V6 Xantia......... the beginning of another adventure

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 27 Oct 2013, 10:02

The switch is on top of the gearbox, behind the arm that the selector cable connects to. It is easy to change, but are rather pricey.

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 27 Oct 2013, 10:18

Trainman wrote:
bxzx16v wrote:The old girl is certainly testing you Steve .

Mark
she sure is.........

I know how you feel. For months I thought my gearbox was on the brink of catastrophic mechanical failure, it was making nasty noises, shuddering when pulling at low rpm and changing gears erratically... A number of oil changes later though and whilst the torque converter clutch seems to be quite worn (transition between open and lockup is not as smooth as it should be) I've come to the conclusion that as long as I don't beat the hell out of it constantly it actually has quite a bit of life left in it, especially since I've done over 5000 trouble free (from the gearbox anyway) miles since the point at which I though failure was imminent...

Count yourself lucky if yours does turn out to be an electrical fault like an ECU or the multifunction switch, fixing that would be a doodle compare to getting the box out for an overhaul...

xantia_v6 wrote:The multi-function switch sounds like the culprit here, note that it has its own connector. On the mk1, the snow and sports lights are located by the switches beside the gear lever. They should be flashing if the transmission is in limp mode.

What happens if you select N, switch. the ignition off then on and start the engine and then just drop gently into D?
I haven't seen any of the lights on the sport/snow mode buttons flash in the time, I've been playing with this, but hey, I'm willing to try anything.

I suppose the obvious question is where is the multi-function switch located?

Its on the top of the gearbox at the base of the gear selector shaft where it goes into the gearbox. If you take the air filter box out you should see it, not too far from the Kostal connector. There is a connector nearby for it as well that you would want to check for corrosion and clean.

Because its at the gearbox end of the cable between the gear lever and the gearbox, if the cable is out of adjustment it could potentially put the switch contacts part way between the correct positions - the switch actually has extra contacts in between the correct 1,2,3,D,N,R,P positions, so a slightly out of adjustment cable could intermittently trigger the "in between" contacts of the switch, causing the ECU to believe there is a problem with the switch.

See page 119 onwards of the 4HP20 training manual:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/v9t ... rqXJ3JFDfg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm still planning on heading over to the "Back of Beyond" AKA Paul's on Tuesday, so anything, anybody thinks of, I'm more that appreciative of.......

For me step one would be get it read on a Lexia - both fault codes, and also look at the parameters measurement section at the input controls - you want to see what positions the ECU thinks the lever is in as you work it back and forth through the gears to make sure there isn't any inconsistency. Also check the sport/snow/normal switching.

Then if you find there is a problem with the ECU registering which gear is selected, I'd check the adjustment of the cable to the gear lever and then the switch itself.

Fingers crossed its nothing serious

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 27 Oct 2013, 10:29

Simon,

My biggest problem at the moment is time......... I'm at work until 4pm, then a drive home, by then it's dark, I'm off tomorrow, but have SWMBO's new fireplace to fit and then Tuesday over to Paul's.

What doesn't help is i'm a complete 'numpty'

when it comes to this kind of thing and have to get support from others with a better understanding, thankfully, there are plenty of those type of good people on here..........

I just wish I could get my hands on another Lexia to try and get to the bottom of it............ the nearest ones according to the map are Settle or on the Wirral.

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 27 Oct 2013, 10:32

Have you tried posting a query in the main Citroen forum for anyone with a Lexia near your location ? Not everyone who has a Lexia is on that map... I'm not for example...

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 27 Oct 2013, 10:35

Mandrake wrote:Have you tried posting a query in the main Citroen forum for anyone with a Lexia near your location ? Not everyone who has a Lexia is on that map... I'm not for example...

I never even thought about that.......... *NUMPTY*

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 27 Oct 2013, 11:37

Trainman wrote: I haven't seen any of the lights on the sport/snow mode buttons flash in the time, I've been playing with this, but hey, I'm willing to try anything.

I suppose the obvious question is where is the multi-function switch located?

Steve, do the lights actually work if you press their buttons? If they do then that proves the ECU is talking to them.

The Multi-function switch is located on the end of the gearbox selector shaft just behind the operating cable lever. It's easy to get to and easy enough to change.

Paul has a spare one on the HP20 he's got reserved for me.

Even if that is the root cause of the problem you still need to get into the ECU with a Lexia to clear the fault.

The one time I had the multi-function switch throw a wobbly it did light the snow and sport lights. That was on an S2 though...

If your ECU is not good then I do have a spare S1 one here that originally came from Paul's broken V6.

If need be I can send it up to Paul....

On a related topic, I've sent Paul the V6 timing tools ready for your cam belt change Steve..

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 27 Oct 2013, 12:15

Jim,

Paul told me about the tools the other day when I spoke to him, thank you for doing that, it really appreciated.

Sport/Snow mode light illuminate when you press the buttons.

Once I've got the car to Paul's, I'll be happier, We can use his lexia to talk to the ECU, unless I can find somebody in the mean time. I'll try and have a go at a few of the suggestions this afternoon/evening once I get home. I should be home at 5pm, so hopefully it will give me a couple of hours, before next doors youngster's go to bed........

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 27 Oct 2013, 18:41

This is bonkers!! I had the thought on the way of videoing what was actually happening, so get home start the video on the phone and off I set, no flashing lights on your he sport/snow mode, 1st gear, WTF 2nd gear, then not 3rd and 4th. I carry on videoing just in case, but no, smooth as anything.

So I'm completely stumped, but hey the Xantia is working, so now I'm wondering if something was stuck?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 27 Oct 2013, 18:50

You’ve not parked it near an XM recently have you Steve?

That's the only logical explanation for it

Still, good. Get Paul to Lexia it and see if we can glean any clues...

May it carry on Ok now... Just don't park near any XMs

Unread post by **Hell Razor5543** » 27 Oct 2013, 18:56

Even more important, don't knowingly park it with a mile of an Alfa Romeo (either car or dealership)!

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 27 Oct 2013, 19:02

My 2001 Alfa has never broken down.

Trainman · Unread post by **Trainman** » 27 Oct 2013, 19:11

I'm crossing my fingers, for Tuesday. I'm not going to touch it, apart from loading it up........

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 27 Oct 2013, 19:22

Trainman wrote:This is bonkers!! I had the thought on the way of videoing what was actually happening, so get home start the video on the phone and off I set, no flashing lights on your he sport/snow mode, 1st gear, WTF 2nd gear, then not 3rd and 4th. I carry on videoing just in case, but no, smooth as anything.

So I'm completely stumped, but hey the Xantia is working, so now I'm wondering if something was stuck?

When. the multiswitch on mine played up, it was consistently faulty for a few days. (but with slightly different symptoms) , then it cured itself for several months. then it started intermittently. blowing F8, which is not a good thing.

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 27 Oct 2013, 20:05

Yep, my money is on an intermittent multifunction switch too...or possibly the adjustment of the gear lever gating / cable.

Hopefully there will still be a fault code logged by the time you can get it on a Lexia as faults classified as "temporary" will eventually be cleared by themselves. I don't know about the gearbox ECU but I know the engine ECU will erase any temporary faults that do not reappear for 40 engine starts.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 28 Oct 2013, 05:33

Mandrake wrote:I don't know about the gearbox ECU but I know the engine ECU will erase any temporary faults that do not reappear for 40 engine starts.

I think the autobox ECU may keep them forever Simon...

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V6 Xantia......... the beginning of another adventure

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