Citroen Xsara Picasso keeps cutting out

Possibly idle stepper motor ?

I have been having the same problem with my partners 2001 1.6 8 valve picasso, coming to a junction and braking the car would cut out but re start straight away. No fault codes stored and no engine warning lamp illuminated, changed idle speed control valve but same problem, was advised to have a software update done at my local auto electricians, cost £40, then a mate who works for citroen told me to remove the throttle butterfly and drill a 1.5mm hole in the butterfly, did this a couple of weeks ago and the car has not cut out at a junction since. This seems to have cured our picasso, revs went up slightly but used a code reader with an rpm display and adjusted the revs back down, touch wood no problems since.

My husband is having the same problem our car just keeps losing power we have had it hooked up to a machine and they still can,t find anything wrong it,s had a new relay housing cause one garage thought that might be the problem but it wasn,t.
Everytime we take it to the garage it seemed to be fine for a little while then the problem just come,s right back we are at a lost as to what it could be sometimes there,s a light that flash,s on saying charge battery but it,s not there all the time we got a new battery that helped for a couple of days but then the prob returned we really don,t know what else to do any more it cuts out at junction,s on slip roads at round about,s every where please can anyone help

i know this is an old post but maybe useful to someone looking for solution to the above problem. It worked on my Picasso and i never thought it would, worth a try before you spend money....

start with engine off

turn key so car on but not engine...leave for 10 seconds

turn off for 10 seconds

turn on again (not engine) this time with foot fully on gas for 10 secs

turn off for 10 seconds

start engine with foot fully on gas for 2 seconds then release foot...

Then it should run fine....resets what it needs to.

just glad my bro in law was head mechanic at blacker as bet they don't tell you this normally

hope this helps someone

Thanks for this solution, do you remove the key from the ignition when you turn off for 10 seconds, or leave the key in, just turn off the ignition/ car?

Many thanks to sarah2108!

Your magnificent suggestion worked the first time following many failed attempt here aforementioned.

Your are Star!

Thanks!

Many thanks to sarah2108!

Have to say I did not think this would work I gave it a go and so far so good. Great sitting at traffic lights and the car does not cut out.

I've had the same problem recently with my 2000 Xsara Picasso. The engine would just stop at junctions and would not idle but would start straight away. Later it developed an erratic idle hunting, sometimes racing and then dropping and struggling to idle. Plugged the laptop in and it came up with a Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor error out of range, inactive. I replaced the MAP sensor, around £14 and a 5 minute job, it is easy to find on the front of the inlet manifold 1 screw, one connector. On initial start up the engine still ran roughly but took it for a test drive and within 2-3 minutes the engine settled down and has been sweet as a nut ever since.

I need to add my name to the list for this problem too.
The problem is cutting out when the gas pedal is not pressed. Mostly although not exclusively: at lights or turning corners; after the car has been in traffic for 5mins or more; when is on an incline.

I have had 3 new MAP's and a new Battery but to no lasting effect (with the problem arising anywhere from 1 to 5 days.)
I have previously tried the On/Off procedure described here when it was advised by an RAC man.

I would try the soldering solution and the hole in the throttle butterfly (with re-tuned revs) as mentioned here but before I do either... does anyone have any knowledge of an admission of problem for this issue from Citroen? or a definite name for this problem that I could give to a Citroen dealer?

thanks in advance.

Hi, I had the same problem and your answer came up when I Googled the issue. It worked!!!! Thank you so much.