Citroen DS4 RHD 2015.5 1.G Owner's Manual
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179
Safety  
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Driving
0  
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Driving recommendations
Observe the driving regulations and remain vigilant whatever the traffic conditions.
Pay close attention to the traffic and keep your hands on the wheel so that you are ready to react at 
any time to any eventuality.
On a long journey, a break every two hours is strongly recommended.
In difficult weather, drive smoothly, anticipate the need to brake and increase the distance from 
other vehicles.Never drive with the parking brake 
applied - Risk of overheating and 
damage to the braking system!
Do not park or run the engine when 
stationary in areas where inflammable 
substances and materials (dry grass, 
dead leaves...) might come into contact 
with the hot exhaust system - Risk of 
fire!
Never leave a vehicle unsupervised 
with the engine running. If you have 
to leave your vehicle with the engine 
running, apply the parking brake 
and put the gearbox into neutral or 
position
 
n  or P, depending on the type 
of gearbox.
driving on flooded roads
We strongly advise against driving on flooded 
roads, as this could cause serious damage 
to the engine or gearbox, as well as to the 
electrical systems of your vehicle.
Important!
- check that the depth of water does not  exceed 15 cm, taking account of waves 
that might be generated by other users,
-
 
d
 eactivate the Stop & Start system,
-
 
d
 rive as slowly as possible without 
stalling. In all cases, do not exceed 6 mph 
(10
  km/h),
-
 
d
 o not stop and do not switch off the 
engine.
If you are obliged to drive through water:
On leaving the flooded road, as soon as 
circumstances allow, make several light brake 
applications to dry the brake discs and pads.
If in doubt on the state of your vehicle, contact 
a CITROËN dealer or a qualified workshop. 
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183
When towing
distribution of loads
F Distribute the load in the trailer so that the heaviest items are as close as possible to 
the axle and the nose weight approaches 
the maximum permitted without 
exceeding
  it.
Air density decreases with altitude, thus 
reducing engine per formance. Above 
1
  000   metres, the maximum towed load must 
be reduced by 10
  % for every 1   000 metres of 
altitude.
Side wind
F Take into account the increased sensitivity  to side wind.
Cooling
Towing a trailer on a slope increases the 
temperature of the coolant.
As the fan is electrically controlled, its cooling 
capacity is not dependent on the engine speed.
F
 
T
 o lower the engine speed, reduce your 
speed.
The maximum towed load on a long incline 
depends on the gradient and the ambient 
temperature.
In all cases, keep a check on the coolant 
temperature.
F
 
I
 f the warning lamp and the STOP  
warning lamp come on, stop the 
vehicle and switch off the engine 
as soon as possible.
Braking
Towing a trailer increases the braking distance.
To avoid overheating of the brakes, the use of 
engine braking is recommended.
Ty r e s
F Check the tyre pressures of the towing  vehicle and of the trailer, observing the 
recommended pressures.
Lighting
F Check the electrical lighting and signalling on the trailer and the hadlamp beam height 
of your vehicle.
For more information on adjusting the 
headlamp beam height, refer to the 
corresponding section.
For more information on weights (and 
the towed loads which apply to your 
vehicle) refer to the corresponding 
section.
The rear parking sensors will be 
deactivated automatically if a genuine 
CITROËN towbar is used.
driving  
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Avoid attaching heavy objects to the 
key or the remote control, which would 
weigh down on its blade in the ignition 
switch and could cause a malfunction.
It could adversely affect the 
deployment of the front airbag.
Starting / Switching off the engine with the key
It has 3 positions:
- p osition 1 (Stop) : insert and removing the 
key,
-
 
p
 osition 2 (Ignition on) : steering column 
unlocked, ignition on, Diesel preheating, 
engine running,
-
 
p
 osition 3 (Starting) .
Ignition switch
Ignition on position
It allows the use of the vehicle's electric 
equipment or portable devices to be charged.
Once the state of charge of the battery drops 
to the reserve level, the system switches to 
energy economy mode: the power supply is 
cut off automatically to preserve the remaining 
battery charge.
Switching off the engine leads to a loss 
of braking assistance.
Anti-theft protection
Electronic engine immobiliser
In the event of a fault, you are 
informed by illumination of this 
warning lamp, an audible signal 
and/or the display of a message, 
depending on version.
Keep safely, away from your vehicle, 
the label attached to the keys given to 
you on acquisition of the vehicle.
In this case, your vehicle will not start; contact 
a CITROËN dealer as soon as possible. The keys contain an electronic chip which has 
a special code. When the ignition is switched 
on, this code must be recognised for engine 
starting to be authorised.
This electronic engine immobiliser locks the 
engine management system a few minutes 
after the ignition is switched off and prevents 
starting of the engine by anyone who does not 
have the key. 
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185
In wintry conditions, the warning lamp 
can stay on for a longer period. When 
the engine is hot, the warning lamp 
does not come on.
In certain cases, you may have to apply 
more force to the steering (wheels on 
full lock, for example). If the engine does not start straight 
away, switch off the ignition. Wait a 
few moments before operating the 
starter motor again. If the engine does 
not start after several attempts, do not 
keep trying: you risk damaging the 
starter motor or the engine. Contact 
a CITROËN dealer or a qualified 
workshop.In temperate conditions, do not leave 
the engine at idle to warm up but move 
off straight away and drive at moderate 
speed.
Never leave the engine running in 
an enclosed area without adequate 
ventilation: internal combustion 
engines emit toxic exhaust gases, 
such as carbon monoxide. Danger of 
intoxication and death!
In very severe wintry conditions 
(temperatures below -23°C), to ensure 
the correct operation and durability of 
the mechanical components of your 
vehicle, engine and gearbox, it is 
necessary to leave the engine running 
for 4 minutes before moving off.
Starting the engine
With the parking brake applied and the gearbox 
in neutral or position 
n  or P:
F
 
