2023 CITROEN C3 wheel

24
Safety
When changing wheels (tyres and rims),
ensure that these are approved by the
manufacturer for your vehicle.
After an impact, have these systems checked by a CITROËN dealer.
Seat belts
Inertia reel
The seat belts are equipped with an inertia reel
which allows the strap length to automatically
adjust to your shape. The seat belt returns to its
storage automatically when it is not used.
The inertia reels are fitted with a device which
automatically locks the strap in the event of a
collision, emergency braking or if the vehicle rolls
over. It can be released by pulling the strap firmly
and then releasing it so that it reels in slightly.
Force limiter
This system reduces the pressure of the seat
belt on the chest of the occupant, thus improving
their protection.
Front seat belts

The front driver seat belt is fitted with inertia reel
and a force limiting system.
The front passenger seat belt is equipped with
inertia reel.
Rear seat belts

The outer seats have a belt with inertia reel.
Before performing any operations on the
rear seats, to avoid damage to the seat
belts, check that:
–

the outer seat belts are correctly in the
storage position, lying vertically along the
pillar

,
–

the central seat belt is stowed.
Fastening
► To fasten the seat belt, pull the webbing and
insert the tongue into the buckle.
►
Check whether the seat belt is fastened
correctly by pulling the webbing.
If the driver or co-driver seat belt is not fastened
while the ignition is ON, the seat belt warning
lamp chimes and illuminates until the seat belt is
fastened.

26
Safety
Clean the seat belt straps with soapy water or
a textile cleaning product, sold by CITROËN
dealers.
Airbags
General information
The airbags have been designed to optimise the
safety of the occupants in the event of a violent
collision.
The airbags are supplementary restraint systems
(SRS) that help cushion the impact force to the
head and chest during severe frontal collisions.
The SRS includes Airbags, Seatbelts, Airbag
ECU, Collision sensors and SRS warning lamp.
Electronic detectors record and analyse the front
impacts sustained in the impact detection zones:
–
In the event of violent impact, the airbags
deploy instantly and help better protect the
occupants of the vehicle; immediately after the
impact, the airbags deflate rapidly in order not
to hinder the visibility or the possible exit of the
occupants.
–


In the event of a slight impact, a rear impact
and under certain rollover conditions, the airbags
may not deploy; only the seat belt helps to
protect you in these situations.
During a frontal crash, children could be fatally
injured if they are sitting on driver

’s lap/standing
very close to the dashboard, as the airbags exert
severe force levels during deployment.
The seriousness of the impact depends on the
nature of the obstacle and the speed of the
vehicle at the moment of collision.
The airbags do not operate when the
ignition is switched off.
This equipment will only deploy once. If a
second impact occurs (during the same or a
subsequent accident), the airbag will not be
deployed again.
When one or more airbags are deployed,
the detonation of the pyrotechnic charge
incorporated in the system makes a noise and
releases a small quantity of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful, but sensitive
individuals may experience slight irritation.
The detonation noise associated with the
deployment of one or more airbags may result
in a slight loss of hearing for a short time.
The airbags will deploy irrespective of whether the seat belt is buckled or not. In
order to reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY
or DEATH, we recommend occupants to
always be buckled.
Front airbags

This system protects the driver and front
passenger in the event of a serious front impact,
in order to limit the risk of head and chest
injuries.
The driver's airbag is fitted in the centre of the
steering wheel; the front passenger airbag is
fitted in the dashboard above the glove box.
Deployment
1. Frontal collision Airbags may deploy during severe front
collision when the crash intensity is above
the threshold and the angle of impact is less
than or equal to 30 degrees with respect to
longitudinal axis of vehicle.
2. Collision with utility poles or trees Airbags may deploy when the vehicle hits
pole or tree with sufficient intensity to trigger
the airbag. The crash intensity should be
above the threshold to inflate the airbag.
3. Underride collision Airbags may deploy when the vehicle rides
under the trucks or vehicles with higher
ground clearance. The crash intensity should
be above the threshold to inflate the airbag.

