New title for more issues :-)

Stekelly · Unread post by **Stekelly** » 02 Jul 2011, 14:18

Having a root around under the bonnet of the Activa and the electical bos in the bottom left as your looking in is a box installed with just "e-crofting" on it. Google led me here http://www.e-crofting.com/ which led me to these http://stores.ebay.co.uk/e-crofting/_i. ... c=1&_sop=3.

Obviously this points to a suspention electrical fault of some sort. But wat exactly? and how do I sort it and presumably get rid of the box?

What is the box doing or claiming to be doing?

Should I be worried?

Cheers

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 02 Jul 2011, 14:34

Ecrofting box replaces the dead diodes that control the electrovalves so you regain soft mode and keep everything working as it should.
It's an easier fix than cracking open the ecu and soldering new diodes onto the pcb.

Stekelly · Unread post by **Stekelly** » 02 Jul 2011, 14:43

Xac wrote:Ecrofting box replaces the dead diodes that control the electrovalves so you regain soft mode and keep everything working as it should.
It's an easier fix than cracking open the ecu and soldering new diodes onto the pcb.

So it should actually be working properly and left be then yeah?nothing to worry about?

What about swapping in a used ECU?

Solderign of new diodes wouldnt be a huge issue, my cousin is a bit of a master at the small solderign stuff.But if its workign as it should i'd be tempted to leave it as is, not least because the cables are tapped in to with the box.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 02 Jul 2011, 15:01

I was always led to believe that the original diodes are actually within the electrovalves. I don't think they are in the ECU though I stand to be corrected. The VN05N solid state relays which control the switching of the electrovalves are in the ECU and they do require a soldering job within the ECU, though they are readily available and its a fairly simple job. Obviously the diodes are there to allow current to flow one way only.

Swapping in a used ECU is all well and good, providing you know the VN05Ns are working. They can go in spectacular fashion like mine

S1 and S2 ECUs are not compatible either.

If your soft mode is working correctly then all is well and the box can be left.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 02 Jul 2011, 15:13

Toby I believe you're right!
I know someone posted a thread about resoldering things in the ECU, was it you?

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 02 Jul 2011, 15:19

Could well be me you're thinking of Xac.

Last year I posted a thread relating to the soldering of the VN05Ns. That picture comes from that thread.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 02 Jul 2011, 15:26

That's the one

Unread post by **myglaren** » 02 Jul 2011, 16:35

Someone did post on soldering the diodes into the ECU rather than open the electrovalves or patch them in to the loom.
Who, when and where are a different story altogether.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 02 Jul 2011, 16:58

myglaren wrote:Someone did post on soldering the diodes into the ECU rather than open the electrovalves or patch them in to the loom.
Who, when and where are a different story altogether.

Indeed, not sure who.

Same method as the E-Crofting kit, except the kit comes in a fancy box and scotch locks instead.

Stekelly · Unread post by **Stekelly** » 02 Jul 2011, 18:50

Cheers lads, think I'll leave well enough alone and assume that box is doing as it should.

My next issue is down to he result of why the car has a red front end. Activa Mikes (previous owner) missus hit a pole. Pics are up in a thread here somewhere. Anyway, the 2 multiplugs in behind the drivers sides wing just behind the main indicator were damaged. Both now dont secire properly. They both seem to be sealed where the cables go in o the back of the plug so doesnt look like I could replace the plug. Space on the inside is pretty tight so I'm not sure if I could cut the plugs off and get spade connectors on to just bypass it. Ideally thats what I'm going to try do.

In the first pic this is the pin side of the plug thats in the wing, I'm not 100% whether I'm missing a pin or not., it does look like theres the bottom of a pin in there but if I count the cables I have 14 green and 1 red.

Does anyone know what cables these are ? (suspension related or somethign else)

Is there anywhere I can get a wireing diagram for there to see how many pins I should have? Cheers

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Jul 2011, 19:10

I had long discussions with Mike about this car Steve. It nearly ended up on my drive for fixing the electrical faults thrown up by those plug being damaged. Mike spoke that it was a bit roly-poly as if the Activa system was not working as it should after the bump and a bad connection in those plugs could be the cause.

One. The e-crofting box is fine and dandy. Leave it wired in as it can do no harm and even if the diodes within the electrovalves are good, they will go one day and the diodes in the e-crofting box will seamlessly take over.

The diodes are there as back-emf suppressors and are essential to the correct working of the electrovalves and the health of the drivers in the ECU. Look on the e-crofting box as an insurance policy.

Two. Those multi-plugs carry allsorts. I can give you all the relevant diagrams but there'll be pages of it. I will do so if that would help. Confirm though it's a MK2 isn't it?

As for replacing them, I'd be looking for some suitable waterproof multiplugs that can substitute them and then get very busy with a professional quality crimping tool and a fistful of insulated butts. However you look at it, it's going to be a fearsome job.

I'd be more inclined to get those two plugs and sockets complete with around a foot of wiring on each from a scrapper and splice them in using the aforesaid insulated butts and then flooding the joints with silicone grease and covering the whole in heat-shrink.

The plugs are essential should you ever need to lif the engine. Without them the engine will be a devil (or even more of a devil) to remove.

Stekelly · Unread post by **Stekelly** » 02 Jul 2011, 19:14

Cheers Jim. Its a SI . (the RF key in the pic is off the other one

)

Will the plugs be Activa specific? Or would any set do (I've never had the wing off my SII SX so not sure ).

If it's not too muh trouble I'll take whatever relevant info you have on it, cheers.

The pin I'm not 100% sure whether is missing or not is the 2nd row down, leftmost one in the top pic.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Jul 2011, 19:22

That's good Steve, glad I asked. Now, as it's an S1 I need the RP number as there are a good few variations over the model years.

Those plugs often have pins missing. It's down to economies. Save a pin and save a centime was PSA's view at the time so on that basis make sure any potential donors have the same pin and wire count as your damaged ones.

On getting the RP I'll get the scanner fired up

Stekelly · Unread post by **Stekelly** » 02 Jul 2011, 19:29

Thanks again, its 7408 CJ

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 02 Jul 2011, 20:12

Stekelly wrote:Thanks again, its 7408 CJ

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