CITROEN C4 CACTUS 2017 Owners Manual
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99
Switching the ignition on 
(without starting)
F Press the "START/STOP" button, the 
instrument panel comes on but the engine 
does not start.
F
 
P
 ress the button again to switch off the 
ignition and allow the vehicle to be locked.
With the ignition on, the system 
automatically goes into energy economy 
mode to maintain an adequate state of 
charge in the battery.
Key not detected
Back-up starting
A back-up reader is fitted underneath the 
parking brake lever so that the engine can be 
started if the system does not detect the key in 
the recognition zone, or when the battery in the 
electronic key is flat.
F
 
W
 ith a manual gearbox,  place the gear 
lever in neutral, then fully depress the clutch 
pedal.
F
 
W
 ith an automatic gearbox , select  
mode P,  then fully depress the brake pedal.
F
 
W
 ith an electronic gearbox , select  
mode N,  then fully depress the brake pedal.
F
 
P
 ress the " START/STOP " button.
The engine starts.
Back-up switch-off
Emergency switch-off
With the  Keyless Entry and Starting remote 
control inside the vehicle, pressing the 
" START/STOP " button, with no action on the 
pedals , allows the ignition to be switched on.
This also allows the accessories to be used (for 
example: audio system, lighting, etc.).
F
 
P
 lace and hold the remote control against 
the reader. When the electronic key is not detected or is 
no longer in the recognition zone, a message 
appears on the touch screen when closing a 
door or trying to switch off the engine.
F
 
T
 o confirm the instruction to switch off the 
engine, press the " START/STOP" button for 
about three seconds.
In the event of a fault with the electronic key, 
contact a CITROËN dealer or a qualified 
workshop.
In the event of an emergency only, the 
engine can be switched off without 
conditions (even when driving).
Press the " START/STOP " button for about 
three seconds.
In this case, the steering column locks as 
soon as the vehicle stops.
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Driving  
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100
Parking brake
Applying
When parking on a slope, turn the wheels 
against the kerb, apply the parking brake, 
engage a gear and switch off the ignition.
Releasing
When the vehicle is being driven, 
if this warning lamp and the 
STOP warning lamp come on, 
accompanied by an audible signal 
and a message on the screen, this 
indicates that the parking brake 
is still on or has not been fully 
released.
F
 
P
ull the parking brake lever up to immobilise 
your vehicle.
F
 
P
ull the parking brake lever up gently, press 
the release button then lower the lever fully.
5-speed manual gearbox
Engaging reverse gear
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle 
is stationary with the engine at idle.
As a safety precaution and to facilitate 
starting the engine:
-
 
a
 lways select neutral,
-
 
p
 ress the clutch pedal.
F
 
F
 ully depress the clutch pedal.
F
 
M
 ove the gear lever fully to the right, then 
pull it back.
6-speed manual gearbox
Engaging 5th or 6th gear
F Move the lever fully to the right to engage 5th 
or 6th g e a r.
Failure to follow this advice could cause 
permanent damage to the gearbox 
(inadvertent engagement of 3
rd or 4th 
gear).
Engaging reverse gear
F Raise the ring under the knob and move the  gear lever to the left, then for wards.
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle 
is stationary with the engine at idle. 
Driving  
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101
As a safety precaution and to facilitate 
starting the engine:
- 
a
 lways select neutral,
-
 
p
 ress the clutch pedal.
Automatic gearbox (EAT6)
Six-speed automatic gearbox which offers a 
choice between the comfort of fully automatic 
operation, enhanced by a sport programme, or 
manual gear changing.
Two driving modes are available:
-
 
a
 utomatic  operation with electronic 
management of the gears by the gearbox, 
with a sport  programme for a more dynamic 
driving style,
-
 
man
 ual operation for sequential changing 
of the gears by the driver.
1. Gear selector.
2. "S " (spor t)  button.
Gear selector positions
Displays in the instrument panel3.Gear selector positions graphic.
P.  Parking.
-
 
I
 mmobilisation of the vehicle, parking brake 
on or off.
-
 S
tarting the engine.
R.  Reverse.
-
 
R
 eversing manoeuvres, vehicle stationary, 
engine at idle.
N.  Neutral.
-
 
I
 mmobilisation of the vehicle, parking brake 
on.
-
 S
tarting the engine.
D.  Automatic operation.
M +/-. Manual operation with sequential 
changing of the six gears.
F
 
P
 ull back to change up a gear.
or
F
 
P
 ush forwards to change down a gear. P.
Parking.
R. Reverse.
N. Neutral.
D. Drive (automatic driving).
S. Sport programme.
1 2 3 4 5 6. Gears engaged during manual 
operation
-. Invalid value during manual 
operation.
Foot on brake
F Press the brake pedal when 
this indicator lamp is displayed 
on the instrument panel (e.g. 
starting the engine).
When you move the selector to select a 
position, the corresponding indicator is 
displayed in the instrument panel.
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Driving  
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102
Starting the vehicle
F Apply the parking brake.
F  Sel ect position P or N .
F
 
