Turbo fails at 2900 revs, main d say it is ECU, Xantia

zoics99 · Post by **zoics99** » 30 Apr 2010, 13:02

Help! I have a Citroen Xantia, 2.0 Hdi, Estate, 1999, which i adore, but have just had my first bit of engine trouble.

At 2900 revs the Turbo seems to Flat-line. Main dealer say it is the ECU. The turbo control switch failed and this seems to haev started the problem, but even after this was replaced it nopw errors.

The Main dealer say they reset the ECU to basic settings, but still not fixed.
Any ideas?

They have quoted £700 for the ECU replacement.....

Thanks,
matt

Post by **DHallworth** » 30 Apr 2010, 13:50

If it is the ECU, that's about the going rate from a main agent or it was in 2001 so by todays standards, probably isn't a bad price.

My dad paid £700 for an ECU to be supplied and fitted to his Activa back in 2001, 2 months after the warranty on the car had expired.

David.

spider · Post by **spider** » 30 Apr 2010, 14:26

Would be worth you finding someone locally with a Lexia to pop it on to see what fault(s) show up.

Gammy leg · Post by **Gammy leg** » 30 Apr 2010, 15:25

ECU's can be repaired/refurbed ( although not all of them ). These people http://www.bba-reman.com/uk/index.aspx should be able to quote for a replacement if you find that it is necessary.
Their forum is quite good also - although not as good as FCF of course.

Gammy

zoics99 · Post by **zoics99** » 30 Apr 2010, 15:41

Thanks for the advice. Does anybody know of why teh symptoms might be caused? Maybe the MAP sensor needs changing, could there be over/under pressure causing this issue? seems like a self-protect/limp home mode?

Thanks,
Matt

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 30 Apr 2010, 16:11

As above Matt, see if there's a member near you with a Lexia.

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 30 Apr 2010, 23:46

Don't know anything about Xantia's but........

If the turbo is flat lining then that would likely be because the waste gate is opening and holding it down to that speed or more accurately pressure. I guess that the ECU will control the waste gate electro valve to apply vacuum to the waste gate but not sure which way round probably vac to open waste gate.

The ECU in turn is almost certainly looking at manifold pressure for primary control.

So A Lexia run looking at waste gate control signal and manifold pressure might be a good start plus checks of the vacuum supply to the waste gate might show something.

Removing the vac supply to the electro valve and then going for a run might prove something as well don't forget to plug the open vac pipe.

Of course this could be complete b*?&ocks as like I said I know nothing about Xantias.

Edit
Just thought some more about this how do you know the turbo is running out of boost? could just as easily be running out of fuel the effect would be the same.

cachaciero

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 01 May 2010, 19:31

Further to my previous commenst FWIW 2900 RPM sounds awfully like the LIMP MODE limit on a C5 would expect an error code to be locked into the ECU + engine management light though.

cachaciero

zoics99 · Post by **zoics99** » 04 May 2010, 15:31

Thanks All, waiting to hear back on the ECU for now.

Matt

zoics99 · Post by **zoics99** » 10 May 2010, 11:18

Citroen have returned my Xantia, and recommended taking it elsewhere for the ECU to be checked.

First they changed the electro valve, and then they thought that the Cat was blocked, but this did not seem to be the case. They have put the original Electro valve back on, and have only charged £50 for the diagnostics and labour, so not too bad really.

So now I will do a little trouble shooting before I take it in. It appears that the the car goes into Limp mode when under load. It was revving freely until I accelerated up a hill, at which point the limp mode cut back in. It certainly seems to lack a little power throughout the range, even when not in Limp.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 10 May 2010, 13:26

I'm surprised that a main dealer suggests you go elsewhere to get the standard ECU diagnosed! What's the reason there?

Did they give you a diagnostic printout? If not, can you go back and ask for it? I suspect it would be most helpful and revealing.

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 10 May 2010, 15:16

MikeT wrote:I'm surprised that a main dealer suggests you go elsewhere to get the standard ECU diagnosed! What's the reason there?

Did they give you a diagnostic printout? If not, can you go back and ask for it? I suspect it would be most helpful and revealing.

Yes I would second that, very strange where did the main dealer suggest you go? to a Citroen agent

I suspect it's a case of "Ah.. it's an old Xantia we don't fix those on principal"

cachaciero

zoics99 · Post by **zoics99** » 10 May 2010, 17:00

apparently they spent quite some time on it, and they outsource all their older ECU items. I think they were keen to get rid of it as they could not fix it, and I guess it is cheaper this way for me...
Will be unable to look at the car for a couple of days, will be back when I have more info. Thanks all.

zoics99 · Post by **zoics99** » 11 Jun 2010, 15:31

Hi all,

I have cleaned the MAF sensor now (with meths and cotton buds), just after the air filter. This has made no difference, and I am looking to the MAP sensor? Is it near the intercooler, as I am yet to find it.

The pipework seems OK. What is the best access to the EGR valve and associated pipe work for the vacumn feed?

Thanks,
Matt

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 11 Jun 2010, 17:34

If you've got a MAF, there won't be a MAP.

Where are you located? There's several members with Lexia (diagnostic machines) willing to help you if you're local to them.

French Car Forum

Turbo fails at 2900 revs, main d say it is ECU, Xantia

Turbo fails at 2900 revs, main d say it is ECU, Xantia

update - still not working