Any diesel mechanics out there?

[Kenif]

Or maybe even just people who know this stuff?

Just bought my first van, a Citroen C15 Champ. It's a bit battered and comes in two tone white and rust but is only 5 years old.
Spent the weekend driving some stuff over to France and the trip took a wee bit longer than planned. No, not 'cos it broke down, but for other reasons

My options are:

a) It won't go over 60mph 'cos it's buggered?
b) It won't go over 60mph because, well, it's not meant to?
c) It won't go over 60mph because there may be a speed limiter fixed?

If it's a) damn
If it's b) damn also
If it's c) does anyone know how/if this can be removed?

I don't want to go fast (well, too fast) but it gets a bit dull constantly being overtaken by artics!


All advice, as ever, appreciated (even if not physically possible)

[D-Rider]

Or maybe even just people who know this stuff?

Just bought my first van, a Citroen C15 Champ. It's a bit battered and comes in two tone white and rust but is only 5 years old.
Spent the weekend driving some stuff over to France and the trip took a wee bit longer than planned. No, not 'cos it broke down, but for other reasons

My options are:

a) It won't go over 60mph 'cos it's buggered?
b) It won't go over 60mph because, well, it's not meant to?
c) It won't go over 60mph because there may be a speed limiter fixed?

If it's a) damn
If it's b) damn also
If it's c) does anyone know how/if this can be removed?

I don't want to go fast (well, too fast) but it gets a bit dull constantly being overtaken by artics!


All advice, as ever, appreciated (even if not physically possible)

Don't think the C15 that BSA made was any faster - probably just a characteristic of that designation.

(wish i could be more helpful - but I can't)

[Kwackerz]

Sounds like it needs a service.

Check the air filter is clean for starters. if it's got a blocked nose, it aint gonna want to play.

Things after that.. and a service.. run some injector cleaner thru it... then check things like the fuel pump.. my mate's Ford Galaxy wouldnt run past 75mph until he sold it. The guy he sold it to changed the fuel pump and it ended up driving like a good un.

Failing that, it's a Citroen. Chin up..

other things that ive just thought of..

a. check there isnt something stuck under the accelerator pedal. 'aftermarket' carpet added, etc..
b. have you got a roofrack fitted? it's not the most areodynamic of bricks at the best of times..

If woody is about, he's yer man. I gave up fitting ages ago. He's still Wales' finest Spannerchucker.

[Samray]

It will never be fast but that does seem a tad sluggish.
For a 60bhp diesel load-lugger they seem to go on forever, but a a sedate pace.

[Okamoto]

First thing i'd change is the fuel filter...the vans at work suffer a lack of performance and hold back when the filter's near the end of it's life, it's a regular occurrence popping a new filter on.

Also some diesels have a gauze type filter on the pickup pipe in the tank like my old VW Golf...I tried everything to get it to run properly, then someone told me about the tank filter ....I took it out through the sender unit hole..and sure enough it was blocked solid!! ...couldn't even see daylight through it, anyway it pulled like a train after that

at least you can do the filter yourself for little £!!

[BikerGran]

Have to say, as it's a Citroen, why didn't you pop into a Citroen garage in France while you were over there, and ask them? We did this when we had a sticking accelerator cable in the old BX - all the mechanics were busy so the boss came out, spent about half an hour taking off the cable and freeing it up with WD40 cos he didn't have a spare in stock (old car), and advising us to get a new one when we got home. WQe thought it would cost us the earth, and when the bill came......


... it worked out about £6!

[fastasfcuk]

does it start allright from cold
if it does then glow plugs and compression are allright.
does it run allright, no missing or heavy smoke out the exhaust.
if there ok then it probably as got a limiter fitted.
i'm not taking the p--- here you hav'nt got a brake binding have you.

[Gio]

I drove a C15 for a year, it was the most annoying piece of French shit I've ever driven.

I always had more performance when loaded than empty

This I expect was due to its characteristics on a downhill gradient, as when it came to an uphill it did its best of a theatrical death dance (65 at the bottom 15 at the top).

BTW don't touch the gearstick (pudding stirrer) at floor level, you'll burn your fingers,

I'd also think that a vehicle of this nature when fitted with what looks like MTB tyres it'd have less rolling resistance (don't make me laugh)

PS sell this pill of shit and get a Fiesta van, it'll save you lots (angst included) and its also a half ton van..................ette

PPS. What in hell possessed you?

[Kwackerz]

Honesty is always the best policy

[Kenif]

So Gio, it wasn't your favourite then?

What possessed me? Er, price and size (cheap and big enough for what was needed)

FAF - Starts alright, no black smoke, gears change alright, pulls well (up to 60).
The weird bit is (and what makes me think it's a limiter), 60mph is the top speed up OR down hill! When you go over 60, the engine stalls/cuts until the desired (????) speed is reached and then it comes smoothly back on line. However, when you hit the rev limit going up through the gears, it has the same effect. Engine cuts, big puff of white smoke out the back until you change gear or the revs drop below the limit again.
The strange effect is that I can overtake lorries going UPhill but they have me on the way back down again!

[fastasfcuk]

sounds like you've got a rev limiter fitted do'nt know where you'll find it though.

[lazarus]

So Gio, it wasn't your favourite then?

What possessed me? Er, price and size (cheap and big enough for what was needed)

FAF - Starts alright, no black smoke, gears change alright, pulls well (up to 60).
The weird bit is (and what makes me think it's a limiter), 60mph is the top speed up OR down hill! When you go over 60, the engine stalls/cuts until the desired (????) speed is reached and then it comes smoothly back on line. However, when you hit the rev limit going up through the gears, it has the same effect. Engine cuts, big puff of white smoke out the back until you change gear or the revs drop below the limit again.
The strange effect is that I can overtake lorries going UPhill but they have me on the way back down again!

That description - got to be some sort of limiter.

[Pierre]

Yea, we had a fleet of ooooooh 6 i think of C15's at an alarm company I worked at. Fking great vans.

Used to slipstream each other down the A1 and regularly see 90, you just had to fold the mirrors in and learn to feather off the throttle to get that last few mph, so theres something sadly wrong with yours

Great engines aswell, used to change into 3rd at 70 and they never blew They almost tempted me to buy a citroen visa, but I sobered up.

[Samray]

I drove a C15 for a year, it was the most annoying piece of French shit I've ever driven.

Sorry Kenif, but Gio has just confirmed the acronym and you seem to have joined his club.

CITROEN ... Crap Interior Terrible Road-holding Owned Entirely by Nutters.

[Kenif]

In my quest to find a cheap way out of this (verrry slow) mess, I took the liberty to phone a Citroen dealer.
Service department denied any such item as a speed limiter but offered to take £80 off me to 'have a look'

What a wanker

A web search has already told me that Citroen make the f*cking things, I just want to know how to take it off!

Now I remember why I stopped the 4-wheel thing a few years ago...