Joe,
something I don't understand is why you're using 'a tiny bit of choke' when the temperature is around 0*C.
None of my cars will start in this weather without full choke.

ken
( I had a wasted journey of about 60 miles a few Winters back when a customer complained that her Dyane wouldn't start when the weather was very cold.
Got there, put the choke on, turned the key and it fired up straight away.
Turned out her (ex)husband had advised her never to use the choke... )

If you have seen sparks then act on this -substitution from donor - new (ouch)
Still need to get the cranking speed up regardless - What is the next plan?
Remember this saying "KISS" - meaning -
Keep it Simple Stupid
Not that you are stupid or anyone reading this is BUT alot of people jump in too deep too soon! And feedback from this forum is given on symptoms that you and you alone are giving

Shes never needed choke to start ken, and she doesnt run anything past half choke, say shes on half choke, cold engine, anymore and she'll splutter and cut out, hence i've never used full choke, but with a tiny bit of choke she was starting and idling for a few seconds then cutting out! I've swapped the leads for a spare set i had but im ordering new in the morning! And i may have an early xmas pressie in the form of a brand new heavy duty battery!

Maybe worth cleaning up the contacts in the ignition switch? I'd also be using full choke for cold starting. If the vacuum thingy on top of the carb is missing or not working, then you may need to push it back in about halfway as soon as it fires.

cheers for that luke, i will have a look if these problems persist! today i tried her without the jump pack as it was reasonably milder this morning,full choke, nothing, half choke, nothing, cranking wasnt quite upto speed either but it did get slightly faster, then i tried again with the jump pack, cranking was quicker but still no firing with full or half choke, so i whipped out the good old handle, and with a tiny amount of choke, probably about a finger's width when pulled out, she fired up first time, and carried on running, i did then open the choke a little more when i felt it was safe and she then revved upto a nice high idle

didnt get round to ordering new leads this morning, was up a little late, but i've now got a brand new heavy duty lion battery on her, which hardly fit! the battery clamp is right at the end of the threads! i've checked her charging in all normal daytime and nightime conditions, and strangely enough the multimeter says different to the charge meter on the dash... that reads low at night almost in the crosshatch section, but according to the multimeter shes still charging at over 14.4V even with the sub on and the headlights on she's still perfectly charging! so im wondering whether the batteries were going duff from the cold? but i'll find out and post back when i try to leave work at 11pm tonight!!

one thing that puzzles me, is why would the original charge indicator read low when shes actually charging normally?

Having read through this thread it looks like I may have more carb issues than I thought. Mine starts with no choke, always has done, but even in this weather I am managing to coax it into life without choke (as it's disconnected) albeit with a bit of a struggle.

It's too bloody cold to start messing with it now but the only needing half choke max thing sounds very similar to what gay-joe has said about his.

Luke,
I'd agree about checking the ignition contact drum.
One way of testing it, before pulling everything apart, is to disconnect the lead which goes to the starter solenoid and watch to see of the oil pressure light flickers or even goes out when the key is turned to the 'start' position.

Here's a quick and easy way of limiting the movement of the choke flap, by inverting the little hook which engaged with the 'choke pull-off' lever.
It needs bending slightly to the side once inverted.
Good of Citroen to provide 'adaptable' parts, with this mod working well on that pair of red specials which sat here for a few weeks during the very cold spell.
Both started fine as -10*C...


Limiting travel of choke flap. by slcchassis, on Flickr



This is as far as it goes... by slcchassis, on Flickr

I'll definately have the ignition barrel checked before next weeks big spend... last night i tried her around 7pm and she started fine on a little choke and i kept her warm for abit, and then again at 11pm she started up fine!

come 9am this morning, she was exactly the same as every other morning for the past couple of weeks. Even with a brand spanking new heavy duty battery which has a garuntee of working perfectly at upto -18oC she still wouldn't start! so i definately dont think the battery is the problem, although dad has bought home the biggest battery charger i think i've ever seen!

new starter and leads next week as both the starter and leads im using atm are spares and i have no idea how old they are, change the points n condensor aswell (hope i dont get a dud set this time) and then i'll go for elecy ignition next year when i've been paid again i'll change the coil aswell, will be going for the yellow type!

Damp issues.

Bosch Super 4's may be part of the problem: they shield the plug from the mixture somewhat and are really designed for the far more energetic sparks delivered by a fully electronic ignition system.

I'm not laying the blame entirely at their door, but they certainly won't be helping matters. Standard plugs as supplied by the usual vendors are absolutely fine and far cheaper.