Citroën Xsara Picasso
Mid-range output of the 1.6 HDi with 90–92 hp. Best-selling diesel in many Citroën models. Good compromise between economy and everyday usability.
Family van diesel
90 hp HDi in the Xsara Picasso — solid and economical everyday drivetrain for the family.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The VTG turbocharger's variable vanes seize up due to oil coke deposits. The engine enters limp mode or abruptly loses boost. The cause is almost always spent oil with high soot content after excessively long oil change intervals.
Symptoms: Sudden power drop, limp mode, whistling noise, black smoke, boost pressure fault P0234
Leaking injectors on the 92 hp variant push fuel into the engine oil; the elevated fuel content in the oil significantly accelerates turbo damage. Detection is difficult since the oil level appears to rise due to fuel entry.
Symptoms: Strong fuel smell in oil, rising oil level, blue smoke, turbo noises
The EGR valve on the DV6-92 tends to block with soot, especially on vehicles with frequent short-trip use. A blocked valve triggers limp mode and prevents restarting after a hot engine shut-off.
Symptoms: Engine hard to start or stalls after starting, limp mode, engine warning light P0401
Swirl flaps in the DV6-92 inlet manifold coke up from oil mist in the crankcase breather and recirculated exhaust gases. Broken flap fragments can be drawn into the engine and cause severe damage.
Symptoms: Hesitation at low revs, fault codes P2004/P2006, smoke, power drop
The intake swirl flaps coke up and seize from EGR soot deposits. The actuator motor overloads and fails. Broken flap fragments risk engine damage from foreign body ingestion.
Symptoms: Engine limp mode from actuator overload, swirl flap fault code, power loss especially in the lower rev range, DPF regeneration fails.
The DPF differential pressure sensor fails and reports incorrect values to the ECU. As a result, regeneration triggers too early or not at all, leading to DPF clogging.
Symptoms: Fault message 'exhaust system defective', engine warning light, increased fuel consumption from frequent regeneration cycles, occasional engine limp mode.
Vehicle Weaknesses 5
The Picasso's sills are well known to rust. In addition there was a recall for corrosion on the front axle springs (production dates July 1999 to September 2003) where there was a risk of breakage.
Virtually anything can fail electrically in the Xsara Picasso: randomly flashing warning lights, triggered immobiliser, defective window regulators. A recall affected 150,000 Picasso vehicles worldwide due to a software fault in the central control unit.
The shock absorbers on the Xsara Picasso have an expected service life of around 70,000 km. From 80,000 km they go soft and lose their damping effect. Shock absorbers are regularly flagged at the MOT.
As the Xsara Picasso ages the backlit digital speedometer becomes increasingly problematic. The fuel gauge also frequently reads incorrectly, showing wrong fill levels.
The indicator stalk on the Xsara Picasso frequently fails to click into position or cancels itself during steering. Replacing the stalk unit for around €50 plus fitting is the typical solution.