27
Safety
5Non-inflation conditions
1. Low speed front collisionsThe airbags may not deploy if the collision is
not severe and below the design threshold
intensity. The force of impact is less in this
case and much of the protection during low
speed crash is provided by seat belts, if
properly worn.
2. Rear collisions Frontal airbags are not designed to deploy
when there is a rear crash, since the
occupants tend to move backwards. In this
case, the airbags will not provide any benefit
to cushion the force of impact.
3. Side collisions Frontal airbags may not deploy during side
crash, since the occupant moves sideways.
4. Angled collisions Airbags may not deploy if the angle of
collision is beyond 30 degrees with the
head-on vehicle or the rigid wall or curb or
pole.
5. Roll over collisions Frontal airbags may not deploy in roll over
conditions, as the occupant moves sideways
or rolls. Important to wear seat belts in this
case, to avoid floating inside the vehicle and
risk serious injuries.
6. Speed breakers & pot holes Airbags may not deploy when crossing speed
breakers even at high speed or when vehicle
drops into pot hole or ditch drop.7. Curb hitsThe airbag may not deploy when the vehicle
hits the curbs.
8. Pedestrian impact Airbags will not inflate when the vehicle hits
the pedestrian.
Malfunction
If this warning lamp comes on in the
instrument panel, you must contact a
CITROËN dealer to have the system checked.
The airbags may not be deployed in the event of
a serious impact.
Advice
For the airbags to be fully effective,
observe the safety recommendations
below.
Adopt a normal upright sitting position.
Fasten the seat belt ensuring it is correctly
positioned and adjusted.
Do not leave anything between the occupants
and the airbags (a child, pet, object, etc.), nor
fix or attach anything close to or in the way of
the airbag release trajectory; this could cause
injuries during their deployment.
Never modify the original definition of your
vehicle, particularly in the area directly around
the airbags.
After an accident or if the vehicle has been
stolen, have the airbag systems checked.
All work on the airbag systems must only be
performed by a CITROËN dealer.
Even if all of the precautions mentioned
are observed, a risk of injury or of minor
burns to the head, chest or arms cannot be
ruled out when an airbag is deployed. The
airbag inflates almost instantly (within a few
milliseconds) then deflates within the same
time discharging the hot gas via openings
provided for this purpose.
Do not drive holding the steering wheel
by its spokes or resting your hands on
the centre part of the wheel.
Passengers must not place their feet on the
dashboard.
Do not smoke as deployment of the airbags
can cause burns or the risk of injury from a
cigarette or pipe.
Never remove or pierce the steering wheel or
hit it violently.
Do not fix or attach anything to the steering
wheel or dashboard, as this could cause
injuries when the airbags are deployed.

31
Driving
6Driving recommendations
► Observe the driving regulations and remain
vigilant whatever the traffic conditions.
►

Monitor your environment and keep your
hands on the wheel to be able to react to
anything that may happen any time.
►


Drive smoothly
, anticipate the need for
braking and maintain a longer safety distance,
especially in bad weather.
►

Stop the vehicle to carry out operations that
require close attention (such as adjustments).
►


During long trips, take a break every two
hours.
Important!
Never leave the engine running in a
closed space without sufficient
ventilation. Internal combustion engines emit
toxic exhaust gases such as carbon
monoxide. Danger of poisoning and death!
In severe wintry conditions, let the engine
run for 4 minutes before moving off, to
ensure the correct operation and durability of
the mechanical components of your vehicle
(engine and gearbox).
Never drive with the parking brake
applied . Risk of overheating and
damage to the braking system!
Do not park the vehicle or leave the
engine running on a flammable
surface (dry grass, dead leaves, etc.). The
exhaust system of your vehicle is very hot,
even several minutes after the engine stops.
Risk of fire!
Never leave a vehicle unattended with
the engine running. If you have to leave
your vehicle with the engine running, apply
the parking brake and put the gearbox into
neutral.
Never leave children inside the vehicle
unsupervised.
On flooded roads
We strongly advise against driving on flooded
roads, as this could cause serious damage to
the engine or gearbox, as well as to the electrical
systems of your vehicle.


If you have to drive on a flooded road:
► drive as slowly as possible without stalling. In
all cases, do not exceed 10
km/h,►

do not stop and do not switch off the engine.
On leaving the flooded road, as soon as safety
conditions allow
, make several light brake
applications to dry the brake discs and pads.
If in doubt about the state of your vehicle,
contact a CITROËN dealer.
Starting / Switching off the
engine
Key ignition switch

It has 4 positions:
1. Stop Inserting and removing the key, steering
column locked.
2. ACC Steering column unlocked, use of the
vehicle's electric equipment.
3. ON (Ignition) Steering column unlocked, ignition on, engine
running.
4. Starting

32
Driving
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.
Ignition on position
It allows the use of the vehicle's electric
equipment or portable devices to be charged.
Starting the engine
With the parking brake applied:
► Place the gear lever in neutral then fully
depress the clutch 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.
In certain cases, you may have to apply
significant force to move the steering
wheel (wheels on full lock, for example).
►

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.
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).
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, the battery and
the engine.
Contact a CITROËN dealer.
In mild conditions, do not leave the
engine at idle to warm up but move off
straight away and drive at moderate speed.
5-speed manual gearbox
Engaging reverse gear

► Fully depress the clutch pedal.
► Push the gear lever fully to the right, then
backwards.
Only engage reverse gear when the
vehicle is stationary with the engine at
idle.
As a safety precaution and to facilitate starting the engine:
–

Always select neutral.
–


Depress the clutch pedal.
6-speed manual gearbox
Engaging 5th or 6th gear
► Move the gear selector fully to the right to
engage 5th or 6th gear.
Failure to follow this instruction could
cause permanent damage to the gearbox
(inadvertent engagement of 3
rd or 4th gear).
Engaging reverse gear

► Raise the ring under the knob and move the
gear selector to the left, then forwards.