S
 tart the engine.
If these conditions are not met, there is an 
audible signal, accompanied by the display of a 
warning message.
F
 
W
 ith the engine running, press the brake 
pedal.
F
 
R
 elease the parking brake.
F
 
Sel
 ect position R , D or M.
F
 
G
 radually release the brake pedal.
The vehicle moves off immediately.
If position N is selected inadvertently while 
driving, allow the engine to return to idle, 
then select position D to accelerate.
If the temperature is below -23°C, the 
engine should be left at idle for four 
minutes, to ensure the correct operation 
and longevity of the engine and gearbox. When the engine is running at idle, with 
the brakes released, if position R
, D or 
M is selected, the vehicle moves even 
without the accelerator being pressed.
Do not leave children unsuper vised inside 
the vehicle when the engine is running.
When carrying out maintenance with the 
engine running, apply the parking brake 
and select position P .
Automatic operation
F Select position D for automatic  changing of 
the six gears.
The gearbox then operates in auto-adaptive 
mode, without any action needed from the 
driver. It continuously selects the most suitable 
gear according to the style of driving, the profile 
of the road and the load in the vehicle.
For maximum acceleration without touching 
the selector, press the accelerator pedal down 
fully (kick down). The gearbox changes down 
automatically or maintains the gear selected 
until the maximum engine speed is reached.
On braking, the gearbox changes down 
automatically to provide efficient engine 
braking. If you release the accelerator sharply, the 
gearbox will not change to a higher gear for 
safety reasons.
Never select position N while the vehicle 
is moving.
Never select position P or R unless the 
vehicle is completely stationary.
Sport programme "S"
F Press button S, after starting the engine.
The gearbox automatically favours a dynamic 
style of driving.
S appears in the instrument panel.
Return to standard 
automatic operation
F At any time, press the selected button again to quit the programme engaged and return 
to auto-adaptive mode.
Manual operation
F Select position M for sequential  changing 
of the six gears. 
Driving  
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103
F Move the selector towards the + sign to change up a gear.
F
 
M
 ove the selector towards the - sign to 
change down a gear.
It is only possible to change from one gear to 
another if the vehicle speed and engine speed 
permit; otherwise, the gearbox will operate 
temporarily in automatic mode.
D disappears, and the gears engaged appear 
in succession on the instrument panel.
If the engine speed is too low or too high, the 
selected gear flashes for a few seconds, then 
the actual gear engaged is displayed.
It is possible to change from position D 
(automatic) to position M (manual) at any time.
When the vehicle is stationary or moving 
very slowly, the gearbox engages first gear 
automatically.
The sport programme is inactive in manual 
operation.
Invalid value during manual 
operation
This symbol is displayed if a gear 
is not engaged correctly (selector 
between two positions).
Stopping the vehicle
Before switching off the engine, you can 
engage position P or N to place the gearbox in 
neutral.
In both cases, apply the parking brake to 
immobilise the vehicle.
If the selector is not in position P , when the 
driver's door is opened or approximately 
45 seconds after the ignition is switched 
off, a warning message appears in the 
screen.
F
 
R
 eturn the selector to position P ; the 
message disappears.
When driving on flooded roads or when 
crossing a ford, proceed at walking pace.
Malfunction
When the ignition is on, the lighting 
of this warning lamp, associated 
with an audible signal and an alert 
message on the screen, indicates a 
gearbox fault.
In this case, the gearbox switches to back-up 
mode and is locked in 3
rd gear. You may feel a 
substantial jolt when changing from P to R and 
from N to R. This will not cause any damage to 
the gearbox. There is a risk of damage to the gearbox:
-
 
i
 f you press the accelerator and brake 
pedals at the same time,
-  
i
 f you force the movement of the 
selector from position P to another 
position when the battery is flat.
To reduce fuel consumption when at 
a prolonged standstill with the engine 
running (traffic jam, etc.), put the 
selector in position N and apply the 
parking brake.
If your vehicle has an automatic gearbox, 
never try to start the engine by pushing 
the vehicle.
Do not exceed 62 mph (100 km/h), local speed 
restrictions permitting.
Contact a CITROËN dealer or a qualified 
workshop as soon as possible.
Electronic gearbox 
(ETG 6)
Six-speed electronic gearbox offering 
automatic gear control, without driver 
intervention.
You can temporarily take control of gear 
changes at any time, using the steering 
mounted control paddles.
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Driving  
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104
Control panel
NNeutral: with your foot on the brake, press 
this control to put the gearbox into neutral 
and for starting the engine.
D Drive: press this control to engage for ward 
drive with automatic operation of the 
gears.
R Reverse: with your foot on the brake, 
press this control to engage reverse.
Steering mounted control 
paddles
F Operate the right-hand  control 
under the steering wheel to 
change up .
F
 
