Citroën C1
The EB0 is a modern PSA three-cylinder with timing chain and variable valve timing. As a city car engine it shows inherent three-cylinder rough running; ignition coils and throttle body are the most common workshop causes. Short oil change intervals are mandatory due to timing chain lubrication.
Modern city runabout
69 hp PSA three-cylinder in the C1 II — more modern and efficient than the Toyota engine of its predecessor. Perfectly adequate for city use; on country roads you need to work the gearbox.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The timing belt on the EB0 1.0 PureTech runs in engine oil and degrades prematurely as a result. Belt particles clog the oil strainers, which can cause oil pressure loss and engine damage. Stellantis granted extended goodwill up to 10 years/180,000 km.
Symptoms: Oil pressure warning (STOP), engine oil contaminated by belt debris, no external oil loss, in the worst case engine seizure
The EB0 three-cylinder is particularly sensitive to ignition coil failures, as one failed cylinder severely impacts engine smoothness. Coils in the PSA EB engine family are known to be failure-prone and should be the first thing to check on misfires.
Symptoms: Heavy jolting and shaking especially at idle and low revs, engine warning light, cold start difficulties
Like the EP6, the EB0 shares the design weakness of chain tensioner wear, which manifests as cold-start rattling. The chain drive relies on regular oil changes; overdue oil changes significantly increase wear on the chain and tensioner.
Symptoms: Rattling from the engine bay immediately after cold start, disappears after a few seconds of warm-up, louder when oil change is overdue
In the EB0 PureTech, short-trip operation causes fuel to enter the engine oil, reducing its viscosity. The diluted oil loses its lubricating properties and accelerates belt wear as well as general engine wear.
Symptoms: Fuel smell in engine oil when removing the oil cap, oil level rises above maximum, engine oil smells of petrol
The water pump on the EB0 1.0 PureTech, often driven together with the timing belt, can fail prematurely or leak. A failure leads to overheating and potential cylinder head damage.
Symptoms: Coolant level drops, temperature gauge rises excessively, moisture traces under the vehicle, overheating warning
On EB0 engines with start-stop system (e-VTi), the system frequently fails or operates only sporadically. The cause is usually a weakening AGM starter battery that drops below the minimum capacity required for reliable restarting.
Symptoms: Start-stop system shows fault message or disables itself permanently, frequent restarts feel sluggish, battery warning light
Vehicle Weaknesses 5
Vehicles built in September–October 2014 left the factory with an undersized steering shaft. In the worst case the steering column can break and cause steering failure. Citroën replaced the affected shaft under a recall in 2016.
On the C1 II too, brake disc wear is the biggest known problem. MOT testers flag worn brake discs above average, and the handbrake regularly fails inspection.
In all build years of the C1 II, misadjusted headlights and defective tail and indicator lights are flagged at the MOT. The fault rate is significantly above the class average.
From the second MOT inspection, the rejection rate for the exhaust system due to rust rises noticeably. Brake lines also begin to corrode.
Door seals distort and door locks can stick. Quarterlight windows do not seal tightly, leading to wind noise and moisture ingress into the interior.
