Important! : Valver is Dead...More Bad News Post 6...

15th August 2010, 16:14

As those of you who have been following my progress thread will know the S has been undergoing an extreme makeover/refurb, which has resulted in the battery being disconnected for several months (to protect the ABS system whilst the system was empty for the axle refurb and brake renewal upgrade)

But everything is now complete and she's even sat on the ground on it's wheels, which is a miracle in itself, but she won't start...engine immobiliser light is flashing and there's a whining noise the whole time the key's turned, then a powering down noise when the key is turned back to off...

Not sure what's causing this but i've done the following:

- Uprated engine mounts

- Added extra power cables to the engine bay fuse box for amp and second fan but not connected the wires to the amp or fan yet

- Removed + refitted rear axle

- Drained and bled brake system

- Swapped dashboards

- Removed fresh air pump

- Checked alternator cable for breaks/routing to upgrade it (small amount of tugging but it's in one piece still)

- Removed alternator plug found a bit had broken but nothing major so should function?

Not sure if any of this could give away any clues?

Really need this sorted as i want to be on the road in 2 weeks time and i've got lots to do still so this was the last thing i needed

Any help will be appreciated greatly!

James

15th August 2010, 17:14

engine immobiliser light is flashing - when you replaced the dash did you replace everything correctly, i.e pick up ring as without this the car will not start, make sure the pick up ring is not damaged either.

Check the alternator wire thats broke off.

Obviously charge battery or jump start if its flat.

Check crank sensor this will stop the car turning over is there is a problem with it.

Good luck..

15th August 2010, 17:14

engine immobiliser light is flashing - when you replaced the dash did you replace everything correctly, i.e pick up ring as without this the car will not start, make sure the pick up ring is not damaged either.

Check the alternator wire thats broke off.

Obviously charge battery or jump start if its flat.

Check crank sensor this will stop the car turning over is there is a problem with it.

Good luck..

15th August 2010, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by baker556

engine immobiliser light is flashing - when you replaced the dash did you replace everything correctly, i.e pick up ring as without this the car will not start, make sure the pick up ring is not damaged either.

Check the alternator wire thats broke off.

Obviously charge battery or jump start if its flat.

Check crank sensor this will stop the car turning over is there is a problem with it.

Good luck..

I didn't change or touch the loom that's all original, what's the pick up ring?

Battery was fully charged when I started I think it's flat again now though

The alternator connector is the sensor bit not the power cable so I didn't think it would matter too much?

Also where can I find the crank sensor?

Cheers for your help so far

James

15th August 2010, 17:44

The pick up ring is the sensor for the key code and the crank sensor is at the front of the engine just where the box meets the block, it looks like a black plastic cover with a plug coming out of it

16th August 2010, 18:14

No better today

in fact she's worse...

Checked all the fuses/connectors/pick up ring and they were all fine, but still the light flashes and the noise is still there

Video to try and explain the noise:

The dials aren't fully working either, the warning lights vary in brighteness and the centre doesn't light at all, fuel guage keeps bouncing from empty to quarter (there was quarter left in there went i last started it):

Tried to get a picture of the clock (couldn't get a clear one though) which comes up with an F on the right hand side and half a dozen ish small sqaures along the bottom, then the clock cuts in after a few seconds?

Any more ideas?

What would need changing if the immobiliser/ECU is knackered?

James

16th August 2010, 18:33

wen u have had the dash out maybe broke a earth wire. best place to take it is a auto spark. me personaly i think the pick up rings damaged and will need a diffrent 1 and programed

16th August 2010, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexter

wen u have had the dash out maybe broke a earth wire. best place to take it is a auto spark. me personaly i think the pick up rings damaged and will need a diffrent 1 and programed

Can't see any broken wires, can't take it anywhere as it won't start, could be the pick up ring, but it was fine before the battery was disconnected?

James

16th August 2010, 19:15

Sorry to hijack , but the crank sensor wont stop the car from turning over will it? I just thought it stopped the car from firing up?

