2012 Citroen C4 instrument panel

9
DRIVING
148

Manual release

With the ignition on or the engine run-
ning, to release the parking brake,
press
on the brake
pedal
or the accel-
erator, pull then release
control A
.
The full application of the parking brake
is confi rmed by:


- the braking warning lamp
and the P
warning lamp in
the control lever A
going off,

- display of the message
"Handbrake off".
If you pull control lever A
with-
out pressing the brake pedal,
the parking brake will not be
released and a warning lamp
will come on in the instrument
panel.


Maximum application

If necessary, you can make a maxi-
mum application
of the parking brake.
This is obtained by means of a long
pull
on the control lever A
, until you
see the message "Handbrake on maxi-
mum" and a beep is heard.

Maximum application is essential:



- in the case of a vehicle towing a
caravan or a trailer, if the automatic
functions are activated but you are
applying the parking brake manu-
ally,

- when the gradient you are parked
on may vary (e.g. on a ferry, on a
lorry, during towing),

In the case of towing, a loaded vehicle
or parking on a gradient, make a maxi-
mum application of the parking brake
then turn the front wheels towards the
pavement and engage a gear when you
park.
After a maximum application, the re-
lease time will be longer.



Automatic application,
engine off
With the vehicle stationary, the parking
brake is automatically applied when
the engine is switched off
.
The application of the parking brake is
confi rmed by:


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


- display of the message
"Handbrake on".

Before leaving the vehicle, en-
sure that parking brake warning
lamp in the instrument panel is
on fi xed (not fl ashing).
Never leave a child alone inside
the vehicle with the ignition on,
as they could release the park-
ing brake.

In the case of towing, a loaded
vehicle or parking on a gradient,
turn the front wheels towards the
pavement and engage a gear
when you park.

9
DRIVING
149

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 sys-
tem
: select position A
, M
or R
then
press on the accelerator pedal.

)
Automatic gearbox
: select posi-
tion D
, M
or R
then press the accelera-tor pedal.
Full release of the parking brake is con-
fi rmed by:


- the braking warning lamp
and the P
warning lamp in
the control lever A
going off,

- 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, en-
sure that parking brake warning
lamp in 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 pulling

then releasing
the control lever A
. The
full release of the parking brake is con-
fi rmed by the warning lamps in the con-
trol lever A
and in the instrument panel
going off and display of the message
"Handbrake off".
If the parking brake develops a fault
while applied
or if the battery runs fl at,
an emergency release is always pos-
sible.

When the driver’s door is opened, a
message is displayed accompanied by
an audible signal, if the parking brake
has not been applied, except in the
case of an automatic gearbox with the
gear lever in position P
.

9
DRIVING
157

Displays in the instrument panel


Gear lever positions

N.
Neutral

R.
Reverse

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Gears in sequential mode.

AUTO.
This comes on when the au-
tomated mode is selected. It
switches off on changing to se-
quential mode.
You must press the brake pedal
when starting the engine.


)
Select position N
.

)
Press the brake pedal down fully.

)
Start the engine.


Moving off



)
Select automated mode (position A
)
or sequential mode (position M
) or
reverse (position R
).

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

)
Progressively take your foot off the
brake pedal.

)
Accelerate away.


Automated mode



)
Select position A
.

For optimum acceleration, for example
when overtaking another vehicle, press
the accelerator pedal fi rmly past the
point of resistance.
Engagement of reverse gear is ac-
companied by an audible signal.


N
fl ashes in the instrument panel,
accompanied by an audible sig-
nal and a message in the multi-
function screen, if the gear lever
is not in position N
on starting.

AUTO
and 1 , 1 or R appear in the in-
strument 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:


- optimisation of fuel consumption,

- the style of driving,

- the profi le of the road.

- the vehicle load.
N
appears in the instrument
panel screen.
The Foot on brake

warning lamp comes on
the instrument panel,
accompanied by an au-
dible signal and a message in
the screen, if the brake pedal is
not pressed on starting the en-
gine.

Never select neutral N
when
driving.
AUTO
and the gear engaged
appear in the instrument pan-
el screen.

9
DRIVING
158

You can change mode at any
time by moving the gear lever
from A
to M
or the other way
round.