O
 perate the left-hand  control 
under the steering wheel to 
change down .
You cannot use the steering mounted 
control paddles to select neutral or to 
engage or disengage reverse gear.
Displays in the instrument 
panel
N Neutral.
D and 1 2 3 
4 5 6 Drive (for ward) and the gear 
engaged.
R Reverse.
F
 
P
 lace your foot on the brake 
when this warning lamp flashes.
Starting the vehicle
F Switch on the ignition.
F  Sel ect neutral (control N ).
The indicator lamp in the control comes on.
F
 
F
 ully depress the brake pedal.
F
 
S
 tart the engine.
You must press the brake pedal when 
starting the engine.
The "Foot on brake" warning lamp and the 
associated control panel indicator lamp 
flash if the brake pedal is not pressed 
when starting the engine.
Press more firmly on the brake pedal.
N appears in the instrument panel. N flashes in the instrument panel, 
accompanied by an audible signal and a 
message, if the control N is not activated 
on starting.
Press control N to select neutral.
F
 
S
 elect for ward drive (control D ) or reverse 
(c ontrol R ).
The associated indicator lamp comes on in 
the control panel.
D and 1 or R appear in the instrument panel. 
Driving  
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105
F Release the parking brake.
F  P rogressively release the brake pedal.
The vehicle moves off immediately.
Creep function
This function facilitates manoeuvring of the 
vehicle at low speed (when parking, in traffic 
jams, etc.).
After pressing control D or R , the vehicle 
moves as soon as you take your foot off the 
brake pedal , at low speed and with the engine 
at idle.
Never leave children unattended in the 
vehicle when the engine is running.
The creep function may be temporarily 
unavailable if the clutch temperature is too 
high or the slope too steep.
Forward drive
F Press control D .
The indicator lamp in the control comes on.
D and the gear engaged appear in the 
instrument panel. The gearbox then operates in auto-active 
mode, without any inter vention on the part 
of the driver. It continuously selects the most 
suitable gear according to the following 
parameters:
-
 f
uel consumption optimisation,
-  
d
 riving style,
-  
r
 oad conditions,
-  
v
 ehicle load.
For optimum acceleration, when 
overtaking another vehicle for example, 
fully depress the accelerator pedal, 
beyond the point of resistance.
Never select neutral (position N ) when 
moving.
Do not press the brake and accelerator 
pedals at the same time: this could cause 
very rapid wear of the clutch.
Temporary control of gear 
changing
Reverse gear
You can temporarily take over control of gear 
changes using the steering mounted + and - 
control paddles: if the engine speed allows, the 
gear change is carried out.
This function allows you to anticipate certain 
situations, such as overtaking another vehicle 
or approaching a bend in the road.
After a few moments with no action on the 
control paddles, the gearbox returns to 
automatic operation.
To engage reverse gear, the vehicle must be 
stationary with your foot on the brake pedal.
F
 
P
 ress control R .
The indicator lamp in the control comes on.
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Driving  
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106
There is an audible signal upon 
engagement of reverse.
If reverse gear is requested when moving, the 
warning lamp  N flashes and the gearbox goes 
into neutral automatically.
To engage reverse, stop the vehicle then, with 
your foot on the brake pedal, press control N , 
then R .
Stopping the vehicle
Before switching off the engine, you can:
-
 p ress control N to be in neutral,
or
-
 
l
 eave the vehicle in gear; in this case the 
vehicle cannot be moved.
For all parking situations, you must apply 
the parking brake  to immobilise the 
vehicle.
When immobilising the vehicle with the 
engine running, you must select neutral N .Before doing anything under the bonnet, 
ensure that control N has been pressed 
and that the parking brake is applied.
Operating fault
With the ignition on, illumination of 
this warning lamp, accompanied by 
an audible signal and a message, 
indicates a gearbox fault.
Have it checked by a CITROËN dealer or a 
qualified workshop.
Gear efficiency indicator
This system helps reduce fuel consumption by 
recommending the most appropriate gear.
Operation
Depending on the driving situation and your 
vehicle's equipment, the system may advise 
you to skip one (or more) gear(s). You can 
follow this instruction without engaging the 
intermediate gears. The system is only active on vehicles fitted 
with a manual gearbox.
On certain BlueHDi Diesel versions with 
manual gearbox, in certain driving conditions 
the system may suggest changing into neutral 
so that the engine can go into standby (STOP 
mode with Stop & Start). In this case, N is 
displayed in the instrument panel.
Example:
-  
Y
 ou are in third gear.
-  
Y
 ou press the accelerator pedal.
-  
T
 he system may suggest that you engage a 
higher gear.
Gear efficiency recommendations are for 
information only. In fact, the road layout, the 
traffic density and safety remain the deciding 
factors when choosing the best gear. The driver 
therefore remains responsible for deciding 
whether or not to follow the indications issued 
by the system.
This function cannot be disabled.
The information appears in the instrument 
panel in the form of an arrow. 
Driving  
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107
The system adapts its gear change 
recommendation according to the 
driving conditions (slope, load, etc.) 
and the demands of the driver (power, 
acceleration, braking, etc.).
The system never suggests:
-
 e
ngaging first gear,
-
 enga
ging reverse gear.
-
 enga
ging a lower gear.
On vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox, 
the arrow may be accompanied by the 
gear recommended.
Hill start assist
System which keeps your vehicle stationary 
for a short time (approximately two seconds) 
when starting on a gradient, the time it takes 
to move your foot from the brake pedal to the 
accelerator pedal.
It is only active when:
-
 
