking must
only be used in exceptional cir-
cumstances.
Emergency release

In the event of the electric parking brake
malfunctioning or the battery running
fl at, an emergency manual device can
release the parking brake.


)

Immobilise the vehicle (or keep it sta-
tionary, if the brake pedal is pressed),
with the engine running, by engaging
fi rst gear (manual gearbox), position P

(automatic gearbox) or M
or R
(6-speed
electronic gearbox system).

)
Switch off the engine but leave the igni-
tion on. If it is not possible to immobilise
the vehicle, do not operate the control
and contact a CITROËN dealer or a
qualifi ed workshop without delay.


)
Fetch the two vehicle blocks B
and the
release device C
, located under the
boot carpet.

9
DRIVING
146

)
Immobilise the vehicle by placing the
blocks in front or behind the two front
wheels, opposite to the direction of the
slope.
For safety reasons, after this op-
eration it is essential to contact
a CITROËN dealer or a qualifi ed
workshop without delay to re-
place the protective cover.
Following an emergency unlock-
ing, immobilisation of the vehicle
is no longer guaranteed once the
manual emergency release has
been deployed and the manual
control does not allow the re-ap-
plication of your parking brake.
Take no action, either on the
control lever A
, or stopping start-
ing the engine while the release
device is engaged.
Take care not to allow moisture
or dust in the proximity of the
protective cover.

)
Remove the storage box under the
boot carpet for access to the emer-
gency release device.

)
Pierce the protective cover D
on the
tube E
with the release device.

)
Place the release device in the
tube.

)
Turn the release device clockwise .


For safety reasons
, it is essential

to continue turning the device until it
reaches its stop. The parking brake
is released.

)
Remove the release device and
store it with the blocks in the toolbox
under the boot carpet.

- The operation of the parking
brake reinitialises when the igni-
tion is switched off then on again.
If the reinitialisation of the parking
brake proves impossible, contact
a CITROËN dealer or a qualifi ed
workshop.

- The subsequent time required for
application may be longer than dur-
ing normal operation.

9
DRIVING
148


Situations



Consequences




To apply the electric parking brake:


)
immobilise the vehicle and switch off the ignition.

)
pull the control for at least 5 seconds or until application
is complete.

)
switch on the ignition and check the switching on of the
electric parking brake warning lamps.
The application is slower than during normal operation.
To release the electric parking brake:


)
switch on the ignition.

)
pull the control and hold it for approximately 3 seconds
then release it.
If the braking warning lamp is fl ashing or if the warning
lamps do not come on with the ignition on, these procedures
will not work. Place the vehicle on level ground and have it
checked by a CITROËN dealer or a qualifi ed workshop. and possibly



fl ashing
Display of the message " Parking brake fault
" and of the
following warning lamps:




- Only the automatic application on switching off the en-
gine and automatic release on acceleration functions are
available.

- The manual application/release of the electric parking
brake and the emergency braking are not available.



and possibly



fl ashing
Battery fault:

- If the battery warning lamp comes on you must stop imme-
diately as soon as the traffi c allows. Stop and immobilise
your vehicle (if necessary, place the two chocks under the
wheels).

- Apply the electric parking brake before switching off the
engine.

9
DRIVING
149
MANUAL PARKING BRAKE


Applying


)
Pull the parking brake lever fully up
to immobilise your vehicle.

Releasing


)

Pull the parking brake lever up gently,
press the release button then lower
the lever fully.

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 in 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 kerb,
apply the parking brake, engage
a gear and switch off the igni-
tion.

6-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX
Engaging reverse gear



)
Raise the ring under the knob and
push the gear lever to the left then
forwards.
Only engage reverse gear when
the vehicle is stationary with the
engine at idle.
As a safety precaution and to fa-
cilitate starting of the engine:


- always select neutral,

- press the clutch pedal.

9
DRIVING
150
GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR *

System which reduces fuel consumption
by advising the driver to change up on ve-
hicles fi tted with a manual gearbox.

*
According to engine.


Operation

The system intervenes only when driving
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 engag-
ing the intermediate gears.
The gear engagement recommendations
must not be considered compulsory. In
fact, the confi guration of the road, the
amount of traffi c and safety remain de-
termining factors when choosing the best
gear. Therefore, the driver remains re-
sponsible for deciding whether or not to
follow the advice given by the system.
This function cannot be deactivated.
- You press the accelerator pedal
moderately.
Example:


- You are in third gear.

