Modern ECU Equipped Cars: Precautions & Measures

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

As some of you will already know, daughter has moved into the realms of 'moderns' with a 2005 Cit C3 1.1 Petrol....

...which is a world away from my Pug 405, and additionally its got Spark Plugs, not Glow Plugs!
(pleased and a little surprised to note its still cable operated throttle though).

I've already learnt that 'Plug & Play' doesn't always apply even if it appears to physically fit just fine. For future reference and BEFORE something breaks and it's a rush to sort it promptly (it inevitably will), can someone point me in the direction please re....

Removal & Refitting of Battery - can I have it in & out in much the same way as I would on a non-ECU car, or would I be 'asking for trouble' to do so? I can see that for instance to change the air filter it'd likely be a lot easier 'out'
.....and if it turns out the high clutch isn't new and perhaps not well bled (believed hydraulic and changed 1,000miles ago but you can never be 100% sure) that'll be 'on the menu' too.
I recall reading something about putting the headlights on, on reconnection, I guess to avoid power surge...but should I have a Lexia or similar to hand before I 'risk it'.

Changing electrical components: alternator failure perhaps: bolt in new & go, or more to it than that? I know from a convo a while back that on 'ultra-moderns' you have to tell the ECU that the new part is there in a similar way to how you'd install a driver for a new computer printer; else it's as if you've not changed it at all.

Anticipated change of exhaust through pipe (downpipe to back box, literally just a pipe I think) which looks crusty, but is sound at the moment, expected not to last long - can I just disconnect & reconnect an exhaust sensor if necessary, or is there more to it than that?

Spark Plug change: I haven't owned or 'spannered' a petrol car since at least 1993, so am unsure about avoiding any potential risk of snapping em off 'Glowplug style' (is there much risk aside from that of damaging the Ceramic which surely is neither here nor there if they're being chucked). I remember knackering a Helicoil on my 1442cc Talbot Alpine many years back, but hopefully I'm not that clumsy any more.

Do I need to know who's got a Lexia near me and is reasonably 'available'. What sort of purchase cost are we talking for summat used that'll do the trick relevant to this car [I guess there'll be all sorts of 'useability that doesn't apply to a 12 year old car and I therefore don't need] £100+ Double that or more? More like £50?

....or can I connect it via a 'hard wired link' and software of some sort to a laptop when the scenario arises?

Garage repairs are a last resort, and on a car of this value (£400), unlikely; so I'm gonna have to learn! Thanks guys !

[Hell Razor5543]

You will need a good Lexia clone to communicate with the ECUs. Easy Diagnostics do equipment that has the full chipset (unlike some of the cheaper clones), so it can communicate with modern PSA vehicles (mine has 'talked' to X7 C5s with no problems). Easy Diagnostics will also give a 15% discount to Forum members;

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=56324
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=57989

It is very likely that you will need to follow a procedure to disconnecting the battery, as there are a lot of ECUs in there that will want to be shut down properly. Here is the procedure for the C5 (but you can ignore the suspension bits) that should also work on a C3;

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 11&t=40407

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

thanks James, looks like Easy Diagnostics set up is completely out of the question in my case (due to price: I accept would potentially 'pay for itself' but the £330 approx cost equates to well over the value of my most monetarily valuable possession (that's the 405, I really am quite poor).

The detail in the listing detail http://www.easydiagnostics.co.uk/shop/4 ... )/11173624 does however give me a good 'start' in finding something that might be 'affordable'

and I guess that surely you don't need to buy a 'specific laptop'.... heck partner's old Laptop or my Tower PC (or one of those gathering dust in the loft) on a 25metre extension lead in the car if need be.

....and a preliminary search on the bay shows kits at around £60: seems the ones with the 'Diagbox' stuff sell best.

