For some time now I have noticed my speedo reading low and have adjusted my driving to overcome this, but I have now realised that most, if not all of my instruments read low. Does anyone know if there is a common voltage regulator?
Its a Xantia 1.9 TD SX 1996
Regards
Exect
Instrument Panel Regulator
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Nope,
Citroen are not cheap-skates and use a dedicated speed sensor (called a VSS) on the gearbox final drive.
The rest of the gauges are noted for their inaccuracy, especially the fuel gauge
One sure way to check is to get a Lexia on the car and see what it says about engine speed, road speed and coolant temperature and then go, compare.
I would think the instruments will have a basic voltage regulator on board somewhere else the fuel and temperature gauges (being analogue instruments) would read significantly different with with the engine running and not running. I can't say as I've seen one though.
In fact, thinking on, that's a potential test. Note the fuel gauge reading with the engine stopped and headlights on. The start up and see if the reading changes appreciably. If it does then the regulator is not doing a good job and if the gauge does not move then it is doing it's job.
Citroen are not cheap-skates and use a dedicated speed sensor (called a VSS) on the gearbox final drive.
The rest of the gauges are noted for their inaccuracy, especially the fuel gauge
One sure way to check is to get a Lexia on the car and see what it says about engine speed, road speed and coolant temperature and then go, compare.
I would think the instruments will have a basic voltage regulator on board somewhere else the fuel and temperature gauges (being analogue instruments) would read significantly different with with the engine running and not running. I can't say as I've seen one though.
In fact, thinking on, that's a potential test. Note the fuel gauge reading with the engine stopped and headlights on. The start up and see if the reading changes appreciably. If it does then the regulator is not doing a good job and if the gauge does not move then it is doing it's job.
Jim
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They are not (as far as I remember) the usual 780x type 3 pin regulators, if they are they are not labelled as such.
When they do tend to fail (which is rare, and I'll be honest I've only seen it on another make) , the readings (excluding speedo and tacho) only fuel / temp tend to move up and down with rpm slightly.
They will have something on the panel though, the only panel I have to hand (!) is from an Astra of all things, and that has one on, although its got non standard numbers on it unfortunately.
The purpose of the regulator is to supply a steady current / voltage to the gauges mainly.
When they do tend to fail (which is rare, and I'll be honest I've only seen it on another make) , the readings (excluding speedo and tacho) only fuel / temp tend to move up and down with rpm slightly.
They will have something on the panel though, the only panel I have to hand (!) is from an Astra of all things, and that has one on, although its got non standard numbers on it unfortunately.
The purpose of the regulator is to supply a steady current / voltage to the gauges mainly.
Andy.
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My thoughts were that if its a regulator of say 10volts, it would probably be a 9volt reg with a diode in the earth return, and if this diode failed then we would be down to 9v, therfore giving everything a low reading.
If the regulator failed giving the full 12volts then I would expect everything to read high and fluctuate with engine speed.
Exect
If the regulator failed giving the full 12volts then I would expect everything to read high and fluctuate with engine speed.
Exect