- The system may suggest that you
engage a higher gear, if appropriate.
The information appears in the instru-
ment panel screen in the form of an
arrow accompanied by the suggested
gear.

In the case of driving which
makes particular demands on
the performance of the engine
(fi rm pressure on the accelerator
pedal, for example, when over-
taking...), the system will not rec-
ommend a gear change.
The system never suggests:


- engaging fi rst gear,

- engaging reverse gear,

- engaging a lower gear.

9
DRIVING
152

Displays in the instrument panel


Gear lever positions

N.
Neutral

R.
Reverse

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

AUTO.
This comes on when the au-
tomatic mode is selected. It
switches off on changing to
manual mode.


)
Place your foot on the
brake
when this warning
lamp fl ashes (e.g.: when
starting the engine).


)
Select position N
.

)
Press the brake pedal down fully.

)
Start the engine.


Moving off



)
Select fi rst gear (position M
or A
) or
reverse (position R
).

)
Release the parking brake unless it
is programmed to automatic mode.

)
Take your foot off the brake pedal,
then accelerate.



)
After starting the vehicle, select po-
sition A
for enter automatic mode.

For optimum acceleration, for ex-
ample when overtaking another
vehicle, press the accelerator
pedal fi rmly past the point of re-
sistance.


Engagement of reverse gear is ac-
companied by an audible signal.


N
fl ashes 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.

Foot on brake
fl ashes on the
instrument panel, accompanied
by an audible signal and a mes-
sage in the multifunction screen,
if the brake pedal is not pressed
on starting.

AUTO
and 1
or R
appear in
the instrument panel screen.
AUTO
and the gear engaged
appear in the instrument panel
screen.
The gearbox is then operating in auto-
active mode, without any action on the
part of the driver. It continuously selects
the most suitable gear, depending on
the:


- style of driving,

- profi le of the road.
N
appears in the instrument
panel screen.

9
DRIVING
153

On sharp acceleration, the gear-
box will not change up unless the
driver acts on the gear lever or
the steering mounted paddles.
Never select neutral N
while the
vehicle is moving.
Only engage reverse gear R

when the vehicle is immobilised
with the brake pedal pressed.



Manual gear changing

This selective gear change mode en-
ables you to overtake, for example, while
still remaining in automatic mode.


)
Operate the +
or -
steering mounted
control paddle.
The gearbox engages the gear request-
ed if the engine speed permits. AUTO
is
still displayed in the instrument panel.
After a few moments without any action
on the controls, the gearbox resumes
automatic control of the gears.
At very low speed, if reverse
gear is requested, this will only
be taken into account when the
vehicle is immobilised. The Foot
on brake
warning lamp may
fl ash in the instrument panel to
prompt you to brake.


Stopping the vehicle

Before switching off the engine, you
can choose to:


- move to position N
to engage neutral,

- leave the gear engaged; in this
case, it will not be possible to move
the vehicle.
In both cases, you must apply the park-
ing brake to immobilise the vehicle.
When immobilising the vehicle,
with the engine running, you
must place the gear lever in neu-
tral N
.
Before carrying out any work in
the engine compartment, check
that the gear lever is in neutral N

and that the parking brake is ap-
plied.

Operating fault

With the ignition on, the fl ashing of
AUTO
, accompanied by an audible sig-
nal and a message in the multifunction
screen, indicates a malfunction of the
gearbox.
Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer
or a qualifi ed workshop.

You must press the brake pedal
when starting the engine.
Whatever the circumstances,
you must manually apply the
parking brake when parking,
unless the parking brake is pro-
grammed in automatic mode.



Manual mode



)
When the vehicle has moved off, se-
lect position M
to change to manual
mode.

AUTO
disappears and the
gears engaged appear in suc-
cession in the instrument panel
screen.
The gear change requests are only car-
ried out if the engine speed permits.
It is not necessary to release the accel-
erator during gear changes.
When braking or slowing down, the
gearbox changes down automatically
to allow the vehicle to accelerate in the
correct gear.