Intermittent problems with 1999 Xsara 2.0 HDi

foxycitroen · Post by **foxycitroen** » 17 Apr 2009, 13:56

Problems started last summer. I reversed out of a parking space and then it cut out completely. Would not start and ended up being towed home! The following day gave it a good check over, fitted new fuel filter and air filter but still would not start. After hours checking one thing after another, came to the conclusion that the fuel pump fitted behind the drivers chair was not starting and there was no diesel getting to the engine. Removed that pump and took it to local garage who tested it and told me it was working fine. Refitted it and the car started.

Drove fine for a week and then it did the same thing to me at work and I had to be recovered home. When it got lowered off the low-loader I stuck the key in and it started first time!!!! Frustration!!! Took it to a local garage the following day and they stuck it on diagnostic machine which picked up about five or six codes, the majority of which pointed towards problems with the fuel system. 1135 and 1169 are two that I can remember. They cleared the codes for me and told me that it may work fine or they may come back!! If they come back it would mean a new fuel pump relay and eventually a new ECU!

I changed the fuel pump relay and again the car worked fine for a week before the same fault occurred.

Since then it has cut out on me completely several times and it has also lost power steering, assisted braking and overall power, which has normally been solved by pulling over and restarting.

I have a workaround now which is two cables attached directly to the battery with connectors on the ends to plug directly onto the pump under the back seat. With these attached the car works fine!!!!

I had the car MOT’ed by a Citroen specialist who told me that it was likely that the fault was caused by ‘French wiring’!

Could this mean a new ECU or is there another, cheaper option?

Nuneatonrob · Post by **Nuneatonrob** » 20 Apr 2009, 11:39

To me it sounds like the lift pump in the tank under the back seat is at fault. Just before mine died, it started making strange noises when I first turned the key in the ignition but not cranking the engine. It made a sort of groaning sound. It may be that running power directly to the pump is giving it just that little bit more voltage than the cars own loom, and is just enough to spin the pump up properly, making it appear to be 'OK'

The problem manifested itself as one day I left work, car started fine, stopped briefly on the way home, got back to the car, tried starting and the engine would not start. I banged the bottom of the fuel tank (AA trick I learned) while cranking the engine, and it started, got most of the way home, and the engine stalled, engine managment light came on and it ground to a halt.

Next day i replaced the in tank lift pump, about £70 from GSF, and it's been fine ever since.

The exact same issue happened to me when I was driving another company owned Xsara a few years back. (Where I learned the bang the tank while trying to start it trick)

foxycitroen · Post by **foxycitroen** » 21 Apr 2009, 13:20

Nuneatonrob - thanks for the suggestion but I forgot to add this to the original post:

I did purchase an lift pump from GSF and it made no difference - the problem continued to happen. The car would start and then almost immediately cut out.

On the odd occasion I remove the contacts for the temporary cable from the top of the lift pump and replace the original connector so that I can see how much diesel is left and on the odd occasion I hear the pump start whirring.

The only solution I have so far is the leads from the battery direct to the lift pump which is not ideal.

Any other ideas?

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 22 Apr 2009, 17:45

the 2 round interconnectors behind the ECU cause problems with power going to the LP fuel pump. One of them has the fuel pump wiring from the double relay going through them. When checked at the pump connector with a voltmeter it will still show 12v but there is not enought current there & it wont light up a filament bulb test lamp. Remove & clean both these connectors & see how that goes.

foxycitroen · Post by **foxycitroen** » 24 Apr 2009, 14:59

This may be a stupid question but I'm not great with cars. I mean, Haynes manual might as well be written in Japanese!

Could you tell me what the round interconnectors look like? Before I touch anything, I want to make sure that it is the right thing!!!

Are they red? Am I in the right place?

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 24 Apr 2009, 16:46

If i remember right one is black & one is brown & both are 23 pins they are located in between the ECU & the bulkhead, they look just like the connectors that go between the front doors & the body, they twist anticlockwise to disconect them.