New Owner, 2011 Berlingo Van, odd electrical gremlin

[Remithevan]

I picled my van up last weekend generally quite happy with it.

So started with high level brake light flickering whilst engine is running.

Then that stopped flickering then the left side light flickers, but stops flickering when a door is open? All other lights work as expected.

I removed the cluster cleaned contacts, plugs are not over heated. Same issue, swapped the bulbs over.
Same issue.

Gave up for a bit to think about it. In the meantime decided to see why there was no cold air.. turns the cable was not fitted/seated correctly so quick easy fix.

It got dark went in.. tomorrows another day and all that.

As wife left for work she said right hand side light is on, not a issue probably knocked the indicator stalk whilst mucking around up front.. but no its just on!

Started van, the flicker is still happening on left but know the break light has stopped working that side also.

Looked around both fuse boxes seem dry. Earth points in engine bay seem corrosion free. I Think previous owner may have used a booster pack to start the van as it been sat for a while when I went to pick it up, Could this have upset anything? Shame as it has a full dealer and specialist service history and drives amazingly well for a little van with 108k on the clock.

So for now I gave up, I could really mess it up, got auto electrician coming next week lets hope he can trace the issue is, just wondering is anyone has any suggestions I can pass on possibly look at.

Thanks in advance

[jamescarruthers]

It would probably help if you said what van you have. Is it the 2011 Berlingo in your profile or one of the others?

However, if it is a newish Citroen or Peugeot then it’s always helpful to give it a BSI reset— which is basically a battery off then a few buttons to get things reset. Have a search on here.

If not, as it is probably CANBUS and computer controlled then I’d suggest you may be looking looking at a Com2000 refurb (this is basically the steaks, cheapish off eBay) or a new BSI, sadly expensive. Of course, all this is just speculation!

[wheeler]

My first thought is it’s not the comms unit as its only affecting one side sometimes + the comms unit has nothing to do with the brake lights.

[jamescarruthers]

Fair point on the brake light.

What about something additional connected to the CANBUS system which can upset some Citroens, such as aftermarket radio or tow bar wiring? Can’t that make them go a bit mad?

[wheeler]

When you say the fuse boxes seem dry have you actually removed the connectors to check? You will need to remove & inspect all plugs & corresponding pins on the BSM & BSI to confirm.
Good point about the towbar, if it has one fitted check the electrical socket is not damp/corroded & maybe isolate any control boxes for it.

[jamescarruthers]

Oh, also the C5 and C6 (same sort of architecture underneath I suppose) are pretty sensitive to low battery voltage. Maybe it needs a good charge up, a reset and then some crossed fingers?

[Remithevan]

Thanks all, finding the french way of doing cars most odd compared to the two bmws and the lotus ( mind you lotus not much better )

I will have a look around when I can.

Did some other checks,
Alternator is charging at 14.6volts or there abouts
Tested battery was 13.3volts that was using positive terminal on battery and bolt as earth on side of wing.

I do find it odd negative is buried under the scuttle panel when normally thats what you need access the most.

What to do people do when working these? Seen people online on youtube just remove the positive clamp, that cant be right surely? But I am open to news ways of working.

No extras on the van that I can see anywhere, although original manual has a trackstar phone number in it maybe thats causing issues.. who knows!!?

I do have an haynes manual coming so I can get a better understanding of how thiw wee van works and an auto electrician coming out on Monday so hopefully between us we maybe abole to sort it/track down the issue!

[jamescarruthers]

FYI, here is a link to a BSI reset which is also what you do when taking the battery off and also if it goes a bit mad sometimes. I’m sure it is generic to all Citroen, but can’t see it doing any harm to a Berlingo even though it isn’t specific to one: viewtopic.php?t=61997

[Remithevan]

So bit of an update in this;

Had an aito electritian out, seems some of the bulbs were a little iffy.

He scanned the codes there was one ecu for the egr valve and one for a bsi reset:
05FF - BSI internal fault ( BSI reset ) - Not Characterised - Local.

So he cleared all the codes, we ran the van for a bit, turning it of one as well etc.. rescan no code at all.

He checked fuse box in cabin and under bonnet no evidence of water ingress.

all seemed well with the lights.. next day.

Rear right side light ocassionally flickers with indicators when arming dissarming or came on but went out with opening the rear door. Dropped him a message, he came back and ran a second earth to see if that helps as it seemed toake sense as it was just one bulb isolated to one corner.

Got home locked up the van all seemed well.

Woke up this morning.. the light is on.. sigh...

Unlocking, no change, turned on lights etc.. no change its just on.

Two weeks in and im falling out of love with these french cars, O was told they are great so far just an electrical nightmare!

Will try to start it up to see it that helps, going to remove the extra earth in the hope the fault remains sporadic rather than constant.
Think may also get the battery on charge to see if that helps!

I have yet to try the BSI reset.

Is there anywhere I can get images/drawings of the wiring.

Also I cannot seem to find anywhere which says what fuse the rear lights are one?.. these are very confusing cars to work on!!

[Doo]

Hope this may help you. Wife's C4 was playing funny buggers and it took an age to find the cause.

NO signs of water ingress in any of the fuse boxes, BSI or BSE (I think the under bonnet one is called that!).

However, because her indoors parked under trees at work, somehow the tree debris found it's way in under the bonnet and the fuses had all become grotty! I had to remove all fuses and relays, clean each metallic connection with a flat mouse tail file. I also set the BSE on the radiator overnight to encourage any residual unseen damp to Eff off

Reinstalled it to great adulation from her indoors when the gremlins had departed

That was a few years ago now and no more parking under trees (I adore tree's, but I don't approve of them pooping on our cars ).

These systems are great, but the teeniest bit of damp will cause any amount of Grrrr