Xantia engine wont start - bad electric contact when cold - Solved

[CitroJim]

Hi OZRKR

I guess for RHD car you have to remove the instrument cluster , bur better ask one who has RHD car. For LHD car the CPH is visible quite easy after removing the glove box

Same with an RHD car

Many thanks, Jim! I appreciate all the input!
Do you mean that the CPH is on the left hand side of the car - behind the glovebox - on a Right Hand Drive car? That is what I have been assuming all this time - I just wanted to confirm with you. Would you have:
- a pic showing the CPH installed, and
- any sort of instruction as to how to remove the CPH
I think I know which of the black plastic boxes (tightly packed behind the dash) is the CPH but I would like to make sure ... I cannot see any way of removing the CPH. I can't even get access to the wiring plugs.
Any assistance is most appreciated!
Cheers,
Kim

Hi Kim,

Yes, that's it, behind the glove box and passenger airbag. It's the very devil to get at although you can as I have. No photos I'm afraid and the memory is getting dim now as it's been a few years since I've owned a a Series 2 Xantia but I think I'm correct in saying access is a little improved by removing the passenger airbag. Take all necessary precautions before doing so. Disconnect the battery and leave it disconnected for at least 10 minutes and treat the airbag like a potential bomb!

Removing the CPH is still very much done by feel even then...

On UK-Spec. cars the immobiliser transponder module piggy-backs the CPH and also possibly (depending on model) piggybacking is the TrafficMaster* ECU although I expect this was not fitted to any Aussie-market cars...

Keep us posted on how it goes

*TrafficMaster was a UK system that used synthesised speech announcements to warn of congestion and closures on nearby major roads via the car's radio speakers. I can't recall now how the ECU received its intelligence but do recall the radio did not need to be on for it to operate. The ECU connected directly to the car's front speakers. The system was enabled/disabled via a button on the dash. Very early S2 Xantia Exclusives were not fitted with it.

[ozrkr]

Same with an RHD car

Many thanks, Jim! I appreciate all the input!
Do you mean that the CPH is on the left hand side of the car - behind the glovebox - on a Right Hand Drive car? That is what I have been assuming all this time - I just wanted to confirm with you. Would you have:
- a pic showing the CPH installed, and
- any sort of instruction as to how to remove the CPH
I think I know which of the black plastic boxes (tightly packed behind the dash) is the CPH but I would like to make sure ... I cannot see any way of removing the CPH. I can't even get access to the wiring plugs.
Any assistance is most appreciated!
Cheers,
Kim

Hi Kim,

Yes, that's it, behind the glove box and passenger airbag. It's the very devil to get at although you can as I have. No photos I'm afraid and the memory is getting dim now as it's been a few years since I've owned a a Series 2 Xantia but I think I'm correct in saying access is a little improved by removing the passenger airbag. Take all necessary precautions before doing so. Disconnect the battery and leave it disconnected for at least 10 minutes and treat the airbag like a potential bomb!

Removing the CPH is still very much done by feel even then...

On UK-Spec. cars the immobiliser transponder module piggy-backs the CPH and also possibly (depending on model) piggybacking is the TrafficMaster* ECU although I expect this was not fitted to any Aussie-market cars...

Keep us posted on how it goes

*TrafficMaster was a UK system that used synthesised speech announcements to warn of congestion and closures on nearby major roads via the car's radio speakers. I can't recall now how the ECU received its intelligence but do recall the radio did not need to be on for it to operate. The ECU connected directly to the car's front speakers. The system was enabled/disabled via a button on the dash. Very early S2 Xantia Exclusives were not fitted with it.

Hi Jim,

Many thanks for your message.

I have attached two pics:
1. 'Glovebox view' - a general view with the glovebox removed.
2. 'CPH close-up' - a slight close-up of what I assume to be the CPH - to the right of the Glovebox space. You will see the white connector plug on the top of the box.

Can you confirm that really is the CPH, or am I missing the bleeding obvious and looking in the wrong spot?

I want to be very sure that I am attacking the right item if I start pulling the whole car apart!

Cheers,

Kim

[CitroJim]

Hi Kim,

The CPH sits on top of the heater box behind the bit of annoyingly in the way air trunking you can see... If you can, put your hand up there and you'll feel it...

If it's a warm day out your way the bit of air trunking may just be soft enough to deform enough to pop out and offer more room and visibility...

The ECU and connector you can just see to the extreme right of your picture is the aircon ECU...

[ozrkr]

Hi Jim,
Thank you so much! I'm so glad I didn't start hacking away at the car to remove what would have turned out to be the A/C ECU!!!
Following your suggestion I have dislodged the air trunking a little. So now I can see a new range of black boxes with electrical connector plugs. Knowing that the CPH has two connector plugs I think I can identify it now - to the right side of the glovebox opening, right behind the air trunking.
I'm no closer to being able to remove the CPH btw, but at least I think I am working on the right piece of equipment now!
Many thanks, once again!
Cheers,
Kim

[CitroJim]

Ahh, that's great Kim, we're almost there!

[ozrkr]

I wanted to give an update to my cold weather start6ing problem. It is now fixed, as described by xantiamanolis in the above referenced topic.
Many, many thanks to xantiamanolis for the guidance on the Body Computer fix! And to CitroJim and Lania58 for their guidance on locating and removing the Body Computer.
Very much with their help I have been able to fix a problem that I have been chasing for two years! Many thanks!

[CitroJim]

That's absolutely fantastic news Kim