16th August 2010, 19:18

Jim, just to clarify. Did you start it up recently and it actually worked and started up fine, up until you took the dash out? Or has it been sat for ages, uve done the dash and then its not worked?

16th August 2010, 19:19

check all ya earths m8.. inside of car aswell near dashboard

16th August 2010, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Saxo_VTS-

check all ya earths m8.. inside of car aswell near dashboard

There is an earth right where the middle dash bolt goes through the bulk head, its very common to trap this behind the dash and cut through the wire, similarly if the interior loom isnt tidied away ive seen it before where the dash has trapped and cut one of the wires if you're not careful popping it in place.

16th August 2010, 19:26

^^ Anybody care to answer my question

16th August 2010, 19:41

Have you rang citroen?
Tell them your problems an they maybe able to shed some light on the situation

17th August 2010, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsy

Jim, just to clarify. Did you start it up recently and it actually worked and started up fine, up until you took the dash out? Or has it been sat for ages, uve done the dash and then its not worked?

It's not been started for absolutely ages, dash swap was one of the last things i've done, but now its got to come back out again to inspect all the looms (and hopefully find the culprits)

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Saxo_VTS-

check all ya earths m8.. inside of car aswell near dashboard

I haven't touched the earth's and they looked fine today, but as willsy said the dash may have sliced it further up where i can't see...

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsy

There is an earth right where the middle dash bolt goes through the bulk head, its very common to trap this behind the dash and cut through the wire, similarly if the interior loom isnt tidied away ive seen it before where the dash has trapped and cut one of the wires if you're not careful popping it in place.

Must admit i wasn't massively careful, got a bit excited that i'd managed to line up/semi fit the new dash and pushed it into place

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3cott

Have you rang citroen?
Tell them your problems an they maybe able to shed some light on the situation

Don't know where my local citroen is Scott lol let alone be able to rng them for help...no way of getting the car to them either

Cheers for the advice though guys, next port of call is get the dash back out

then check all the fuses and wiring as they will all be nicely exposed

oh and recharge the battery...

James

17th August 2010, 00:25

on the clocks, what is that meter between speedo and rev meter? is it only on vts saxos?

17th August 2010, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxo_singh

on the clocks, what is that meter between speedo and rev meter? is it only on vts saxos?

At the top?

It's the fuel guage...my Forte has it there too

James

17th August 2010, 13:26

The whine will be the power steering pump most likely, try turning steering wheel with ignition on and off to feel the difference (crude but effective).

17th August 2010, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim-Bob

No better today

in fact she's worse...

Tried to get a picture of the clock (couldn't get a clear one though) which comes up with an F on the right hand side and half a dozen ish small sqaures along the bottom, then the clock cuts in after a few seconds?
Any more ideas?

What would need changing if the immobiliser/ECU is knackered?

James

Isn't that just the oil guage? I think its telling you the oil level is OK, ie "F" for full.

The squares represent how much oil there is. So if there are 3 squares out of 6 then the oil level is half?

I don't think its a problem ,but someone correct me if i'm wrong.

17th August 2010, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo123

The whine will be the power steering pump most likely, try turning steering wheel with ignition on and off to feel the difference (crude but effective).

Could be mate but surely that wouldn't activate until the engine starts? It never did it before either?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meto

Isn't that just the oil guage? I think its telling you the oil level is OK, ie "F" for full.

The squares represent how much oil there is. So if there are 3 squares out of 6 then the oil level is half?

I don't think its a problem ,but someone correct me if i'm wrong.

Yeh I realised that tonight mate, cheers for clearing it up though

James

17th August 2010, 21:30

Also I've had the dash out tonight and the wires were already tucked out the way so there's no damage there, checked both fuseboxes and they're both fine as are all the engine bay connections, pick ring looks fine too, so I'm at a complete loss?

If any is local with an unlocked 3 plug 16v ECU get in touch as I need to borrow one for an evening just to try and start my car/unlock my ECU if possible?

James