car won't start unless in second gear

davoxx · Unread post by **davoxx** » 06 Mar 2011, 08:45

weird problem here

the car won't start in neutral, will start in 2nd or fourth or reverse (holding clutch).
dies immediate after i pull it out of gear, unless i hold down the accelerator and then will die once i release the accelerator.
no power at all, and stalls in second so i could not get it even down the road.

kinda started cutting out in neutral and idling funny over the last week or two, gave the throttle body a clean (which seemed to make it better for two hours?)

any ideas?

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 06 Mar 2011, 09:13

Once upon a time that was a classic case of points closing up.

Similarly, I suspect your spark is weak to poor.

davoxx · Unread post by **davoxx** » 06 Mar 2011, 09:14

figured it out.

the connection for the cam sensor? had fallen at the gear linkages, and the 2nd/4th/reverse gears were pushing it ... which broke the connection.

so i need to solder a new connection in situ ...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 06 Mar 2011, 09:41

davoxx wrote:figured it out.

Excellent

I was going to suggest just that but you found it before me

I once encountered a Saxo that would cut out going around left-handers.

I found a connector had lost its retainer and was coming apart on left-handers and then reconnecting itself when the steering was brought straight-ahead

davoxx · Unread post by **davoxx** » 06 Mar 2011, 12:11

my connector is damaged

so i'll have to cut it off and stick a new one on it ... i'm not to handy with soldering wires though

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 06 Mar 2011, 12:18

I'm not fond of soldering automotive wires at all, especially Citroen ones. Soldering causes the wire to become very brittle in the region of the joint and this can cause the wire to break at the joint, especially one subject to movement and vibration, which the TDC sensor certainly is!

I'd suggest you use butt crimps to join the wires but do make sure you get a high quality crimp tool. Those cheap ones you so often see in crimp kits are absolutely useless. They will not make a good, reliable joint.

Get hold of something like this:

They're not cheap but they do a good, professional job and strengthens your wrist and hand muscles at the same time

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 06 Mar 2011, 19:37

Hi Davoxx, if the wiring to the connector is OK, you can buy just the connector block and the service tool to remove the connectors from the block, as they are held in place by a sprung part of the connector.

Very easy once you know how, no soldering, no iffy connections, no cut wires, takes a matter of minutes to complete.

Thought Jim would have known that, being an TV engineer an' all.

Handyman

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 06 Mar 2011, 20:08

handyman wrote: Thought Jim would have known that, being an TV engineer an' all.

I indeed was one a TV engineer, that was 35 years ago now

Seriously, I never knew you could buy replacement connector bodies. Excellently useful information

Thanks handyman!

davoxx · Unread post by **davoxx** » 06 Mar 2011, 20:27

damn you guys!!! you should have told me earlier

i had to cut out the broken connector (the wire going into the block had broken) and changed the sensor (the wire had broken inside near the sensor) anyway .. back on the road!!!

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 07 Mar 2011, 10:33

You can even buy the terminal connections as they are just crimp connected, so if you get a breakage near the block, it is possible to fit a new terminal. This assumes there is some slack in the cabling, which is not always true with PSA cars.

If you cannot source these electrical components, PM me as I keep a regular stock of some parts, and they ain't expensive.

Handyman

davoxx · Unread post by **davoxx** » 07 Mar 2011, 14:15

handyman wrote:You can even buy the terminal connections as they are just crimp connected, so if you get a breakage near the block, it is possible to fit a new terminal. This assumes there is some slack in the cabling, which is not always true with PSA cars.

If you cannot source these electrical components, PM me as I keep a regular stock of some parts, and they ain't expensive.

Handyman

Thanks!! but i've already solved the issue using a replacement connector from my parts car and taping the wires together .. i'll get them crimped once i get that cool looking crimper above.

pug_owner2002 · Unread post by **pug_owner2002** » 07 Mar 2011, 21:54

CitroJim wrote:I'm not fond of soldering automotive wires at all, especially Citroën ones. Soldering causes the wire to become very brittle in the region of the joint and this can cause the wire to break at the joint, especially one subject to movement and vibration, which the TDC sensor certainly is!

Nor me after having to do the TDC sensor on the scenic at the weekend (had to change the connector as the new sensor had a diferent one, change over year apparently). It was a PITA job as there was hardly any wire on the loom to play with.