At very low speed, if reverse gear is re-
quested, this will only be acted on when
the vehicle is immobilised. The Foot on
brake
warning lamp may come on in
the instrument panel to prompt you to
brake.
At high speed, if reverse gear is re-
quested, the N
indicator fl ashes and the
gearbox goes into neutral. To engage a
gear again, put the gear lever in posi-
tion A
or M
.

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, ensure
that the gear lever is in neutral N

and that the parking brake is ap-
plied.
Whatever the circumstances,
you must manually apply the
parking brake when parking,
unless the parking brake is pro-
grammed in automatic mode.



Reverse

To engage reverse gear R
, the vehicle
must be immobilised with your foot on
the brake pedal.


)
Select position R
.


Operating fault

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


Manual mode



)
Select position M
.
The gears engaged appear in
succession in the instrument
panel screen.
The gear change requests are only act-
ed on 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.
On sharp acceleration, the gearbox will
not change up unless the driver acts on
the gear lever or the steering mounted
paddles.
Temporary control of gear changing
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.
After a few moments without any action
on the control paddles, the gearbox re-
sumes automatic control of the gears.

Never select neutral N
while the
vehicle is moving.
In both cases, 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

Stopping the vehicle

Before switching off the engine, you
can:


- move to position N
to engage neutral,
or

- leave the gear engaged; in this
case, it will not be possible to move
the vehicle.

9
DRIVING
159














AUTOMATIC GEARBOX

Six speed automatic gearbox which of-
fers a choice between the comfort of
fully automatic operation, enhanced by
sport and snow programmes, or manu-
al gear changing.
Four driving modes are offered:


- automatic
operation for electronic
management of the gears by the
gearbox,

- sport
programme for a more dy-
namic style of driving,

- snow
programme to improve driv-
ing when traction is poor,

- manual
operation for sequential
changing of the gears by the driver.


Gear selection gate



1.
Gear lever.

2.
Button "S"
(sport)
.

3.
Button " 7
" (snow)
.

P.
Park.


- Immobilisation of the vehicle, park-
ing brake on or off.

- Starting the engine.

R.
Reverse.


- Reversing manoeuvres, vehicle sta-
tionary, engine at idle.

N.
Neutral.


- Immobilisation of the vehicle, park-
ing brake on.

- Starting the engine.

D.
Automatic operation.

M +/-
. Manual operation with sequential
changing of the six gears.


)
Press forwards to change up
through the gears.
or


)
Press rearwards to change down
through the gears.



Gear lever

When you move the lever in the gate
to select a position, the corresponding
indicator is displayed in the instrument
panel.

P.
Park

R.
Reverse

N.
Neutral

D.
Drive (Automatic driving)

S.
Sport
programme

7
. Snow
programme

1 to 6.
Gear engaged during manual
operation

-.
Invalid value during manual operation


Displays in the instrument panel

9
DRIVING
160

Moving off



)
With your foot on the brake, select
position P
or N
.

)
Start the engine.
If this procedure is not followed, there
is an audible signal, accompanied by a
message in the multifunction screen.


)
With the engine running, press the
brake pedal.

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

)
Select position R
, D
or M
,

)
Gradually release the brake pedal.
The vehicle moves off immediately.

If position N
is engaged inadver-
tently while driving, allow the en-
gine to return to idle then engage
position D
to accelerate.

When the engine is running at
idle, with the brakes released,
if position R
, D
or M
is selected,
the vehicle moves even without
the accelerator being pressed.
When the engine is running,
never leave children in the ve-
hicle without supervision.
When carrying out maintenance
with the engine running, apply
the parking brake and select po-
sition P
.



Automatic operation



)
Select position D
for automatic

changing of the six gears.
The gearbox then operates in auto-
adaptive mode, without any intervention
on the part of the driver. It continuously
selects the most suitable gear accord-
ing to the style of driving, the profi le of
the road and the load in the vehicle.
For maximum acceleration without
touching the lever, press the accelera-
tor pedal down fully (kick down). The
gearbox changes down automatically
or maintains the gear selected until the
maximum engine speed is reached.
On braking, the gearbox changes down
automatically to provide effi cient engine
braking.
If you release the accelerator sharply,
the gearbox will not change to a higher
gear for safety reasons.

