Xsara hdi indicator stalk problems

[dean36014]

Just to add I had no randomness with the lights, they just didn't work no matter what you did.

[GiveMeABreak]

And here lies the problem Dean - you don't really want to go replacing parts willy nilly. I would suggest a Lexia diagnostic to rule out anything else, then keep an eye on it and try to determine when the issues occur more. It's difficult in the daytime as you need to keep your eye on the road - but an indication that our lights were turning on and off during the day was the number of people flashing us or waving that I didn't know! Either that or speed camera traps!

Have you checked out the Lexia owners willing to help here:
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 19&t=56452

[dean36014]

Didn't know there was a list, I see theres someone in hinckley which is close to coventry. I know the van stood for a while before I brought it last week so I'm crossing everything maybe some damp has got in somewhere!!! Will look into getting it sorted next month. I had no randomness with the lights, the main beam and fogs just didn't work, dip beam and indicators functioned perfectly. Would be good to get it scanned properly, i have a fault code relating to the glowplugs but it starts perfectly.

[GiveMeABreak]

OK, well if you're not getting intermittent problems and the main and fogs just weren't working, then I may be leaning more towards the fusebox. I'll have a look at the fuses for the lights and report back.

[dean36014]

soon as it warms up i will. thanks for all your help, most appreciated

[GiveMeABreak]

I've had a look Dean and apart from checking the fuses, (check F8 in passenger compartment), I would suggest checking the earthing points - there are 2 for the front lights - MC21 on the left and MC12 on the right - all the earths are marked with M, so might be worth checking all those in the vicinity. Check to make sure there is no corrosion and they are making good contact with the body. Check the wires for any breakages / kinks where possible.

This is the diagram for the earthing on your vehicle Dean:

It's always worth looking at the simple inexpensive possibilities first.

[dean36014]

Oh I agree completely. Its a cheap unusual van and don't want to spend a fortune on it

[dean36014]

lights played up again, tapped top of steering column and they work again. Think that will be first place I look.

[GiveMeABreak]

Now that does look like the Comms unit - a slight tap there would indicate this is the problem area Dean - so looks like it's back to the original suspect!

[dean36014]

As an update to this I bit the bullet and managed to gt the end of the light stalk in situ. My reasoning behind this that it was only the headlight switch functions that played up. found a slight ridge worn in the copper tracks, so I carefully scraped them flatter and cleaned them up with contact cleaner. It was a fiddle to get it back together but my lights now seem to be working correctly. how long for is anyones guess but at least i know what the fault is. so my next question is now its not a comms unit fault could I buy one the indicator stalks off ebay for 30 quid and just replace that if it goes again? on a bit of a budget so 30 is better than 120 for a recon one if its not too much of a fiddle to fit.

[GiveMeABreak]

That's what one of the Comms 2000 faults is Dean - the stalks are made slightly differently between manufacturers and models - they gradually wear out in use as the contacts wear down causing intermittent faults. Some have taken these apart and attempted repair successfully, others have bit the bullet and got a replacement. There can be other issues associated with these units though too.

Glad you have cured the fault temporarily, though I suspect at some point it will just wear through again. It is very rare that the indicator stalks are sold separately as they are part of the Comms unit itself. Taking these out would render the donor unit unusable. The units are generally sold complete with lighting / indicator and wiper stalks and are either complete refurbs or new units. If you did manage to find some spare stalks, be aware that they can be different although they may look the same! They can have different contact mechanisms inside the stalks, so would need to be an exact match for the original unit.

[dean36014]

Ah ok thanks for that. Will see how long it lasts and then bit the bullet and buy a recon one. Now to try and find a new plastic handle for the rear storage locker that snapped off yesterday. Can't seem to find one anywhere, and no part number I can see on it.

[GiveMeABreak]

Rear Storage Locker? Can you elaborate on this and I might be able to look up a part for you.

[dean36014]

Ok thanks. In the xsara estates or vans there is a side storage locker where the wheel brace/ handle to release spare wheel cradle is kept. Theres another on the other side. There is a round plastic knob that turns to release the locker cover which has snapped the head off. think they are a similar knob in picasso's too.

[GiveMeABreak]

This is the only thing I can see...

Brace Stowage