d
 epress the clutch pedal fully (manual 
gearbox),
 
or
F
 
p
 ress the brake pedal firmly (automatic 
gearbox),
F
 
i
 nsert the key into the ignition switch; 
the
  system recognises the code,
F
 
unlock the steering column by simultaneously 
turning the steering and the key.
F With a petrol engine, operate the starter  motor by turning the key to position 3 
without pressing the accelerator pedal, 
until the engine starts. Once the engine is 
running, release the key.
F
 
W
 ith a Diesel engine, turn the key to 
position 2 , ignition on, to operate the 
engine pre-heating system.
Wait until this warning lamp goes off in the 
instrument panel then operate the starter 
motor by turning the key to position
  3 
without pressing the accelerator pedal, 
until the engine starts. Once the engine is 
running, release the key.
driving  
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Key left in the "Ignition on" 
position
If the key has been left in the ignition switch 
at position 2 (Ignition on), the ignition will 
be switched off automatically after one hour.
To switch the ignition back on, turn the 
key to position 1 (Stop) , then back to 
position
 2 
(Ignition on) .
F Stop the vehicle.
F
 W ith the engine running at idle, turn the key 
to position 1 .
F
 
R
 emove the key from the ignition switch.
F
 
T
 o lock the steering column, turn the 
steering until it locks.
Switching off the engine
To facilitate unlocking of the steering 
column, it is recommended that the 
wheels be returned to the straight ahead 
position before switching off the engine.
When you leave the vehicle, keep the 
key with you and lock the vehicle.
For more information, refer to the 
"Practical information" section, under 
"Energy economy mode".
Never switch off the ignition before the 
vehicle is at a complete stop. With the 
engine off, the braking and steering 
assistance systems are also cut off: 
risk of loss of control of the vehicle.
Energy economy mode
After switching off the engine (position 1- Stop
), 
for a maximum of 30 minutes you can still use 
functions such as the audio and telematic 
system, the wipers, dipped beam headlamps, 
courtesy lamps,
  ...
F
 
C
heck that the parking brake is correctly 
applied, particularly on sloping ground. 
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187
Starting / Switching off the engine with Keyless Entry and 
Starting
Starting the engine
F Place the gear selector lever P or n  with 
an automatic gearbox, or neutral with a 
manual gearbox.
F
 
W
 ith the electronic key inside the vehicle, 
press the brake pedal for vehicles with an 
automatic gearbox, or fully declutch for 
vehicles with a manual gearbox. F
 
B
 riefly press the "
S TA R T/
STOP " button while maintaining 
pressure on the pedal until the 
engine starts. If the electronic key is not detected 
in the zone, a message is displayed. 
Move the electronic key into the zone 
so that the engine can be started.
If one of the starting conditions is not 
met, a reminder message appears in 
the instrument panel screen. In some 
circumstances, it is necessary to 
turn the steering wheel slightly while 
pressing the " START/STOP " button 
to assist unlocking of the steering; 
a message warns you when this is 
needed.
The presence of the "Keyless Entry 
and Starting" electronic key in the 
recognition zone is essential.
As a safety measure, do not leave this 
zone with the vehicle running.
diesel vehicles
In temperatures below zero 
the engine will not start until 
the preheater warning lamp 
has gone off.
If this warning lamp comes on after 
pressing " START/STOP ", you should 
hold the brake or clutch pedal down 
until the warning lamp goes off and do 
not press the " START/STOP" button 
again.
The steering column unlocks and the engine 
starts more or less instantly.
See the advice below for Diesel versions.
It is not necessary to place the electronic key in 
the reader.
driving  
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Switching off the engine
If the vehicle is not immobilised, the 
engine will not stop.
Do not leave your vehicle with the 
electronic key still inside.
Switching off the engine leads to a loss 
of braking assistance.
F
 
I
mmobilise the vehicle.
F
 
P
lace the gear selector at P or  n  with 
an automatic gearbox, or neutral with a 
manual gearbox.
F 
W
 ith the electronic key inside 
the vehicle, press the " S TA R T/
STOP " button.
The engine stops and the steering 
column locks.
Emergency starting
When the electronic key is in the recognition 
zone and, after pressing the " START/STOP" 
button, the engine does not start:
F
 
P
 lace the gear selector at P or  n  for 
vehicles with an automatic gearbox or 
neutral for vehicles with a manual gearbox. F
 P lace the electronic key in the back-up 
reader.
 (
see the "Access - Back-up key" section).
F
 
P
 ress the brake pedal on vehicles with an 
automatic gearbox, or fully declutch with a 
manual gearbox.
F
 
P
 ress the "START/STOP " 
button.
 T
he engine starts.