More Xantia Electrical gremlins Update

rory_perrett · Unread post by **rory_perrett** » 18 Sep 2005, 14:53

Quick recap.
Car 1998 Series 2 Xantia 2.1TD
Heated rear window working last Saturday night, car not used Sunday, heated rear window not working Monday morning.
Subsequently found the cigarette lighter and hazard flashers not working either.
What I found yesterday.
There is a permanently live 12v supply from the battery to Max fuse C which is an 80amp fuse located in the under bonnet fuse box. The wire from this disappears through the left hand side inner wing.
By the time this feed re-appears at the passenger compartment fuse box it has become two wires. One being one of two wires to a double connector the other being the only wire to a single connector.
The wire in the double connector appears to be the power feed for the heated rear window, hazard flashers and cigarette lighter. The single connector appears to be the feed for the sunroof, rear electric windows and heated seats.
Checking with a multimeter, all fuses showed continuity.
12.5v was present at Max fuse C. 12.5v present at the single connector and 12.34v present at the wire terminating in the double connector.
Swapping the two connectors over resulted in the heated rear window etc working and the rear windows etc not working.
My conclusion is that the problem lies at or somewhere between where the wire splits into two and the fuse box connectors. I suspect that finding the split point without major dismantling is going to be neigh on impossible, unless anyone happens to know where it is.
I’m assuming that although I’ve got 12.34v something is restricting the current. Can any auto electricians out there suggest why?
Rory

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 18 Sep 2005, 17:04

Dont know on the design of the Xantia wire splitter. But on BX'es it is wellknown that these heavy duty connectors go open circuit because of bad quality in the crimping of the connectors & corrosion.
It is very clear from your diagnosis that you have a similar problem on your Xantia. Follow the problem towards the battery using a heavy Amp bulb (21W) as most often you dont see the problem if the wire is not loaded with at least some current consumption.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 18 Sep 2005, 19:35

If its that difficult to get at, why not just run a new wire in parallel with the existing one?