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

[Mandrake]

I'm hoping the one I ordered from easydiagnostics just works as I tried a 16-30pin one and it was useless.

Looking at my lexia not all of the 30pins are used/have metal connectors in the round spring loaded connector.

Mine is an easy diagnostics unit (albeit nearly two years old, so don't know if what they sell now is the same) and the 30 pin S1 adaptor works (this car is the first time I've used it) - at least it does on most of the ECU's including engine and gearbox, I haven't tested any further to find out why a couple of the ECU's are not responding.

[Hell Razor5543]

Mine was also from Easy Diagnostics. I have not yet had to use the S1 adaptor.

[KP]

My chixia is from eBay land but hopefully they won't make a difference when it arrives I'll test it ok both my older citroens

[Trainman]

Guys,

I've started a new thread for the Lexia issue here: http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 11&t=49045" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[xantia_v6]

I think it more likely that your fault is due to a sensor or wiring than the ECU. Better get the Lexia working soon.

During the time that it is holding first gear, have you tried hitting the snow switch, which will normally trigger as immediate change to second?

[Mandrake]

Good idea - although snow in drive at slow speeds will actually skip straight to 3rd gear not 2nd.

I don't know if you know this Steve, but in snow mode if you move the gear lever to 1st, 2nd, 3rd that will manually force it into those gears even if you're going too slow - basically it allows for manual gear shifting. For example, snow + 2nd would start you off in 2nd gear from a stand still and also try to hold it in that gear until the rpm got dangerously high.

Might be useful to see if you can manually force it to change up to 2nd using snow + 2nd when its misbehaving and trying to stay in 1st. Also another thought is that you might have a faulty brake switch - the gearbox monitors the brake switch and uses this to alter its gear change behaviour - with the brakes applied it often tries to deliberately down change to apply engine braking for example...

So you definitely need to get the Lexia onto it to see what's happening.

[Trainman]

None of the above is possible, if my Gearbox locks, I have only got first gear, unless I stop, put the box into reverse, and then back to drive, in which case, the box only gives fourth gear.

You can not 'force' the gearbox to change...... I've tried and I've tried the snow mode as well

[Mandrake]

Hmm ok. The ECU must be going into emergency (hydraulic only) mode then. So we definitely need the Lexia to see why.

Hopefully you can sort one of those leads with those pinouts.

It's still possible the gear lever (and therefore the selector switch) cable is out of adjustment landing it part way between normal gear positions - on a S2 this shows up as an error on the dashboard repeater but on a S1 only the Lexia would reveal the cause. I think there is an adjustment for the cable under the centre console.

[CitroJim]

I think there is an adjustment for the cable under the centre console.

Cable adjustment is at the gearbox end Simon and there's also another adjustment on the egarbox itself to adjust the relative position of the switch to the selector detents...


Steve, consider a trip to Team WFA's Newprot Branch for this lot perhaps...

[Trainman]

I already am...... will give you a bell this evening.

[CitroJim]

I already am...... will give you a bell this evening.

Excellent

[Mandrake]

I think there is an adjustment for the cable under the centre console.

Cable adjustment is at the gearbox end Simon and there's also another adjustment on the egarbox itself to adjust the relative position of the switch to the selector detents...

I stand corrected Jim.

So do you think it's possible that maladjustment of the selector cable or the adjustment between switch and gearbox could still explain it's woes ? I know that the switch itself has another set of contacts for "in between" the normal detented positions specifically so that the ECU can detect if the gear linkage is not aligned correctly - this may trigger the ECU to go into emergency hydraulic mode because it's not sure exactly what position the gearbox selector input shaft is in...

Since park, reverse, neutral and drive are all mechanically selected by the input shaft and 1,2, and 3 are electronically controlled (by the switch) only, if the ECU doesn't know for sure what position the input shaft is in it's forced to play it safe and go into emergency hydraulic mode...

[xantia_v6]

Jim, I don't recall seeing any adjustment for the switch.

When the switch went on mine, one of the lines was sometimes high when it should not have been. This would produce a code that should have been impossible, causing the ECU to go into limp mode. I don't think any maladjustment could cause this, as in general there is no other sensor that can contradict the multi switch (at least with the car stationary).

BTW Steve, you have said several times that the transmission goes into 4th gear when limping. I hope that it is really 3rd, as that is what they are designed to do.

[CitroJim]

Jim, I don't recall seeing any adjustment for the switch.

It's not obvious Mike as it's the switch indexing dowel which is mounted on a movable plate and secured with a lacquered screw.

Steve's car has had a replacement switch.

[Trainman]

Had a chat with the legend that is "Sir Jim" arrangements are in place for me to go down there next Monday and between us, hopefully we can get to the bottom of the problem, in the mean time, David has posted me out a 30 pin Lexia lead, which should hopefully arrive tomorrow.

Coincidently the Xantia threw it's toys again today, just after stopping at Will's to pick some stuff up........