Central locking, onboard computer/clock and wiper issues – Citroën C2

[Bon Clay]

Hi,

I’m looking for help with my Citroën C2 (model year 2006). I’ve had a set of electrical issues for a long time and I suspect they’re related.

1) Remote central locking no longer works

- When I bought the car, the remote key fob worked for about one month.
- Then it suddenly stopped working.
- I replaced the key fob battery and even tried a new key shell → no change.
- Central locking still works:
- using the button inside the car, and
- manually with the key in the driver’s door.
- I also tried the re-sync / reinitialisation procedure from the owner’s manual → didn’t work.

2) Onboard computer / clock resets on every start

- Every time I start the car, the onboard computer seems to reset.
- The date/time keeps jumping back (to 1 January 2024).
- After the engine is running, everything else works normally, but the date/time resets again at the next start.

3) Wipers behave strangely when starting

- On all starts, the wipers move by themselves (a quick swipe back and forth), like something is resetting or being triggered incorrectly.

I’ve had this problem for about 4 years, and yes I have to go into the car first, put the keys in and then I am able to open de backdoor. Early on I asked during the annual inspection/service if they could fix it, but they couldn’t.

I also tried doing a BSI reset myself, but I didn’t notice any improvement.

Has anyone seen this before on a C2, and where would you suggest I start diagnosing? Any tips or known causes would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[mickthemaverick]

When you did the BSI reset did you follow the full procedure as in this link:

viewtopic.php?p=601679#p601679

[Bon Clay]

This might work. I watched a video on youtube and it was similar to this instructions, but also differentiated on some things.

Thanks a lot, gonna give it a shot.

[wheeler]

has anyone touched the shunt in the BSI? sounds like its not in the 'client' position. Certainly for the clock & locking faults anyway.
Also, does the car have an aftermarket radio fitted?

[PaulC5]

The clock resetting and the wipers moving sound a bit like a flat battery. Check its voltage before the first start of the day and it should be 12.7 volts if fully charged. If below about 12.3 volts give it a charge and see if the same things happen.

[Bon Clay]

Thanks for all the ideas.

I tried all your ideas and here are the results:

Have had the battery for a long time, so started with that:
- Measures 12.2 V before starting
- When starting does not drop below 10 V and was measuring a top of 13.9 V
- After half an hour drive, 12.4 V

Secondly tried the BSI procedure. And I am never shure since it is so difficult. But think I did everything right and no result.

Lastly tried the shunt. Immediately saw that the wipers are not wiping after start and the board computer is saving memory. But there are some downsides about switching the shunt form park to client:
- Have to turn of lights every time I turn of ignition and exit car (makes sound, so not. a problem)
- Radio stays on after I turn of the ignition (after market radio)

And I measured the voltage of my batteries of the key as well and they were 0 V and 2.1 V. So changed the batteries. And now I understand why the reinitialisation was not working. It was because the shunt was in the park mode instead of client mode. Tried both and only worked in client mode.

So I removed the radio for now. For me the most important thing was the ability to lock with the key and that is working.

I remember I sold the original radio a while back. I remember you had to push the left bottom every time so it sticks out a bit out of the holster and it went off that way. I will try to find a good radio that I can turn on and off (radio I have now doesn't let me turnb it off completely) and then everything is fixed.

Thanks a lot wheeler!

[ozvtr]

Thanks for all the ideas.

I tried all your ideas and here are the results:

Have had the battery for a long time, so started with that:
- Measures 12.2 V before starting
- When starting does not drop below 10 V and was measuring a top of 13.9 V
- After half an hour drive, 12.4 V

That's not brilliant. When running, volts should be 14.6 (or so). Good battery at rest will be 12.6. I highly recommend getting the the battery load tested. At least to eliminate it as a cause. Classic "bad battery fault" in a C2 is heavy steering (power steering failure).

Secondly tried the BSI procedure. And I am never shure since it is so difficult. But think I did everything right and no result.

IMHO BSI reset rarely fixes anything.

Lastly tried the shunt. Immediately saw that the wipers are not wiping after start and the board computer is saving memory. But there are some downsides about switching the shunt form park to client:
- Have to turn of lights every time I turn of ignition and exit car (makes sound, so not. a problem)

That's normal. Unless the car is in "ECO MODE" the lights work independent of the ignition position. Chime only comes on when you open the door.
There is another mode where the lights will stay on for a while after the switch is turned off. It's called "guide me home" (or something like that). Look in your owners manual for more info.

- Radio stays on after I turn of the ignition (after market radio)
So I removed the radio for now. For me the most important thing was the ability to lock with the key and that is working.

There is no need to get rid of the radio (unless you want to). Radio was not installed correctly. Did they cut any of the original wires? You can re-install it and remove the CAN BUS wires to get the central locking to work. There are also 2 sources of power. 1 permanent power for radio memory and 1 switched power to turn the radio off when the ignition is off. The radio was installed on the permanent power instead of the switched power.
There should be an adapter loom between the cars wiring loom and the radio. If the cars loom plugs straight into the aftermarket radio, then they have stuffed things up! Again, did they cut any of the original wires?