So thankyou... and also thanks for the link re Battery removal & reconnection: am confident that will be getting printed off for use at the roadside in the future

NB: I see these 'Diagboxes' all have different version numbers, I wonder if I can find out how new a version I need for her 2005 C3 for use with Win 7 64bit or Win XP OS? Surely the more out of date it is, the cheaper it'll be

[GiveMeABreak]

Removal & Refitting of Batter[/b]y - can I have it in & out in much the same way as I would on a non-ECU car, or would I be 'asking for trouble' to do so? I can see that for instance to change the air filter it'd likely be a lot easier 'out' I recall reading something about putting the headlights on, on reconnection, I guess to avoid power surge...but should I have a Lexia or similar to hand before I 'risk it'.
You don't need a Lexia for removing / refitting the battery - just follow the guidance for the Battery Replacement Linked to above.

Changing electrical component[/b]s: alternator failure perhaps: bolt in new & go, or more to it than that? I know from a convo a while back that on 'ultra-moderns' you have to tell the ECU that the new part is there in a similar way to how you'd install a driver for a new computer printer; else it's as if you've not changed it at all.
The Alternator does not need coding, so can be replaced

Anticipated change of exhaust through pipe[/b] (downpipe to back box, literally just a pipe I think) which looks crusty, but is sound at the moment, expected not to last long - can I just disconnect & reconnect an exhaust sensor if necessary, or is there more to it than that?
No coding on the exhaust sensors

Spark Plug change: I haven't owned or 'spannered' a petrol car since at least 1993, so am unsure about avoiding any potential risk of snapping em off 'Glowplug style' (is there much risk aside from that of damaging the Ceramic which surely is neither here nor there if they're being chucked). I remember knackering a Helicoil on my 1442cc Talbot Alpine many years back, but hopefully I'm not that clumsy any more.
Nice & Easy - look at the following how to on a C3:
C3 Spark Plug Change

Do I need to know who's got a Lexia near me[/b] and is reasonably 'available'. What sort of purchase cost are we talking for summat used that'll do the trick relevant to this car [I guess there'll be all sorts of 'useability that doesn't apply to a 12 year old car and I therefore don't need] £100+ Double that or more? More like £50?
Lexia / Diagbox is useful - but not necessary for general maintenance jobs - and is not the easiest piece of software to use. Yes you will need a laptop and suitable Operating System to use it - refer to links

....or can I connect it via a 'hard wired link' and software of some sort to a laptop when the scenario arises?
See my last point -you will need a laptop to use the Lexia / Diagbox software and to plug the VCI into - but you cannot simply use a laptop alone.

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Absolutely superb Marc, cor I feel a whole lot more confident about the necessary spannering that will no doubt present itself. Thank You for a brilliantly concise and appropriate response.

....maybe these moderns ain't so bad.

NB: C3 impressions. Goes well for what it is, very quiet on the road, corners reasonably well, ride's generally good if a bit choppy on occasion (tis a short wheelbase), loadsa headroom, boot roomier than I expected, seat bases are a bit mean for a taller driver.

[GiveMeABreak]

They are great little cars - our 'Silver hornet' has only about 40k on the clock since new 1.6 HDi - and has been relatively trouble free - just a new Comms Unit and the front coil spring went last month. Had been out and about the day before, then left overnight. Reversing from parking the next morning - 'Crunch'. The spring had snapped, resulting in a tow to the local to get it replaced - (always get them done in pairs). Thankfully, the cups stopped the spring from gouging the tyre. That's the only design criticism I've got really.

£30 a year to tax and over 60MPG in rural hilly Wales - can't complain!

[411514]

I would not be overly concerned by 'electronics' type issues on the more modern Citroens.

Equally, I don't reckon that Lexia ownership is essential. I have been running various modern(ish) Citroens (2000-2010 vintage) for ten years now, doing all my own repairs/maintenance without a Lexia. I only recently bought a Lexia, and to be honest I don't find it that useful. Unless you really know what you are looking for with a Lexia, I tend to find that the fault codes it records aren't very useful. Nine times out of ten what is required is just some mechanical/electrical knowledge and thought.

[Stickyfinger]

Disagree....a Lexia in conjunction with this form has proved invaluable at keeping me away from dealers

[Hell Razor5543]

The Lexia I was looking at is this one (and is not £330!);

http://www.easydiagnostics.co.uk/shop/4 ... 7/11178597

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Thanks Guys