V6 Xantia Starting fault

[raggerminder]

Can someone link me to the relevant postings regarding V6 starting issues please? Jim and others have assured me the way forward is to fit an extra relay to the ignition system but I am having difficulty in persuading my preferred independents that this is the way to go. My Citroeniste who did the recent cam belt and water pump believes the fault lies with the transmission auto inhibitor switch. What I have found is that a very fit battery is less likely to lead to a problem...

Thanks in anticipat.................................................ion.

Regards

Rob

[Stickyfinger]

Whatever the fault is the Mod should be carried out for safety and to preserve the ignition switch, as such it should be the first default port of call anyway.

[xantia_v6]

The relay modification is really needed on Xantia V6s, as the original starting circuit is marginal, and has resulted in a high rate of starter failure due to burnt solenoid contacts. The inhibit function on the transmisssion is part of the multi-switch, which is not cheap to replace, and although I have had the switch fail (the other parts of the switch), I have never heard of the the start inhibit function failing.
The best description of the relay modification is by Jim:

No, I was just playing the joker Stempy. They are seriusly rare by F**d standards!

Right, here's the mod.

First up, a circuit of the standard starter circuit. 1005 is the violet start inhibit relay...

Standard V6 Starter Circuit

This is the Modified circuitshowing the additional relay.

I took the live feed for it from the unused (in my case) Engine Bay fusebox F6 which feeds the headlamp washer timer relay which if fitted sits next door to the start inhibit relay (violet) in the engine bay fuse box.

I carefully removed both the unused washer relay base and the start inhibit relay base from the fuse box by releasing their holding tangs and rotating them a few degrees in their bayonets to release them.

I then carefully prised off the red underside insert on the relay bases to allow the wires, complete with the spades, to be removed from the bases.

I left the wires to pin 5 (supply from F6) and Pin 2 (earth) in place on the washer relay base but removed the wire from pin 4, insulated it and hid it away. The wire to pin 3 I cut to about an inch and a half long. The wire originally to pin 1 I cut about an inch and a half long and removed it from the base to give me a tail with a relay spade connector on the end.

From the start inhibit relay base I removed the wire going to pin 5 and moved it to pin 1 on the washer relay base. I inserted the tail I removed from pin 1 of the washer relay base into pin 5 of the start inhibit relay base and then jointed the ends of the wires from pin 5 of the start inhibit relay base and pin 3 of the washer relay base with a butt crimp.

Refit the red relay base inserts.

Insert a black 25A relay in the washer relay base and job done! Enjoy a reliable starter!

Another mod I did was to do away with the two-pin connector by the aircon pump that carries the starter solenoid feed. It's a single white wire in black curly trunking. I replaced the connector with a butt crimp as the connector is barely up to the job.

If you do have headlamp washers, you'll have to mount another relay base somewhere else but you can still "borrow" a supply from F6 as you won't ever be washing headlamps and starting at the same time!

I hope that makes sense....

Just to complete the diagrams. This is the circuit of the headlamp washers showing F6 and the washer timer relay 5400 to indicate the wires you're borrowing for the mod.

I would recommend running a new wire from the relay direct to the starter solenoid, as the original wire is a little bit light for the current (even before the connector under the A/C compressor gets corroded).

[Edit] All the above is written for a 1997 mk1 V6. The MK2 is the same circuitry, but wiring details and relay location may differ.

[raggerminder]

Well that's why I come here!! Many thanks both, I now just need to get someone with skills to do the job.

Also, wish us luck, it's off for MOT today/tomorrow...

Then it will be the cruise to fix, and then?? I just hope the pleasure of driving such a capable and unusual car doesn't pale too quickly.

Regards

Rob

[raggerminder]

Serviced and a clean MOT! Sorted until next May!

[raggerminder]

He said with unusual and unrealistic optimism...

[bxzx16v]

Result on the MoT Rob .

Mark