engine not startting

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bazbaz
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engine not startting

Post by bazbaz »

can anybody help I've got a 1.8 petrol Citroen exantia 2001 forte 16v I was driving it the engine just died. I'm just getting battery light no other lights are coming on the dash when you first turn the ignition on eg no abs light no engine management light my fuel gauge is not working and the engine will not start. it will turn over just not start. all fuses ok and iv push the big red button under the bonnet and iv tried a jumper pack just in case it was the battery. still not working
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GiveMeABreak
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Re: engine not startting

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Several possibilities:

Does the car turn over or is the starter not working either (do you just get a clicking sound)? If so, could be your starter Motor.
Check wiring to and from the battery. Check your battery wiring to the terminals and all the earths.
Have the alternator checked and the wiring to and from the alternator to the battery.
Check the Fuses
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Marc
bazbaz
Posts: 4
Joined: 16 Dec 2020, 08:40
Location: margate thanet
My Cars: 2001 1.8 xantia forte 16v
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Re: engine not startting

Post by bazbaz »

it will turn over just not start. all fuses ok
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GiveMeABreak
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C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
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XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
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GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
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Re: engine not startting

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Then I would also start looking at the immobiliser (CPH) unit which may be faulty and is preventing the car from starting.


In the instrument panel, do you get the transponder warning light flashing with any audible beeps?

Some Tests:

If the Key is faulty or not recognised:
  • Switch on the ignition using the other keys
  • If none of the keys will start the engine, There could be a problem with the antenna or the CPH
  • Check that the antenna connector is properly connected

    If this is the case, Connect the electrical test unit to the CPH
  • Check the transponder analogue module
  • If another key starts the engine, The key is faulty or hasn’t been initialised

    Initialise the keys
  • It is necessary to have available both the vehicle access code, recorded on the customer’s confidential card, as well as all the vehicle keys
  • The initialisation procedure is interrupted once a faulty key is detected
  • Initialise the keys again without the faulty key
No supply to the engine ECU
  • Connect the electrical test unit to the injection ECU and check that it is receiving a supply
  • Check the fuses and the double relay
  • In the case of diesel pump modules, use the ADC test cable to check the supply
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Marc
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petef
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Re: engine not startting

Post by petef »

The lack of most lights when the ignition is switched on might indicate a fault with the switch itself - a known problem on Xantias. My Activa had to have a replacement switch long long ago.
bazbaz
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Re: engine not startting

Post by bazbaz »

I still have no idea what's wrong with my car but a friend of mine was towing me home and as I went round a corner all my dashboard lights came back on again we pulled over and it's started up I still have no idea what happened or why it happened but it's all running again now. ive got a humming noise coming from behind the dashboard somewhere now
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Re: engine not startting

Post by xantia_v6 »

There are 2 main causes of Xantias losing most of the electrics required for starting, one is corrosion in the 10AV harness that runs under the radiator, and the other is a failure in the fuse board inside the car, these often become temperature sensitive, cutting out on very hot or very cold days.

To narrow down the fault, you need to look at the wiring diagrams, including the hrness diagrams and check every component for voltage to see where the break in the circuit is. We probably have the applicable diagrams for your car, can you post your VIN so that we can check the specification?
bazbaz
Posts: 4
Joined: 16 Dec 2020, 08:40
Location: margate thanet
My Cars: 2001 1.8 xantia forte 16v
x 1

Re: engine not startting

Post by bazbaz »

before i was towed home my friend plugged in his laptop but it wasnt connecting to the ecu so im guessing the power loss was not turning on the ecu aswell the humming noise sounds like its coming from behind the dash in the radio area the vin is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
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