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A common problem with Peugeot/Citroen automatic transmission.

Model: Citroen C4 MK 2 - Years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Part: Transmission

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Video tutorial

In this video we talk about a common fault on Peugeot/Citroen automatic transmissions; these are the symptoms: the transmission starts in third gear instead of first; the gears change in jumps; the ABS and stability control lights come on, locking into a fixed gear (usually third) to protect itself.

The problem is not the transmission but an auxiliary system.

In fact, the automatic transmission of these vehicles does not have its own speed sensor, and the transmission control unit - to know at what speed the vehicle is traveling - relies on the data from the ABS/ESP system, in particular the speed sensor of the front right wheel.

So if this sensor fails or gets stuck, the transmission no longer knows the vehicle's speed, and for safety it locks into emergency mode.

The solution is diagnosis with an OBD scanner, where the code will be something like "communication with ABS module". We check the real-time data; you will notice that the front right wheel shows "0 km/h" even when the car is in motion. Very often the fault is not the sensor but the magnetic ring (or "tone wheel") integrated into the wheel bearing, which can break or chip, preventing the correct reading by the sensor.

Replace it, clear the error and the transmission will work properly again.


Posted on 31 August 2025 by ScegliAuto


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