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

[Mandrake]

CitroJim will know the answer to your question for sure - but from memory I think he said the only mechanical difference in the box itself is a different final drive ratio in the diff and therefore a different number of teeth on the gear that the speed sensor operates from. The ECU's are programmed slightly differently to expect the different final drive ratios so mixing an XM gearbox with Xantia ECU or vica versa would not work due to the mismatch in what the ECU expects the final drive ratio to be.

You might get away with a Xantia gearbox and ECU together transplanted into an XM (although that may need wiring changes) but then you'd have a non standard final drive ratio. I think Jim has done this before...

A better bet might be to use the Xantia gearbox as a source of parts to help rebuild the XM one should it be needed.

[Trainman]

I'm getting to the point where I've had enough.....

All this talk of BSI and ECU resets scares the c**p out of me. I am almost 12 months down the line and I've yet to have a month where I can actually drive for that sort of period.

I really have to do some serious thinking over the few days, as to whether it says or goes....

[KP]

If you get rid though it will only cost more as you'll lose a cheap running car

[Trainman]

Will, money isn't everything, I paid well over the odds for this car and invested another substantial amount to get it right. I'm now at the point, where I suspect Simon was a couple of weeks ago, do I keep throwing money at it and put up with the tantrums or do I say enough is enough and get something else.

Having said that, I love the car, but it's like a virus at the moment, constantly one step forward and two back. The MOT is due in a fortnight and the Insurance a fortnight after that, that's why I have to consider what options I have.

I have no doubt it will pass the MOT given the amount of work that's been done.

I just don't know what to do........

[bxzx16v]

I would persevere a bit longer Steve, it really does have the makings of a nice V6. I know it's easy for me to say. Remember too it is an old french car at the end of the day. It's the potential gearbox issues that scare the bejesus out of me.

Mark

[KP]

True Steve, bad money after bad is never good but at some point it will turn.

I have a feeling that if the box is working perfectly fine 99% of the time and just throws the odd wobbler it has to be electronic. If I can get the ecu of my new one on Wednesday you could pick it up Thursday on your way home and give it a shot if you fancy?

And utter worst case scenario is a box swap.

[Mandrake]

I'm getting to the point where I've had enough.....

All this talk of BSI and ECU resets scares the c**p out of me. I am almost 12 months down the line and I've yet to have a month where I can actually drive for that sort of period.

I really have to do some serious thinking over the few days, as to whether it says or goes....

Steve,

Sorry if I made the ECU swap sound scary - it's really not.

Five minutes on a Lexia to do the auto adaptive reset - its easy and completely safe - I've done it at least a dozen times on mine over two years... Then take it for a 15 minute drive where it gets plenty of gear changing, job done.

If will has a Lexia he could do the reset for you before taking the ECU out then its ready to fit and go for the test drive.

If will is offering you the ECU to try or to have I would take it - it would be a shame to see the car scrapped because of it! I know the ECU on my old car is good, I've never had any of the sort of problems you're having with it...

[KP]

There's the problem, I don't have a working 30pin lead either! The last one I got didn't work so got sent back and I'm hoping the next one does but I have a funny feeling the chixia is the issue as I don't thing all the pins on it's round 30pin breakout are populated

[Trainman]

Five minutes on a Lexia to do the auto adaptive reset - its easy and completely safe - I've done it at least a dozen times on mine over two years... Then take it for a 15 minute drive where it gets plenty of gear changing, job done.

If will has a Lexia he could do the reset for you before taking the ECU out then its ready to fit and go for the test drive.

If will is offering you the ECU to try or to have I would take it - it would be a shame to see the car scrapped because of it! I know the ECU on my old car is good, I've never had any of the sort of problems you're having with it...

Simon,

I know, it does sound scary, but I also know its got to be done, there's no two ways about it..........

There's the problem, I don't have a working 30pin lead either!

That makes two of us...... I've got two different leads and neither work!

I'm beginning to think the best option is a trip to Jim's to replace the ECU and get it reset, I don't see any other option at the moment.................

[Trainman]

He has Mike, but and this is the big BUT I don't really want to take him up on his offer purely because you can guarantee as soon as it's posted he'll need it. Especially Will h the work currently being done on the new car....

It's kind of a rock and a hard place situation...

[Mandrake]

There's the problem, I don't have a working 30pin lead either! The last one I got didn't work so got sent back and I'm hoping the next one does but I have a funny feeling the chixia is the issue as I don't thing all the pins on it's round 30pin breakout are populated

Will you don't need a 30 pin lead.

The Xantia you're buying from me is a S2, so plug your Lexia into its 16 pin OBD II socket, do the auto adaptive reset then remove the ECU and give it to Steve. As long as you don't drive the car between the reset and removing the ECU it will stay in a reset "factory default" state.

When Steve fits it to his car its ready to go, all it needs is the 15 minute test drive for it to complete the adaption process.

Simples.

[KP]

I could always bring it down with me Tuesday night maybe Steve and take my lexia up to compare to Simons.

Albeit I don't want to hang around Glasgow long as I'll have been up since 0630 it will be a longb day but a few minutes to compare I can do

Simon I didn't realise s2's had obd!! That's a sure bonus! Pity I can't retrofit it to my s1!!! Lol

[KP]

How muh time is needed to remove the ecu? Is it just under the airbox? If so I may just get enough time to do this on Tuesday night when I get home and then Steve has it ready on Wednesday to test it

Jim what happened to the auto gearbox ecu from my breaker? Is it still with the gearbox? Has David maybe still got his one as well? Just thinking if this proves the ecu is at fault we will need to source another good one and then open Steves up and see if a simple repair is possible?

[Mandrake]

How muh time is needed to remove the ecu? Is it just under the airbox? If so I may just get enough time to do this on Tuesday night when I get home and then Steve has it ready on Wednesday to test it

Its under the battery tray.

Battery out. Air filter box out. Remove battery tray, then under that is a plastic cover that just lifts up then the ECU will be visible. I has a connector and 4 nuts onto studs to unbolt it then it lifts up. Not particularly difficult but I'd allow 15-30 minutes.

[KP]

Have you ever had yours out Simon? Just thinking if it's been out before it will mean all the above will be much easier to remove and not rusted in solid as some can be

Steve, I'll do my best to get it out Tuesday night and factory defaulted for you