Plip not working

basil · Post by **basil** » 13 Jun 2006, 21:01

My 2 button plip stopped flashing the red led so I thought it needed new batteries but after replacing them still no led and no remote locking

Is there a commen fault with these as they get older?The old batteries still had 3 volts(new batteries 3.5 volt)is the remote sensative to a small voltage drop?
If I need a S/H plip will any citroen of a similer type work?
Thanks
________
MARIJUANA HEMP

mezuk04 · Post by **mezuk04** » 14 Jun 2006, 12:00

I had a very hesitant plip when i bought the Xantia back in August, sometimes it would work and sometimes it would even though it always flashed when pressed.

However it flashed with two different types.

A quick almost instant flash = the locking wouldnt do anything
A normal flash length = the locking would work

This at the end came down to just a build up of dust and dryness inside the plipper. I ended up unscrewing the tiny screw, pulling the two ends apart and filling (and i mean filling) it with WD-40, for a couple days it worked but then returned to normal. I ended up having to do this for a couple of weeks and it works to this day, no more problems.

I use to just fill her up with WD-40, placed it on a paper towel for it to drain and dry.

Mandrake · Post by **Mandrake** » 14 Jun 2006, 20:50

I had the same problem where sometimes it would only give a quick flash and not activate the central locking. Gradually it became worse until it was unusable.

In my case it turned out to be dry soldered joints on the largest surface mount IC on the board, and resoldering it fixed it 100%

It's been working for about 9 months since then with no signs of playing up. Of course you need a very fine tip soldering iron and good soldering skills to solder the tiny pins on a surface mount ic without ruining it...

Regards,
Simon

Historyman · Post by **Historyman** » 15 Jun 2006, 00:50

I have just bought a V reg Xantia Exclusion and my key plip has now red light at all, no place for one to have been, Why?

mezuk04 · Post by **mezuk04** » 15 Jun 2006, 08:09

no place for one to have been, Why

As in there isnt a place for a led to be, change in design perhaps?

Regarding the original OP, try the same exercise as I did with the WD-40 over a couple of weeks (not everyday of course) and if this doesnt solve the problem then some soldering may be required.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 15 Jun 2006, 13:10

you need a very fine tip soldering iron and good soldering skills to solder the tiny pins on a surface mount ic without ruining it...

I’m in the habit of filling the lot with solder, shorting all the pins, then cleaning out with the solder wick.
You finish up with a very neat look.
Main thing is not to panic when the wick sticks to the lot.

Reheating it has always got it off without any damage.

davetd · Post by **davetd** » 15 Jun 2006, 20:20

The plip on my Xantia only works if I'm close enough to the car to be able to unlock it with the key

Kinda defeats the object

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » 15 Jun 2006, 20:54

My son has an X reg. Xantia and the plip for this also does not have an LED.
It seems that the later 'facelift' cars all have this type which work by emitting RF as opposed to the IR system of the earlier plips.
These also seem to have a much greater range than the IR ones.

Dave.

basil · Post by **basil** » 15 Jun 2006, 21:07

I've used the wd40 tip and I now have a working plip

.
It seems to work at a slightly greater range

Once again this site has saved the day 8)
Thanks
________
California dispensaries

Historyman · Post by **Historyman** » 15 Jun 2006, 22:29

Thanks for the info Dave. BTW wouldn't it be kinder to the plip if you used electrical switch cleaner instead of WD40,. Just my thoughts.

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » 15 Jun 2006, 23:35

I wouldn't recommend the WD40 route myself.
Even switch cleaner, except on/in the switches, would seem to be not the best approach to finding a long term solution.
My first line of investigation would be to give the print side a good clean and look for dry solder joints or cracked copper tracks.

Dave.

mezuk04 · Post by **mezuk04** » 16 Jun 2006, 09:15

Well I used the WD-40 in August 2005 and the plip is still working very well.

If your getting annoyed with the range of the plips then you can buy one of these RF (Radio Frequency?) boxes that you add to your wiring which vastly improves the distance (even better than this brand new Fiesta) for opening the car, although you obviously have to use the little plips that come with the box.

It was great fun sat in the pub and about 30 feet away being able to unlock the ZX late at night when it was quiet and being able to hear it