4D1

Chapter 4 Part D: Emission control systems

Contents
Catalytic converter - general information and precautions
Emission control system components - testing and renewal

3
2

General information

Degrees of difficulty
Easy, suitable for
novice with little
experience

Fairly easy, suitable

for beginner with
some expenence

Fairly difficult, suitable

for competent DIY
mechanic

Difficult, suitable for

experienced DIY
mechanic

Evaporative emission control

1 General information
Apart from their ability to use unleaded
petrol, and the various built-in fuel system
features which help to minimise emissions, all
models have at least the crankcase emissioncontrol system described below. Models with
a catalytic converter are also fitted with the
exhaust and evaporative emission control
systems (refer to Part B or C of this Chapter
for further information).

Crankcase emission control

To reduce the emission of unburned
hydrocarbons from the crankcase into the
atmosphere, the engine is sealed, and the
blow-by gases and oil vapour are drawn from
the crankcase, through a wire-mesh oil
separator, into the inlet tract, to be burned by
the engine during normal combustion.
Under conditions of high manifold
depression (idling, deceleration) the gases will
be sucked positively out of the crankcase.
Under conditions of low manifold depression
(acceleration, full-throttle running) the gases
are forced out of the crankcase by the
(relatively) higher crankcase pressure; if the
engine is worn, the raised crankcase pressure
(due to increased blow-by) will cause some of
the flow to return under all manifold conditions.

To minimise the escape into the

atmosphere of unburned hydrocarbons, an
evaporative emissions control system is fitted
to models equipped with a catalytic converter.
The fuel tank filler cap is sealed, and a
charcoal canister, mounted underneath the
right-hand wing, collects the petrol vapours
generated in the tank when the car is parked.
The canister stores them until they can be
cleared from the canister (under the control of
the fuel injection/ignition system ECU) via the
purge solenoid valve(s). When the valve is
opened, the fuel vapours pass into the inlet
tract, to be burned by the engine during
normal combustion.
To ensure that the engine runs correctly
when it is cold and/or idling, and to protect the
catalytic converter from the effects of an overrich mixture, the ECU does not open the purge
control valve(s) until the engine has warmed up
and is under load; the valve solenoid is then
modulated on and off, to allow the stored
vapour to pass into the inlet tract.

Exhaust emission control

To minimise the amount of pollutants which
escape into the atmosphere, some models are
fitted with a catalytic converter in the exhaust
system. On all models where a catalytic

Very difficult,
suitable for expert DIY
or professional

converter is fitted, the system is of the

"closed-loop" type; a lambda (oxygen) sensor
in the exhaust system provides the fuel
injection/ignition system ECU with constant
feedback, enabling the ECU to adjust the
mixture to provide the best possible
conditions for the converter to operate.
The lambda sensor has a built-in heating
element, controlled by the ECU through the
lambda sensor relay, to quickly bring the
sensor's tip to an efficient operating
temperature. The sensor's tip is sensitive to
oxygen, and sends the ECU a varying voltage
depending on the amount of oxygen in the
exhaust gases. If the intake air/fuel mixture is
too rich, the exhaust gases are low in oxygen,
so the sensor sends a low-voltage signal. The
voltage rises as the mixture weakens and the
amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases rises.
Peak conversion efficiency of all major
pollutants occurs if the intake air/fuel mixture
is maintained at the chemically-correct ratio
for the complete combustion of petrol - 14.7
parts (by weight) of air to 1 part of fuel (the
"stoichiometric" ratio). The sensor output
voltage alters in a large step at this point, the
ECU using the signal change as a reference
point, and correcting the intake air/fuel
mixture accordingly by altering the fuel
injector pulse width (the length of time that the
injector is open).

4D2 Emission control systems

2.3 Charcoal canister is secured to the

right-hand wing valance by two nuts
(arrowed)

2 Emission control system

components testing and renewal
Crankcase emission control
1 The components of this system require no
routine attention, other than to check that the
hose(s) are clear and undamaged at regular
intervals.

Evaporative emission control

Testing
2 If the system is thought to be faulty,
disconnect the hoses from the charcoal
canister and purge control valve, and check
that they are clear by blowing through them. If
the purge control valve(s) or charcoal canister
are thought to be faulty, they must be
renewed.

Charcoal canister - renewal

3 From within the engine compartment,
slacken and remove the two nuts securing the
charcoal canister to the right-hand wing
valance (see illustration).
4 Slacken and remove the lower bolt securing
the right-hand wheel arch liner to the bumper,
then prise out the front liner retaining clips.
5 Peel the liner away from the wing to gain
access to the canister, then disconnect both
upper and lower hoses from the canister and

2.7b Single purge valve is located in the front

right-hand corner of the engine compartment
- 1998 cc 16-valve model shown

2.5 Peel back the wheel arch liner to gain

access to the charcoal canister from
underneath the wing
manoeuvre the canister out
the wing (see illustration).
of the canister carefully - it
vapour.
6 Refitting is a reverse
procedure, ensuring that
correctly refitted.

from underneath
Store or dispose
may contain fuel
of the removal
the hoses are

Purge valve(s) - renewal

7 Either a single- or a twin-purge valve
arrangement is fitted, depending on model.
The purge valve(s) is/are mounted on the
right-hand side of the engine compartment
(see illustrations).
8 To renew a purge valve, first disconnect the
battery negative terminal. Depress the
retaining clip, and disconnect the wiring
connector from the valve.
9 Disconnect the hoses from either end of the
valve, then release the valve from its retaining
clip and remove it from the engine
compartment, noting which way round it is
fitted.
10 Refitting is a reversal of the removal
procedure, ensuring that the valve is fitted the
correct way round and that the hoses are
securely connected.

