Non starting Xantia V6 s2

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 08 Sep 2009, 15:07

I don't yet know the reason why yet but the battery was totally flat on my
v6 yesterday after it has sat for about 5 days unused. I've fully charged the
battery and fitted it as per the usual practice for my s1's with the ignition
on and then connected the positive terminal. The car still sounded a mono
tone alarm and only stopped doing so when I removed the ignition key and
locked and unlocked the door - the alarm off button didn't seem to make
any difference either.

The engine turns quickly on the starter but there's no sign of life starting it!
The only other thing I can think that may bear mentioning is the plip seems
dead now and I'm certain I locked the car with the plip lasttime I used it.
I've tried another plip battery that works on another s2 Xantia but this
made no difference.

With the handbook useless apart from saying if the plip isn't recognised the
key will never start the ignition what do I try now to fix the car to run
again?

Help!!

Andrew

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Sep 2009, 15:40

Hi Andrew,

Is the immobiliser off? Denoted by the orange "key" lamp coming on with the ignition and then going off.

In any case, the plip shoud not matter as the immobiliser reads the RFID chip in the key and not the pilp.

I recall Xantia_V6 posting about this in another thread; much the same symptoms. I'll see if I can find it.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Sep 2009, 15:45

Here it is Andrew

Also, I'd always recommend reconnecting the battery with the ignition OFF. I consider it not a good practice to reconnect it with the ignition on, especially on a V6.

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 08 Sep 2009, 17:52

My problem was slightly different, in that the car would not start with jumper cables to another car until the "flat" battery was disconnected and reconnected.

I would suggest disconnecting the battery again and reconnect with the ignition off.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 08 Sep 2009, 18:08

I have done so. In fact I've already tried a few dodges like leaving the
ignition switched on for a reset period for the ECU. I tried leaving the
battery disconnected for a short while and have left it connected for
over an hour this afternoon and still no joy. The local agent suggested
to me that a long period of battery disconnection can sometimes cause
more problems than an immediate swap.

The Service Manager suggested that there shouldn't be anything amiss
were the ignition on or off when the battery was connected and agreed
about this on s1's to sidestep the alarm. Worse case scenario was a duff
ECU and his only helpful suggestion was to tow it the 10 miles to their
place where they'll plug it into the diagnostics.

I'm not totally convinced about anything here and can't even trust the
fuel gauge that shows a quarter full with no warning light so am about
to get a 5 litres from a local garage.

Andrew

citrov6 · Unread post by **citrov6** » 08 Sep 2009, 18:09

its a quirky system, that i have no idea how it works.

but it seems that when it wont crank the engine when it feels there is a drain on the battery, which is my usual problem but that isn't yours.

so maybe it is something like fuel pump fuse or an ignition connection. maybe a faulty ground cable

but its good news it has power to crank, you can connect lexia for a diagnostic

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 08 Sep 2009, 18:21

Andrew,
On S2 cars the Dash button does not reset the alarm like it does on S1 cars, the button on the dash is to actually "Mute" the ultra sonic sensors inside the car prior to locking the car...

When you get out, with the drivers door open, press and HOLD the Siren button on the dash for 5 seconds or more, the LED on the door should then stop flashing and stay on constantly, if you then lock the car, the SIREN WILL NOT sound in the envent the alarm should go off...

Im sorry I cant help with your non start though... Crank sensor possibly?? Not reading?

Paul

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 08 Sep 2009, 19:14

Well, I've just doubled the value of the car as it currently stands by putting
5 litres of unleaded in and still nothing.

It was driven to it's current parking spot fully working an happy and until
yesterday the bonnet hasn't even been opened yet a good battery is totally
flat and the very good plip has stopped working with the car seemingly
immobile indefinitely - I don't believe in coincidences with Citroens...

The only thing that's happened over the past 5 days is an incessant deluge
of rain - could there be something that's waterlogged on the car that's
shorted in the loom/control boxes etc? I recall the car looked a bit steamed
up earlier although I thought that was steam from my ears!

Andrew

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 08 Sep 2009, 19:34

If the ECU is fried for whatever reason and I need another, is the ID side of
the immobiliser still embedded in it or is that just the transponder in the plip
and whatever receiver that uses. Put another way, If I contact that breaker
with the scrappage scheme silver v6 and ask for the ECU is there anything
else I need. I can see my v6 never moving another mm otherwise.

Andrew

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Sep 2009, 20:40

Andrew,

Check the interta switch is OK. Reset it by pressing the rubber cap. LH bulkhead side as you look in the bonnet, near the strut top...

Sometimes they go off and will cause a non-start.

Can you hear the fuel pump whirr at ignition on.

Rodents in the wiring harnesses?

I have circuits....

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 08 Sep 2009, 20:51

I don't think it very likely that your ECU has failed.
I think you need to get some diagnostics done.
It would be best if you could get a Lexia to it.
Have you checked the injection fuse?
Does the fuel pump run for a second or two when the ignition is turned on?
Is there spark at the sprk plugs?

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 08 Sep 2009, 21:23

Fitting another ecu won't work unless you also replace the body computer and get your keys recoded to the new ecu/body computer which requires a Lexia session.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 08 Sep 2009, 21:26

Right - thanks for the input fellas!

I tried the inertia switch earlier Jim.

I don't hear any kind of buzz or whir from the area of the fuel pump.

I don't have a Lexia or know anyone who could look it over with one unless
I take the car to the Cit garage - I'm down a tow car which is disabled on my
car transporter so I'd have to AA Relay it although I don't have Homestart.

I've gone through every fuse I can find - at the consumer unit beside the
battery all the big buggers are OK and so is every other fuse in the two
holders cabin side and engine side.

I cannot even see a spark plug and expect the induction has to come off!?

One other thought - my nasty LHM leak in the vicinity of the nearside of the
engine above the accumulator and beside the gearbox hasn't drowned a
fragile electric circuit has it!? One of the jobs I'm off work now to rectify
IF the damned car runs...

Any diagnostics would require some circuits Jim though a step by step for
numpties guide would help my addled brain in it's current shape!!

Andrew

citrov6 · Unread post by **citrov6** » 08 Sep 2009, 23:02

well it should be buzzing , check the fuel pump fuse, if not try another fuel pump maybe from the ebay v6

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 08 Sep 2009, 23:26

As I say, I've systematically checked every fuse - from the 80's down to the
5's and haven't turned anything up - where would the fuel pump fuse be?
TBH, I've never noticed any loud buzzing since I've had the car the past
10months - no noise in the same way an Xm or Cx does.

Andrew