Xantia reverse lights, weird problem.

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 08 Jun 2009, 12:41

Reverse lights have not been working for some time so decided to have a look today. I decided to try a test light to establish if any power was getting through.
so with the tailgate raised ,trim removed wires exposed, next thing to put gear shift into reverse, ok now put side lights on................"what the" ignition is off at key and the whole dash, ignition ect all lights up.
Take out of gear, ignition goes out put in gear ignition comes back, twist light switch off ignition goes off.

I dare not try that again encase i blow something, i can live without reverse lights for now.
Has any one experienced a similar problem, and how do i fix??

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Jun 2009, 12:48

The clue here could well be in the tailgate being up. I'd not be surprised to find that you have broken and chafted wires in the concertinas up by the hinges causiing the issues you're having.

Pull the concertinas back and have a look.

If it will help, I can post applicable wiring diagrams. They're a little different for the estate and to be sure of accuracy, I'll beed your RP number and exact model.

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 08 Jun 2009, 12:54

Thanks for the quick reply CitroJim i didn't consider that, will post what i find Later.....
Graham

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 09 Jun 2009, 09:28

This is what i found Jim,

Repair with self amalgamating tape and a block connector.

.

Hope this is good enough!!

.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction..

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 09 Jun 2009, 09:31

Unread post by **RichardW** » 09 Jun 2009, 10:22

Pretty conclusive then....

One of the jobs I have to do is find out why the HRW on my estate doesn't work any more - I suspect I will find something similar

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 09 Jun 2009, 10:33

Under the plastic trim just above my photo is where the faston connector is located for the HRW, i unplugged mine to gain a bit of slack, it may just need tightening.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 09 Jun 2009, 11:16

Excellent work Graham

Yours had gone rather worse than they usually do. Your tailgate must have seen plenty of use over the years - up and down like a fiddlers elbow

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 09 Jun 2009, 12:05

CitroJim wrote:
up and down like a fiddlers elbow

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 10 Jun 2009, 18:37

When I do a repair like that I prefer to attach a length of new wire to the cut ends, then shove the repairs well into their respective cavities so that it's new wire getting flexed, not the repair.

gotanothergrot · Unread post by **gotanothergrot** » 10 Jun 2009, 21:44

I didn't think of that, why is it that the obvious most practical solution often eludes us..

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 10 Jun 2009, 23:45

The polymers in PSA cars seem really temperature sensitive.

I'm yet to see anything like the insulation cracking evidenced, yet my estate tailgate goes up and down many times daily. It must just be warm enough here for the plastics to flex more.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 14 Jun 2009, 21:14

Had a quick look today - sure enough, just the same as Graham's pictures (not quite as bad!) Red wire is broken (presumably the HRW feed) and the heavy green wire has broken insulation. Another job to tackle then.... Wonder why it affects the estates more than the hatches - perhaps the estate door works through a larger angle?