Never select position N
while the
vehicle is moving.
Never select positions P
or R

unless the vehicle is completely
stationary.



Sport and snow programmes

These two special programmes supple-
ment the automatic operation in very
specifi c conditions of use.

Sport programme "S"


)
Press button "S"
, after starting the
engine.
The gearbox automatically favours a
dynamic style of driving.

S
appears in the instrument panel.


Snow programme " 7
"


)
Press button " 7
", after starting the
engine.
The gearbox adapts to driving on slip-
pery roads.
This programme improves starting and
drive when traction is poor.

7
appears in the instrument
panel.



Return to automatic operation



)
At any time, press the button select-
ed again to quit the programme en-
gaged and return to auto-adaptive
mode.

9
DRIVING
161

Manual operation



)
Select position M
for sequential

changing of the six gears.

)
Push the lever towards the +
sign to
change up a gear.

)
Pull the lever towards the -
sign to
change down a gear.
It is only possible to change from one
gear to another if the vehicle speed and
engine speed permit; otherwise, the
gearbox will operate temporarily in au-
tomatic mode.

D
disappears and the gears
engaged appear in succes-
sion in the instrument panel.
If the engine speed is too low
or too high, the gear selected
fl ashes for a few seconds, then the ac-
tual gear engaged is displayed.
It is possible to change from position D

(automatic) to position M
(manual) at
any time.
When the vehicle is stationary or mov-
ing very slowly, the gearbox selects
gear M1
automatically.
The sport and snow programmes do
not operate in manual mode.
Invalid value during manual
operation
This symbol is displayed if a
gear is not engaged correctly
(selector between two posi-
tions).



Stopping the vehicle

Before switching off the engine, you
can engage position P
or N
to place the
gearbox in neutral.
In both cases, apply the parking brake
to immobilise the vehicle, unless it is
programmed to automatic mode.

If the lever is not in position P
,
when the driver's door is opened
or approximately 45 seconds af-
ter the ignition is switched off,
there is an audible signal and a
message appears.


)
Return the lever to position P
;
the audible signal stops and
the message disappears.


You risk damaging the gearbox:


- if you press the accelera-
tor and brake pedals at the
same time,

- if you force the lever from po-
sition P
to another position
when the battery is fl at. When the ignition is on, the
lighting of this warning lamp,
accompanied by an audible
signal and a message in the multifunc-
tion screen, indicates a gearbox mal-
function.
In this case, the gearbox switches to
back-up mode and is locked in 3rd gear.
You may feel a substantial knock when
changing from P
to R
and from N
to R
.
This will not cause any damage to the
gearbox.
Do not exceed 60 mph (100 km/h), lo-
cal speed restrictions permitting.
Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer
or a qualifi ed workshop.
This warning lamp may also come on if
a door is opened.

Operating fault

To reduce fuel consumption
when stationary for long periods
with the engine running (traffi c
jam...), position the gear lever
at N
and apply the parking brake,
unless it is programmed in auto-
matic mode.

9
DRIVING
162





HILL START ASSIST

System which keeps your vehicle im-
mobilised temporarily (approximately
2 seconds) when starting on a gradi-
ent, 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,

- when certain conditions of gradient
are met,

- with the driver’s door closed.
The hill start assist function cannot be
deactivated.

On an ascending slope, with the ve-
hicle stationary, the vehicle is held
for a brief moment when you release
the brake pedal:



- if you are in fi rst gear or neutral with
a manual gearbox,

- if you are in position A
or M
with the
electronic gearbox system.

- if you are in position D
or M
with an
automatic gearbox.


Operation


Do not leave the vehicle while it
is being held in the hill start as-
sist phase.
If you need to leave the vehicle
while the engine is running, apply
the parking brake manually then
ensure that the parking brake
warning lamp is on (not fl ashing)
in the instrument panel.

On a descending slope, with the ve-
hicle stationary and reverse gear en-
gaged, the vehicle is held for a brief
moment when you release the brake
pedal.




Operating fault

If a fault occurs with the system, these
warning lamps come on. Contact a
CITROËN dealer or a qualifi ed work-
shop to have the system checked.