2.7a Twin-purge valve arrangement is

located in the right-hand rear corner of the
engine compartment -1360 cc model shown
content) using an accurately calibrated
exhaust gas analyser, as described in Chapter 1.
12 If the CO level at the tailpipe is too high,
the vehicle should be taken to a Citroen
dealer so that the complete fuel injection and
ignition systems, including the lambda sensor,
can be thoroughly checked using the special
diagnostic equipment.
13 Once this has been done, any fault must
lie in the catalytic converter, which should be
renewed as described in Part B or C of this
Chapter (as applicable).

Catalytic converter - renewal

14 Refer to Part B or C of this Chapter (as
applicable).

Lambda sensor - renewal

11 The performance of the catalytic

converter can be checked only by measuring
the idle mixture setting (exhaust gas CO

Note: The lambda sensor is fragile, and will

not work if it is dropped or knocked, if its
power supply is disrupted, or if any cleaning
materials are used on it.
15 On 1124 cc and 1360 cc models, the
lambda sensor is screwed into the top of the
exhaust front pipe. Trace the wiring back from
the sensor to the engine compartment
junction box (see illustrations). Open the
junction box, then unclip the relay plate and
withdraw it from the box, to gain access to the
sensor wiring connectors. Disconnect both
wiring connectors, and withdraw the wiring
from the bottom of the box.

2.15a On 1124 cc and 1360 cc models, the

lambda sensor is screwed into the top of
the exhaust front pipe . . .

2.15b . . . and the wiring connectors

(arrowed) are located inside the junction
box

Exhaust emission control

Testing

Emission control systems 4D3

2.16 On 1580 cc and larger models, the

lambda sensor wiring connectors are clipped
onto the back of the battety/ECU box
16 On 1580 cc and larger-engined models,
the lambda sensor is screwed into the base of
the exhaust front pipe. Firmly apply the
handbrake, then jack up the front of the car
and support it on axle stands. Trace the wiring
back from the lambda sensor to the engine
compartment. Release the wiring connectors
from the rear of the battery/ECU box, and
disconnect them from the main wiring loom
(see illustration).
17 Unscrew the sensor from the exhaust
system front pipe, and remove it along with its
sealing washer.
18 Refitting is a reverse of the removal
procedure, using a new sealing washer.
Ensure the sensor is securely tightened.
Check that the wiring is correctly routed, and
in no danger of contacting either the exhaust
system or the engine.

3 Catalytic converter - general

information and precautions
The catalytic converter is a reliable and
simple device, which needs no maintenance
in itself, but there are some facts of which an
owner should be aware, if the converter is to
function properly for its full service life.

(a) DO NOT use leaded (UK "4-star") petrol in

a car equipped with a catalytic converter the lead will coat the precious metals,
reducing their converting efficiency, and
will eventually destroy the converter.
(b) Always keep the ignition and fuel systems
well-maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer's schedule, as given in
Chapter 1. In particular, ensure that the air
cleaner filter element, the fuel filter (where
fitted) and the spark plugs are renewed at
the correct interval. If the intake air/fuel
mixture is allowed to become too rich due
to neglect, unburned fuel will enter the
catalytic converter, overheating the
element and eventually destroying the
converter.
(c) If the engine develops a misfire, do not
drive the car at all (or at least as little as
possible) until the fault is cured - the
misfire will allow unburned fuel to enter
the converter, which will result in its
overheating, as noted above.
(d) DO NOT push- or tow-start the car - this
will soak the catalytic converter in
unburned fuel, causing it to overheat
when the engine does start - see (b) or (c)
above.
(e) DO NOT switch off the ignition at high
engine speeds - ie do not "blip" the
throttle immediately before switching off
the engine. If the ignition is switched off
at anything above idle speed, unburned
fuel will enter the (very hot) catalytic
converter, with the possible risk of its
igniting on the element and damaging the
converter.
(f) DO NOT use fuel or engine oil additives these may contain substances harmful to
the catalytic converter.
(g) DO NOT continue to use the car if the
engine burns oil to the extent of leaving a
visible trail of blue smoke - the unburned
carbon deposits will clog the converter
passages, and reduce its efficiency; in

severe cases, the element will overheat.

(h) Remember that the catalytic converter
operates at very high temperatures hence the heat shields on the car's
underbody - and the casing will become
hot enough to ignite combustible
materials which brush against it. DO NOT,
therefore, park the car in dry
undergrowth, or over long grass or piles
of dead leaves.
(i) Remember that the catalytic converter is
FRAGILE - do not strike it with tools
during servicing work, and take great care
when working on the exhaust system.
Ensure that the converter is well clear of
any jacks or other lifting gear used to raise
the car, and do not drive the car over
rough ground, road humps, etc, in such a
way as to "ground" the exhaust system.
(I) In some cases, particularly when the car
is new and/or is used for stop/start
driving, a sulphurous smell (like that of
rotten eggs) may be noticed from the
exhaust. This is common to many
catalytic converter-equipped cars, and
seems to be due to the small amount of
sulphur found in some petrols reacting
with hydrogen in the exhaust, to produce
hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas; while this
gas is toxic, it is not produced in sufficient
amounts to be a problem. Once the car
has covered a few thousand miles, the
problem should disappear - in the
meanwhile, a change of driving style, or of
the brand of petrol used, may effect a
solution.
(k) The catalytic converter, used on a wellmaintained car, should last for between
50 000 and 100 000 miles - from this
point on, the CO level should be carefully
checked at all specified service intervals,
to ensure that the converter is still
operating efficiently. If the converter
is no longer effective, ft must be
renewed.