40
Practical information
The battery electrolyte must be filled. If the level
is found to be below the “MIN” level line, add
distilled water to the “MAX” level line.
For more information on the precautions
to take before any work on the 12 V
battery, refer to the corresponding section.
Passenger compartment
filter
Depending on the environment and the
use of the vehicle (e.g. dusty atmosphere,
city driving), change it twice as often, if
necessary .
A clogged passenger compartment filter
can adversely affect air conditioning
system performance and generate
undesirable odours.
Air filter
Depending on the environment and the
use of the vehicle (e.g. dusty atmosphere,
city driving), change it twice as often, if
necessary .
Oil filter
Change the oil filter each time the engine
oil is changed.
Manual gearbox
The gearbox does not require any
maintenance (no oil change).
Brake pads
Brake wear depends on the style of
driving, particularly in the case of vehicles
used in town, over short distances. It may be
necessary to have the condition of the brakes
checked, even between vehicle services.
Unless there is a leak in the circuit, a drop in the
brake fluid level indicates that the brake pads
are worn.
After washing the vehicle, moisture, or in wintry conditions, ice can form on the
brake discs and pads: braking efficiency may
be reduced. Gently dab the brakes to dry and
defrost them.
Brake disc and drum wear
For information on checking brake disc
and drum wear, contact a CITROËN
dealer.
Wheels and tyres
The inflation pressure of all tyres, including the spare wheel, must be
checked on "cold” tyres.
The pressures indicated on the tyre pressure
label are valid for "cold" tyres. If you have driven
for more than 10 minutes or more than 10
kilometres at over 50 km/h, add 0.3 bar (30 kPa)
to the values indicated on the label.
Under-inflation increases fuel
consumption. Non-compliant tyre
pressure causes premature wear on tyres and
has an adverse effect on the vehicle's road
holding - risk of an accident!
Driving with worn or damaged tyres reduces the
braking and road holding performance of the
vehicle. It is recommended to regularly check the
condition of the tyres (tread and sidewalls) and
wheel rims as well as the presence of the valves.
When the wear indicators no longer appear set
back from the tread, the depth of the grooves is
less than 1.6 mm; it is imperative to replace the
tyres.
Using different size wheels and tyres from those
specified can affect the lifetime of tyres, wheel
rotation, ground clearance, the speedometer
reading and have an adverse effect on road
holding.
Fitting different tyres on the front and rear axles
can cause ABS and EBFD systems to mistime.
Shock absorbers
It is not easy for drivers to detect when
shock absorbers are worn. Nevertheless,
the shock absorbers have a major impact on
road-holding and braking performance.
For your safety and driving comfort, it is
important to have them regularly checked by a
CITROËN dealer.

42
In the event of a breakdown
Tool kit
Set of tools supplied with the vehicle.
Accessing the tools

The tools are located under the boot floor carpet,
with the spare wheel.
List of tools

1.Jack
To raise the vehicle.
2.Jack handle
3. Wheel wrench
To remove the wheel bolts.
4. Removable towing eye
For more information on Towing the vehicle
and using the removable towing eye, refer to the
corresponding section.
These tools are specific to the vehicle and may vary according to the level of
equipment.
Do not use them for any other purpose.
The jack must only be used to change a wheel with a damaged or punctured tyre.
Do not use any jack other than the one
supplied with the vehicle.
If the vehicle does not have its original jack,
contact a CITROËN dealer.
The jack does not require any maintenance.
Spare wheel
Access to the spare wheel
The spare wheel is installed in the boot, under
the floor carpet.
Removing the spare wheel

► Rotate the fixing screw to unlock the spare
wheel.
►

Lift the spare wheel towards you from the
rear

.
►

T
ake the wheel out of the boot.
Removing the jack

► Rotate the fixing screw to unlock the jack on
one end.
►

T
ilt the jack towards the right and lift it from
the rear.

43
In the event of a breakdown
8Removing a wheel
Parking the vehicle
Immobilise the vehicle where it does
not obstruct traffic: the ground must be level,
stable and non-slippery.
With a manual gearbox, engage first gear to
lock the wheels, apply the parking brake and
switch off the ignition.
Check for the fixed illumination of the parking
brake indicator lamps in the instrument panel.
The occupants must get out of the vehicle
and wait where they are safe.
If necessary, place a chock under the wheel
diagonally opposite the wheel to be changed.
Never go underneath a vehicle raised using a
jack; use an axle stand.
Wheel with wheel trim
When removing the wheel , first remove
the wheel trim by pulling at the valve aperture.
When refitting the wheel , refit the wheel
trim, starting by placing its aperture in line
with the valve and then pushing it into place
all round its edge with the palm of your hand.
Wheel nuts removing pattern

► Loosen the nuts on the wheel in diagonal
sequence. Do not remove wheel nuts.


► Slacken the bolts using the wheel wrench 3
only.


► Place the foot of jack 1 on the ground and
ensure that it is directly below the front A or
rear
B jacking point on the underbody, whichever
is closest to the wheel to be changed.


► Extend jack 1 with the jack handle 2 and
wheel wrench 3 until its head comes into contact
with jacking point

A
or B; contact area A or B
on the vehicle must be properly inserted into the
central part of the head of the jack.
►

Raise the vehicle until there is sufficient
space between the wheel and the ground to
admit the spare (not punctured) wheel easily

.