t
 he vehicle is completely stationary, with 
your foot on the brake pedal,
-
 
c
 ertain conditions of gradient are met,
-
 
t
 he driver's door is closed.
The hill start assist system cannot be 
deactivated. Do not leave the vehicle while it is being 
held temporarily in the hill start assist 
phase.
If you need to leave the vehicle with the 
engine running, apply the parking brake 
manually then ensure that the parking 
brake warning lamp is showing fixed on 
the instrument panel.
Operating fault
On an ascending slope, with the vehicle 
stationar y, the vehicle is held for a shor t 
time when you release the brake pedal.
With a manual gearbox
, if you are in first gear 
or in neutral.
With an automatic gearbox , if you are in D 
or M .
With an electronic gearbox , if you are in D.On a descending slope, with the vehicle 
stationary and reverse gear engaged, the 
vehicle is held for a shor t time when you 
release the brake pedal.
If a fault in the system occurs, this warning 
lamp comes on accompanied by a message. 
Contact a CITROËN dealer or a qualified 
workshop to have the system checked.
Stop & Start
The Stop & Start system puts the engine 
t emporarily into standby – STOP mode – during 
stops in traffic (red lights, traffic jams, etc.). The 
engine restarts automatically – START mode – 
as soon as you want to move off.
The restart takes place instantly, quickly and 
silently.
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Driving  
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Per fect for urban use, the Stop & Start system 
reduces fuel consumption and exhaust 
emissions as well as the noise level when 
stationary.
Going into engine STOP 
mode
This indicator lamp comes on in the 
instrument panel and the engine 
goes into standby automatically.
-
 
W
ith a manual gearbox , at speeds below 
2
 
mph (3 km/h) or with the vehicle stationary 
(depending on version), when you place the 
gear lever in neutral and release the clutch 
pedal,
-
 
W
ith an automatic gearbox , at speeds 
below 2 mph (3 km/h), or when the vehicle 
is stationary (depending on version), when 
you press the brake pedal or place the gear 
selector into position N .
-
 
W
ith an electronic gearbox , at speeds 
below 2 mph (3 km/h), or when the vehicle 
is stationary (depending on version), when 
you press the brake pedal or place the gear 
selector into position N .
Time counter of the Stop & Star t. 
(minutes/seconds or hours/minutes) If your vehicle is fitted with this system, a time 
counter calculates the sum of the periods in 
STOP mode during a journey.
It resets to zero every time the ignition is 
switched on.
For your comfort, during parking 
manoeuvres, STOP mode is not available 
for a few seconds after coming out of 
reverse gear.
The Stop & Start system does not affect 
the functionality of the vehicle, such as for 
example, braking, power steering, etc.
Never refuel with the engine in STOP 
mode; you must switch off the ignition with 
the "START/STOP" button.
Special cases: STOP mode not 
available
STOP mode is not activated when:
- t he vehicle is on a steep slope (uphill or 
downhill),
-
 
t
 he driver's door is open,
-
 
t
 he driver's seat belt is not fastened,
-
 
t
 he vehicle has not exceeded 6 mph (10 
km/h) since the last engine start,
-
 
t
 he engine is needed to maintain a 
comfortable temperature in the passenger 
compartment, -
 
d
 emisting is active,
-
 s
 ome special conditions (battery charge, 
engine temperature, braking assistance, 
exterior temperature, etc.) where the engine 
is needed to control the system.
Going into engine START 
mode
This indicator lamp goes off and the 
engine starts automatically: In this case, this indicator lamp 
flashes for a few seconds then goes 
of f.
This operation is perfectly normal.
-
 
W
ith a manual gearbox , when you fully 
depress the clutch pedal.
-
 
W
ith an automatic gearbox :
•
 
g
ear selector in position D or M , when 
you release the brake pedal,
•
 
o
r gear selector in position N and brake 
pedal released, when you place the gear 
selector in position D or M ,
•
 o
r when you engage reverse gear. 
Driving